Breathable physiological sensor

• US 8,611,976 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2010
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gonopolskiy, Oleg, Anderson, Arik
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): REISNER, NOAM S
• Application Number:
  US12/779,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20100292546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches

Abstract

A sensor includes a sensor pad that allows air and moisture to diffuse from a patient'"'"'s skin. A light source is disposed on the sensor pad is configured to generate near-infrared light. A light detector disposed on the sensor pad is configured to detect near-infrared light generated by the light source.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a sensor pad configured to allow air and moisture to diffuse from a patient'"'"'s skin, wherein the sensor pad includes a top layer and a bottom layer, at least one of which is formed from a breathable material, the breathable material having cells arranged in an open cell structure, the breathable material further having a thickness relative to the size of the cells configured to laterally diffuse airflow and moisture from the patient'"'"'s skin at a rate that is equivalent to at least a lateral diffusion rate achieved by a polyurethane open cell foam with a cell size of 0.2-0.5 mm and a thickness of 1-2 mm;

a light source disposed on the sensor pad and configured to generate near-infrared light; and

a light detector disposed on the sensor pad and configured to detect near-infrared light generated by the light source.

2. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor pad includes a breathable adhesive disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer.

3. A sensor as set forth in claim 2, wherein the breathable adhesive includes a porous material that allows a minimum amount of air to flow between the top layer and the bottom layer of the sensor pad.

4. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the breathable material forming at least one of the top layer and the bottom layer includes an open cell foam.

5. A sensor as set forth in claim 4, wherein the breathable material is opaque to near-infrared light.

6. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light source and the light detector are disposed on a circuit board that is at least partially disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer.

7. A sensor as set forth in claim 6, wherein the circuit board includes a flexible printed circuit board.

8. A sensor as set forth in claim 6, wherein the circuit board is at least partially coated with a water protective coating.

9. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor pad is configured to be adhered to a patient'"'"'s skin.

18. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cells arranged in the open cell structure have a cell diameter of approximately 0.2 mm -0.5 mm.

19. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the breathable material is approximately 1.0 mm -2.0 mm.

20. A sensor as set forth in claim 19, wherein the thickness of the breathable material is substantially uniform.

21. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed on a first circuit board and the light detector is disposed on a second circuit board, wherein the first and second circuit boards are at least partially disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer of the sensor pad.

10. A sensor comprising:

a sensor pad having a top layer disposed on a bottom layer, wherein the top layer is adhered to the bottom layer with a breathable adhesive and wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are at least partially formed from a breathable material to allow air and moisture to diffuse from a patient'"'"'s skin, the breathable material having cells arranged in an open cell structure, the breathable material further having a thickness relative to the size of the cells configured to laterally diffuse airflow and moisture from the patient'"'"'s skin at a rate that is equivalent to at least a lateral diffusion rate achieved by a poly urethane open cell foam with a cell size of 0.2-0.5 mm and a thickness of 1-2 mm; and

a circuit board disposed on the sensor pad, the circuit board having a light source configured to generate near-infrared light and a light detector configured to receive the near-infrared light generated by the light source after the near-infrared light travels through a body tissue.

11. A sensor as set forth in claim 10, wherein the breathable adhesive includes a porous material that allows a minimum amount of air to flow between the top layer and the bottom layer of the sensor pad.

12. A sensor as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one of the top layer and the bottom layer is opaque to near-infrared light.

13. A sensor as set forth in claim 10, wherein the circuit board is coated with a water protective coating.

14. A sensor pad comprising:

a top layer formed from a breathable material;

a bottom layer formed from the breathable material and disposed on the top layer, the breathable material having cells arranged in an open cell structure, wherein the bottom layer has a thickness relative to the size of the cells configured to laterally diffuse airflow and moisture from a patient'"'"'s skin at a rate that is equivalent to at least a lateral diffusion rate achieved by a polyurethane open cell foam with a cell size of 0.2-0.5 mm and a thickness of 1-2 mm; and

a breathable adhesive formed from a porous material and configured to adhere the top layer to the bottom layer.

15. A sensor pad as set forth in claim 14, wherein the bottom layer defines a plurality of openings.

16. A sensor pad as set forth in claim 14, wherein at least one of the top layer and the bottom layer is opaque to near-infrared light.

17. A sensor pad as set forth in claim 14, wherein the breathable material includes an open cell foam.