Adhesive pulse oximeter sensor with reusable portion

Claim 2

A sensor for attaching to a patient for electrooptical measurement of blood characteristics, comprising: a reusable member including a first electronic device for emitting or detecting electromagnetic radiation; conducting means, connected to said reusable member, for electrically connecting the first electronic device to an external sensor monitoring system; a disposable, flexible member including a second electronic device for detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the first electronic device or emitting electromagnetic radiation to be detected by the first electronic device; means for removably coupling the flexible member to the reusable member to provide a connection between the second electrical device and the conducting means; and means for securing the disposable, flexible member and the reusable member to said patient.

Claim 3

A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the means for adhering comprises an adhesive on said disposable, flexible member.

Claim 4

A sensor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second electronic device is a photoemitter.

Claim 5

A sensor according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the means for removably coupling comprises a tail extending from the disposable, flexible member having at least one exposed first electrical conductor, at least one exposed second electrical conductor extending from the reusable member, and a bridge connected to the reusable member and extending across the second electrical conductor to allow the tail to be inserted between the bridge and the second conductor.

Claim 6

A sensor according to claim 4, wherein the tail includes resilient means for applying force between the second conductor and the bridge to hold the tail in place.

Claim 7

A sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein the reusable member comprises a rigid housing and deformable means, attached to the housing, for securely gripping and complying to the patient.

Claim 8

A sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein the second electronic device comprises a red light photoemitter and an infrared photoemitter.

Claim 9

A sensor according to claim 7, wherein the first electronic device is a photodetector.

Claim 10

A sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for securing attaches the sensor to an appendage of the patient so that the first electronic device is on an opposite side of the appendage from the second electronic device.

Claim 11

A sensor according to any preceding claim, further comprising a black coating on the flexible member around the second electronic device.

Claim 12

A sensor according to any preceding claim, further comprising: an electrostatic screen adjacent the first electronic device; and a thin film covering the first electronic device and at least a portion of the electrostatic screen the film being transparent over the first electronic device and opaque over the portion of the electrostatic screen.

Claim 13

A sensor for attaching to an appendage of a patient for electrooptical measurement of blood characteristics, comprising: a reusable member including a first electronic device for emitting or detecting light; conducting means for electrically connecting the first electronic deice to an external sensor monitoring system; a disposable, flexible member including a second electronic device for detecting light emitted by the first electronic device or emitting light to be detected by the first electronic device; a tail extending from the disposable, flexible member having at least one exposed first electrical conductor, at least one exposed second electrical conductor extending from the reusable member, and a bridge connected to the reusable member and extending across the second electrical conductor to allow the tail to be inserted between the bridge and the second conductor; means for securing the disposable, flexible member to the appendage and the reusable member so that the first electronic device is on an opposite side of the appendage from the second electronic device.

Claim 14

A sensor for attaching to an appendage of a patient for electrooptical measurement of blood characteristics, comprising: a reusable member including a first electronic device for emitting or detecting light; conducting means for electrically connecting the first electronic deice to an external sensor monitoring system; a disposable, flexible member including a second electronic device for detecting light emitted by the first electronic device or emitting light to be detected by the first electronic device; a tail extending from the disposable, flexible member having at least one exposed first electrical conductor, at least one exposed second electrical conductor extending from the reusable member, and a bridge connected to the reusable member and extending across the second electrical conductor to allow the tail to be inserted between the bridge and the second conductor; means for securing the disposable, flexible member to the appendage and the reusable member so that the first electronic device is on an opposite side of the appendage from the second electronic device.

Claim 15

A sensor according to claim 12, wherein the means for adhering comprises an adhesive on the disposable, flexible member.

Claim 16

A sensor according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the second electronic device is a photoemitter.

Claim 17

A sensor according to claim 12, wherein the tail includes resilient means for applying force between the second conductor and the bridge to hold the tail in place.

Claim 18

A sensor for attaching to an appendage of a patient for electrooptical measurement of blood characteristics, comprising: a reusable member including a photodetector; conducting means, connected to the reusable member, for electrically connecting the photodetector to an external sensor monitoring system; a disposable, flexible member including at least one photoemitter for emitting light to be detected by the photodetector; means for removably coupling the flexible member to the reusable member to provide a connection between the second electrical device and the conducting means; and an adhesive coating on the disposable, flexible member for securing the disposable, flexible member to the appendage and the reusable member so that the photodetector is on an opposite side of the appendage from the photoemitter.

Claim 19

A sensor for attaching to an appendage of a patient for electrooptical measurement of blood characteristics, comprising: a reusable member including a photodetector; conducting means, connected to the reusable member, for electrically connecting the photodetector to an external sensor monitoring system; a disposable, flexible member including at least one photoemitter for emitting light to be detected by the photodetector; means for removably coupling the flexible member to the reusable member to provide a connection between the second electrical device and the conducting means; and an adhesive coating on the disposable, flexible member for securing the disposable, flexible member to the appendage and the reusable member so that the photodetector is on an opposite side of the appendage from the photoemitter.

Claim 20

A sensor for attaching to an appendage of a patient for electrooptical measurement of blood characteristics, comprising: a reusable member including at least one photodetector, the reusable member including a rigid housing and a deformable means, attached to the housing, for securely gripping and complying to the patient's appendage; conducting means, connected to the reusable member, for electrically connecting the photodetector to an external sensor monitoring system; a disposable, flexible member including a red light photoemitter and an infrared photoemitter for emitting light to be detected by the photodetector; a tail extending from the disposable, flexible member having at least one exposed first electrical conductor; at least one exposed second electrical conductor extending from the rigid housing; a bridge connected to the rigid housing and extending across the second electrical conductor to allow the tail to be inserted between the bridge and said second conductor; resilient means, coupled to the tail, for applying force between the second conductor and the bridge to hold the tail in place; and an adhesive coating on the disposable, flexible member for securing the disposable, flexible member to the appendage and the reusable member so that the photoemitter is on an opposite side of the appendage from the photodetector.

Claim 21

A sensor for attaching to an appendage of a patient for electrooptical measurement of blood characteristics, comprising: a reusable member including at least one photodetector, the reusable member including a rigid housing and a deformable means, attached to the housing, for securely gripping and complying to the patient's appendage; conducting means, connected to the reusable member, for electrically connecting the photodetector to an external sensor monitoring system; a disposable, flexible member including a red light photoemitter and an infrared photoemitter for emitting light to be detected by the photodetector; a tail extending from the disposable, flexible member having at least one exposed first electrical conductor; at least one exposed second electrical conductor extending from the rigid housing; a bridge connected to the rigid housing and extending across the second electrical conductor to allow the tail to be inserted between the bridge and said second conductor; resilient means, coupled to the tail, for applying force between the second conductor and the bridge to hold the tail in place; and an adhesive coating on the disposable, flexible member for securing the disposable, flexible member to the appendage and the reusable member so that the photoemitter is on an opposite side of the appendage from the photodetector.