Medical sensor and technique for using the same
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsPaul D. Mannheimer, Bruce R. Bowman, Lee M. Middleman, Clark R. Baker, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an embodiment, a sensor may be adapted to provide information related to its position on a patient's tissue. postioned adjacenta sensor may be provided with tissue contact sensors which may relay a signal related to the proper placement of the sensor relative to the tissue of a patient. Such a sensor may be useful for providing information to a clinician regarding the location of the sensor in relation to the skin of a patient in order to provide improved measurements.
Claims20
A sensor comprising:
- a sensor body;
- an emitter and a detector disposed adjacent the sensor body;
- and
- a tissue contact sensor disposed adjacent the sensor body, wherein the tissue contact sensor is capable of providing an electrical signal related to a movement of a mechanical component of the tissue contact sensor, and wherein the mechanical component is configured to contact a tissue of a patient and to move relative to the sensor body to open or to close a circuit.
A pulse oximetry system comprising:
- a pulse oximetry monitor;
- and
- a pulse oximetry sensor capable of being operatively coupled to the monitor, the sensor comprising:
- a sensor body;
- an emitter and a detector disposed adjacent the sensor body;
- and
- a tissue contact sensor disposed adjacent the sensor body, wherein the tissue contact sensor is capable of providing an electrical signal to the monitor related to a movement of a mechanical component of the tissue contact sensor, and wherein the mechanical component is configured to contact a tissue of a patient and to move relative to the sensor body to open or to close a circuit.
A method comprising:
- moving a mechanical component of a tissue contact sensor disposed between an emitter and a detector that are coupled to a medical sensor;
- and
- providing an electrical signal related to the movement of the mechanical component of the tissue contact sensor, and wherein the mechanical component is configured to contact a tissue of a patient and to move relative to the sensor body to open or to close a circuit.
A method of manufacturing a sensor, comprising:
- providing a sensor body upon which an emitter and a detector are capable of being disposed;
- and
- providing a tissue contact sensor disposed adjacent the sensor body, wherein the tissue contact sensor is capable of providing an electrical signal related to a movement of a mechanical component of the tissue contact sensor, and wherein the mechanical component is configured to contact a tissue of a patient and to move relative to the sensor body to open or to close a circuit.
A sensor comprising:
- a sensor body;
- an emitter and a detector positioned adjacent the sensor body;
- and
- a tissue contact sensor positioned adjacent the sensor body, wherein the tissue contact sensor is capable of indicating a sensor on state when the tissue contact sensor is applied to a tissue of a patient using suitable pressure and a sensor off state when the tissue contact sensor is not applied to the tissue of the patient using suitable pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.