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US 5,619,992 AGranted
Methods and apparatus for inhibiting contamination of reusable pulse oximetry sensors
OwnerRobert B. Guthrie, Richard A. Pottsinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A protective sheath for a pulse oximetry sensor. The sheath covers the sensor and inhibits contamination thereof during use. The sheath obviates the need to clean the pulse oximetry sensor after each use while reducing the likelihood of cross-patient contamination. The sheath allows the use of reusable pulse oximetry sensors and thus significantly reduces the overall costs of such sensors per use.
Claims15
A method of inhibiting contamination of a pulse oximetry sensor having first and second sensor members and a sensor cable, comprising the steps of:
- providing an envelope of fluid impermeable material, the envelope having an interior chamber comprising a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion and having a first envelope section adjacent to the first chamber portion and a second envelope section adjacent to the second chamber portion;
- forming an insertion opening in the envelope;
- forming a cable opening in the envelope;
- passing the cable through the insertion opening and the cable opening until the first and second sensor members are within the interior chamber;
- manipulating the oximetry sensor such that the first sensor member is in the first chamber portion and the second sensor member is in the second chamber portion;
- sealing the insertion opening;
- and
- placing a patient's digit into a notch region at least partially defined by the first and second envelope sections such that a beam of light may pass between the first and second sensor members through the patient's digit.
5 more elements
A combination of:
- a pulse oximetry sensor comprising a cable and a sensor assembly formed by first and second sensor members mounted to the end of the cable, the sensor members being pivotally connected to move between a closed position and an open position in which a digit receiving region is defined therebetween;
- a protective sheath comprising an envelope having an interior chamber comprising a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion and having a cable opening formed therein to allow access to the interior chamber, the envelope being made of fluid impermeable material and having a first envelope section adjacent to the first chamber portion and a second envelope section adjacent to the second chamber portion;
- wherein
- the protective sheath is placed over the pulse oximetry sensor such that the first sensor member is received in the first chamber portion, the second sensor member is received in the second chamber portion, and the cable extends through the cable opening;
- and
- the first and second envelope sections are adjacent to the first and second sensor members, respectively, such that access to the digit receiving region is substantially unhindered.
3 more elements
A protective sheath for inhibiting contamination of a pulse oximetry sensor having first and second sensor members adapted to engage a patient's digit, the protective sheath comprising:
- an envelope having an interior chamber comprising a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion and having a cable opening formed therein to allow access to the interior chamber, the envelope being made of fluid impermeable material;
- wherein
- the pulse oximetry sensor is received within the interior chamber such that the first sensor member is received in the first chamber portion and the second sensor member is received in the second chamber portion;
- with the pulse oximetry sensor so received within the interior chamber, the envelope defines a notch region partly bounded by first and second sections of the envelope that are adjacent to the first and second sensor members, respectively;
- the envelope comprises a first envelope portion defining the first chamber portion and a second envelope portion defining the second chamber portion, where the cable opening is formed in a first end of the second envelope portion and the first envelope portion is adjacent to a second end of the second envelope portion;
- the protective sheath further comprising first and second layers of skin contacting material attached to the first and second portions of the envelope, where the skin contacting layers are formed from a breathable material that allows air to reach the patient's digit.
3 more elements
A protective sheath for inhibiting contamination of a pulse oximetry sensor having first and second sensor members adapted to engage a patient's digit, the protective sheath comprising:
- an envelope having an interior chamber comprising a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion and having a cable opening formed therein to allow access to the interior chamber, the envelope being made of fluid impermeable material;
- wherein
- the pulse oximetry sensor is received within the interior chamber such that the first sensor member is received in the first chamber portion and the second sensor member is received in the second chamber portion;
- with the pulse oximetry sensor so received within the interior chamber, the envelope defines a notch region partly bounded by first and second sections of the envelope that are adjacent to the first and second sensor members, respectively;
- an insertion opening is formed in the envelope to allow access to the interior chamber;
- the protective sheath further comprising means for closing the insertion opening to inhibit entry of fluids into the interior chamber through the insertion opening.
3 more elements
A protective sheath for inhibiting contamination of a pulse oximetry sensor having first and second sensor members adapted to engage a patient's digit, the protective sheath comprising:
- an envelope having an interior chamber comprising a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion and having a cable opening formed therein to allow access to the interior chamber, the envelope being made of fluid impermeable material;
- wherein
- the pulse oximetry sensor is received within the interior chamber such that the first sensor member is received in the first chamber portion and the second sensor member is received in the second chamber portion;
- with the pulse oximetry sensor so received within the interior chamber, the envelope defines a notch region partly bounded by first and second sections of the envelope that are adjacent to the first and second sensor members, respectively;
- the protective sheath further comprising stiffening means mounted to the envelope at the cable opening to allow the cable opening to be held in a wide open position.
2 more elements
A method of inhibiting contamination of a pulse oximetry sensor having first and second sensor members and a sensor cable, comprising the steps of:
- providing an envelope of fluid impermeable material, the envelope having an interior chamber comprising a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion;
- forming a cable opening in the envelope;
- passing the first and second sensor members through the cable opening;
- manipulating the oximetry sensor such that the first sensor member is in the first chamber portion, the second sensor member is in the second chamber portion, and the cable extends through the cable opening;
- attaching first and second layers of skin contacting material to the first and second sections of the envelope;
- and
- placing a patient's digit into a notch region at least partially defined by first and second sections of the envelope such that a beam of light may pass between the first and second sensor members through the patient's digit;
- wherein
- air may reach portions of the patient's digit in contact with the skin contacting material.
6 more elements
A method of inhibiting contamination of a pulse oximetry sensor having first and second sensor members and a sensor cable, comprising the steps of:
- providing an envelope of fluid impermeable material, the envelope having an interior chamber comprising a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion;
- forming a cable opening in the envelope;
- passing the first and second sensor members through the cable opening;
- manipulating the oximetry sensor such that the first sensor member is in the first chamber portion, the second sensor member is in the second chamber portion, and the cable extends through the cable opening;
- placing a patient's digit into a notch region at least partially defined by first and second sections of the envelope such that a beam of light may pass between the first and second sensor members through the patient's digit;
- providing a stiffening structure at the cable opening;
- and
- holding the stiffening structure in an open position to place the cable opening in a wide open position before the step of passing the first and second sensor members through the cable opening.
5 more elements
A method of inhibiting contamination of a pulse oximetry sensor having first and second sensor members and a sensor cable, comprising the steps of:
- providing an envelope of fluid impermeable material, the envelope having an interior chamber comprising a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion;
- forming a cable opening in the envelope;
- passing the first and second sensor members through the cable opening;
- manipulating the oximetry sensor such that the first sensor member is in the first chamber portion, the second sensor member is in the second chamber portion, and the cable extends through the cable opening;
- placing a patient's digit into a notch region at least partially defined by first and second sections of the envelope such that a beam of light may pass between the first and second sensor members through the patient's digit;
- and
- substantially sealing the cable opening after the step of passing the first and second sensor members through the cable opening.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.