Sensor, method and device for optical blood oximetry
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor for noninvasive optical blood oximetry comprising:
- an applicator body having a contact surface adapted for apposition in contact with a blood perfused body tissue;
first and second emitters disposed in the applicator body in close proximity to one another and arranged to emit light rays of first and second wavelengths, respectively, to irradiate a first region of the blood perfused tissue, the first wavelength being different than the second wavelength;
a first waveguide comprising a plurality of light transmitting elements, the first waveguide having proximal and distal endfaces and being disposed in the applicator block surrounding the first and second emitters so that the distal endface is arranged in apposition to a second region of the blood perfused tissue spaced apart from the first region, a portion of the light rays emitted by the first and second emitters being reflected from within the second region, the first waveguide transmitting only light rays reflected from the second region having an angle within a first predetermined range;
a first detector optically coupled to the proximal endface of the first waveguide, the first detector producing a first electrical output signal corresponding to an intensity of the light transmitted to the first detector via the first waveguide.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is described a new sensor for optical blood oximetry as well as a method and apparatus in which the new sensor is used. The new sensor includes two point-like light emitters (23,24) positioned in the center of the device in close proximity to each other and at least one and preferably two annular detector terminals (32,39) concentrically surrounding the light emitters. The light sources may, for example, be two laser diodes emitting each monochromatic light within the range of 670 nm to 940 nm. The detector devices are, for example, photodetectors.
245 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A sensor for noninvasive optical blood oximetry comprising:
-
an applicator body having a contact surface adapted for apposition in contact with a blood perfused body tissue; first and second emitters disposed in the applicator body in close proximity to one another and arranged to emit light rays of first and second wavelengths, respectively, to irradiate a first region of the blood perfused tissue, the first wavelength being different than the second wavelength; a first waveguide comprising a plurality of light transmitting elements, the first waveguide having proximal and distal endfaces and being disposed in the applicator block surrounding the first and second emitters so that the distal endface is arranged in apposition to a second region of the blood perfused tissue spaced apart from the first region, a portion of the light rays emitted by the first and second emitters being reflected from within the second region, the first waveguide transmitting only light rays reflected from the second region having an angle within a first predetermined range; a first detector optically coupled to the proximal endface of the first waveguide, the first detector producing a first electrical output signal corresponding to an intensity of the light transmitted to the first detector via the first waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of noninvasive optical blood oximetry in blood perfused tissues comprising:
-
providing an optical sensor with applicator block holding at least two light emitter terminals in close proximity to each other and at least two annular light detector terminals concentrically surrounding said at least two light emitter terminals and having a contact surface; positioning said applicator block on a skin portion of a subject where the underlying tissues are to be investigated, with the contact surface facing the skin; sequentially emitting from said emitter terminals light of at least two different wavelengths; detecting the intensity of light signals arriving from the tissue under investigation by integral acquisition thereof by said at least two light detector terminals; determining the ratios between the intensity of light detected by said at least two annular light detector terminals at each of said at least two different wavelengths; and determining a value of oxygen saturation of the blood on the basis of such ratios. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An apparatus for noninvasive optical blood oximetry comprising:
-
a senor having a carrier body with an applicator block having a contact surface which in operation faces a blood perfused body tissue of a subject under investigation, which applicator block is fitted with at least two point like emitter terminals position in close proximity to each other and each emitting light of a wavelength distinct from that of the other, and at least two, essentially annular light detector terminals concentrically surrounding said at least two light emitter terminals, each having a free, light-acquiring end for the acquisition of light arriving from a tissue under investigation; at least two light sources coupled to said light emitter terminals and capable of emitting light of a least two different wavelengths; at least two optical detectors coupled to said at least two, essentially annular detector terminals; control means adapted to cause said at least two light sources to illuminate said tissue sequentially via said emitter terminals and to obtain synchronized measurements of intensity of light acquired by said at least two detectors via said at least two detector terminals; and processor means for determining characteristics of interest from the results of said synchronized measurements. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification