Oximeter sensor with functional liner

• US 6,622,034 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2002
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Imagenix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Imagenix Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelly, Alfred J, Gorski, Stephen H
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US10/070,016
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/322, 600/323, 600/340, 600/344
• US Class Current: 600/344
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

This invention is an improve non-invasive electro-optical sensor probe (10) that is initially L shaped to provide a mechanical means for accurate positioning of the sensor for subsequent use in connection with a patient appendage. The sensor further includes a leveling pad for at least partially surrounding a protruding sensor element (22, 24) to minimize protrusion of the element into the skin of a patient, and a functional liner (18) for use in pretest of the sensor prior to positioning on a patient.

Claims

1. A non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe for removable adhesive attachment to the skin of a patient for use in measuring light extinction during transillumination of the blood-perfused tissue beneath the skin, comprising:

a flexible, initially L-shaped web-like support structure containing substantially parallel, oppositely facing outer and inner surfaces, said inner surface including an adhesive coating;

a laminate tape structure containing a pair of longitudinally-spaced windows and being adhesively secured to said inner surface of said support structure;

a light source extending inwardly of one of said pair of windows being positioned to emit light;

a photo-sensor extending inwardly of the other of said pair of windows and being positioned to receive light emitted from said light source; and

at least one positioning element being fabricated of a relatively stiff material sufficient to initially maintain a generally L shape to said supporting structure and to said adhering tape structure.

2. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 1 wherein said L-shaped support structure includes integrally formed legs of unequal length.

3. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 1 wherein said probe further includes a removable liner covering said outer surface of said support structure.

4. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 1 further including a leveling pad structure including a notched end for receiving and surrounding said inwardly extending photo-sensor.

5. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 1 wherein said laminate tape structure includes a first tape layer and a second tape layer and defining a pocket therebetween.

6. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 5 wherein said positioning element is adhesively located in said pocket between said first and second tape layers.

7. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 5 further including a leveling pad structure is adhesively located in said pocket between said first and second layers and arranged to minimize stray light received by said photo-senor.

8. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 5 wherein said light source and said photo-sensor are each adhesively located in said pocket between said first and said second tape layers.

9. A method of pre-testing a non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe comprising the steps of:

providing a probe having a flexible, initially L-shaped, web-like, support structure containing substantially parallel, oppositely facing outer and inner surfaces, said inner surface including an adhesive coating, said probe further including a light source and a photo-sensor positioned to receive light emitted from said light source, and a removable liner covering said support structure and extending beyond said support structure to provide ends for temporary attachment to one another;

drawing said ends from said initial L shape towards one another;

temporarily attaching said ends together to form a tear drop loop therebetween; and

temporarily inserting a blood-perfused portion of flesh for pre-testing measurement of light extinction.