Tissue oximeter intraoperative sensor

• US 8,527,022 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2012
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
• Inventors: Lash, Robert E., Janis, Scott, Eghbal, Darius
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, William B
• Application Number:
  US13/653,257
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/323, 600/324
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0425 Ergonomically shaped housings A61B2560/0418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/187 Strain relief means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/72 Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes character recognition, recognising digital ink, document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00; recognition or understanding of postal images G06V30/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

An oximeter tool includes a base with one or more sensor structures to make measurements, a handle, and a spring connected between the handle and the base. A user can hold the handle while measurements are made and the spring permits the handle to flex relative to the one or more sensor structures.

Claims

1. An oximeter device comprising:

a base portion to face a tissue to be measured;

at least one sensor opening formed on a bottom surface of the base portion;

a handle; and

a spring, coupled between the base portion and the handle.

2. The device of claim 1 comprising:

a pair of limit stops comprising an upper limit stop and a lower limit stop.

3. The device of claim 2 comprising:

a stop pin, wherein the stop pin is received between the upper and lower limit stops.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the pair of limit stops is fixed relative to one of the handle or base portion.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the spring urges the upper limit stop and the stop pin apart to create a first gap between the upper limit stop and the stop pin.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the spring is coupled at a first end of the handle and a portion of the handle extending from the first end to a second end of the handle, opposite the first end, extends without projecting over the at least one sensor opening.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein a height of the base portion between the bottom surface and a top surface of the base portion, opposite the bottom surface, is about 6 millimeters or less.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the spring comprises plastic.

9. The device of claim 2 wherein the pair of limit stops is closer to the at least one sensor opening than the spring.

10. The device of claim 2 wherein the spring is closer to the at least one sensor opening than the pair of limit stops.

11. The device of claim 3 wherein the upper limit stop and the stop pin touch to close the first gap when a force applied to the handle exceeds a threshold value.

12. The device of claim 3 wherein the pair of limit stops is contained within a recess of the handle, the upper limit stop is at a first end of the recess, and the lower limit stop is at a second end of the recess, opposite the first end.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor opening is contained within a sensor unit and the sensor unit comprises:

a first source structure;

a second source structure;

a first detector structure comprising optical fiber; and

a second detector structure comprising optical fiber, wherein a first distance is between the first source structure and the first detector structure, a second distance is between the first source structure and the second detector structure, a third distance is between the second source structure and the first detector structure, a fourth distance is between the second source structure and the second detector structure,

the first distance is not equal to the second, third, and fourth distances, the second distance is not equal to the third and fourth distances, and the third distance is not equal to the fourth distance.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein a first end of the handle is supported by the spring and a second end of the handle, opposite the first end, is unsupported so that there is a second gap below the second end of the handle.

15. The device of claim 1 comprising:

a cable, coupled to the handle.

16. The device of claim 1 comprising:

a cable, coupled to the handle, wherein the cable comprises a plurality of optical fibers.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises at least four sensor openings.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises a plurality of sensor openings arranged asymmetrically.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises a plurality of sensor openings arranged symmetrically.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the spring comprises a threshold force in a range from about 20 grams to about 200 grams.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein the handle is offset from the base portion.