Measuring sensor for monitoring characteristics of a living tissue
First Claim
1. A measuring sensor (10) for measuring characteristics of living tissue in a living body extremity, the measuring sensor comprising:
- a. at least two rigid detector legs (1, 2) movable (P1→
M) to varying distances (H1 . . . H2) from each other, b. a detector means (11) positioned on at least one of the detector leg;
c. an emission means (12) positioned on at least one of the detector legs, the emission means and the detector means being arranged such that the detector means receives a signal emitted by the emission means;
d. pivoting elements (5) formed in the detector legs, the pivoting elements connecting the detector legs and forming a pivot axis line (13) about which the detector legs are movable relative to each other;
e. at least two rigid operating legs (3, 4) each having a total length (L1) extending between a first end and an outer end, the first end of each operating leg being attached to one of the detector legs, the outer end of each operating leg extending beyond the pivot axis line (13); and
f. a spring element (7) positioned between the operating legs for producing a compressive force (P2) between the detector legs when the living tissue is positioned between the detector legs, the spring element being composed of a resilient elastomer material, wherein the spring element includes a solid body continuously extending from the first rigid operating leg to the second rigid operating leg, the spring element being in gripping contact with both the first operating leg and the second operating leg over a first length (L2) that is located substantially on the total length (L1) of the respective operating leg between the pivot axis line and the outer end of each operating leg;
wherein the spring element is shaped such that the pivot axis line extends through the spring element, the spring element including projections (23, 24) directed from the pivot axis line toward the outer end of the respective operating leg, the projections having a gap (20) therebetween at least substantially open to surrounding atmosphere, the projections being in gripping contact with the respective operating leg.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a measuring sensor (10), comprising: detector legs (1, 2 movable to varying distances (H1. . . H2) from each other; detector elements (11) and possible emission elements (12) in the detector legs; pivoting means, the detector legs being tiltable (M) relative to each other around a pivoting axis (13) established thereby; operating legs (3, 4), each of which is attached to done detector leg and serves as an extension thereof; a spring element (7) between the operating legs for producing a compressive force (P2) between the detector legs, containing for example a finger which is non-invasively measured with the measuring sensor for some characteristic. The spring element (7) consists of an elastomer material and a solid component, extending from the first operating leg (3) to the second operating leg (4). In addition, the spring element is in gripping contact with both operating legs (3 and 4) over such a length (L2) which is located substantially within a total length (L1) between the surrounding of said axis line (13) and outer ends (15) of the operating legs.
345 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A measuring sensor (10) for measuring characteristics of living tissue in a living body extremity, the measuring sensor comprising:
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a. at least two rigid detector legs (1, 2) movable (P1→
M) to varying distances (H1 . . . H2) from each other,b. a detector means (11) positioned on at least one of the detector leg;
c. an emission means (12) positioned on at least one of the detector legs, the emission means and the detector means being arranged such that the detector means receives a signal emitted by the emission means;
d. pivoting elements (5) formed in the detector legs, the pivoting elements connecting the detector legs and forming a pivot axis line (13) about which the detector legs are movable relative to each other;
e. at least two rigid operating legs (3, 4) each having a total length (L1) extending between a first end and an outer end, the first end of each operating leg being attached to one of the detector legs, the outer end of each operating leg extending beyond the pivot axis line (13); and
f. a spring element (7) positioned between the operating legs for producing a compressive force (P2) between the detector legs when the living tissue is positioned between the detector legs, the spring element being composed of a resilient elastomer material, wherein the spring element includes a solid body continuously extending from the first rigid operating leg to the second rigid operating leg, the spring element being in gripping contact with both the first operating leg and the second operating leg over a first length (L2) that is located substantially on the total length (L1) of the respective operating leg between the pivot axis line and the outer end of each operating leg;
wherein the spring element is shaped such that the pivot axis line extends through the spring element, the spring element including projections (23, 24) directed from the pivot axis line toward the outer end of the respective operating leg, the projections having a gap (20) therebetween at least substantially open to surrounding atmosphere, the projections being in gripping contact with the respective operating leg. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A measuring sensor (10) for measuring characteristics of living tissue in a living body extremity, the measuring sensor comprising;
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a. at least two rigid detector legs (1, 2) movable (P1→
M) to varying distances (H1 . . . H2) from each other;
b. a detector means (11) positioned on at least one of the detector legs;
c. an emission means (12) positioned on at least one of the detector legs, the emission means and the detector means being arranged such that the detector means receives a signal emitted by the emission means;
d. pivoting elements (5) formed in the detector legs, the pivoting elements connecting the detector legs and forming a pivot axis line (13) about which the detector legs are movable relative to each other;
e. at least two rigid operating legs (3, 4) each having a total length (L1) extending between a first end and an outer end, the first end of each operating leg being attached to one of the detector legs, the outer end of each operating leg extending beyond the pivot axis line (13); and
f. a spring element (7) positioned between the operating legs for producing a compressive force (P2) between the detector legs when the living tissue is positioned between the detector legs, the spring element being composed of a resilient elastomer material, wherein the spring element includes a solid body continuously extending from the first rigid operating leg to the second rigid operating leg, the spring element being in gripping contact with both the first operating leg and the second operating leg over a first length (L2) that is located substantially on the total length (L1) of the respective operating leg between the pivot axis line and the outer end of each operating leg;
wherein the spring element includes an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture extending concentrically with the pivot axis line, the aperture receiving an axle (28) connected to the pivot elements of each detector leg to provide pivoting movement between the detector legs.
