Medical sensor and technique for using the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a sensor body;
an emitter and a detector disposed adjacent the sensor body; and
a tissue contact sensor disposed adjacent the sensor body, wherein the tissue contact sensor comprises a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a surface contacting the tissue contact sensor and a second temperature sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature; and
a processor coupled to the tissue contact sensor configured to determine whether the surface is a tissue of a patient by comparing a difference between the measured temperature of the surface and the ambient temperature to a threshold temperature value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an embodiment, a sensor may be adapted to provide information related to its position on a patient'"'"'s tissue. The sensor may include tissue contact sensors which may relay a signal related to the proper placement of the sensor relative to the tissue of a patient. Such a sensor may be useful for providing information to a clinician regarding the location of the sensor in relation to the skin of a patient in order to provide improved measurements.
6 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a sensor body; an emitter and a detector disposed adjacent the sensor body; and a tissue contact sensor disposed adjacent the sensor body, wherein the tissue contact sensor comprises a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a surface contacting the tissue contact sensor and a second temperature sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature; and a processor coupled to the tissue contact sensor configured to determine whether the surface is a tissue of a patient by comparing a difference between the measured temperature of the surface and the ambient temperature to a threshold temperature value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A pulse oximetry system comprising:
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a pulse oximetry monitor comprising a processor; and
a pulse oximetry sensor operatively coupled to the monitor, comprising;a sensor body; an emitter and a detector disposed adjacent the sensor body; and a tissue contact sensor disposed adjacent the sensor body, wherein the tissue contact sensor comprises a first temperature sensor configured to provide a measured surface temperature to the processor of the pulse oximetry monitor and a second temperature sensor configured to provide an ambient temperature to the processor of the pulse oximetry monitor, and wherein the processor of the pulse oximetry monitor is configured to determine whether the sensor is on a patient tissue by comparing a difference between the measured surface temperature and the ambient temperature to a threshold temperature value. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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measuring, with a first temperature sensor disposed on a tissue contacting surface of a pulse oximetry sensor, a first temperature; measuring, with a second temperature sensor disposed on a non-tissue contacting surface of the pulse oximetry sensor, a second temperature; determining, with a processor, a difference between the first and second temperatures; and determining, with the processor, whether the pulse oximetry sensor is on a tissue of a patient based, at least in part, on the difference between the first and second temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification