Disposable pulse oximeter sensor

• US 5,469,845 A
• Filed: 09/13/1993
• Issued: 11/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: DeLonzor, Russell, Middleman, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASSER, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US08/120,267
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 128/633, 128/664-666, 356/41
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A conformable sensor which uses a flexible substrate, preferably a polyester strip is disclosed. The emitter and detector are mounted on one portion of the strip with conductive traces connecting to them. The second portion of the strip is folded over to cover the emitter and detector and traces, with openings for the emitter and detector. A conductive coating is applied to the strip to provide shielding from electromagnetic interference. Preferably, a second portion of the strip, which folds over the first portion, also has a Faraday shield covering the opening over the detector. The detector and emitter semiconductor chip die (rather than use encapsulated chips) may be mounted directly on the polyester strip so that it is in contact with one of the conductive traces.

Claims

1. A non-invasive, electrooptical sensor for removable attachment to the skin of a patient, comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a light emitter mounted on one of a first and second portion of the substrate;

a light detector mounted on one of said first and second portions of the substrate; and

said second portion of the substrate being folded over to cover said first portion of the substrate, said second portion of the substrate at least partially covering the first portion of the substrate and being electrically connected thereto, with said substrate allowing light to reach said light emitter and the light detector.

2. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of conductive lines on at least one of the first and second portions of the substrate connected to the light emitter and the light detector; and

a conductive layer on a surface of the substrate shielding a portion of said lines.

3. The sensor of claim 2 wherein said conductive layer is conductive ink.

4. The sensor of claim 2 wherein said conductive lines are conductive ink.

5. The sensor of claim 2 further comprising at least one coding resistor coupled to at least one of said conductive lines.

6. The sensor of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of said coding resistor is formed from resistive ink.

7. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said substrate has openings allowing light to reach said light detector.

8. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said substrate has at least one transparent portion allowing light to reach said light detector.

9. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a Faraday shield attached to said substrate over said light detector.

10. The sensor of claim 1 wherein at least one of said light emitter and light detector comprise a semiconductor die directly mounted on said flexible substrate.

11. The sensor of claim 10 wherein said semiconductor die has an electrical contact pad on a face thereof which is directly mounted on a conductive area on said flexible substrate and electrically connected thereto.

12. The sensor of claim 10 further comprising a wire bond coupling said semiconductor die directly to a conductive trace on said substrate,

13. The sensor of claim 10 further comprising a clear epoxy covering said semiconductor die.

14. The sensor of claim 1 wherein at least one of said light emitter and light detector has an active surface facing said substrate, said substrate allowing light to pass through to said active surface.

15. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the substrate is polyester.

16. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a plug coupled to one end of one of said portions of said flexible substrate.

17. A non-invasive, electrooptical sensor for removable attachment to the skin of a patient, comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a light emitter mounted on one of a first and second portion of the substrate;

a light detector mounted on one of said first and second portions of the substrate;

said second portion of the substrate at least partially covering the first portion of the substrate and being electrically connected thereto, with said substrate allowing

18. The sensor of claim 17 further comprising a Faraday shield attached to said substrate over said light detector.

19. The sensor of claim 17 wherein at least one of said light emitter and light detector comprise a semiconductor die directly mounted on said flexible substrate.

20. The sensor of claim 17 wherein at least one of said light emitter and light detector has an active surface facing said substrate, said substrate allowing light to pass through to said active surface.

21. The sensor of claim 17 further comprising a plurality of electrical contacts on one of said first and second portions of the substrate.

22. The sensor of claim 21 wherein said plurality of conductive lines are other than a ground line, and are connected to said electrical contacts.