Patient interface for reusable optical sensor

A patient interface for a reusable optical sensor, the patient interface comprising:

• a conformal placement element comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the conformal placement element has a compliant structure which conforms to a patient's body upon placement of the first surface thereon;
• and
• a shoe fixed with the second surface of the conformal placement element and which is adapted to removably receive a reusable optical sensor, the shoe comprising a heel portion, a toe portion, a medial portion therebetween, a base positioned against the second surface of the conformal placement element from the heel portion to the toe portion, and a barrier extending around a perimeter of the base, the barrier comprising a first wall portion and a second wall portion opposite to the first wall portion, the first wall portion and the second wall portion each comprising at least one aperture which is adapted to removably lock with at least one protrusion on the reusable optical sensor,
• wherein the barrier frames the reusable optical sensor when the reusable optical sensor is removably mounted in the shoe when the at least one aperture is removably locked with the at least one protrusion,
• wherein the shoe further comprises at least one actuator projecting from the barrier proximal the heel portion, wherein when pressed the at least one actuator causes a flexing motion of the shoe, which in turn causes the at least one protrusion proximal either the first wall portion or the second wall portion to unlock from the at least one aperture removably locked with the at least one protrusion proximal either the first wall portion or the second wall portion, which in turn causes at least a portion of the reusable optical sensor proximal the heel portion to dismount from the shoe.

A method of removably mounting a reusable optical sensor in a disposable patient interface, comprising:

• providing the reusable optical sensor comprising a first end proximal a cable or case extension of the sensor and a second end opposite the first end;
• providing a patient interface comprising:
• a conformal placement element that has a compliant structure which conforms to a patient's body upon placement thereon,
• a shoe fixed with the conformal placement element and which removably receives the reusable optical sensor, the shoe comprising a heel portion, a toe portion, a medial portion therebetween, a base positioned against a second surface of the conformal placement element from the heel portion to the toe portion, and a barrier extending around a perimeter of the base, the barrier comprising a first wall portion and a second wall portion opposite to the first wall portion, the first wall portion and the second wall portion each comprising at least one aperture which removably locks with at least one protrusion on the reusable optical sensor, and
• at least one actuator projecting from the barrier proximal the heel portion;
• sliding the second end of the sensor toward the barrier proximal the toe portion of the shoe so that at least one protrusion proximal the second end of the reusable optical sensor removably locks with at least one aperture proximal the toe portion of the shoe;
• and
• pushing the first end of the reusable optical sensor toward the base proximal the heel portion of the shoe so that at least one protrusion proximal the first end of the reusable optical sensor removably locks with the at least one aperture proximal the heel portion of the shoe, thereby removably mounting the reusable optical sensor in the disposable patient interface;
• wherein dismounting the reusable optical sensor comprises:
• pressing the at least one actuator to cause a flexing motion of the shoe, which in turn causes the at least one protrusion proximal either the first wall portion or the second wall portion to unlock from the at least one aperture removably locked with the at least one protrusion proximal either the first wall portion or the second wall portion, which in turn causes at least a portion of the reusable optical sensor proximal the heel portion to dismount from the shoe;
• and optionally lifting a cable or end of a case extension disposed proximal the first end of the sensor away from the shoe, wherein the pressing and lifting are optionally performed using a same hand of the user, thereby dismounting the sensor from the patient interface.