Sensor wrap including foldable applicator

• US 20020045807A1
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar, Mason, Eugene E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,671,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A sensor wrap including a foldable applicator which substantially and removably secures sensor elements within the sensor wrap before application of the sensor wrap to a measurement site. The sensor wrap may advantageously include disposable tape layers including an information element, a breakable conductor, or both.

Claims

1. A sensor wrap for removably securing an emitter and a detector of a pulse oximetry sensor to a measurement site, the sensor wrap comprising:

a center portion configured to position an emitter and a detector of a sensor;

an elongated portion extending from the center portion and configured to removably secure the sensor wrap to a measurement site; and

a foldable portion extending from the center portion and configured to fold over the emitter and the detector when the emitter and the detector are positioned within the center portion and before application of the sensor wrap to the measurement site, thereby removably securing the emitter and detector within the center portion.

2. The sensor wrap of claim 1, wherein the foldable portion comprises a transparent layer.

3. The sensor wrap of claim 1, wherein the center portion comprises a first and a second layer at least partially attached to one another, and wherein the first layer includes the elongated portion and the second layer includes the foldable portion.

4. The sensor wrap of claim 3, wherein the second layer is transparent.

5. The sensor wrap of claim 1, wherein the center portion includes apertures configured to receive portions of the emitter and the detector.

6. The sensor wrap of claim 1, wherein the sensor wrap is disposable and configured to removably secure a reusable emitter and a reusable detector.

7. The sensor wrap of claim 1, further comprising a disposable information element within at least one of the center portion and the foldable portion and configured to electrically connect to the emitter when the emitter is positioned within the sensor wrap.

8. The sensor wrap of claim 1, further comprising a breakable conductive trace within at least one of the center portion and the foldable portion and configured to electrically disconnect the emitter when the emitter is positioned within the sensor wrap and the breakable conductive trace is broken.

9. A sensor wrap including a foldable tape for positioning elements of a sensor within the sensor wrap before application of the sensor wrap to a measurement site, thereby properly positioning the elements of a sensor with respect to one another, and eventually with respect to the measurement site, the sensor wrap comprising:

a base tape comprising a positioning portion which receives at least one element of a sensor;

a foldable tape attached to the base tape, wherein the foldable tape folds over the at least one element of the sensor before application of the sensor wrap to a measurement site, thereby removably securing the at least one element within the sensor wrap; and

a fastener which removably secures the sensor wrap to the measurement site.

10. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the base tape further comprises a breakable conductor.

11. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the foldable tape further comprises a breakable conductor.

12. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the base tape further comprises an information element.

13. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the foldable tape further comprises an information element.

14. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the base tape comprises a figure eight-like shape.

15. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the foldable tape comprises a figure eight-like shape attached at a side

16. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the fastener comprises an elongated arm extending from one of the base tape and the foldable tape.

17. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the positioning portion comprises at least one aperture.

18. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the base tape comprises a boot-like shape, and wherein the fastener comprises a toe portion of the boot-like shape.

19. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the foldable tape comprises a boot-like shape, and wherein the fastener comprises a toe portion of the boot-like shape.

20. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the base tape comprises a substantially rectangular shape.

21. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the foldable tape comprises a substantially rectangular shape.

22. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the base tape comprises an elongated center section connecting front and rear flaps, and wherein the fastener comprises the front and rear flaps.

23. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the foldable tape comprises an elongated center section connecting front and rear flaps, and wherein the fastener comprises the front and rear flaps.

24. The sensor wrap of claim 9, wherein the foldable tape is transparent.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising attaching release liners to exposed adhesive.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the act of connecting the foldable tape to the base tape further comprises:

removing a release liner from a portion of the foldable tape; and

attaching the portion to the base tape.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the act of connecting the foldable tape to the base tape further comprises:

removing a release liner from a portion of the base tape; and

attaching the portion to the foldable tape.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the attaching reusable elements comprises aligning positioning elements of the sensor with positioning elements within the center portion.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the positioning element within the center portion comprises an aperture.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one of the attaching the reusable elements and the folding the foldable portion includes electrically connecting an information element to one of the reusable elements of the sensor.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one of the attaching the reusable elements and the folding the foldable portion includes electrically connecting a breakable conductor to one of the reusable elements of the sensor.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

removing release liners from other portions of the disposable positioning tape; and

affixing the disposable positioning tape, with the reusable sensor elements, to a measurement site.

25. A method of manufacturing a sensor wrap, the method comprising:

forming a base tape including at least one positioning element configured to position sensor elements on the base tape;

forming a foldable tape including adhesive on at least one side and configured to fold over the sensor elements positioned on the base tape before application of the sensor wrap to a measurement site, thereby removably securing the sensor elements within the sensor wrap; and

connecting the foldable tape to the base tape.

29. A method of attaching a sensor having reusable and disposable portions, the method comprising:

removing a release liner on a center portion of a disposable positioning tape;

attaching reusable elements of a sensor to the center portion; and

folding a foldable portion over the reusable elements of the sensor before application of the disposable positioning tape to a measurement site, thereby securing the reusable elements of the sensor within the center portion.