ACOUSTIC PATIENT SENSOR COUPLER

• US 20140081175A1
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Telfort, Valery G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,955,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/586
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/026 comprising more than one sound collector
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R

Abstract

According to certain described aspects, multiple acoustic sensing elements are employed in a variety of beneficial ways to provide improved physiological monitoring, among other advantages. In various embodiments, sensing elements can be advantageously employed in a single sensor package, in multiple sensor packages, and at a variety of other strategic locations in the monitoring environment. According to other aspects, to compensate for skin elasticity and attachment variability, an acoustic sensor support is provided that includes one or more pressure equalization pathways. The pathways can provide an air-flow channel from the cavity defined by the sensing elements and frame to the ambient air pressure.

Claims

1. An acoustic sensor configured to non-invasively detect acoustic vibrations indicative of one or more physiological parameters of a patient, the acoustic sensor comprising:

a frame;

a sensing element supported by the frame, the sensing element configured to output a signal responsive to acoustic vibrations associated with a patient when the acoustic sensor is attached to the patient; and

an acoustic coupler supported by the frame and configured to be coupled with an area of the skin of the patient, the acoustic coupler comprising a bottom surface comprising a dielectric material that electrically decouples the area of the skin of the patient from the sensing element when the acoustic sensor is attached to the patient.

2. The acoustic sensor of claim 1, wherein the acoustic coupler at least partially surrounds the frame.

3. The acoustic sensor of claim 2, wherein the acoustic coupler comprises sidewalls that are least partially enclosed.

5. The acoustic sensor of claim 1, further comprising a sensor support, the sensor support defining an acoustic cavity and configured to support the sensing element over the acoustic cavity.

14. The acoustic sensor of claim 1, wherein the acoustic coupler comprises a silicon material.

4. The acoustic sensor of claim 4, wherein at least some of the sidewalls comprise air vent holes.

6. The acoustic sensor of claim 6, wherein the sensor support comprises at least one pressure equalization pathway formed in a wall of the sensor support, the at least one pressure equalization pathway extending from the acoustic cavity to ambient air pressure.

7. The acoustic sensor of claim 7, wherein the acoustic coupler comprises sidewalls, at least one of the sidewalls comprising at least one air vent hole aligned with the at least one pressure equalization pathway.

8. The acoustic sensor of claim 7, wherein said at least one pressure equalization pathway comprises at least one notch.

9. The acoustic sensor of claim 7, wherein said at least one pressure equalization pathway comprises at least one hole.

10. The acoustic sensor of claim 7, wherein the sensor support comprises equal numbers of pressure equalization pathways on opposite sides of the sensor support.

11. The acoustic sensor of claim 7, wherein the sensor support comprises two pressure equalization pathways on each of opposite sides of the sensor support.

12. The acoustic sensor of claim 7, wherein the sensor support comprises at least two pressure equalization pathways that are symmetrically positioned on the sensor support.

13. The acoustic sensor of claim 7, wherein the at least one pressure equalization pathway does not contact the at least one sound-sensing membrane.

15. An acoustic sensor configured to non-invasively detect acoustic vibrations associated with a medical patient, said acoustic vibrations indicative of one or more physiological parameters of the medical patient, said acoustic sensor comprising:

at least one sound-sensing membrane configured to detect acoustic vibrations associated with a medical patient when the acoustic sensor is attached to the medical patient; and

a sensor support configured to support the at least one sound-sensing membrane against the medical patient'"'"'s skin, wherein the sensor support comprises at least one pressure equalization pathway formed in a wall of the sensor support, the at least one pressure equalization pathway extending from the acoustic cavity to ambient air pressure; and

an acoustic coupler supported by the frame and configured to be coupled with the skin of the patient, the acoustic coupler comprising a bottom surface comprising a dielectric material that electrically decouples the skin of the patient from the at least one sound-sensing membrane when the acoustic sensor is attached to the patient, wherein the acoustic coupler comprises one or more openings aligned with the at least one pressure equalization pathway.

20. The acoustic sensor of claim 15, wherein the acoustic coupler comprises a silicon material.

16. The acoustic sensor of claim 16, wherein the one or more openings in the acoustic coupler comprise one or more openings on two sides of the acoustic coupler.

17. The acoustic sensor of claim 16, wherein the one or more openings in the acoustic coupler comprise air vent holes.

18. The acoustic sensor of claim 16, wherein the one or more openings in the acoustic coupler comprise substantially complete open sides of the coupler.

19. The acoustic sensor of claim 16, wherein the acoustic coupler comprises a top hole configured to be stretched open to receive the sensor support and at least one sound-sensing membrane.