Partially rigid-partially flexible electro-optical sensor for fingertip transillumination

• US 5,891,021 A
• Filed: 06/03/1998
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Perdue Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Perdue Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Todd, Secunda, Jeffrey Albert, Dillon, Andrew Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US09/089,523
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/322, 600/323, 600/340, 600/344, 600/473, 600/476
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

A sensor is provided for transillumination of a blood-profused portion of a human fingertip. The sensor includes an opaque, semi-cylindrical substantially rigid cradle member having a photosensor mounted to a concave surface thereof such that ambient light cannot penetrate the cradle member and induce erroneous readings. A flexible planar web-like support structure is attached at one end thereof to the cradle member and includes a light source mounted within the web thereof. A repositionable adhesive coating on the concave surface of the cradle member holds the fleshy portion of a human fingertip in conformance therewith, and when the flexible planar web-like support structure is wrapped around a fingertip within the cradle member, the light source overlies the photosensor for transillumination of the fingertip.

Claims

1. A non-invasive electro-optical sensor for removable adhesive attachment to a fingertip of a patient for use in measuring light extinction during transillumination of the blood-perfused tissue within said fingertip, said sensor comprising:

an opaque, semi-cylindrical, substantially rigid cradle member having a concave surface, a convex surface and a diameter larger than the diameter of a human fingertip;

a flexible, initially substantially planar web-like support structure attached at one end thereof to said cradle member;

a photosensor mounted on said concave surface of said cradle member;

a light source mounted in said web like support structure, said light source having a light-emitting surface which directly overlies said photosensor when said support structure is wrapped around a human fingertip within said cradle member; and

an adhesive layer on said concave surface of said cradle member for removably adhesively securing said concave surface of said cradle member to a fleshy portion of a human fingertip such that said concave surface is held in conformance with said human fingertip without stressing said human fingertip.

2. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 1 further including means for securing said support structure in a wrapped position around a human fingertip within said cradle member such that said light source directly overlies said photosensor.

3. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 1 wherein said opaque, semi-cylindrical, substantially rigid cradle member is constructed of molded polyolefin plastic.

4. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 3 wherein said opaque, semi-cylindrical, substantially rigid cradle member is constructed of polypropylene.

5. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 1 further including a recess within said concave surface of said cradle member for receiving said photosensor.

6. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 1 further including an electrical conductor channel formed within said concave surface of said cradle member.

7. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 1 wherein said support structure is attached at one end thereof to a circumferential portion of said opaque, semi-cylindrical, substantially cradle member such that said support structure can be wrapped around a circumference of said cradle member.

8. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 1 wherein said support structure is attached at one end thereof to an end portion of said opaque, semi-cylindrical, substantially cradle member such that said support structure can be wrapped around an axis of said cradle member.

9. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive layer comprises a separate double-sided adhesive layer applied to said concave surface of said cradle member.

10. A non-invasive electro-optical sensor for removable adhesive attachment to a fingertip of a patient for use in measuring light extinction during transillumination of the blood-perfused tissue within said fingertip, said sensor comprising:

an opaque, semi-cylindrical, substantially rigid cradle member having a concave surface, a convex surface and a diameter larger than the diameter of a human fingertip;

a flexible, initially substantially planar web-like support structure attached at one end thereof to said cradle member;

a light source mounted on said concave surface of said cradle member;

a photosensor mounted in said web like support structure, said photosensor having a photo-sensitive surface which directly overlies said light source when said support structure is wrapped around a human fingertip within said cradle member; and

an adhesive layer on said concave surface of said cradle member for removably adhesively securing said concave surface of said cradle member to a fleshy portion of a human fingertip such that said concave surface is held in conformance with said human fingertip without stressing said human fingertip.

11. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 10 further including means for securing said support structure in a wrapped position around a human fingertip within said cradle member such that said light source directly overlies said photosensor.

12. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 10 wherein said opaque, semi-cylindrical, substantially rigid cradle member is constructed of molded polyolefin plastic.

13. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 12 wherein said opaque, semi-cylindrical, substantially rigid cradle member is constructed of polypropylene.

14. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 10 further including a recess within said concave surface of said cradle member for receiving said light source.

15. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 10 further including an electrical conductor channel formed within said concave surface of said cradle member.

16. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 10 wherein said support structure is attached at one end thereof to a circumferential portion of said opaque, semi-cylindrical, substantially cradle member such that said support structure can be wrapped around a circumference of said cradle member.

17. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 10 wherein said support structure is attached at one end thereof to an end portion of said opaque, semi-cylindrical, substantially cradle member such that said support structure can be wrapped around an axis of said cradle member.

18. The non-invasive electro-optical sensor according to claim 10 wherein said adhesive layer comprises a separate double-sided adhesive layer applied to said concave surface of said cradle member.