Sensor and transmitter product
First Claim
1. A medical sensor device comprising:
- a sensor assembly including an underside surface for attachment against a skin of a patient, a sensor portion to detect a characteristic of the patient, and sensor assembly contacts which in operation carry signals representing the detected characteristic;
a transmitter assembly removably engageable with the sensor assembly via rotation of the transmitter assembly relative to the sensor assembly, the transmitter assembly configured to be positioned on top of and covering the sensor assembly when engaged with the sensor assembly, and the transmitter assembly including circuitry to take the signals from the sensor assembly contacts and to transmit readings of the detected characteristic to external equipment; and
mechanical interface components on the sensor assembly and the transmitter assembly which cooperate to allow the transmitter assembly to be brought into abutment with the sensor assembly at a first angular position via relative axial movement between the transmitter assembly and the sensor assembly, and further cooperate to allow a relative rotation of the transmitter or sensor assemblies with respect to one another towards a second angular position, and further cooperate to prevent axial separation of the transmitter and sensor assemblies in the second angular position;
wherein relative rotation of the transmitter or sensor assemblies from the first angular position to the second angular position establishes electrical connections between the sensor assembly contacts and the circuitry of the transmitter assembly;
wherein the mechanical interface components comprise a plurality of radially extending tabs on the sensor assembly and a plurality of circumferential slots on the transmitter assembly, the plurality of radially extending tabs and the plurality of circumferential slots being compatibly configured to allow the plurality of radially extending tabs to enter the plurality of circumferential slots during the relative axial movement, to allow the plurality of radially extending tabs to travel in the plurality of circumferential slots as the transmitter and sensor assemblies are rotated from the first angular position to the second angular position, and to axially lock the transmitter and sensor assemblies together;
wherein the plurality of radially extending tabs and the plurality of circumferential slots are distributed at irregular angular intervals to ensure that the transmitter assembly can only locate at one angular orientation relative to the sensor assembly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical sensor device includes a sensor assembly including an underside surface for attachment against a patient'"'"'s skin, a sensor portion to detect a characteristic of the patient, and sensor assembly contacts which in operation carry signals representing the detected characteristic. The device also includes a transmitter assembly removably engageable with the sensor assembly and including circuitry to take the signals from the sensor assembly contacts and to transmit readings of the detected characteristic to external equipment. The device also includes mechanical interface components on the sensor assembly and the transmitter assembly which allow the transmitter assembly to be brought into abutment with the sensor assembly at a first angular position via relative axial movement between them, and then allow a relative rotation of the assemblies with respect to one another towards a second angular position and presents axial separation of the assemblies in the second angular position.
87 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A medical sensor device comprising:
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a sensor assembly including an underside surface for attachment against a skin of a patient, a sensor portion to detect a characteristic of the patient, and sensor assembly contacts which in operation carry signals representing the detected characteristic; a transmitter assembly removably engageable with the sensor assembly via rotation of the transmitter assembly relative to the sensor assembly, the transmitter assembly configured to be positioned on top of and covering the sensor assembly when engaged with the sensor assembly, and the transmitter assembly including circuitry to take the signals from the sensor assembly contacts and to transmit readings of the detected characteristic to external equipment; and mechanical interface components on the sensor assembly and the transmitter assembly which cooperate to allow the transmitter assembly to be brought into abutment with the sensor assembly at a first angular position via relative axial movement between the transmitter assembly and the sensor assembly, and further cooperate to allow a relative rotation of the transmitter or sensor assemblies with respect to one another towards a second angular position, and further cooperate to prevent axial separation of the transmitter and sensor assemblies in the second angular position; wherein relative rotation of the transmitter or sensor assemblies from the first angular position to the second angular position establishes electrical connections between the sensor assembly contacts and the circuitry of the transmitter assembly; wherein the mechanical interface components comprise a plurality of radially extending tabs on the sensor assembly and a plurality of circumferential slots on the transmitter assembly, the plurality of radially extending tabs and the plurality of circumferential slots being compatibly configured to allow the plurality of radially extending tabs to enter the plurality of circumferential slots during the relative axial movement, to allow the plurality of radially extending tabs to travel in the plurality of circumferential slots as the transmitter and sensor assemblies are rotated from the first angular position to the second angular position, and to axially lock the transmitter and sensor assemblies together; wherein the plurality of radially extending tabs and the plurality of circumferential slots are distributed at irregular angular intervals to ensure that the transmitter assembly can only locate at one angular orientation relative to the sensor assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification