Manual and automatic probe calibration

• US 5,823,950 A
• Filed: 11/12/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Kiani, Massi E., Diab, Mohamed Kheir, Lepper, James M. Jr., Ragsdale, Charles Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US08/745,474
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 128/633, 128/664, 128/665, 356/39, 356/41, 356/416, 356/419, 250/226, 600/310, 600/311, 600/318, 600/322, 600/323, 600/324, 600/326, 600/328, 600/330, 600/473, 600/476
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/2866 Markers; Calibrating of scan
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0254 Spectrometers, other than colorimeters, making use of an integrating sphere
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/027 Control of working procedures of a spectrometer; Failure detection; Bandwidth calculation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0275 making use of sensor-related data, e.g. for identification of sensor parts or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3144 for oxymetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3151 using two sources of radiation of different wavelengths G01N21/33 - G01N21/39 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/39 using tunable lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0627 : Use of several LED's for spectral resolution

Abstract

The method and apparatus of the present invention provides a system wherein light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be tuned within a given range by selecting their operating drive current in order to obtain a precise wavelength. The present invention further provides a manner in which to calibrate and utilize an LED probe, such that the shift in wavelength for a known change in drive current is a known quantity. In general, the principle of wavelength shift for current drive changes for LEDs is utilized in order to allow better calibration and added flexibility in the use of LED sensors, particularly in applications when the precise wavelength is needed in order to obtain accurate measurements. The present invention also provides a system in which it is not necessary to know precise wavelengths of LEDs where precise wavelengths were needed in the past. Finally, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the operating wavelength of a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode.

Claims

1. A medical probe configured to transmit and detect light, said medical probe adapted to be positioned adjacent tissue material, said medical probe comprising:

at least one light emitting element, said light emitting element having an emission with a centroid transmission wavelength, said medical probe configured with said light emitting element such that when said medical probe is positioned adjacent said tissue material, at least a portion of said emission passes through said tissue material;

wavelength detection instrumentation comprising;

first and second photodetectors, said emission within the response of said first and second photodetectors;

a light directing member configured to direct light from said at least one light emitting element to said first and second photodetectors, said light directing member comprising an integrating optical sphere having said first and second photodetectors positioned about said sphere so as to receive substantially equivalent portions of light from said at least one light emitting element; and

a filter positioned between said second photodetector and said at least one light emitting element, said filter having a transition band selected to encompass said centroid transmission wavelength; and

an interface adapted to couple the medical probe to a medical instrument.

2. The medical probe of claim 1, said medical probe comprising an oximeter probe, said at least one light emitting element comprising first and second light emitting diodes, said first light emitting diode having a centroid wavelength in the red range and said second light emitting diode having a centroid wavelength in the infrared range, said filter having a transition band which encompasses the centroid wavelength of said first light emitting diode.

3. The medical probe of claim 1, wherein one of said first and second photodetectors is mounted such that when said medical probe is positioned adjacent said tissue material, said one of said photodetectors is positioned to receive light from said at least one light emitting element which has passed through said tissue material.

4. The medical probe of claim 1, further comprising a third photodetector, said third photodetector positioned such that when said medical probe is positioned adjacent said tissue material, said third photodetector is positioned to receive light from said at least one light emitting element which has passed through said tissue material.

5. A method of determining the wavelength of a light emitting element positioned on a medical sensor probe, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a set of a plurality of predetermined ratios, each of said plurality of predetermined ratios corresponding to an associated centroid wavelength;

contemporaneously with or just prior to patient monitoring, transmitting light from said light emitting element to a first light detecting element to obtain a first intensity;

transmitting light from said light emitting element through a filter which attenuates the light to a second light detecting element to obtain a second intensity;

calculating a ratio of said second intensity to said first intensity; and

comparing said ratio to said set of predetermined ratios to reference the centroid wavelength of said light emitting element.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first and second light detecting elements comprise the same light detecting element, said steps of transmitting occurring sequentially.

7. An oximeter sensor configured to transmit light and detect light, said oximeter sensor adapted to be positioned adjacent tissue material, said oximeter sensor comprising:

at least a first light emitting element, said light emitting element configured with said oximeter sensor such that when said oximeter sensor is positioned adjacent said tissue material, a first portion of light from said light emitting element will pass through said tissue material;

a light diffuser, said light diffuser adapted to remove polarization of light emitted from said light emitting element;

a wavelength detection device comprising;

at least two photodetectors; and

at least one filter positioned such that light from said light emitting element passes through said filter prior to detection by at least one of said at least two photodetectors; and

an interface coupled to said at least two photodetectors and to said light emitting element and adapted to couple said oximeter sensor to an oximeter instrument.

8. The oximeter sensor of claim 7, wherein one of said first and second photodetectors is mounted such that when said oximeter sensor is positioned adjacent said tissue material, said one of said photodetectors is positioned to receive light from said at least a first light emitting element which has passed through said tissue material.

9. The oximeter sensor of claim 7, further comprising a third photodetector, said third photodetector positioned such that when said oximeter sensor is positioned adjacent said tissue material, said third photodetector is positioned to receive at least a portion light from said at least a first light emitting element which has passed through said tissue material.

10. The oximeter sensor of claim 9, further comprising a light directing member, said light directing member configured to direct substantially equal portions of at least a portion of the light from said at least a first light emitting element to said first and second photodetectors.

11. The oximeter sensor of claim 7, further comprising a second light emitting element, said at least a first light emitting element having a centroid wavelength in the red range, and said second light emitting element having a centroid wavelength in the infrared range.

12. A method of determining the wavelength of a light emitting element for a medical probe, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a set of a plurality of predetermined ratios, each of said plurality of predetermined ratios corresponding to an associated centroid wavelength;

in the clinical setting, transmitting light from said light emitting element to a first light detecting element to obtain a first intensity;

transmitting light from said light emitting element through a filter which attenuates the light to a second light detecting element to obtain a second intensity;

calculating a ratio of said second intensity to said first intensity; and

comparing said ratio to said set of predetermined ratios to reference the centroid wavelength of said light emitting element.