Methods and apparatus for the invasive use of oximeter probes

Claim 2

A probe useful for invasively monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in at least one tissue wall of an esophagus, the probe comprising: a chassis having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrical connector extending from said proximal end of said chassis and terminating at a plug configured for connection to a pulse oximeter box; a reflectance optics assembly configured to generate and transmit electrical signals to said oximeter box, said signals being indicative of the oxygen saturation level of blood in the wall tissue; and a deployment device attached to said chassis and said reflectance optics assembly, said deployment device useful in urging said reflectance optics assembly into at least one tissue wall of the esophagus to aid in generation of said electrical signals.

Claim 3

The probe of claim 1 wherein said reflectance optics assembly comprises an emitter assembly and a detector assembly.

Claim 4

The probe of claim 2 wherein said deployment device comprises an inflatable balloon connected to said chassis, and wherein said emitter and detector assemblies are affixed to an external surface of said inflatable balloon.

Claim 5

The probe of claim 3 further comprising a balloon inflating tube operatively connected to said balloon and said chassis, said tube being configured to permit fluid to be passed into said balloon to inflate said balloon.

Claim 6

The probe of claim 2 wherein said deployment device comprises a spring assembly connected to said chassis.

Claim 7

The probe of claim 5 wherein said spring assembly comprises: a first spring mechanism, said emitter assembly being operatively connected to said first spring mechanism; and a second spring mechanism, said detector assembly being operatively connected to said second spring mechanism.

Claim 8

The probe of claim 6 wherein said deployment device further includes means for selectively controlling said first and second spring mechanisms to thereby control the placement of said emitter and detector assemblies along the length of said chassis.

Claim 9

The probe of claim 5 wherein said spring assembly comprises a single spring mechanism and said emitter and said detector assemblies are suitably affixed to said single spring mechanism.

Claim 10

The probe of claim 8 further comprising a substrate suitably connected to said single spring mechanism and said emitter and said detector assembly are affixed to said substrate.

Claim 11

The probe of claim 8 wherein said deployment device includes means for selectively controlling said spring mechanism to thereby control the placement of said emitter and detector assemblies along the length of said chassis.

Claim 12

The probe of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor optical coupler, at least a portion of said reflectance optics assembly being contained within said coupler.

Claim 15

A probe useful for invasively monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in at least one tissue wall of an anatomical cavity, the probe comprising: a chassis having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrical connector extending from said proximal end of said chassis and terminating at a plug configured for connection to a pulse oximeter box; a reflectance optics assembly configured to generate and transmit electrical signals to said oximeter box, said signals being indicative of the oxygen saturation level of blood in the wall tissue; at least one sensor optical coupler containing at least a portion of said reflectance optics assembly; and a deployment device attached to said chassis and said reflectance optics assembly, said deployment device useful in urging said at least one sensor optical coupler into at least one tissue wall of the anatomical cavity.

Claim 16

A probe useful for invasively monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in at least one tissue wall of an anatomical cavity, the probe comprising: a chassis having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrical connector extending from said proximal end of said chassis and terminating at a plug configured for connection to a pulse oximeter box; a reflectance optics assembly configured to generate and transmit electrical signals to said oximeter box, said signals being indicative of the oxygen saturation level of blood in the wall tissue; at least one sensor optical coupler containing at least a portion of said reflectance optics assembly; and a deployment device attached to said chassis and said reflectance optics assembly, said deployment device useful in urging said at least one sensor optical coupler into at least one tissue wall of the anatomical cavity.

Claim 17

The probe of claim 13, comprising at least two optical couplers, and wherein said reflectance optics assembly comprises at least an emitter assembly and a detector assembly, said emitter assembly being contained within a first of said optical couplers and said detector assembly being contained within a second of said optical couplers.

Claim 18

The probe of claim 14 wherein said first and second couplers comprise a housing having substantially cylindrical side walls and a substantially domed top.

Claim 19

The probe of claim 15 wherein said side walls of said first and second couplers are substantially optically opaque and said top of said couplers is formed of a substantially optically transmissive material.

Claim 20

The probe of claim 15 wherein said top and a first portion of said side walls of said first optical coupler is formed of an optically opaque material, and a second portion of said side walls of said first optical coupler is formed of an optically transmissive material.

