Pulse oximeter and sensor optimized for low saturation

• US 6,272,363 B1
• Filed: 01/06/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mannheimer, Paul D., Nierlich, Steve L., Ruskewicz, Stephen J., Casciani, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NASSER, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US09/003,413
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 600/322, 600/323, 600/338
• US Class Current: 600/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0242 for varying or adjusting the optical path length in the tissue
• 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 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32245 the item being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73265 Layer and wire connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance

Abstract

A pulse oximeter sensor with a light source optimized for low oxygen saturation ranges and for maximizing the immunity to perturbation induced artifact. Preferably, a red and an infrared light source are used, with the red light source having a mean wavelength between 700-790 nm. The infrared light source can have a mean wavelength as in prior art devices used on patients with high saturation. The sensor of the present invention is further optimized by arranging the spacing between the light emitter and light detectors to minimize the sensitivity to perturbation induced artifact. The present invention optimizes the chosen wavelengths to achieve a closer matching of the absorption and scattering coefficient products for the red and IR light sources. This optimization gives robust readings in the presence of perturbation artifacts including force variations, tissue variations and variations in the oxygen saturation itself.

Claims

1. A fetal pulse oximeter sensor which comprises a housing with at least one light source and at least one light detector mounted in the housing in such a way that the detector is spaced from the light source and can detect light from the light source after scattering by fetal tissue, in which the light source and the light detector between them limit light signals received at the detector from the light source to no more than three spectra, a first spectrum having a mean wavelength in the infrared range of from 805 to 940 nm used conventionally for measuring oxygen saturation in a patient with high blood saturation, and a second spectrum having a mean wavelength of from 700 to 790 nm used, in conjunction with said first spectrum, for measuring oxygen saturation in a patient, said sensor being connectable to a pulse oximeter for using said first and second spectra to calculate arterial oxygen saturation.

2. A sensor as claimed in claim 1 in which a third spectrum has a mean wavelength near 660 nm.

5. The sensor of claims 1, or 4 wherein said sensor is a fetal sensor.

6. The sensor of claims 1, 3, or 4 wherein said second spectrum is used for calculating oxygen saturation for saturations below 80%.

7. The sensor of claims 1, 3, or 4 wherein said second spectrum is used for calculating oxygen saturation for saturations below 65%.

8. The sensor of claims 1, 3, or 4 wherein said sensor is a reflectance sensor.

9. The sensor of claims 1, 3, or 4 wherein said sensor is a transmission sensor.

10. The sensor of claims 1, 3, or 4 wherein said light source and said light detector are spaced apart by at least 10 cm.

11. The sensor of claims 1, 3, or 4 wherein said light source and said light detector are spaced apart by at least 14 cm.

12. The sensor of claims 1, 3, or 4 wherein only a single said light detector is provided in said sensor.

3. A pulse oximeter sensor which comprises a housing with at least one light source and at least one light detector mounted in the housing in such a way that the detector is spaced from the light source and can detect light from the light source after scattering by tissue, in which the light source and the light detector between them limit light signals received at the detector to only first and second spectra, a first spectrum having a mean wavelength in the infrared range of from 805 to 940 nm used conventionally for measuring oxygen saturation in a patient with high blood saturation, and a second spectrum having a mean wavelength of from 700 to 790 nm used, in conjunction with said first spectrum, for measuring oxygen saturation in a patient, said sensor being connectable to a pulse oximeter for using said first and second spectra to calculate arterial oxygen saturation.

4. A pulse oximeter sensor which comprises a housing with at least one light source and at least one light detector mounted in the housing in such a way that the detector is spaced from the light source and can detect light from the light source after scattering by tissue, in which the light source and the light detector between them limit light signals received at the detector to only first and second spectra each of whose mean wavelength is equal to or greater than 700 nm, the spectra including at least first and second spectra, a first spectrum having a mean wavelength in the infrared range of from 805 to 940 nm used conventionally for measuring oxygen saturation in a patient with high blood saturation, and a second spectrum having a mean wavelength of from 700 to 790 nm used, in conjunction with said first spectrum, for measuring oxygen saturation in a patient, said sensor being connectable to a pulse oximeter for using said first and second spectra to calculate arterial oxygen saturation.