Shielded optical probe having an electrical connector

• US 7,132,641 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Mason, Eugene E., Schulz, Christian E., Al-Ali, Ammar, Mills, Mike A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US10/404,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20030162414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/239, 250/227.24, 250/227.25, 600/323, 600/344, 600/322, 600/310, 356/41, 439/160, 439/909, 439/729, 439/931
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/62 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/26 Pin or blade contacts for sliding co-operation on one side only for modular jack type connectors H01R24/62
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/00 Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure contact members H01R13/02; securing contact members in or to a base or case or insulating of contact members H01R13/40; bases or cases H01R13/46; means for supporting coupling part when not engaged H01R13/60; means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement H01R13/62; means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence

Abstract

A noninvasive optical probe has an electrical connector for connecting the optical probe to a cable connector. According to one embodiment, the electrical connector includes a durable flexible tab suspended between the housing of the optical probe and a protective cover. The electrical connector also advantageously forms, according to various embodiments, a flexible, plugable, lockable, removable, and sealable electrical connection.

Claims

1. A pulse oximetry system including a reusable pulse oximetry sensor capable of being separated from a cable, the sensor further comprising:

a reusable upper housing including one of a detector capable of detecting light attenuated by body tissue and a plurality of emitters capable of emitting light;

a reusable lower housing including the other of the detector and the plurality of emitters; and

a reusable hinge-like joint adjustably connecting the upper and lower housings to form an enclosure such that application of pressure to a first end of the upper and lower housings activates the hinge-like joint causing a second end of the upper and lower housings to separate and receive a digit of a wearer of the sensor, the hinge-like joint including a biasing member biasing the first end of the upper and lower housings toward one another,

wherein one of the upper and lower housings further comprises a sensor connector including first conductors electrically communicating with the plurality of emitters, second conductors electrically communicating with the detector, and a durable guide comprising a durable tab, the durable guide configured to align the first and second conductors with appropriate conductors of a matable cable connector when the instable cable connector is plugged into the sensor connector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor connector further includes a locking mechanism.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the durable guide includes a locking mechanism.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an aperture in a durable tab.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the durable tab further comprises a flexible circuit including the first and second conductors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor connector forms a protective housing at least partially covering the first and second conductors.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the protective housing is capable of substantially sealing the temporary connection between the first and second conductors and the conductors of the matable cable connector against external environmental conditions.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pulse oximeter configured to communicate with the sensor to determine one or more physiological parameters of the wearer of the sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cable.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an indicator configured to indicated when the sensor should be replaced.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises an information element.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the information element comprises a coding resistor.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower housings comprise an Injection moldable Thermoplastic material.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductors comprise conductive paths of a flexible circuit, the conductive paths comprising silver or copper.

15. A method of assembling a pulse oximeter system for determining one or more parameters of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a pulse oximeter capable of outputting emitter drive signals and receiving detector signals indicative of one or more parameters of a patient;

providing a reusable sensor, the reusuable sensor including an enclosure including a pivot mechanism between an upper housing and a lower housing, the pivot mechanism biased in a position to form the enclosure while application of pressure to one end of the upper and lower housings causes the pivot mechanism to open to accept human tissue, the upper housing including a plurality of emitters capable of emitting light and the lower housing including a detector capable of detecting light attenuated by body tissue, wherein one of the upper and lower housings further comprises a sensor connector including (i) first conductors electrically communicating with the plurality of emitters, (ii) second conductors electrically communicating with the detector, and (iii) a durable guide comprising a durable tab, the durable guide configured to align the first and second conductors with appropriate conductors of a matable cable connector when the instable cable connector is plugged into the sensor connector; and

providing one or more cables electrically connecting the pulse oximeter to the reusuable sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

connecting the one or more cables to the pulse oximeter; and

connecting the one or more cables to the reusable sensor by aligning the cable connector with the durable guide and mating the instable cable connector with the sensor connector.

17. A pulse oximetry system including a reusable pulse oximetry sensor capable of being separated from a cable, the sensor further comprising:

a upper housing including one of a detector capable of detecting light attenuated by body tissue and a plurality of emitters capable of emitting light;

a lower housing including the other of the detector and the plurality of emitters; and

a rotatable joint comprising an aperture end a pivoting element adjustably connecting the upper and lower housings to form an enclosure such that application of pressure to a first end of the upper and lower housings activates the hingelike joint causing a second end of the upper and lower housings to separate and receive a digit of a wearer of the sensor, the hinge-like joint including a biasing member biasing the first end of the upper and lower housings toward one another,

wherein one of the upper and lower housings further comprises a sensor connector including first conductors electrically communicating with the plurality of emitters, second conductors electrically communicating with the detector, and a durable guide configured to align the first and second conductors with appropriate conductors of a instable cable connector when the instable cable connector is plugged into the sensor connector.