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18. A measuring sensor (10) for measuring characteristics of living tissue in a living body extremity, the measuring sensor comprising:
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a. at least two rigid detector legs (1, 2) movable (P1→
M) to varying distances (H1 . . . H2) from each other;
b. a detector means (11) positioned on at least one of the detector legs;
c. an emission means (12) positioned on at least one of the detector legs, the emission means and the detector means being arranged such that the detector means receives a signal emitted by the emission means;
d. pivoting elements (5) formed in the detector legs, the pivoting elements connecting the detector legs and forming a pivot axis line (13) about which the detector legs are movable relative to each other;
e. at least two rigid operating legs (3, 4) each having a total length (L1) extending between a first end and an outer end, the first end of each operating leg being attached to one of the detector legs, the outer end of each operating leg extending beyond the pivot axis line (13); and
f. a spring element (7) positioned between the operating legs for producing a compressive force (P2) between the detector legs when the living tissue is positioned between the detector legs, the spring element being composed of a resilient elastomer material, wherein the spring element includes a solid body continuously extending from the first rigid operating leg to the second rigid operating leg, the spring element being in gripping contact with both the first operating leg and the second operating leg over a first length (L2) that is located substantially on the total length (L1) of the respective operating leg between the pivot axis line and the outer end of each operating leg;
wherein the spring element is formed from a cross-linked polymer having macro-molecular chains consisting of silicon or carbon. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A measuring sensor (10) for measuring characteristics of living tissue in a living body extremity, the measuring sensor comprising:
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a. at least two rigid detector legs (1, 2) movable (P1→
M) to varying distances (H1 . . . H2) from each other;
b. a detector means (11) positioned on at least one of the detector legs;
c. an emission means (12) positioned on at least one of the detector legs, the emission means and the detector means being arranged such that the detector means receives a signal emitted by the emission means;
d. pivoting elements (5) formed in the detector legs, the pivoting elements connecting the detector legs and forming a pivot axis line (13) about which the detector legs are movable relative to each other;
e. at least two rigid operating legs (3, 4) each having a total length (L1) extending between a first end and an outer end, the first end of each operating leg being attached to one of the detector legs, the outer end of each operating leg extending beyond the pivot axis line (13); and
f. a spring element (7) positioned between the operating legs for producing a compressive force (P2) between the detector legs when the living tissue is positioned between the detector legs, the spring element being composed of a resilient elastomer material, wherein the spring element includes a solid body continuously extending from the first rigid operating leg to the second rigid operating leg, the spring element being in gripping contact with both the first operating leg and the second operating leg over a first length (L2) that is located substantially on the total length (L1) of the respective operating leg between the pivot axis line and the outer end of each operating leg;
wherein the spring element includes a casing (25a;
25b) that extends past the pivot axis line onto the detector legs, the casing having an outer shape generally corresponding to the living tissue to be measured.- View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 43)
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25. A measuring sensor (10) for measuring characteristics of living tissue in a living body extremity, the measuring sensor comprising:
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a. at least two rigid detector legs (1, 2) movable (P1→
M) to varying distances (H1 . . . H2) from each other;
b. a detector means (11) positioned on at least one of the detector legs;
c. an emission means (12) positioned on at least one of the detector legs, the emission means and the detector means being arranged such that the detector means receives a signal emitted by the emission means;
d. pivoting elements (5) formed in the detector legs, the pivoting elements connecting the detector legs and forming a pivot axis line (13) about which the detector legs are movable relative to each other;
e. at least two rigid operating legs (3, 4) each having a total length (L1) extending between a first end and an outer end, the first end of each operating leg being attached to one of the detector legs, the outer end of each operating leg extending beyond the pivot axis line (13); and
f. a spring element (7) positioned between the operating legs for producing a compressive force (P2) between the detector legs when the living tissue is positioned between the detector legs, the spring element being composed of a resilient elastomer material, wherein the spring element includes a solid body continuously extending from the first rigid operating leg to the second rigid operating leg, the spring element being in gripping contact with both the first operating leg and the second operating leg over a first length (L2) that is located substantially on the total length (L1) of the respective operating leg between the pivot axis line and the outer end of each operating leg;
wherein the spring element is substantially V-shaped having a pair of mutually facing surfaces with an angle (α
) therebetween to provide a predetermined spring force.
