Sensor assembly

• US 7,359,742 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nonin Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nonin Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Maser, Douglas R., Johnson, Timothy L., Isaacson, Philip O.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US10/988,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 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

A flexible finger sensor having a finger entrance, a sensor holder at a distal end of the assembly, and a fenestrated region disposed between the finger entrance and the sensor holder. A displacement resistant finger sensor and method of use for reducing motion-related artifacts by mechanical isolation from external forces by providing a resilient sensor body having a digit entrance, a sensor holder, and a fenestrated region between the digit entrance and the sensor holder. The sensor holder maintains sensing elements relative to a user'"'"'s finger, with said sensing elements being in communication with a monitoring device via a lead wire. The lead wire may extend at a lateral edge of the sensor body. A force to the lead wire may be applied so as to distort the fenestrated region without substantially disturbing the sensing elements relative to the finger surface.

Claims

1. A finger sensor assembly comprising:

a collar at a proximal end of the assembly;

a sensor holder at a distal end of the assembly;

a fenestrated region between the collar and the sensor holder; and

a non-fenestrated bridge extending between the collar and the sensor holder.

2. The finger sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor holder, fenestrated region, and collar define a resilient expandable interior volume which is adapted to receive a human digit.

3. The finger sensor assembly of claim 2, further comprising a finger stop adapted to position an end of the finger within the sensor holder.

4. The finger sensor assembly of claim 2, and further comprising a lead wire extending from the collar.

5. The finger sensor assembly of claim 4, and further comprising a strain relief extending from the collar and positioned near a lateral edge of the collar.

6. The finger sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein a thickness of material of the fenestrated region is thinner than material defining the collar and the sensor holder.

7. The finger sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor holder includes a pair of sensor seats linearly located on opposing sides of the sensor holder.

8. The finger sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor holder is adapted to position an oximetric sensor proximate to a distal end of a human digit.

9. A finger sensor assembly comprising:

a collar at a proximal end of the assembly;

a sensor holder at a distal end of the assembly;

a fenestrated region connecting the collar to the sensor holder; and

a side pleat.

10. A finger sensor assembly comprising:

a resilient body adapted to be placed upon a user'"'"'s finger tip, said resilient body defining an entrance into an interior region adapted to engage surfaces of the finger tip, and having a side pleat at a lateral edge thereof;

a sensor attached to the resilient body and having at least partial access into the interior region for sensing a physiologic parameter of the user;

a lead communicating a signal from the sensor to an external monitor; and

a lead strain relief structure extending away from the resilient body and engaging a portion of the lead, wherein the strain relief structure is positioned near a lateral edge of the resilient body.

11. The finger sensor assembly of claim 10 wherein the lead strain relief structure is an elongated element having an internal passageway through which the portion of the conductive lead is routed.

12. The finger assembly of claim 10 wherein the lead strain relief structure is positioned proximate to the pleat.

13. A finger sensor assembly comprising:

a flexible body adapted to be resiliently secured upon a user'"'"'s finger tip, said body defining an entrance into an interior at a proximal end and a sensor holder near a distal end, said sensor holder maintaining a physiologic sensor element in proximity to a finger surface of the user, said flexible body having a plurality of fenestrations adjacent to the entrance and disposed between the entrance and the sensor holder, said body having a plurality of bridges extending across at least some of the plurality of fenestrations, and said plurality of fenestrations limiting an amount of material between the entrance and the sensor holder.

14. The finger assembly of claim 13 wherein the plurality of fenestrations includes a mesh structure.

15. The finger assembly of claim 13 further comprising a collar at the entrance, said collar being of substantially thicker or stiffer material than material proximate the plurality of fenestrations.

16. The finger assembly of claim 15 wherein the plurality of fenestrations is defined between the collar and the sensor holder.

17. The finger assembly of claim 15 further comprising a laterally-offset lead wire strain relief structure.

18. A method of using a finger sensor to reduce motion-related artifacts by mechanical isolation from external forces comprising:

providing a resilient sensor body having a collar portion, a sensor holder, and boht a fenestrated region between the collar portion and the sensor holder and at least one non-fenestrated bridge between the collar and the sensor holder, said sensor holder maintaining sensing elements relative to a surface of a user'"'"'s finger, said sensing elements being in communication with a monitoring device via a lead wire, said lead wire extending from the collar portion proximate to a lateral edge thereof; and

applying a force to the lead wire so as to distort the collar portion and the fenestrated region without substantially disturbing the sensing elements relative to the finger surface.

19. A method of using a finger sensor to reduce motion-related artifacts by mechanical isolation from external forces comprising:

providing a resilient sensor body having a digit entrance, a sensor holder, and a fenestrated region adjacent to the digit entrance disposed between the digit entrance and the sensor holder, said sensor body having a side pleat, said sensor holder maintaining sensing elements relative to a surface of a user'"'"'s finger, said sensing elements being in communication with a monitoring device via a lead wire, and said lead wire extending at a lateral edge proximate to the digit entrance of the sensor body; and

applying a force to the lead wire so as to distort the fenestrated region without substantially disturbing the sensing elements relative to the finger surface.

20. A finger sensor assembly comprising:

a collar at a proximal end of the assembly;

a sensor holder at a distal end of the assembly;

a fenestrated region connecting the collar to the sensor holder; and

a pleat structure extending along at least a portion of lateral portions of the sensor assembly proximate to the fenestrated region.

21. The finger sensor assembly of claim 20, wherein the sensor holder, fenestrated region, and collar define a resilient expandable interior volume which is adapted to receive a human digit.

22. The finger sensor assembly of claim 21, further comprising a finger stop adapted to position an end of the finger within the sensor holder.

23. The finger sensor assembly of claim 20, further comprising a strain relief extending from the collar and positioned near a lateral edge of the collar.

24. A finger sensor assembly comprising:

a collar at a proximal end of the assembly;

a sensor holder at a distal end of the assembly;

a fenestrated region connecting the collar to the sensor holder; and

at least one elongated non-fenestrated bridge between the collar and the sensor holder,

wherein the finger sensor assembly has an overall length, L, and the collar has a length, L_c, which is between 5% to 35% of L, and the fenestrated region has an overall length, L_fr, which is between 20% to 50% of L.

25. The finger sensor assembly of claim 24 wherein the length of the fenestrated region, L_fr, is approximately 35% of sensor length, L, and the collar length, L_c, is approximately 20% of sensor 10 length, L.