Method of curving a fetal sensor

• US 5,960,610 A
• Filed: 10/01/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Palmer, Phillip S., Gronvall, Daniel, Weber, Bryan J., Shaw, Richard L., Lopez, Andres Jimenez, Casciani, James R., Levinson, Mitchell
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, LINDA B
• Application Number:
  US08/941,947
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 53/410, 53/429, 53/430, 53/139.5, 53/472, 53/474, 53/445
• US Class Current: 53/429
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6855 with a distal curved tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6856 with a distal loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/002 Packages specially adapted therefor combined with means for introducing catheters, e.g. dispensers, A61M25/0113; catheter kit packages for surgical articles A61B50/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility

Abstract

An improved method for bending an oximeter sensor which simplifies the manufacturing. The sensor is manufactured without a bend, but when it is packaged for shipping, it is bent and restrained in the bent position. The sensor is made of a material which has memory so that when the packaging which restrains it is removed for use, the sensor will retain a partially bent shape.

Claims

1. A method for packaging an oximeter sensor having a sensor rod connected to a sensor, comprising the steps of:

forming said sensor rod from a material which has memory;

bending said sensor rod more than amount of desired bending;

restraining said sensor rod in a bent position with a restraining material; and

packaging and shipping said sensor;

such, that after being shipped said sensor can be unpacked and will expand to a partially bent position upon removal of said restraining material.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said restraining step comprises securing a portion of said oximeter sensor near a distal end to a mid-portion of said sensor rod.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said restraining step comprises enclosing said oximeter sensor with packaging material.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said enclosing step comprises placing said oximeter sensor in a surrounding package sufficiently narrow to maintain said sensor in said bent position.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensor rod includes a channel for inserting a stylet, and said restraining step further comprises inserting a curved stylet into said channel.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said oximeter sensor is bent around approximately a 180 degree angle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said oximeter sensor is bent around at least a 150 degree angle.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensor rod includes a channel for inserting a stylet, and further comprising the step of only partially inserting said stylet so that it is not bent when said sensor rod is bent.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensor rod is bent between 150 and 210 degrees and is made of a plastic having a plastic memory sufficient to retain a bend of between 45 and 120 degrees after unrestraining said sensor rod.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said plastic is a thermoplastic elastomer.

11. A method for packaging an oximeter sensor having a sensor rod connected to a sensor, wherein said sensor rod includes a channel for inserting a stylet, comprising the steps of:

forming said sensor rod from a material which has memory;

only partially inserting said stylet so that it is not bent when said sensor rod is bent;

bending said sensor rod more than the amount of desired bending;

restraining said sensor rod in a bent position with a restraining material;

wherein said sensor rod is bent between 150 and 210 degrees and is made of a plastic having a plastic memory sufficient to retain a bend of between 45 and 120 degrees after unrestraining said sensor rod; and

packaging and shipping said sensor;

such that after being shipped said sensor can be unpacked and will expand to a partially bent position upon removal of said restraining material.