Connector assembly with reduced unshielded area
First Claim
1. A connector in a noninvasive patient monitoring system, the connector configured to communicate drive signals received from a patient cable and to communicate detector signals indicative of attenuation of light by body tissue and generated by a sensor circuit, the connector comprising:
- a plurality of emitter signal conduit segments;
one or more detector signal conduit segments;
a first connector portion comprising a housing and configured to removably attach with a second connector portion comprising a housing, the housing of the first connector portion housing the plurality of emitter signal conduit segments which are each configured to couple with a corresponding signal conduit segment that is housed by the housing of the second connector portion, the housing of the first connector portion further housing the one or more detector signal conduit segments which are each configured to couple with a corresponding signal conduit segment that is housed by the housing of the second connector portion; and
a shielding mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing of the first connector portion and configured to reduce unshielded areas surrounding the one or more detector signal conduit segments, the shielding mechanism comprising one or more detector shielding members, at least a portion of each of the one or more detector signal conduit segments disposed within a corresponding one of the one or more detector shielding members, at least one of the plurality of emitter signal conduit segments disposed outside the one or more detector shielding members.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure is advantageously configured to allow a sensor connector to straightforwardly and efficiently join with and detach from a patient cable connector. Further, embodiments of the connector assembly advantageously reduce un-shielded area in an electrical connection between a patient cable and a sensor connector. In addition, embodiments of the connector assembly advantageously increase the shielding of detector signals coming from the patient sensor to the monitor.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A connector in a noninvasive patient monitoring system, the connector configured to communicate drive signals received from a patient cable and to communicate detector signals indicative of attenuation of light by body tissue and generated by a sensor circuit, the connector comprising:
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a plurality of emitter signal conduit segments; one or more detector signal conduit segments; a first connector portion comprising a housing and configured to removably attach with a second connector portion comprising a housing, the housing of the first connector portion housing the plurality of emitter signal conduit segments which are each configured to couple with a corresponding signal conduit segment that is housed by the housing of the second connector portion, the housing of the first connector portion further housing the one or more detector signal conduit segments which are each configured to couple with a corresponding signal conduit segment that is housed by the housing of the second connector portion; and a shielding mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing of the first connector portion and configured to reduce unshielded areas surrounding the one or more detector signal conduit segments, the shielding mechanism comprising one or more detector shielding members, at least a portion of each of the one or more detector signal conduit segments disposed within a corresponding one of the one or more detector shielding members, at least one of the plurality of emitter signal conduit segments disposed outside the one or more detector shielding members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of enhancing the electrical shielding of signal conduits in a connector in a noninvasive patient monitoring system, the connector configured to communicate drive signals received from a patient cable and to communicate detector signals indicative of attenuation of light by body tissue and generated by a sensor circuit to the patient cable, the method comprising:
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providing a connector comprising; a plurality of emitter signal conduit segments; one or more detector signal conduit segments; a first connector portion comprising a housing configured to removably attach with a second connector portion comprising a housing, the housing of the first connector portion housing the plurality of emitter signal conduit segments which are each configured to mechanically and electrically couple with a corresponding signal conduit segment that is housed by the housing of the second connector portion, the housing of the first connector portion further housing the one or more detector signal conduit segments which are each configured to mechanically and electrically couple with a corresponding signal conduit segment that is housed by the housing of the second connector portion; and a shielding mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing of the first connector portion and configured to reduce unshielded areas surrounding the one or more detector signal conduit segments, the shielding mechanism comprising one or more detector shielding members, at least a portion of each of the one or more detector signal conduit segments disposed within a corresponding one of the one or more detector shielding members, at least one of the plurality of emitter signal conduit segments disposed outside the one or more detector shielding members; and following removable attachment of the first connector portion and the second connector portion to engage a first latching member on the first connector portion with a second latching member on the second connector portion, communicating drive signals received from the patient cable through the connector; and communicating detector signals indicative of attenuation of light by body tissue and generated by the sensor circuit through the connector.
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21. A method of manufacturing a connector usable in a noninvasive patient monitoring system, the connector configured to communicate drive signals received from a patient cable and to communicate detector signals indicative of attenuation of light by body tissue and generated a sensor circuit, the method comprising:
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housing a plurality of emitter signal conduit segments within a housing of a first connector portion, the plurality of emitter signal conduit segments each configured to couple with a corresponding signal conduit segment that is housed by a housing of a second connector portion, the first connector portion configured to removably attach with the second connector portion; housing one or more detector signal conduit segments within the housing of the first connector portion, each of the one or more detector signal conduit segments configured to couple with a corresponding signal conduit segment that is housed by the housing of the second connector portion; disposing a shielding mechanism at least partially within the housing of the first connector portion, the shielding mechanism configured to reduce unshielded areas surrounding the one or more detector signal conduit segments, the shielding mechanism comprising one or more detector shielding members; disposing at least a portion of each of the one or more detector signal conduit segments within a corresponding one of the one or more detector shielding members; and disposing at least one of the plurality of emitter signal conduit segments outside the one or more detector shielding members. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification