Non-invasive oximeter probe

Claim 2

A noninvasive, electrooptical sensor probe for removable attachment to the skin of a patient to measure light extinction during transillumination of the blood-perfused tissue beneath the skin, comprising: a unitary elastomeric polymeric chassis having a topside and an underside and having a first end connected to a second end by a flexible bridge, whereby the topside of said first and second ends are spaced and opposed when the bridge is folded in a U-shape, and wherein the topside of at least one of said first or second ends forms a concave finger location saddle; a light source mounted on the first end of said chassis; a photosensor mounted on the second end of said chassis positioned to detect light emitted by said light source when the bridge is folded in a U-shape; means for electrically connecting said light source and said photosensor to an external device; and means for removably securing said chassis to the skin, wherein said means for removably securing said chassis comprises first and second wings extending from opposing lateral sides of one of first or second ends of said chassis.

Claim 3

The sensor probe of claim 1 wherein the underside of said chassis includes a cavity, wherein said light source and said photosensor are disposed within said cavity, and wherein said sensor probe further includes means for covering said cavity to capture said light source and said photosensor therein.

Claim 4

The sensor probe of claim 1 wherein the topside of the other of said first or second ends forms a second finger location saddle.

Claim 5

The sensor probe of claim 1 further comprising a highly resilient, generally U-shaped alignment member for imparting a U-shape to the bridge of said chassis.

Claim 6

The sensor probe of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second wings has at least one adhesive side, and wherein the adhesive sides of said first and second wings are covered by first and second release tabs, respectively, prior to the attachment of the sensor probe to the patient.

Claim 7

The sensor probe of claim 1 wherein the topside of said chassis is opaque to visible light.

Claim 8

A noninvasive, electrooptical sensor probe for removable attachment to the skin of a patient to measure light extinction during transillumination of the blood-perfused tissue beneath the skin, comprising: a unitary, molded chassis having a topside and an underside and having a first end connected to a second end by a flexible bridge, whereby the topside of said first and second ends are spaced and opposed when the bridge is folded in a U-shape; a light source mounted on the first end of said chassis; a photosensor mounted on the second end of said chassis positioned to detect light emitted by said light source when the bridge is folded in a U-shape; means for electrically connecting said light source and said photosensor to an external device; and means for removably securing said chassis to the skin, wherein said means for removably securing said chassis comprises first and seconded wings having at least one adhesive side, wherein said first and second wings extend from opposing lateral sides of one of said first or second ends of said chassis.

Claim 9

A noninvasive, electrooptical sensor probe for removable attachment to the skin of a patient to measure light extinction during transillumination of the blood-perfused tissue beneath the skin, comprising: a unitary, molded chassis having a topside and an underside and having a first end connected to a second end by a flexible bridge, whereby the topside of said first and second ends are spaced and opposed when the bridge is folded in a U-shape; a light source mounted on the first end of said chassis; a photosensor mounted on the second end of said chassis positioned to detect light emitted by said light source when the bridge is folded in a U-shape; means for electrically connecting said light source and said photosensor to an external device; and means for removably securing said chassis to the skin, wherein said means for removably securing said chassis comprises first and seconded wings having at least one adhesive side, wherein said first and second wings extend from opposing lateral sides of one of said first or second ends of said chassis.

Claim 10

The sensor probe of claim 7 wherein the underside of said chassis includes a cavity, wherein said light source and said photosensor are disposed within said cavity, and wherein said sensor probe further includes means for covering said cavity to capture said light source and said photosensor therein.

Claim 11

The sensor probe of claim 7 wherein the topside of one of said first or second ends forms a finger location saddle.

Claim 12

The sensor probe of claim 7 further comprising a highly resilient, generally U-shaped alignment member for imparting a U-shape to the bridge of said chassis.

Claim 13

The sensor probe of claim 7 wherein the topside of said chassis is opaque to visible light.

Claim 14

A noninvasive, electrooptical sensor probe for removable attachment to the skin of a patient to measure light extinction during transillumination of the blood-perfused tissue beneath the skin, comprising: a unitary, molded elastomeric polymeric chassis having a nonadhesive topside and an underside, and having a first end connected to a second end by a flexible bridge, whereby the topside of said first and second ends are spaced and opposed when the bridge is folded in a U-shape; an electrical sensor assembly including a light source and a photosensor, said sensor assembly being mounted on said chassis whereby said light source is at said first end of said chassis and said photosensor is at said second end of said chassis, and wherein said photosensor is positioned to detect light emitted by said light source when the bridge is folded in a U-shape; means for electrically connecting said light source and said photosensor to an external device; and means for removably securing said chassis to the skin, wherein the means for removably securing said chassis to the skin comprises a first and second flexible wing, wherein said first wing extends Laterally from one side of one of said first and second ends of said chassis, wherein said second wing extends laterally from the other side of said one of said first and second ends of said chassis, wherein said wings have a topside and an underside, wherein the topside side of said wings faces the same direction as the topside of the chassis, and wherein said underside of said wings is adhesive.

Claim 15

A noninvasive, electrooptical sensor probe for removable attachment to the skin of a patient to measure light extinction during transillumination of the blood-perfused tissue beneath the skin, comprising: a unitary, molded elastomeric polymeric chassis having a nonadhesive topside and an underside, and having a first end connected to a second end by a flexible bridge, whereby the topside of said first and second ends are spaced and opposed when the bridge is folded in a U-shape; an electrical sensor assembly including a light source and a photosensor, said sensor assembly being mounted on said chassis whereby said light source is at said first end of said chassis and said photosensor is at said second end of said chassis, and wherein said photosensor is positioned to detect light emitted by said light source when the bridge is folded in a U-shape; means for electrically connecting said light source and said photosensor to an external device; and means for removably securing said chassis to the skin, wherein the means for removably securing said chassis to the skin comprises a first and second flexible wing, wherein said first wing extends Laterally from one side of one of said first and second ends of said chassis, wherein said second wing extends laterally from the other side of said one of said first and second ends of said chassis, wherein said wings have a topside and an underside, wherein the topside side of said wings faces the same direction as the topside of the chassis, and wherein said underside of said wings is adhesive.

Claim 16

The sensor probe of claim 12 wherein the topsides of said first and second ends form finger location saddles.

Claim 17

A noninvasive, electrooptical sensor probe for removable attachment to the skin of a patient to measure light extinction during transillumination of the blood-perfused tissue beneath the skin, comprising: a unitary, molded elastomeric polymeric chassis having a nonadhesive topside and an underside, and having a first end connected to a second end by a flexible bridge, whereby the topside of said first and second ends are spaced and opposed when the bridge is folded in a U-shape, and wherein the topside of said chassis includes a finger location saddle on at least one of said first or second ends; a light source mounted on the first end of said chassis; a photosensor mounted on the second end of said chassis positioned to detect light emitted by said light source when the bridge is folded in a U-shape; means for electrically connecting said light source and said photosensor to an external device; and means for removably securing said chassis to the skin, wherein said means for removably securing said chassis comprises first and second wings extending from opposing lateral sides of one of said first or second ends of said chassis.

Claim 18

A noninvasive, electrooptical sensor probe for removable attachment to the skin of a patient to measure light extinction during transillumination of the blood-perfused tissue beneath the skin, comprising: a unitary, molded elastomeric polymeric chassis having a nonadhesive topside and an underside, and having a first end connected to a second end by a flexible bridge, whereby the topside of said first and second ends are spaced and opposed when the bridge is folded in a U-shape, and wherein the topside of said chassis includes a finger location saddle on at least one of said first or second ends; a light source mounted on the first end of said chassis; a photosensor mounted on the second end of said chassis positioned to detect light emitted by said light source when the bridge is folded in a U-shape; means for electrically connecting said light source and said photosensor to an external device; and means for removably securing said chassis to the skin, wherein said means for removably securing said chassis comprises first and second wings extending from opposing lateral sides of one of said first or second ends of said chassis.