Electro-optical sensor for spectrophotometric medical devices

An electro-optical sensor for spectrophotometric-type clinical examination devices, comprising in combination:

• a thin, flexible, lightweight, elongated support frame having at least a pair of integral mounting bases, each particularly shaped to separately receive and position a particular one of at least a pair of electro-optical components including a light source and detector in a particular relative location and orientation, each of said integral mounting bases including cup-like generally annular walls of varying cross-section for nestingly receiving a correspond electro-optical component;
• apparatus securing each such component in its nested position at its respective one of said mounting bases;
• a plurality of discrete flexible electrical conductors extending along said support frame, each such conductor being connected to at least one of said components to electrically enable the same for operation;
• a shield for shielding at least some of said conductors connected to said detector from ambient sources of electrical and/or magnetic noise;
• and a softly compliant outer cover disposed over said support frame, said mounted components, conductors and shield, said cover having light-passing portions overlying said components for passage of light from said source outwardly of said sensor and reception of resulting light from beyond said sensor by said detector, said support frame including means defining integral light passages disposed directly adjacent and in alignment with at least said detector, at least one of said light passages including peripheral walls which extend angularly and divergently outward from said detector to their opposite end extremity.

An electro-optical sensor for spectrophotometric-type clinical examination devices, comprising in combination:

• a thin, flexible, lightweight, elongated support frame having at least a pair of integral mounting bases, each particularly shaped to separately receive and position a particular one of at least a pair of electro-optical components including a light source and detector in a particular relative location and orientation, each of said integral mounting bases including cup-like generally annular walls of varying cross-section for nestingly receiving a corresponding electro-optical component;
• apparatus securing each such component in its nested position at its respective one of said mounting bases;
• a plurality of discrete flexible electrical conductors extending along said support frame, each such conductor being connected at least to at least one of said components to electrically enable the same for operation;
• a shield for shielding at least some of said conductors connected to said detector from ambient sources of electrical and/or magnetic noise;
• and a softly compliant outer cover disposed over said support frame, said mounted components, conductors and shield said cover having light-passing portions overlying .said components for passage of light from said source outwardly of said sensor and reception of resulting light from beyond said sensor by said detector, said frame having a thickness which is on the order of about only three to ten times the thickness of said electro-optical components.

An electro-optical sensor for spectrophotometric-type clinical examination devices, comprising in combination:

• a thin, flexible, lightweight, elongated support frame having at least a pair of integral mounting bases, each particularly shaped to separately receive and position a particular one of at least a pair of electro-optical components including a light source and detector in a particular relative location and orientation, each of said integral mounting bases including cup-like generally annular walls of varying cross-section for nestingly receiving a corresponding electro-optical component;
• apparatus securing each such component in its nested position at its respective one of said mounting bases;
• a plurality of discrete flexible electrical conductors extending along said support frame, each such conductor being connected to at least one of said components to electrically enable the dame for operation;
• a shield for shielding at least some of said conductors connected to said detector from ambient sources of electrical and/or magnetic noise;
• and a softly compliant outer cover disposed over said support frame, said mounted components, conductors and shield, said cover having light-passing portions overlying said components for passage of light from said source outwardly of said sensor and reception of resulting light from beyond said sensor by said detector, said support frame defining integrally formed socket-like recesses for receiving and positioning said electro-optical components, said recesses including said cup-like generally annular walls, said frame including means defining integral light passages disposed directly adjacent and in alignment with at least said detector, and said frame having oppositely-disposed sides and said socket-like recesses opening outwardly from said frame on a first of said sides while said light passages open outwardly of the other such side, for access to said socket-like recesses from said first side.

An electro-optical sensor for spectrophotometric-type clinical examination devices, comprising in combination:

• a thin, flexible, lightweight, elongated support frame having at least a pair of integral mounting bases, each particularly shaped to separately receive and position a particular one of at least a pair of electro-optical components including a light source and detector in a particular relative location and orientation, each of said integral mounting bases including cup-like generally annular walls of varying cross-section for nestingly receiving a corresponding electro-optical component;
• apparatus securing each such component in its nested position at its respective one of said mounting bases;
• a plurality of discrete flexible electrical conductors extending along said support frame, each such conductor being connected to at least one of said components to electrically enable the same for operation;
• a shield for shielding at least some of said conductors connected to said detector from ambient sources of electrical and/or magnetic noise;
• and a softly compliant outer cover disposed over said support frame, said mounted components, conductors and shield, said cover having light-passing portions overlying said components for passage of light from said source outwardly of said sensor and reception of resulting light from beyond said sensor by said detector said support frame comprising an openwork member having longitudinally extending side portions and cross-members interconnecting said side portions to resist bowing thereof.

An electro-optical sensor for spectrophotometric-type clinical examination devices, comprising in combination:

• a thin, flexible, lightweight, elongated support frame having at least a pair of integral mounting bases, each particularly shaped to separately receive and position a particular one of at least a pair of electro-optical components including a fight source and detector in a particular relative location and orientation, each of said integral mounting bases including cup-like generally annular walls of varying cross-section for nestingly receiving a corresponding electro-optical component;
• apparatus securing each such component in its nested position at its respective one of said mounting bases;
• a plurality of discrete flexible electrical conductors extending along said support frame, each such conductor being connected to at least one of said components to electrically enable the same for operation;
• a shield for shielding at least some of said conductors connected to said detector from ambient sources of electrical and/or magnetic noise;
• and a softly compliant outer cover disposed over said support frame, said mounted components, conductors and shield, said cover having light-passing portions overlying said components for passage of light from said source outwardly of said sensor and reception of resulting light from beyond said sensor by said detector, said support frame defining integrally formed socket-like recesses for receiving and positioning said electro-optical components, said recesses including said cup-like generally annular walls, said electro-optical components including electrically actuated light-responsive elements disposed within optically transmissive bodies, said bodies having a size and shape generally complementary to and receivable within said socket-like recesses and against said cup-like generally annular walls.

An electro-optical sensor for spectrophotometric-type clinical examination devices, comprising in combination:

• a thin, flexible, lightweight, elongated support frame having at least a pair of integral mounting bases, each particularly shaped to separately receive and position a particular one of at least a pair of electro-optical components including a light source and detector in a particular relative location and orientation, each of said integral mounting bases including cup-like generally annular walls of varying cross-section for nestingly receiving a corresponding electro-optical component;
• apparatus securing each such component in its nested position at its respective one of said mounting bases;
• a plurality of discrete flexible electrical conductors extending along said support frame, each such conductor being connected to at least one of said components to electrically enable the same for operation;
• a shield for shielding at least some of said conductors connected to said detector from ambient sources of electrical and/or magnetic noise;
• and a softly compliant outer cover disposed over said support frame, said mounted components, conductors and shield, said cover having light-passing portions overlying said components for passage, of light from said source outwardly of said sensor and reception of resulting light from beyond said senior by said detector, said electro-optical components each including at least one electrically actuated light-responsive element mounted physically on and electrically coupled to a thin conductive lead frame member, said flexible electrical conductors being connected to said lead frame members.

An electro-optical sensor for spectrophotometric-type clinical examination devices, comprising in combination:

• a thin, flexible, lightweight, elongated support frame having at least a pair of integral mounting bases, each particularly shaped to separately receive and position a particular one of at least a pair of electro-optical components including a light source and detector in a particular relative location and orientation, each of said integral mounting bases including cup-like generally annular walls of varying cross-section for nestingly receiving a corresponding electro-optical component;
• apparatus securing each such component in its nested position at its respective one of said mounting bases;
• a plurality of discrete flexible electrical conductors extending along said support frame, each such conductor being connected to at least one of said components to electrically enable the same for operation;
• a shield for shielding at least some of said conductors connected to said detector from ambient sources of electrical and/or magnetic noise;
• and a softly compliant outer cover disposed over said support frame, said mounted components, conductors and shield, said cover having light-passing portions overlying said components for passage of light from said source outwardly of said sensor and reception of resulting light from beyond said sensor by said detector, said socket-like recesses terminating in outer extremities and said shield including a sheet-like member which overlies at least certain of said socket-like recesses receiving said electro-optical components and is conformably configured to the said outer extremities of said recesses.