EP0724860A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Self-aligning photoplethysmograph sensor
Assignee: Spacelabs Medical Inc
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Filing: 1996-02-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A self-aligning photoplethysmograph sensor (30) includes a flexible, resilient web loop (32) having a circumference smaller than the circumference of a body part on which the photoplethysmograph sensor is to be used. The loop (32) is formed by an inner loop of a resilient material covered by an outer loop of fabric. A red light emitting diode (34), an infrared light emitting diode (30), and a light detector (40) are mounted on the inner surface of the inner loop with the light detector directly opposite the light emitting diodes. As a result, when the loop is placed around a finger (F), light emanating from the light emitting diodes shines through the finger and is incident on the light detector. A pair of conductive leads (44,48) bonded to the inner surface of the inner loop extends in a serpentine manner from each of the light emitting diodes and the light detector to a cable junction (46) on the outer loop. A cable (50) has a respective plurality of wires that are connected at one end to the conductive leads and at the other end to respective pins (54) of a cable connector (52) that is mounted on the other end of the cable.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Hartwig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/41; A61B5/411; A61B5/02; A61B5/024; A61B5/02416; A61B5/02422
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A self-aligning photoplethysmograph sensor, comprising: a resilient web loop having a circumference smaller than the circumference of a body part on which said photoplethysmograph sensor is to be used so that said loop stretches when said loop is placed around the body part with an inner surface in contact with the body part; a first light emitter mounted on an inner surface of said loop so that light emanating from said light emitter is incident on the body part when said loop is placed around the body part; and a light detector mounted on an inner surface of said loop substantially opposite from said light emitter so that segments of said loop between said light emitter and said light detector are of substantially equal length whereby when said loop is placed around a body part light shining through the body part from the light emitter is incident on the light detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
The self-aligning photoplethysmograph sensor of claim 1 further including a second light emitter on the inner surface of said loop adjacent said first light emitter, said first and second light emitters being positioned substantially equidistant from said light detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The self-aligning photoplethysmograph sensor of claim 2 wherein said first light emitter emits red light, and said second light emitter emits infrared light whereby said sensor may be used as a pulse oximetry sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The self-aligning photoplethysmograph sensor of claim 1 wherein said resilient web loop comprises: an inner loop of a resilient material having said light emitter and said light detector mounted on an inner surface thereof; and an outer loop of fabric surrounding to said inner loop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
The self-aligning photoplethysmograph sensor of claim 4, further comprising: a respective pair of conductive leads extending in a serpentine manner from said light emitter to a cable junction and from said light detector to said cable junction; a cable connected at one end to said outer loop at said cable junction, said cable having a plurality of respective wires connected to said conductive leads; and a cable connector connected to the other end of said cable, said cable connector having a plurality of conductive pins connected to respective wires of said cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
The self-aligning photoplethysmograph sensor of claim 1, further comprising: a respective pair of conductive leads extending through said loop in a serpentine manner from said light emitter to a cable junction and from said light detector to said cable junction; a cable connected at one end to said loop at said cable junction, said cable having a plurality of respective wires connected to said leads; and a cable connector connected to the other end of said cable, said cable connector having a plurality of conductive pins connected to respective wires of said cable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
268 words
A self-aligning pulse oximetry sensor, comprising: a resilient web loop having a circumference smaller than the circumference of a body part on which said photoplethysmograph sensor is to be used so that said loop stretches when said loop is placed around the body part with an inner surface in contact with the body part; a red light emitting diode mounted on an inner surface of said loop so that light emanating from said red light emitting diode is incident on the body part when said loop is placed around the body part; an infrared light emitting diode mounted on an inner surface of said loop adjacent said red light emitting diode so that light emanating from said infrared light emitting diode is incident on the body part when said loop is placed around the body part; a light detector mounted on an inner surface of said loop substantially equidistant from each of said light emitting diodes so that light from the light emitting diodes shines through the body part and is incident on the light detector when said loop is placed around the body part; at least one conductive lead extending through said loop in a serpentine manner from a cable junction to each of said light emitting diodes and to said light detector; a cable connected at one end to said loop at said cable junction, said cable having a plurality of respective wires connected to said conductive leads; and a cable connector connected to the other end of said cable, said cable connector having a plurality of conductive pins connected to respective wires of said cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The self-aligning pulse oximetry sensor of claim 7, wherein said resilient web loop comprises: an inner loop of a resilient material having said light emitting diodes and said light detector mounted on an inner surface thereof; and an outer loop of fabric surrounding to said inner loop.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of determining the transmissivity of light through a body part, comprising: providing a loop of resilient material having a circumference smaller than the circumference of the body part mounting a first light emitter on an inner surface of said loop mounting a light detector on an inner surface of said loop substantially opposite from said light emitter so that segments of said loop between said light emitter and said light detector on opposite sides of said light detector are of substantially equal length; and stretching said loop and placing it around the body part with the inner surface of the loop in contact with the body part so that light emanates from said light emitter, passes through the body part, and is incident on the light detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 9 further including the step of mounting a second light emitter on the inner surface of said loop adjacent said first light emitter with said first and second light emitters positioned substantially equidistant from said light detector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said loop has a circumference that is slightly smaller than the circumference of a human finger, and wherein said step of stretching said loop and placing it around the body part comprises stretching said loop and placing it around the finger.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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