Methods and apparatus for the invasive use of oximeter probes

• US 5,743,261 A
• Filed: 03/28/1995
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dolphin Medical, Inc. (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sensor Devices, Inc. (Mars Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gorski, Stephen H., Young, Robert L., Mainiero, Louis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US08/412,287
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 128/632-634, 128/637, 128/664-667, 356/39-41
• US Class Current: 600/334
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/285 Endotracheal, oesophageal or gastric probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6855 with a distal curved tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6859 with multiple distal splines
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/023 for introduction into the body, e.g. into the oesophagus oesophageal ECG probes A61B5/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature

Abstract

A probe useful for invasively monitoring the oxygen saturation level of blood in the tissue walls of an anatomical canal generally includes a chassis with an electrical connector extending from the proximal end of the chassis and terminating at a plug configured for connection to a pulse oximeter box. The probe further includes an optics assembly configured to generate and transmit electrical signals that are indicative of the dynamic oxygen saturation level of blood in the wall tissue. The probe further includes a deployment device attached to the chassis for biasing the optics assembly into the tissue wall of the anatomical canal.

Claims

1. A probe useful for invasively monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in at least one tissue wall of an esophagus, the probe comprising:

a chassis having a proximal end and a distal end;

an electrical connector extending from said proximal end of said chassis and

terminating at a plug configured for connection to a pulse oximeter box;

a reflectance optics assembly configured to generate and transmit electrical signals to said oximeter box, said signals being indicative of the oxygen saturation level of blood in the wall tissue; and

a deployment device attached to said chassis and said reflectance optics assembly, said deployment device useful in urging said reflectance optics assembly into at least one tissue wall of the esophagus to aid in generation of said electrical signals.

2. The probe of claim 1 wherein said reflectance optics assembly comprises an emitter assembly and a detector assembly.

3. The probe of claim 2 wherein said deployment device comprises an inflatable balloon connected to said chassis, and wherein said emitter and detector assemblies are affixed to an external surface of said inflatable balloon.

4. The probe of claim 3 further comprising a balloon inflating tube operatively connected to said balloon and said chassis, said tube being configured to permit fluid to be passed into said balloon to inflate said balloon.

5. The probe of claim 2 wherein said deployment device comprises a spring assembly connected to said chassis.

6. The probe of claim 5 wherein said spring assembly comprises:

a first spring mechanism, said emitter assembly being operatively connected to said first spring mechanism; and

a second spring mechanism, said detector assembly being operatively connected to said second spring mechanism.

7. The probe of claim 6 wherein said deployment device further includes means for selectively controlling said first and second spring mechanisms to thereby control the placement of said emitter and detector assemblies along the length of said chassis.

8. The probe of claim 5 wherein said spring assembly comprises a single spring mechanism and said emitter and said detector assemblies are suitably affixed to said single spring mechanism.

9. The probe of claim 8 further comprising a substrate suitably connected to said single spring mechanism and said emitter and said detector assembly are affixed to said substrate.

10. The probe of claim 8 wherein said deployment device includes means for selectively controlling said spring mechanism to thereby control the placement of said emitter and detector assemblies along the length of said chassis.

11. The probe of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor optical coupler, at least a portion of said reflectance optics assembly being contained within said coupler.

12. A method of invasively monitoring an oxygen saturation level of a blood perfused tissue of an esophagus, comprising the steps of:

manually inserting a distal end of an oximeter probe comprising a chassis, a biasing device, an electro-optical emitter and an electro-optical detector into the esophagus;

manually guiding said probe into said esophagus;

manipulating said chassis and deploying said biasing device such that said emitter and said detector are sufficiently embedded into said blood perfused tissue;

configuring an optical path between said emitter and said detector, such that said oximeter signal passes through said blood perfused tissue; and

evaluating said signals from said detector to monitor the oxygen saturation level of said blood perfused tissue.

13. A probe useful for invasively monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in at least one tissue wall of an anatomical cavity, the probe comprising:

a chassis having a proximal end and a distal end;

an electrical connector extending from said proximal end of said chassis and terminating at a plug configured for connection to a pulse oximeter box;

a reflectance optics assembly configured to generate and transmit electrical signals to said oximeter box, said signals being indicative of the oxygen saturation level of blood in the wall tissue;

at least one sensor optical coupler containing at least a portion of said reflectance optics assembly; and

a deployment device attached to said chassis and said reflectance optics assembly, said deployment device useful in urging said at least one sensor optical coupler into at least one tissue wall of the anatomical cavity.

14. The probe of claim 13, comprising at least two optical couplers, and wherein said reflectance optics assembly comprises at least an emitter assembly and a detector assembly, said emitter assembly being contained within a first of said optical couplers and said detector assembly being contained within a second of said optical couplers.

15. The probe of claim 14 wherein said first and second couplers comprise a housing having substantially cylindrical side walls and a substantially domed top.

16. The probe of claim 15 wherein said side walls of said first and second couplers are substantially optically opaque and said top of said couplers is formed of a substantially optically transmissive material.

17. The probe of claim 15 wherein said top and a first portion of said side walls of said first optical coupler is formed of an optically opaque material, and a second portion of said side walls of said first optical coupler is formed of an optically transmissive material.

18. The probe of claim 17 wherein said top and a first portion of said side walls of said second optical coupler is formed of an optically opaque material, and a second portion of said side walls of said second optical coupler is formed of an optically transmissive material.

19. The probe of claim 18 wherein said second portion of said second coupler side wall is of a larger dimension than said second portion of said first coupler side wall.

20. The probe of claim 15 wherein said first and second couplers are suitably mounted to a mounting platform, said mounting platform operatively connected to said chassis.

21. The probe of claim 20 wherein said deployment device is interposed between said platform and said chassis.

22. A probe useful for invasively monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in at least one tissue wall of an anatomical cavity, the probe comprising:

a chassis having a proximal end and a distal end;

an electrical connector extending from said proximal end of said chassis and terminating at a plug configured for connection to a pulse oximeter box;

a reflectance optics assembly including an emitter assembly and a detector assembly and configured to generate and transmit electrical signals to said oximeter box, said signals being indicative of the oxygen saturation level of blood in the wall tissue; and

a spring assembly attached to said chassis, wherein said emitter assembly and said detector assembly are attached to said spring assembly, and wherein upon deployment of said spring assembly, said emitter assembly and said detector assembly are urged into at least one tissue wall of the anatomical cavity, said spring assembly comprising;

a first spring mechanism, said emitter assembly being operatively connected to said first spring mechanism;

a second spring mechanism, said detector assembly being operatively connected to said second spring mechanism; and

means for selectively controlling said first and said second spring mechanisms to thereby control the placement of said emitter assembly and said detector assembly along the length of said chassis.

23. A probe useful for invasively monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in at least one tissue wall of an anatomical cavity, the probe comprising:

a chassis having a proximal end and a distal end;

an electrical connector extending from said proximal end of said chassis and terminating at a plug configured for connection to a pulse oximeter box;

a reflectance optics assembly including an emitter assembly and a detector assembly and configured to generate and transmit electrical signals to said oximeter box, said signals being indicative of the oxygen saturation level of blood in the wall tissue;

a single spring mechanism attached to said chassis;

a substrate suitably connected to said single spring mechanism, wherein said emitter assembly and said detector assembly are affixed to said substrate, and wherein upon deployment of said single spring mechanism, said emitter assembly and said detector assembly are urged into at least one tissue wall of the anatomical cavity; and

means for selectively controlling said spring mechanism to thereby control the placement of said emitter assembly and said detector assembly along the length of said chassis.