Finger-cot probe

A sensor probe for analyzing at least one characteristic of tissue, comprising:

• a sensor including at least one source of electromagnetic energy and at least one detector of electromagnetic energy;
• a carrier supporting said sensor and having a body which is sufficiently flexible to at least partially surround a portion of the tissue, said sensor source and said sensor detector being arranged on said carrier relative to each other so as to transmit said electromagnetic energy between each other and through the tissue with said carrier positioned on the portion of tissue;
• and
• a generally elastic sheath having a first end and a second end, said first end being coupled to said carrier and said second end having a generally tubular shape rolled upon itself, said second end adapted to be unrolled toward and over said carrier such that said sheath surrounds at least a portion of said carrier with the carrier positioned over the portion of tissue;
• and
• a releasable connector positioned between said carrier and said sheath to separably attach said carrier to said sheath.

A method of analyzing at least one characteristic of tissue, comprising the steps of:

• providing a source and a detector of electromagnetic energy, said source and detector being interconnected and being separably attached to a retention sheath;
• positioning said source of electromagnetic energy against the tissue;
• positioning said detector of electromagnetic energy against said tissue;
• positioning said retention sheath on a side of said source and detector opposite said tissue with a first end said sheath coupled to said source and detector, said sheath being in a first state in which said first end is separated from a second end by a first distance, said second end being rolled upon itself at least through two revolutions in said first state;
• unrolling said second end of said sheath at least through two revolutions from said first state over said tissue and over said source and said detector of electromagnetic energy no surround and secure said source and said detector to said tissue in a second state in which said ends of said sheath spaced apart by a distance substantially greater than said first distance;
• transmitting electromagnetic energy through said tissue;
• receiving said transmitted electromagnetic energy;
• generating a signal indicative of said tissue characteristic;
• rolling said sheath off the tissue;
• and
• disconnecting said sheath from said source and said detector of electromagnetic energy.

A method for analyzing at least one characteristic of tissue, comprising the steps of:

• providing a sensor including at least one source of electromagnetic energy and at least one detector of electromagnetic energy, said sensor being supported by a carrier which has a flexible body;
• positioning said carrier against a portion of said tissue to be analyzed with said source of electromagnetic energy positioned against the tissue and said detector of said electromagnetic energy positioned against said tissue;
• providing a retention sheath having a tissue receiving end and a rolled end which are integrally connected together;
• engaging corresponding elements of a releasable connector so as to connect said carrier to said retention sheath;
• unrolling said retention sheath over said tissue and over said carrier so as to surround and secure said carrier to said tissue;
• transmitting electromagnetic energy through said tissue;
• receiving said transmitted electromagnetic energy;
• generating a signal indicative of said tissue characteristic;
• rolling said sheath off said tissue;
• and
• disconnecting said engaging elements of said releasable connector so as to separate said carrier from said sheath.