Apparatus for determining spectral absorption by a specific substance in a fluid
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining spectral absorption by a specific substance in a fluid and indicating said spectral absorption to a remote display device, the apparatus comprising:
- an energy source, said energy source emitting energy having one or more predetermined wavelengths, said energy being partly absorbed by said fluid in accordance with a known extinction coefficient corresponding to said one or more predetermined wavelengths;
a sensing means for sensing energy emitted by said energy source, said sensing means producing an electrical output representing said spectral absorption;
an interface means for supplying a predetermined reference voltage representing said one or more predetermined wavelengths and said extinction coefficient, said reference voltage cooperatively interacting with said remote display device;
a support means for supporting said energy source, said sensing means and said interface means in proximity to said fluid; and
connector means for communicating said electrical output and said reference voltage to said remote display device.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for determining spectral absorption by a specific substance in a fluid having an energy source, a sensor an interface device, a support structure and a connector. The energy source directs energy having a predetermined wavelength into the fluid. The sensor produces an electrical output reflecting the energy it senses and indicative of the spectral absorption of the energy by the specific substance. The interface means generates a reference voltage to allow the apparatus to cooperate with prior art devices. A support means secures the other elements in proximity to the fluid. The connector communicates electrical signals to a remote display device.
376 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for determining spectral absorption by a specific substance in a fluid and indicating said spectral absorption to a remote display device, the apparatus comprising:
-
an energy source, said energy source emitting energy having one or more predetermined wavelengths, said energy being partly absorbed by said fluid in accordance with a known extinction coefficient corresponding to said one or more predetermined wavelengths; a sensing means for sensing energy emitted by said energy source, said sensing means producing an electrical output representing said spectral absorption; an interface means for supplying a predetermined reference voltage representing said one or more predetermined wavelengths and said extinction coefficient, said reference voltage cooperatively interacting with said remote display device; a support means for supporting said energy source, said sensing means and said interface means in proximity to said fluid; and connector means for communicating said electrical output and said reference voltage to said remote display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A pulse oximeter probe for non-invasively determining vascular oxygen saturation and pulse frequency in a patient, the pulse oximeter probe comprising:
-
one or more light emitting diode means for directing light into tissue of said patient, said light having a predetermined wavelength, said light being partly absorbed in accordance with a known extinction coefficient corresponding to said predetermined wavelength; a sensing means for sensing light directed by said light emitting diode means, said sensing means producing an electrical signal representing the amount of energy sensed; a voltage source means for supplying a predetermined, substantially constant output voltage, said voltage representing said predetermined wavelength and said extinction coefficient in a predetermined manner; and an assembly means for cooperatively supporting said one or more light emitting diode means, said sensing means, and said voltage source means adjacent said tissue of said patient. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A pulse oximeter probe for non-invasively sensing the arterial pulse frequency and percent oxygen saturation of the blood of a living patient and communicating with a display device, the pulse oximeter probe comprising:
-
one or more light emitting diode means for directing light energy into the tissue of said patient, said light emitting diode means being responsive to said display device, said light energy having a predetermined wavelength, said light energy being partly absorbed by said blood of said patient in accordance with a known extinction coefficient corresponding to said predetermined wavelength and said light energy being partly reflected by said blood; a sensing means for sensing intensity of light energy directed by said one or more light emitting diode means and not absorbed by said blood, and converting said intensity of light energy to an electrical signal; a precision voltage regulator means for supplying a predetermined, substantially constant, voltage representing said predetermined wavelength and said extinction coefficient, said voltage being substantially independent of variations in temperature or supply voltage and electrical noise and said voltage cooperating interactively with said display device; a support means for detachably supporting said one or more light emitting diode means, said sensing means, and said precision voltage regulator means adjacent said tissue of said patient; and connector means for communicating said electrical signal and said voltage to said display device. - View Dependent Claims (10)
-
-
11. A pulse oximeter probe for non-invasively sensing the arterial pulse frequency and percent oxygen saturation of the blood of a living patient and communicating with a display device, the pulse oximeter probe comprising:
-
one or more light emitting diode means responsive to a control signal from said display device for directing light energy into the tissue of said patient, said light energy having a predetermined wavelength, said light energy being partly absorbed by said blood of said patient in accordance with a known extinction coefficient corresponding to said predetermined wavelength and said light energy being partly reflected by said blood; a sensing means for sensing intensity of light energy directed by said one or more light emitting diode means and not absorbed by said blood, and converting said intensity of light energy to an electrical signal; a precision voltage regulator means for supplying a predetermined voltage representing said predetermined wavelength and said extinction coefficient, said voltage being substantially independent of variation in temperature or supply voltage and electrical noise and said voltage cooperating interactively with said display device; a support means for detachably supporting said one or more light emitting diode means, said sensing means, and said precision voltage regulator means adjacent said tissue of said patient; and connector means for communicating said electrical signal and said voltage to said display device. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
-
13. A probe for use with a pulse oximeter, said pulse oximeter producing an indication of arterial pulse rate or percent oxygen saturation of a patient, or both, the probe comprising:
-
energy means for directing energy into tissue of said patient at one or more predetermined wavelengths; sensing means for sensing said energy and producing an electrical output representing said percent oxygen saturation; interface means for supplying a substantially constant reference signal to said pulse oximeter, said reference signal corresponding to said one or more predetermined wavelengths in a predetermined manner, said reference signal cooperatively interacting with said pulse oximeter; and connector means for communicating said electrical output and said reference signal to said pulse oximeter. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A pulse oximeter probe for use with a pulse oximeter, the pulse oximeter producing an indication of vascular oxygen saturation or pulse frequency or both in a patient responsive to an electrical signal received from said pulse oximeter probe, the pulse oximeter probe comprising:
-
an energy source adapted to be coupled with said pulse oximeter, said energy source directing light energy into tissue of the patient, said light energy having at least one predetermined wavelength, said light energy being partly absorbed by said tissue in accordance with at least one extinction coefficient, said at least one extinction coefficient corresponding to said at least one predetermined wavelength, said light energy being partly transmitted through said tissue; a photodetector adapted to be coupled with said pulse oximeter, said photodetector sensing said transmitted light energy and producing said electrical signal, said electrical signal representing an amount of light energy sensed; and an encoder adapted to be coupled with said pulse oximeter, said encoder supplying a substantially constant encoded signal, said encoded signal encoding said at least one predetermined wavelength, said pulse oximeter decoding said encoded signal to determine said at least one extinction coefficient for producing said indication. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification