Symmetric LED array for pulse oximetry
First Claim
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1. A sensor comprising:
- a substantially annular housing configured to be disposed about a patient'"'"'s finger, the annular housing being bisected by an imaginary line into a first semicircular region and a second semicircular region;
a first source of electromagnetic radiation coupled to the first semicircular region of the annular housing, and configured to operate at a first wavelength;
a second source of electromagnetic radiation coupled to the first semicircular region of the annular housing, and configured to operate at a second wavelength;
a third source of electromagnetic radiation coupled to the first semicircular region of the annular housing, and configured to operate at a third wavelength, wherein the second source is positioned between the first and third sources along a circumference of the annular housing; and
a photodetector coupled to the second semicircular region of the annular housing, and configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from the first, second and third sources after the electromagnetic radiation has passed through blood-perfused tissue of the patient'"'"'s finger;
wherein the photodetector is positioned generally opposite from the second source along the circumference of the annular housing, the first and third sources are generally symmetrically disposed about an axis that bisects the second source and the photodetector, the first, second and third sources are the only sources of electromagnetic radiation coupled to the annular housing, and the photodetector is the only detector coupled to the annular housing.
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Abstract
A sensor for pulse oximeter systems is provided which comprises a first source of electromagnetic radiation configured to operate at a first wavelength, a second source of electromagnetic radiation configured to operate at a second wavelength and a third source of electromagnetic radiation configured to operate at a third wavelength. The first and third sources of electromagnetic radiation are symmetrically oriented about an axis.
952 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A sensor comprising:
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a substantially annular housing configured to be disposed about a patient'"'"'s finger, the annular housing being bisected by an imaginary line into a first semicircular region and a second semicircular region; a first source of electromagnetic radiation coupled to the first semicircular region of the annular housing, and configured to operate at a first wavelength; a second source of electromagnetic radiation coupled to the first semicircular region of the annular housing, and configured to operate at a second wavelength; a third source of electromagnetic radiation coupled to the first semicircular region of the annular housing, and configured to operate at a third wavelength, wherein the second source is positioned between the first and third sources along a circumference of the annular housing; and a photodetector coupled to the second semicircular region of the annular housing, and configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from the first, second and third sources after the electromagnetic radiation has passed through blood-perfused tissue of the patient'"'"'s finger;
wherein the photodetector is positioned generally opposite from the second source along the circumference of the annular housing, the first and third sources are generally symmetrically disposed about an axis that bisects the second source and the photodetector, the first, second and third sources are the only sources of electromagnetic radiation coupled to the annular housing, and the photodetector is the only detector coupled to the annular housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a pulse oximeter comprising:
- transmitting electromagnetic radiation from a first light emitting diode (LED), a second LED and a third LED, wherein each LED is directed radially inward toward a patient'"'"'s finger, the second LED is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths in the near-infrared or infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the first and third LEDs have maxima at wavelengths in the 600 to 800 nm range, the first, second and third LEDs are positioned on a first side of the patient'"'"'s finger, the second LED is positioned between the first and third LEDs, a photodetector is positioned generally opposite the second LED on a second side of the patient'"'"'s finger, wherein the first LED, the second LED, the third LED and the photodetector are coupled to a curved housing, wherein the first, second and third LEDs are circumferentially separated from each adjacent LED along the curved housing, and the curved housing is configured to be disposed about the patient'"'"'s finger, the first and third LEDs are generally symmetrically disposed about an axis that bisects the second LED and the photodetector, no additional photodetector is directed toward the patient'"'"'s finger, no additional LED is directed toward the patient'"'"'s finger, and the first and third LEDs are configured to operate simultaneously;
generating a photoelectrical signal via the photodetector corresponding to the electromagnetic radiation from the first, second and third LEDs;
computing physiological parameters based on the generated signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
- transmitting electromagnetic radiation from a first light emitting diode (LED), a second LED and a third LED, wherein each LED is directed radially inward toward a patient'"'"'s finger, the second LED is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths in the near-infrared or infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the first and third LEDs have maxima at wavelengths in the 600 to 800 nm range, the first, second and third LEDs are positioned on a first side of the patient'"'"'s finger, the second LED is positioned between the first and third LEDs, a photodetector is positioned generally opposite the second LED on a second side of the patient'"'"'s finger, wherein the first LED, the second LED, the third LED and the photodetector are coupled to a curved housing, wherein the first, second and third LEDs are circumferentially separated from each adjacent LED along the curved housing, and the curved housing is configured to be disposed about the patient'"'"'s finger, the first and third LEDs are generally symmetrically disposed about an axis that bisects the second LED and the photodetector, no additional photodetector is directed toward the patient'"'"'s finger, no additional LED is directed toward the patient'"'"'s finger, and the first and third LEDs are configured to operate simultaneously;
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14. A system for determining physiological parameters comprising:
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a sensor comprising; a curved housing configured to be disposed about a patient'"'"'s finger; a first light emitting diode (LED) coupled to a first semicircular region of the curved housing, wherein the first LED is directed radially inward, and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths in the red region of the electromagnetic spectrum; a second LED coupled to the first semicircular region of the curved housing, wherein the second LED is directed radially inward, and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths in the near-infrared or infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum; a third LED coupled to the first semicircular region of the curved housing, wherein the third LED is directed radially inward, and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths in the red region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and wherein the second LED is positioned between the first and third LEDs along a circumference of the curved housing; and a photodetector coupled to a second semicircular region of the curved housing, and configured to generate a signal corresponding to received electromagnetic radiation from blood-perfused tissue irradiated by the first, second and third LEDs, wherein the photodetector is directed radially inward, the photodetector is positioned generally opposite from the second LED along the circumference of the curved housing, the first semicircular region does not overlap the second semicircular region, the first and third LEDs are generally symmetrically disposed about an axis that bisects the second LED and the photodetector, the sensor does not include a fourth LED, and the sensor does not include a second photodetector; and a pulse oximeter configured to compute physiological parameters based on the signal generated by the photodetector. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification