NON-INVASIVE OPTICAL SENSOR

• US 20090259114A1
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nonin Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nonin Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Ulrich, Franz, Johnson, Timothy L., Isaacson, Philip O.
• Granted Patent: US 9,700,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14553 specially adapted for cerebral tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6825 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

An apparatus includes a sensor body, a circuit board, a cable, at least one light emitting device, and at least one photodetector. The circuit board is enclosed within the sensor body and includes at least one conductive trace and at least one aperture. The cable is coupled to the at least one conductive trace. The cable includes a shield conductor and a signal conductor. The at least one light emitting device is coupled to the circuit board and is configured to emit light into a tissue. The at least one photodetector includes a planar active area coupled to the circuit board and is configured to provide an output signal based on light detected by the active area. The planar active area is aligned with the aperture. The output signal is coupled to the cable.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a monitor; and

a sensor assembly coupled to the monitor by a cable, the sensor assembly including a circuit board electrically coupled to at least one light emitting device and coupled to at least one photodetector, the at least one light emitting device configured to emit light into a tissue and the at least one photodetector configured to provide an output signal based on light detected by a planar active area of the at least one photodetector, the planar active area aligned with an aperture of the circuit board; and

wherein the monitor is configured to receive data corresponding to the output signal and corresponding to at least one of oximetry information for the tissue and physiological information for the tissue.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly includes a perimeter and a plurality of relief features distributed about the perimeter.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly is configured to couple with a spherically shaped surface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly includes a bump feature on a surface, the bump feature configured to blanch a region of the tissue.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one light emitting device includes a fiber optic element.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one light emitting device includes a light emitting diode (LED).

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuit board includes a flexible circuit board.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one photodetector is soldered to the circuit board.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one photodetector is affixed to the circuit board by an adhesive.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the monitor includes a visual display.

11. The system of claim 1 further including a pod coupled to the cable, the pod having a memory configured to store data corresponding to the sensor assembly.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the pod includes a processor and wherein the memory is configured to store executable instructions for the processor.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the pod includes a communication module configured to communicate with the monitor.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the communication module is configured for wireless communication.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor body;

a circuit board enclosed within the sensor body, the circuit board having at least one conductive trace and at least one aperture;

a cable coupled to the at least one conductive trace, the cable having a shield conductor and a signal conductor;

at least one light emitting device coupled to the circuit board, the at least one light emitting device configured to emit light into a tissue;

at least one photodetector having a planar active area coupled to the circuit board, the at least one photodetector configured to provide an output signal based on light detected by the active area, the planar active area aligned with the aperture; and

wherein the output signal is coupled to the cable.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sensor body includes a perimeter and a plurality of relief features distributed about the perimeter.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein a surface of the sensor body includes foam.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the foam is black.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein a surface of the sensor body includes an adhesive.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein an end of the cable is configured to couple with a monitor.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 further including a conductive adhesive connection to the at least one conductive trace.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 further including a solder connection to the at least one conductive trace.

23. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the circuit board includes a flexible circuit board.

24. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sensor body is configured to couple with a spherically shaped surface.

25. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sensor body includes a bump feature on a surface, the bump feature configured to blanch a region of the tissue.

26. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least one light emitting device includes a fiber optic element.

27. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least one light emitting device includes a light emitting diode (LED).

28. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least one photodetector is soldered to the circuit board.

29. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least one photodetector is affixed to the circuit board by an adhesive.

30. A method comprising:

coupling at least one light emitting device to a circuit board;

coupling a photodiode to the circuit board, the photodiode having a planer surface aligned with an aperture of the circuit board;

coupling a cable to at least one conductive trace of the circuit board; and

assembling the circuit board to a sensor body, the sensor body having an adhesive surface.

31. The method of claim 30 further including forming at least one relief feature at a perimeter of the sensor body.

32. The method of claim 30 further including forming a bump feature on a surface of the sensor body, the bump feature configured to blanch a region of tissue when the sensor body is affixed to the tissue.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein coupling the at least one light emitting diode includes forming at least one of a conductive adhesive joint and a soldered joint.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein coupling the at least one photodetector includes forming at least one of a conductive adhesive joint and a soldered joint.