Oximeter

Claim 1

An apparatus comprising: at least one fiber optic light conductor; a connector body having an exterior face; means for mounting the fiber optic light conductor on the connector body with an end of the fiber optic light conductor being adjacent the face and capable of transmitting light to or from a location on said face; a receptacle having a cavity for receiving the connector body, a face partly defining said cavity and means for transmitting light to or from a location on said face of said receptacle; guide means at least partially on the receptacle for guiding the connector body along a path in the cavity to place said faces in confronting relationship and said locations substantially into engagement; said connector body having a cam surface; and said receptacle having biasing means cooperable with said cam surface when the connector body is in the cavity of the receptacle and said locations are nearly in engagement for urging the connector body farther into the cavity to place said locations on said faces in substantial engagement.

Claim 2

An apparatus comprising: at least one fiber optic light conductor; a connector body having an exterior face; means for mounting the fiber optic light conductor on the connector body with an end of the fiber optic light conductor being adjacent the face and capable of transmitting light to or from a location on said face; a receptacle having a cavity for receiving the connector body, a face partly defining said cavity and means for transmitting light to or from a location on said face of said receptacle; guide means at least partially on the receptacle for guiding the connector body along a path in the cavity to place said faces in confronting relationship and said locations substantially into engagement; said connector body having a cam surface; and said receptacle having biasing means cooperable with said cam surface when the connector body is in the cavity of the receptacle and said locations are nearly in engagement for urging the connector body farther into the cavity to place said locations on said faces in substantial engagement.

Claim 4

An apparatus as defined in claim. 1 or 2 wherein said biasing means includes spaced regions of the receptacle on opposite sides of the cavity and the receptacle is sufficiently resilient to allow said spaced regions to be resiliently spread farther apart.

Claim 8

An apparatus connectible to an instrument wherein the instrument has a receptacle with a cavity, a face partly defining the cavity, means for transmitting light to or from a location on the face of the receptacle, and a resilient biasing member, said apparatus comprising: fiber optic means for conducting light along its length; a connector body receivable in the cavity of the receptacle for use in coupling the fiber optic means to the receptacle; said connector body including wall means defining an enclosure and an entrance passage and an exit passage in the wall means, the fiber optic means extending through the entrance passage into the enclosure and into the exit passage, said exit passage opening at a location on an exterior face of the connector body, said fiber optic means having a proximal end within or closely adjacent the. exit passage whereby said proximal end of the fiber optic means can-be optically coupled to said location on said face of the receptacle; means for retaining the fiber optic means in said exit passage; and a cam surface on said wall means for cooperation with the resilient biasing member when the connector body is in the cavity for urging the connector body farther into the cavity to place said locations on said faces in substantial engagement.

Claim 9

An apparatus connectible to an instrument wherein the instrument has a receptacle with a cavity, a face partly defining the cavity, means for transmitting light to or from a location on the face of the receptacle, and a resilient biasing member, said apparatus comprising: fiber optic means for conducting light along its length; a connector body receivable in the cavity of the receptacle for use in coupling the fiber optic means to the receptacle; said connector body including wall means defining an enclosure and an entrance passage and an exit passage in the wall means, the fiber optic means extending through the entrance passage into the enclosure and into the exit passage, said exit passage opening at a location on an exterior face of the connector body, said fiber optic means having a proximal end within or closely adjacent the. exit passage whereby said proximal end of the fiber optic means can-be optically coupled to said location on said face of the receptacle; means for retaining the fiber optic means in said exit passage; and a cam surface on said wall means for cooperation with the resilient biasing member when the connector body is in the cavity for urging the connector body farther into the cavity to place said locations on said faces in substantial engagement.

Claim 11

An apparatus connectible to an instrument, said apparatus comprising: fiber optic means for conducting light along its length; a connector body for use in coupling the fiber optic means to the instrument; said connector body including wall means defining an enclosure and an entrance passage and an exit passage in the wall means, the fiber optic means extending through the entrance passage into the enclosure and into the exit passage, said fiber optic means, having a proximal end within or closely adjacent the exit passage whereby said proximal end of the fiber optic means can be optically coupled to a selected part of the instrument; means for retaining the fiber optic means in said exit passage; said wall means includes a peripheral wall, said peripheral wall including a' face and first and second generally opposed side walls and said exit passage opening at said face; and each of said side walls having a recess therein for connecting the connector body to the instrument.

Claim 12

An apparatus connectible to an instrument, said apparatus comprising: fiber optic means for conducting light along its length; a connector body for use in coupling the fiber optic means to the instrument; said connector body including wall means defining an enclosure and an entrance passage and an exit passage in the wall means, the fiber optic means extending through the entrance passage into the enclosure and into the exit passage, said fiber optic means, having a proximal end within or closely adjacent the exit passage whereby said proximal end of the fiber optic means can be optically coupled to a selected part of the instrument; means for retaining the fiber optic means in said exit passage; said wall means includes a peripheral wall, said peripheral wall including a' face and first and second generally opposed side walls and said exit passage opening at said face; and each of said side walls having a recess therein for connecting the connector body to the instrument.

Claim 16

An apparatus as defined in claim. 9, 11 or 12 including an elongated tube sized to be received within a vein or artery and having proximal and distal ends and at least one elongated passage with proximal and distal openings, said fiber optic means being partially in said passage and being capable of conducting light to said distal opening and from said distal opening, said fiber optic means extending through said proximal opening to provide a proximal section of said fiber optic means outside of said tube, at least a portion of the proximal section extending through said entrance passage and into said enclosure.