Proximity sensor in pulse oximeter

A physiological monitoring system comprising:

• an optical assembly including an emitter configured to at least emit light at one or more wavelengths when in use and a detector aligned with the emitter to detect at least a portion of the light, the detector configured to at least generate intensity signals representing detected light when in use;
• a sensor housing configured to at least accept a measurement site of a patient, the sensor housing comprising:
• a first housing component including the emitter,
• a second housing component including the detector, and
• a proximity sensor positioned on one or both of the first housing component and the second housing component;
• and
• a processor configured to at least:
• receive data from the proximity sensor representing positioning of the measurement site relative to the proximity sensor,
• based at least partly on the data from the proximity sensor, determine that a distance between the proximity sensor and the measurement site does not correspond to correct positioning of the measurement site relative to the emitter and the detector, and
• based at least partly on the distance, generate instructions for at least one drive to reposition one or both of the emitter and detector to align with the measurement site.