Optical sensor system

• US 5,411,023 A
• Filed: 11/24/1993
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: The Shielding Corporation
• Inventors: McMillen, Charles E., Morris, G. Ronald Sr., Morris, G. Ronald Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASSER, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US08/158,621
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 128/633-634, 128/664-666, 128/653.1, 356/41
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/283 Intercom or optical viewing arrangements, structurally associated with NMR apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/465 applied to biological material, e.g. in vitro testing

Abstract

An optical sensor system (such as an oximeter system) for use on a patient in an electrical environment (such as an RF field) includes at least one of the following three subsystems: (A) A light input subsystem includes a first control and display module disposed remotely outside of an electrical field, and input electrical cable connected at one end to the first module and at the other end to an electrically-powered light source disposed closely adjacent but outside of the electrical field. Input fiber optic cable for the transmission of analog optical signals extends from the light source to adjacent a patient in the electrical field. (B) A light output subsystem includes output fiber optic cable for the transmission of analog optical signals extending from adjacent the patient in the electrical field to a light detector disposed closely adjacent but outside of the electrical field. Output electrical cable is connected at one end to the light detector and at the other end to a second control and display module disposed remotely outside the electrical field, (C) A combination of the light input and output subsystems.

Claims

1. An optical sensor system for use on a patient in an electrical field, said system including one of the following subsystems:

(A) a light input subsystem comprising;

(i) a first control module;

(ii) an electrically powered light source;

(iii) an input electrical cable connecting said first control module to said light source;

(iv) an input fiber optic cable having a first end connected to said light source for the transmission of analog optical signals and having a second end adapted to be disposed at a point adjacent the patient;

said input fiber optic cable having a sufficient length such that, when said input fiber optic cable second end is disposed at the point adjacent the patient, said light source is disposed closely adjacent, but outside of the electrical field;

said input electrical cable having a sufficient length such that, when said light source is disposed closely adjacent, but outside of the electrical field, said first control module is disposed remotely outside of the electrical field; and

said length of said input electrical cable being longer than said length of said input fiber optic cable;

(B) a light output subsystem comprising;

(i) a second control module;

(ii) a light detector;

(iii) an output electrical cable connecting said second control module to said light detector;

(iv) an output fiber optic cable having a first end adapted to be disposed at a point adjacent the patient and a second end connected to said light detector for the transmission of analog optical signals;

said output fiber optic cable having a sufficient length such that, when said output fiber optic cable first end is disposed at the point adjacent the patient, said light detector is disposed closely adjacent, but outside of the electrical field;

said output electrical cable having a sufficient length such that, when said light detector is disposed closely adjacent, but outside of the electrical field, said second control module is disposed remotely outside of the electrical field; and

said length of said output electrical cable being longer than said length of said output fiber optic cable;

(C) a combination of said light input and output subsystems.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the length of said input fiber optic cable is less than 8 feet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the length of said output fiber optic cable is less than 8 feet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein in combination (C), said light source, said first control module, said light detector, and said second control module are operatively associated with each other as part of a pulse oximeter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second control modules are integral with each other.

6. An oximeter system for use on a patient in an MRI environment including an RF field, said system including one of the following subsystems:

(A) a light input subsystem comprising;

(i) a first control module;

(ii) an electrically powered light source;

(iii) an input electrical cable connecting said first control module to said light source;

(iv) an input fiber optic cable having a first end connected to said light source for the transmission of analog optical signals and having a second end adapted to be disposed at a point adjacent the patient;

said input fiber optic cable having a sufficient length such that, when said input fiber optic cable second end is disposed at the point adjacent the patient, said light source is disposed closely adjacent, but outside of the RF field;

said input electrical cable having a sufficient length such that, when said light source is disposed closely adjacent, but outside of the RF field, said first control module is disposed remotely outside of the RF field; and

said length of said input electrical cable being longer than said length of said input fiber optic cable;

(B) a light output subsystem comprising;

(i) a second control module;

(ii) a light detector;

(iii) an output electrical cable connecting said second control module to said light detector;

(iv) an output fiber optic cable having a first end adapted to be disposed at a point adjacent the patient and a second end connected to said light detector for the transmission of analog optical signals;

said output fiber optic cable having a sufficient length such that, when said output fiber optic cable first end is disposed at the point adjacent the patient, said light detector is disposed closely adjacent, but outside of the RF field;

said output electrical cable having a sufficient length such that, when said light detector is disposed closely adjacent, but outside of the RF field, said second control module is disposed remotely outside of the RF field; and

said length of said output electrical cable being longer than said length of said output fiber optic cable; and

(C) a combination of said light input and output subsystems wherein said first and second control modules are integral with each other.

7. The system of claim 6, where the length of said input fiber optic cable is less than 8 feet and the length of said output fiber optic cable is less than 8 feet.