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26. A measuring sensor (10) for measuring characteristics of living tissue in a living body extremity, the measuring sensor comprising:
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a. at least two rigid detector legs (1, 2) movable (P1→
M) to varying distances (H1 . . . H2) from each other;
b. a detector means (11) positioned on at least one of the detector legs;
c. an emission means (12) positioned on at least one of the detector legs, the emission means and the detector means being arranged such that the detector means receives a signal emitted by the emission means;
d. pivoting elements (5) formed in the detector legs, the pivoting elements connecting the detector legs and forming a pivot axis line (13) about which the detector legs are movable relative to each other;
e. at least two rigid operating legs (3, 4) each having a total length (L1) extending between a first end and an outer end, the first end of each operating leg being attached to one of the detector legs, the outer end of each operating leg extending beyond the pivot axis line (13);
f. a spring element (7) positioned between the operating legs for producing a compressive force (P2) between the detector legs when the living tissue is positioned between the detector legs, the spring element being composed of a resilient elastomer material, wherein the spring element includes a solid body continuously extending from the first rigid operating leg to the second rigid operating leg, the spring element being in gripping contact with both the first operating leg and the second operating leg over a first length (L2) that is located substantially on the total length (L1) of the respective operating leg between the pivot axis line and the outer end of each operating leg; and
g. projections formed on each of the detector legs and an axle (28) extending between the projections formed on each of the detector legs, the axle extending through the spring element to immobilize the spring element.
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27. A measuring sensor (10) for measuring characteristics of living tissue in a living body extremity, the measuring sensor comprising:
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a. at least two rigid detector legs (1, 2) movable (P1→
M) to varying distances (H1 . . . H2) from each other;
b. a detector means (11) positioned on at least one of the detector legs;
c. an emission means (12) positioned on at least one of the detector legs, the emission means and the detector means being arranged such that the detector means receives a signal emitted by the emission means;
d. pivoting elements (5) formed in the detector legs, the pivoting elements connecting the detector legs and forming a pivot axis line (13) about which the detector legs are movable relative to each other;
e. at least two rigid operating legs (3, 4) each having a total length (L1) extending between a first end and an outer end, the first end of each operating leg being attached to one of the detector legs, the outer end of each operating leg extending beyond the pivot axis line (13);
f. a spring element (7) positioned between the operating legs for producing a compressive force (P2) between the detector legs when the living tissue is positioned between the detector legs, the spring element being composed of a resilient elastomer material, wherein the spring element includes a solid body continuously extending from the first rigid operating leg to the second rigid operating leg, the spring element being in gripping contact with both the first operating leg and the second operating leg over a first length (L2) that is located substantially on the total length (L1) of the respective operating leg between the pivot axis line and the outer end of each operating leg; and
g. projections formed on each of the detector legs, the projections being coupled to each other with mutual apertures and jackets within their overlapping area (R) to form the pivot axis line. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A measuring sensor for measuring characteristics of living tissue in a living body extremity, the measuring sensor comprising:
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a pair of detector legs (1, 2) formed to receive the living body extremity therebetween, each detector leg including a pair of opposed, depending projections (5), the projections being coupled to each other to define a pivot axis line (13) about which the detector legs are movable with respect to each other;
a detector means (11) positioned on one of the detector legs;
an emission means (12) positioned on one of the detector legs, wherein the emission means emits a signal through the living body extremity, said signal being detected by the detector means;
a pair of rigid operating legs (3, 4) each attached to one of the detector legs and extending from the detector leg on an opposite side of the pivot axis line; and
a spring element (7) positioned between the operating legs to produce a compressive force to urge the operating legs away from each other and the detector legs toward each other, the spring element including a pair of resilient projections (23, 24) extending at an angle (α
) relative to each other, each projection being in gripping contact with one of the operating legs, wherein the angle decreases when the operating legs are moved toward each other.- View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44)
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45. A measuring sensor for measuring characteristics of living tissue in a living body extremity, the measuring sensor comprising:
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a pair of detector legs (1, 2) formed to receive the living body extremity therebetween, each detector leg including a pair or opposed, depending pivot elements (5), the pivot elements being coupled to each other to define a pivot axis line (13) about which the detector legs are movable with respect to each other;
detector means (11) positioned on one of the detector legs;
emission means (12) positioned on one of the detector legs, wherein the emission means emits a signal through the living body extremity, said signal being detected by the detector means;
a pair of rigid operating legs (3, 4) each attached to one of the detector legs and extending from the detector leg on an opposite side of the pivot axis line; and
a spring element (7) positioned between the operating legs to produce a compressive force to urge the operating legs away from each other and the detector legs toward each other, the spring element being substantially V-shaped having a pair of resilient projections (23, 24) extending at an angle (α
) relative to each other and a gap (20) therebetween at least substantially open to surrounding atmosphere, each projection being in gripping contact with one of the operating legs, wherein the angle decreases when the operating legs are moved toward each other.- View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification