Shielded optical probe having an electrical connector
AssigneeMasimo Corporation
InventorsChristian E. Schulz, Ammar Al-Ali, Eugene E. Mason, Mike A. Mills
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is a noninvasive optical probe having an electrical connector for connecting the optical probe to a cable connector. According to one embodiment, the electrical connector includes a durable flexible tab suspended between the housing of the optical probe and a protective cover. The electrical connector also advantageously forms, according to various embodiments, a flexible, plugable, lockable, removable, and sealable electrical connection.
Claims43
An optical probe for irradiating tissue and producing a signal indicative of a physiological parameter of the tissue, the optical probe comprising:
- a housing substantially securing a light source and a detector to tissue at a measurement site, thereby allowing the detector to produce a signal indicative of at least one physiological parameter of the tissue;
- and
- a plugable electrical connector forming a releasable connection with a cable connector, wherein the electrical connector includes a plurality of conductive paths electrically communicating with the light source and the detector, and the cable connector electrically communicates with external monitoring equipment.
A reusable pulse oximetry sensor for producing a signal indicative of at least one physiological parameter of tissue, the sensor comprising:
- an upper housing having
- a first circuit element comprising one of a light source and a detector, and
- a first wire connected to the first circuit element;
- a lower housing having
- a second circuit element comprising the other of the light source and the detector, and
- a second wire connected the second circuit element;
- a hinge-like joint adjustably coupling the upper housing and lower housing;
- and
- an electrical connector having
- a tab, and
- a flexible circuit mounted on the tab and comprising a plurality of conductive paths,
- wherein one of the conductive paths electrically connects to the first wire while another of the conductive paths electrically connects to the second wire, thereby providing a electrical connection from the conductive paths of the electrical connector to the light source and the detector.
A reusable pulse oximetry sensor for producing a signal indicative of at least one physiological parameter of tissue, the sensor comprising:
- an upper housing having a first circuit element comprising one of a light source and a detector;
- a lower housing having a second circuit element comprising the other of the light source and the detector;
- a hinge-like joint adjustably coupling the upper housing and lower housing;
- and
- an electrical connector having
- a tab, and
- a flexible circuit mounted on the tab and comprising a plurality of conductive paths,
- wherein one of the conductive paths electrically connects to the detector while another of the conductive paths electrically connects to the light source.
An optical probe for non-invasively collecting a signal indicative of a physiological parameter of tissue, the optical probe comprising:
- a light source;
- a detector;
- a connector having a flexible circuit mounted on a durable tab;
- and
- a protective housing at least partially covering the flexible circuit mounted on the durable tab.
A method of determining a physiological parameter of tissue using a non-invasive optical probe, the method comprising:
- positioning a light source of a non-invasive optical probe to irradiate a measurement site with light;
- positioning a detector of the probe to detect light which interacts with the measurement site;
- and
- releasably connecting an external monitoring equipment cable to the probe through a flexible circuit mounted on a durable tab having a protective cover;
- wherein at least one the conductive paths electrically communicates with the light source and at least one of the conductive paths electrically communicates with the detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.