Reusable probe system

• US 5,170,786 A
• Filed: 12/16/1991
• Issued: 12/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Novametrix Medical Systems, Inc. (Dixtal Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: D'Alo, Herbert F., Thomas, Simon W. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US07/807,705
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 128/633, 128/644, 128/653.1, 128/664-667
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

A probe system for removable attachment to a patient in which the probe containing light emitter and detector elements is separable from a fastener for securing the probe to the skin of a patient to enable the fastener to be discarded and the probe reused. Apertures in the fastener complementary to the probe housings enable secure stabilization of the probe system on the skin and maintain a fixed relationship between the light emitter and detector elements.

Claims

1. A reusable probe system for attachment to a part of a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

first and second probe elements each disposed in a respective housing having an energy-transparent face with a surrounding flange and a projection orthogonal to said face;

a substantially planar flexible strip to which said first and second probe element housings are removably attached, said strip having opposite facing upper and lower outer surfaces in which there are first and second spaced apertures, said first and second probe element housing projections being removably disposed in said first and second flexible strip apertures, respectively, so that said probe housing faces are parallel to, and face in the same direction as, and said flanges engage, said flexible strip upper surface, and

fastening means adapted for securing said flexible strip about said body part with said first and second probe element housing faces directed toward each other and said body part therebetween.

2. A reusable probe system for attachment to a body part of a patient according to claim 1 wherein said flexible strip is substantially L-shaped with first and second portions having respective substantially orthogonal longitudinal axes, said spaced apertures being disposed in said first strip portion and said second strip portion circumscribing said first strip portion when said reusable probe system is attached to said body part.

3. A reusable probe system for attachment to a body part of a patient according to claim 1 wherein said flexible strip is substantially butterfly shaped for attachment to a finger.

4. A reusable probe system for attachment to a body part of a patient according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said fastening means comprises a layer of adhesive coated onto said flexible strip upper surface for adhering said upper surface to said body part and/or to said lower surface when said strip is wrapped around said body part.

5. A reusable probe system for attachment to a body part of a patient according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said fastening means comprises a layer of adhesive coated onto said flexible strip upper surface adjacent an end thereof for adhering said lower surface to said upper surface when said strip is wrapped around said body part.

6. A reusable probe system for attachment to a body part of a patient according to claim 1 further comprising a bridge member having upper and lower surfaces, a first end connected to said first probe housing and a second end connected to said second probe housing, said bridge upper surface facing in the same direction as said strip upper surface and said bridge lower surface facing in the same direction as said strip lower surface, the distance between said first and second probe elements with said bridge member fully extended being substantially equal to the distance between said first and second apertures.

7. A reusable probe system for attachment to a body part of a patient according to claim 6 wherein said bridge member is removably connected to said first and second probe housings.

8. A reusable probe system for attachment to a body part of a patient according to claim 6 wherein at least one of the upper surface of said strip and the lower surface of said bridge member is coated with an adhesive for affixing said bridge member to said strip.

9. A reusable probe system for attachment to a body part of a patient according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said strip and said flange is coated with an adhesive for affixing said flange to said strip.

10. A reusable probe system for attachment to a part of a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

first and second probe elements each disposed in a respective housing having an energy-transparent face with a surrounding flange, a projection orthogonal to said face, and an ear-shaped member mounted on said projection in spaced relationship to said flange;

a substantially planar flexible strip to which said first and second probe element housings are removably attached, said strip having opposite facing upper and lower outer surfaces in which there are first and second spaced apertures, said first and second probe element housing projections being removably disposed in said first and second flexible strip apertures, respectively, so that said probe housing faces are parallel to, and face in the same direction as said flexible strip upper surface, said flanges and ear-shaped members extending beyond the perimeters of said apertures for preventing said probe element housings from inadvertently separating from said flexible strip, and

fastening means adapted for securing said flexible strip about said body part with said first and second probe element housing faces directed toward each other and said body part therebetween.