Multi-stream sensor for noninvasive measurement of blood constituents

A physiological, noninvasive detector package configured to detect optical radiation from a tissue site in order to measure physiological parameters of pulsating blood in living tissue, said detector package comprising:

• a set of at least four photodetectors that each provide a signal stream indicating optical radiation of light emitted from a plurality of emitters and attenuated by the tissue site, wherein the set of photodetectors are arranged in a spacial configuration that provides a variation in path lengths between at least some of the photodetectors;
• and
• a conversion processor that provides information indicating an analyte in the tissue site based on ratios of pairs of the signal streams, wherein the set of photodetectors are arranged in a two-dimensional grid.

A physiological, noninvasive sensor configured to obtain physiological information from a patient, the sensor comprising:

• a plurality of emitters configured to emit light into a digit or ear of a patient;
• and
• a set of at least four photodetectors configured to detect optical radiation that has been transmitted through the digit or ear and each generate a signal responsive to the detected optical radiation, the set of at least four photodetectors being arranged in a logarithmically spaced configuration that provides a variation in path lengths between at least some of the photodetectors, the signals being usable to determine physiological information concerning the patient.