Near infrared spectroscopy device with reusable portion

A sensor device for a brain monitoring system using near infrared spectroscopy, comprising:

• a reusable portion;
• and
• a disposable portion;
• wherein said reusable portion comprises a ferrule member for coupling to a near infrared light source, a flexible circuit board, a photodetector mounted to said flexible circuit board at a distal end opposite said ferrule member, an EMI shield disposed around a portion of said photodetector, and an overmold that covers at least said flexible circuit board;
• and
• wherein said disposable portion comprises a light bending optical channel, electronic connecting pins for interfacing to said flexible circuit board, an electronic memory chip for storing data, and a flexible housing overmold having a patient contact adhesive layer and having a receiving slot into which said reusable probe portion is releasably inserted so that only said disposable coupler portion configured to adhere to a patient.

A method of measuring an oxygenation-related parameter during surgery of a patient using a monitoring system having a remote near infrared light source and a controller and using a sensor device having a reusable portion and a disposable portion, said method comprising the steps of:

• mating said reusable portion and said disposable portion to conduct near infrared light from said source through said mated portions and projecting out of an exit from said disposable portion, wherein said disposable portion includes a receiving slot into which said reusable probe portion is releasably inserted, and as a result of said mating, a photodetector in said reusable portion is disposed in a window formed in said disposable portion at a predetermined distance from said exit, said reusable portion having a ferrule member mounted to a hybrid cable for conveying near infrared light from said remote near infrared light source, and said disposable portion having a light channel member adapted to be selectively coupled to said ferrule member for directing said near infrared light out of said exit;
• attaching said disposable portion to a skin surface of said patient over an area of interest so that said reusable portion does not contact said skin surface;
• illuminating said area of interest with said near infrared light;
• detecting reflected light with said photodetector as a measure of said oxygenation-related parameter;
• removing said disposable portion from said skin surface after completion of said surgery;
• unmating said reusable portion from said disposable portion;
• and
• mating said reusable portion to a second disposable portion to measure an oxygenation-related parameter of a second patient during a second surgery.

A near infrared spectroscopy system for monitoring an oxygenation-related parameter beneath a body surface of a patient, comprising:

• a reusable probe portion comprising a ferrule member mounted to a hybrid cable for conveying near infrared light from a remote source, said reusable probe portion further comprising a pair of photodetectors, said ferrule member having a termination spaced from said pair of photodetectors;
• and
• a disposable coupler portion comprising a flexible housing with a receiving slot into which said reusable probe portion is releasably inserted, wherein said disposable coupler portion further comprises a light channel member adapted to be selectively coupled to said termination of said ferrule member for directing said near infrared light toward said body surface, wherein said flexible housing further comprises an adhesive layer for temporarily attaching said disposable coupler portion to said body surface, wherein said flexible housing includes a window disposed in alignment with said pair of infrared detectors for admitting reflected near infrared light from said patient when said disposable coupler portion is releasably connected with said reusable probe portion, wherein said disposable coupler portion further comprises an electronic memory, wherein said near infrared spectroscopy system is adapted to be coupled to a monitor controller via said hybrid cable, and wherein said reusable probe portion includes a data circuit for coupling with said electronic memory to transmit information between said electronic memory and said monitor controller via said hybrid cable.

A near infrared spectroscopy system for monitoring an oxygenation-related parameter beneath a body surface of a patient, comprising:

• a reusable probe portion comprising a ferrule member mounted to a hybrid cable for conveying near infrared light from a remote source, said reusable probe portion further comprising a pair of photodetectors, said ferrule member having a termination spaced from said pair of photodetectors;
• and
• a disposable coupler portion comprising a flexible housing with a receiving slot into which said reusable probe portion is releasably inserted, wherein said disposable coupler portion further comprises a light channel member adapted to be selectively coupled to said termination of said ferrule member for directing said near infrared light toward said body surface, wherein said flexible housing further comprises an adhesive layer for temporarily attaching said disposable coupler portion to said body surface, wherein said flexible housing includes a window disposed in alignment with said pair of infrared detectors for admitting reflected near infrared light from said patient when said disposable coupler portion is releasably connected with said reusable probe portion;
• wherein said reusable probe portion further comprises a light generator mounted to said ferrule member for generating a visible emission when receiving electrical power from said hybrid cable;
• and
• wherein said disposable coupler portion further comprises a lens receiving said visible emission and radiating said visible emission outside said disposable coupler portion to indicate that said electrical power is being received.