Medical sensor

Claim 2

Medical sensor according to claim 1, wherein said flexible carrier means (1,26) includes: (2.1) a flexible layer (6;15) to which the transmitter element (7;16a,16b) and the receiver element (8;17a,17b) is attached, and (2.2) a flexible carrier body prepared for incorporation or mounting of said flexible layer.

Claim 3

Medical sensor according to claim 2, wherein said flexible layer (6;15) is made from polyimide.

Claim 4

Medical sensor according to claim 2, wherein said flexible layer (6;15) carries leads, preferably copper leads (18), for interconnection of said transmitter element (7;16a,16b) and said receiver element (8;17a,17b) with contact pads (19a-19d).

Claim 5

Medical sensor according to claim 2, wherein said flexible carrier body comprises (5.1) a lower body portion (3), (5.2) an upper body portion (2), said lower body portion (3) and said upper body portion (2) being provided with body connection means, respectively, for interconnection of said lower body portion (3) and said upper body portion (2), preferably studs (4) and respective openings (5).

Claim 6

Medical sensor according to claim 5, wherein said lower body portion (3) and/or said upper body portion (2) are manufactured from transparent plastic material, preferably transparent silicone.

Claim 7

Medical sensor according to claim 5, wherein said lower body portion (3) is provided with recesses (10,11) for receiving said transmitter element (7;16a,16b) and said receiver element (8;17a,17b).

Claim 8

Medical sensor according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter element (7;16a,16b) and/or said receiver element (8;17a,17b) are optical elements, preferably a transmitter LED and a receiver photodiode or phototransistor.

Claim 9

Medical sensor according to claim 1, wherein said flexible carrier means (1,26), as well as said housing element (27,33,36,40,41,47,53), include appropriate recesses (21,22;30,31;37,38;42,43;55a,55b) for connection of the same.

Claim 10

Flexible carrier means (1,26) for monitoring vital signs, in particular oxygen saturation, of a human being by means of electromagnetic waves transmitted through or reflected by human tissue, said flexible carrier means (1,26) comprising: (10.1) a flexible carrier body including a lower body portion (3) and an upper body portion (2), (10.2) body connection means for interconnection of said lower body portion and said upper body portion, preferably studs (4) and respective openings (5), (10.3) a flexible layer (6;15) to which at least a transmitter element (7;16a,16b) and at least a receiver element (8;17a,17b) is attached, and (10.4) connection means (21,22;30,31;37,38;42,43;55a,55b) for connecting said flexible carrier means (1,26) with a housing element (27,33,36,40,41,47,53).

Claim 11

Flexible carrier means (1,26) according to claim 10, wherein said lower body portion (3), and/or said upper body portion (2), are manufactured from transparent material, preferably transparent plastic and in particular transparent silicone.

Claim 12

Flexible carrier means (1,26) according to claim 10, wherein said body connection means is plastic material, preferably colored plastic and in particular colored silicone.

Claim 13

Flexible carrier means (1,26) according to claim 12, wherein said lower body portion (3), and/or said upper body portion (2), include at least one recess (13) for injection of said plastic material, said recess (13) not extending along or crossing the optical axes of said transmitter element (7;16a,16b) and said receiver element(8;17a,17b).

Claim 14

Flexible carrier means (1,26) according to claim 10, wherein said flexible layer (6;15) is made from polyimide.

Claim 15

Flexible carrier means (1,26) according to claim 10, wherein said flexible layer (6;15) carries leads, preferably copper leads (18), for interconnection of said transmitter element (7;16a,16b) and said receiver element (8;17a,17b) with contact pads (19a-19d).

Claim 16

Housing element (27,33,36,40,41,47,53) for a medical sensor for monitoring vital signs, in particular oxygen saturation, of a human being, by means of electromagnetic waves transmitted through or reflected by human tissue, said housing element (27,33,36,40,41,47, 53) including connection means (30,31;37,38;42,43;55a,55b) for connecting said housing element (27,33,36,40,41,47,53) with flexible carrier means (1,26).

Claim 17

Housing element (27,33,36,40,41,47,53) according to claim 16, wherein said connection means (30,31;37,38;42,43;55a,55b) are recesses, preferably with elastic side walls.

Claim 18

Housing element (27,33,36,40,41,47,53) according to claim 17, wherein the side walls of said recesses include projections (31a), in order to provide a snap-on connection.

Claim 19

Housing element (27,33,36,40,41,47,53) according to claim 16, wherein said connection means are respective studs or buttons and holes.

Claim 20

Housing element (27,33,36,40,41,47,53) according to claim 16, including a self-contained elastic clip, wherein said connection means (30,31) are provided at the inner surface of said clip.

Claim 21

Housing element (36,40,41,47) according to claim 16, including an elastic clamp, wherein said connection means (37,38;42,43) are provided at the inner surfaces of longitudinal projections of said elastic clamp.

Claim 22

Housing element (36,40,41,47) according to claim 21, comprising an additional hook or projection (45) for application to the human ear.

Claim 23

Method for manufacturing flexible carrier means (1,26) for monitoring vital signs, in particular oxygen saturation, of a human being by means of electromagnetic waves transmitted through or reflected by human tissue, said method comprising the steps of: (23.1) providing a lower body portion (3) and an upper body portion (2) of a flexible carrier body manufactured from transparent material, preferably transparent plastic material and in particular transparent silicone, (23.1.1) said lower body portion (3) and said upper body portion (2) being provided with respective body connection means (4,5), (23.2) providing a flexible layer (6:15) to which a transmitter element (7;16a,16b) and a receiver element (8;17a,17b) are attached, (23.3) introducing said flexible layer (6;15) between the lower body portion (3) and the upper body portion (2) of said flexible carrier body, and (23.4) injecting plastic material, preferably silicone and in particular colored or opaque silicone, in predefined recesses (13) of said lower body portion (3) and/or said upper body portion(2).