Pulse oximeter probe

• US 5,687,719 A
• Filed: 03/25/1994
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ikuo Sato, Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ikuo Sato, Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Ikuo, Sugiura, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/217,716
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 128/633-634, 128/664-667
• US Class Current: 600/329
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1464 specially adapted for foetal tissue

Abstract

To determine the oxygen saturation and other parameters of blood flowing in a fetus positioned in the uterus by detecting the pulsation of the blood in the birthing process from the rupture of the water membrane to the delivery of the baby. An opening is formed near the distal end of a curved support member and both light-emitting portion and light-receiving portion are positioned in the opening as they are spaced apart by a specified gap in which the head of a fetus is rested for detecting the pulsation of blood using measurements of transmitted light.

Claims

1. A pulse oximeter probe comprising:

a light emitting element for emitting a light to a head of a fetus;

a light receiving element for receiving from said light emitting element at least one of transmitted light and reflected light to detect the pulsation of blood in the fetus; and

a supporting member with a predetermined curvature, the supporting member having an opening wherein the light emitting element and the light receiving element are positioned in the opening to form a gap between the light emitting element and the light receiving element to receive a portion of the head of the fetus, wherein the supporting member comprises a plurality of laminated silicon sheets wherein one of the silicon sheets has a black rough surface.

2. A pulse oximeter probe comprising:

a light emitting element for emitting a light to a head of a fetus;

a light receiving element for receiving from said light emitting element at least one of transmitted light and reflected light to detect the pulsation of blood in the fetus; and

a supporting member with a predetermined curvature, the supporting member having an opening wherein the light emitting element and the light receiving element are positioned in the opening to form a gap between the light emitting element and the light receiving element to receive a portion of the head of the fetus;

a first and second silicon plate positioned in the opening of the supporting member, wherein each silicon plate has a hole and the light emitting element is aligned with the hole of the first plate and the light receiving element aligned with the hole of the second plate, each silicon plate has a black rough surface, and the holes contain a transparent resin.

3. A pulse oximeter comprising:

a light emitting element for emitting light to a head of a fetus;

a light receiving element for receiving from said light emitting element at least one of transmitted light and reflected light to detect the pulsation of blood in the fetus;

a first silicon plate containing a hole wherein the light emitting element is aligned with the hole and the hole contains a transparent resin;

a second silicon plate containing a hole, wherein the light receiving element is aligned with the hole and the hole contains a transparent resin; and

a tapered support member with a predetermined curvature not greater than the curvature of a head of a fetus;

wherein said supporting member comprises a plurality of laminated silicon sheets and has an opening in which the first and second silicon plates are positioned to form a gap to receive a portion of the head of the fetus.