Claim 21

The probe of claim 17 wherein said top and a first portion of said side walls of said second optical coupler is formed of an optically opaque material, and a second portion of said side walls of said second optical coupler is formed of an optically transmissive material.

Claim 22

The probe of claim 18 wherein said second portion of said second coupler side wall is of a larger dimension than said second portion of said first coupler side wall.

Claim 23

The probe of claim 15 wherein said first and second couplers are suitably mounted to a mounting platform, said mounting platform operatively connected to said chassis.

Claim 24

The probe of claim 20 wherein said deployment device is interposed between said platform and said chassis.

Claim 25

A probe useful for invasively monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in at least one tissue wall of an anatomical cavity, the probe comprising: a chassis having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrical connector extending from said proximal end of said chassis and terminating at a plug configured for connection to a pulse oximeter box; a reflectance optics assembly including an emitter assembly and a detector assembly and configured to generate and transmit electrical signals to said oximeter box, said signals being indicative of the oxygen saturation level of blood in the wall tissue; and a spring assembly attached to said chassis, wherein said emitter assembly and said detector assembly are attached to said spring assembly, and wherein upon deployment of said spring assembly, said emitter assembly and said detector assembly are urged into at least one tissue wall of the anatomical cavity, said spring assembly comprising: a first spring mechanism, said emitter assembly being operatively connected to said first spring mechanism; a second spring mechanism, said detector assembly being operatively connected to said second spring mechanism; and means for selectively controlling said first and said second spring mechanisms to thereby control the placement of said emitter assembly and said detector assembly along the length of said chassis.

Claim 26

A probe useful for invasively monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in at least one tissue wall of an anatomical cavity, the probe comprising: a chassis having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrical connector extending from said proximal end of said chassis and terminating at a plug configured for connection to a pulse oximeter box; a reflectance optics assembly including an emitter assembly and a detector assembly and configured to generate and transmit electrical signals to said oximeter box, said signals being indicative of the oxygen saturation level of blood in the wall tissue; and a spring assembly attached to said chassis, wherein said emitter assembly and said detector assembly are attached to said spring assembly, and wherein upon deployment of said spring assembly, said emitter assembly and said detector assembly are urged into at least one tissue wall of the anatomical cavity, said spring assembly comprising: a first spring mechanism, said emitter assembly being operatively connected to said first spring mechanism; a second spring mechanism, said detector assembly being operatively connected to said second spring mechanism; and means for selectively controlling said first and said second spring mechanisms to thereby control the placement of said emitter assembly and said detector assembly along the length of said chassis.

Claim 27

A probe useful for invasively monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in at least one tissue wall of an anatomical cavity, the probe comprising: a chassis having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrical connector extending from said proximal end of said chassis and terminating at a plug configured for connection to a pulse oximeter box; a reflectance optics assembly including an emitter assembly and a detector assembly and configured to generate and transmit electrical signals to said oximeter box, said signals being indicative of the oxygen saturation level of blood in the wall tissue; a single spring mechanism attached to said chassis; a substrate suitably connected to said single spring mechanism, wherein said emitter assembly and said detector assembly are affixed to said substrate, and wherein upon deployment of said single spring mechanism, said emitter assembly and said detector assembly are urged into at least one tissue wall of the anatomical cavity; and means for selectively controlling said spring mechanism to thereby control the placement of said emitter assembly and said detector assembly along the length of said chassis.

Claim 28

A probe useful for invasively monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in at least one tissue wall of an anatomical cavity, the probe comprising: a chassis having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrical connector extending from said proximal end of said chassis and terminating at a plug configured for connection to a pulse oximeter box; a reflectance optics assembly including an emitter assembly and a detector assembly and configured to generate and transmit electrical signals to said oximeter box, said signals being indicative of the oxygen saturation level of blood in the wall tissue; a single spring mechanism attached to said chassis; a substrate suitably connected to said single spring mechanism, wherein said emitter assembly and said detector assembly are affixed to said substrate, and wherein upon deployment of said single spring mechanism, said emitter assembly and said detector assembly are urged into at least one tissue wall of the anatomical cavity; and means for selectively controlling said spring mechanism to thereby control the placement of said emitter assembly and said detector assembly along the length of said chassis.