Adhesive pulse oximeter sensor with reusable portion

• US 5,209,230 A
• Filed: 08/06/1991
• Issued: 05/11/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1990
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Swedlow, David B., Delonzor, Russell, Warring, Jessica
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US07/741,290
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 128/633, 128/637, 128/664, 128/665, 606/13, 356/39-41
• US Class Current: 600/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

A pulse oximeter sensor that is designed to surround an appendage of the patient, such as a finger, toe or foot is disclosed. The sensor has a reusable member which preferably includes a photodetector. A disposable, flexible member preferably contains the photoemitter and can be wrapped around the patient'"'"'s appendage to secure it to the appendage and the reusable member. When secured, the photoemitter and photodetector end up on opposite sides of the appendage. The disposable member connects to the reusable member to establish electrical contact. The reusable member is connected to a cable which can be plugged into a sensor monitoring system.

Claims

1. A sensor for attaching to a patient for electrooptical measurement of blood characteristics, comprising:

a reusable member including a first electronic means for emitting or detecting electromagnetic radiation;

conducting means, connected to said reusable member, for electrically connecting said first electronic means to an external sensor monitoring system;

a disposable, flexible member including a second electronic means for detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by said first electronic means or emitting electromagnetic radiation to be detected by said first electronic means;

means for removably coupling said flexible member to said reusable member to provide a connection between said second electronic means and said conducting means; and

means for securing said disposable, flexible member and said reusable member to said patient.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said means for securing comprises an adhesive on said disposable, flexible member.

3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said second electronic means is at least one photemitter.

4. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said means for removably coupling comprises a tail extending from said disposable, flexible member having at least one exposed first electrical conductor, at least one exposed second electrical conductor extending from said reusable member, and a bridge means connected to said reusable member and extending across said second electrical conductor for allowing said tail to be inserted between said bridge means and said second conductor.

5. The sensor of claim 4 wherein said tail includes resilient means for applying force between said second conductor and said bridge means to hold said tail in place.

6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said reusable member comprises a rigid housing and a deformable means, attached to said housing, for securely gripping and complying to an appendage of said patient.

7. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said second electronic means comprises a red light photoemitter and an infrared photoemitter.

8. The sensor of claim 7 wherein said first electronic means comprises a photodetector.

9. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said means for securing attaches said sensor to an appendage of said patient so that said first electronic means is on an opposite side of said appendage from said second electronic means.

10. The senor of claim 1 further comprising a black coating on said flexible member around said second electronic means.

11. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrostatic screen adjacent said first electronic means; and

a thin film covering said first electronic means and at least a portion of said electrostatic screen, said film being transparent over said first electronic means and opaque over said portion of said electrostatic screen.

12. A sensor for attaching to an appendage of a patient for electrooptical measurement of blood characteristics, comprising:

a reusable member including a first electronic device for emitting or detecting light;

conducting means for electrically connecting said first electronic device to an external sensor monitoring system;

a disposable, flexible member including a second electronic device for detecting light emitted by said first electronic device or emitting light to be detected by said first electronic device;

a tail extending from said disposable, flexible member having at least one exposed first electrical conductor, at least one exposed second electrical conductor extending from said reusable member, and a bridge connected to said reusable member and extending across said second electrical conductor to allow said tail to be inserted between said bridge and said second conductor;

means for securing said disposable, flexible member to said appendage and said reusable member so that said first electronic device is on an opposite side of said appendage from said second electronic device.

13. The sensor of claim 12 wherein said means for securing comprises an adhesive on said disposable, flexible member.

14. The sensor of claim 12 wherein said second electronic device is a photoemitter.

15. The sensor of claim 12 wherein said tail includes resilient means for applying force between said second conductor and said bridge to hold said tail in place.

16. A sensor for attaching to an appendage of a patient for electrooptical measurement of blood characteristics, comprising:

a reusable member including a photodetector;

conducting means, connected to said reusable member, for electrically connecting said photodetector to an external sensor monitoring system;

a disposable, flexible member including at least one photoemitter for emitting light to be detected by said photodetector;

means for removably coupling said flexible member to said reusable member to provide a connection between said photoemitter and said conducting means; and

an adhesive coating on said disposable, flexible member for securing said disposable, flexible member to said appendage and said reusable member so that said photodetector is on an opposite side of said appendage from said photoemitter.

17. A sensor for attaching to an appendage of a patient for electrooptical measurement of blood characteristics, comprising:

a reusable member including at least one photodetector, said reusable member including a rigid housing and a deformable means, attached to said housing, for securely gripping and complying to said patient'"'"'s appendage;

conducting means, connected to said reusable member, for electrically connecting said photodetector to an external sensor monitoring system;

a disposable, flexible member including a red light photoemitter and an infrared photoemitter for emitting light to be detected by said photodetector;

a tail extending from said disposable, flexible member having at least one exposed first electrical conductor;

at least one exposed second electrical conductor extending from said rigid housing;

a bridge connected to said rigid housing and extending across said second electrical conductor to allow said tail to be inserted between said bridge and said second conductor;

resilient means, coupled to said tail, for applying force between said second conductor and said bridge to hold said tail in place; and

an adhesive coating on said disposable, flexible member for securing said disposable, flexible member to said appendage and said reusable member so that said photoemitters are on an opposite side of said appendage from said photodetector.