Shunt barrier in pulse oximeter sensor

• US 7,389,130 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hannula, Don, Fein, Michael E., Mannheimer, Paul D., Delonzor, Russ
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berhanu; Etsub D
• Application Number:
  US11/526,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20070015982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 600/309, 600/310, 600/322, 600/323, 600/344
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/146 for optical coupling
• 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 pulse oximeter sensor having an emitter(s) and a detector, with a layer having a first portion of the emitter and a second portion of layer over the detector is provided. A barrier is included between the first and second portions of the overlying layer to substantially block radiation of the wavelengths emitted by the emitter(s). Preferably, the barrier reduces the radiation shunted to less than 10% of the radiation detected, and more preferably to less than 1% of the radiation detected.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

an emitter;

a detector; and

a substrate comprising one or more layers under or over the emitter and the detector, the substrate comprising at least one removed portion between the emitter and the detector that extends less than an entire width of the substrate, wherein the at least one removed portion is located so as to interrupt any direct light path through the substrate from the emitter to the detector.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein remaining portions of the substrate that are next to the removed portion have a bending shape that reduces shunted light reaching the detector.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein remaining portions of the substrate that are next to the removed portion have curved edges that reduce shunted light reaching the detector.

4. A sensor comprising:

an emitter;

a detector; and

a layer under or over the emitter and the detector, the layer comprising a width and an air break between the emitter and the detector that is less than thee width of the layer, wherein the air break is located so as to interrupt any direct light path through the layer between the emitter and the detector.

5. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the emitter is configured to emit infrared light.

6. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the emitter is configured to emit red light.

7. A sensor comprising:

an emitter;

a detector;

a plurality of layers that are capable of transmitting light emitted by the emitter; and

a shunt attenuating material comprising a portion that lies between the emitter and the detector, wherein the shunt attenuating material is capable of attenuating light emitted by the emitter that passes through one or more of the plurality of layers, such that less than 10% of the light detected by the detector is shunted light.

8. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the plurality of layers comprises an adhesive layer.

9. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the plurality of layers comprises a substrate layer.

10. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the shunt attenuating material is capable of attenuating light emitted by the emitter that passes through one or more of the plurality of layers, such that less than 1% of the light detected by the detector is shunted light.

11. A method of manufacturing a sensor comprising:

providing an emitter and a detector;

providing one or more layers coupled to the emitter and the detector, wherein the one or more layers comprises a removed portion between the emitter and the detector of less than an entire width of the one or more layers, wherein the removed portion is located so as to interrupt any direct light path through the one or more layers between the emitter and the detector.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing one or more layers coupled to the emitter and the detector comprises providing one or more layers coupled to a light emitting side of the emitter and a light detecting side of the detector.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a remaining portion of the one or more layers next to the removed portion comprises a curved edge capable of reducing shunted light reaching the detector.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the removed portion comprises an air gap in at least one of the one or more layers.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the removed portion is capable of attenuating light emitted by the emitter that passes through at least one of the one or more layers, such that less than 10% of the light detected by the detector is shunted light.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the removed portion is capable of attenuating light emitted by the emitter that passes through at least one of the one or more layers, such that less than 1% of the light detected by the detector is shunted light.

17. A method of operating a sensor comprising:

emitting light with an emitter coupled to one or more layers; and

detecting at least a portion of the light emitted by the emitter with a detector coupled to the one or more layers, wherein less than 10% of the light detected by the detector is light shunted through the one or more layers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein emitting light with the emitter comprises emitting infrared light.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein emitting light with the emitter comprises emitting red light.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein less than 1% of the light detected by the detector is shunted light.

21. The method of claim 17, comprising attenuating light that is shunted through the one or more layers with a shunt attenuating material, wherein at least a portion of the shunt attenuating material is between the emitter and the detector.

22. The method of claim 17, comprising attenuating light that is shunted through the one or more layers with a removed portion of the one or more layers, wherein the removed portion is located between the emitter and the detector.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the removed portion comprises an air gap in at least one of the one or more layers.