US6088607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low noise optical probe
Assignee: JPMorgan Chase Bank NA
•
Filing: 1997-01-28
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Granted: 2000-07-11
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Expires: 2017-01-28
Abstract
Abstract An optical probe for measurements, which is particularly suited to reduce noise in measurements taken on an easily compressible material, such as a finger, a toe, a forehead, an earlobe, or a lip. The probe includes a base having an aperture which leads to a chamber. The base is placed adjacent a portion of the material, the chamber being placed directly adjacent any easily compressible portion of the material. A photodetector is located within the chamber and does not contact the material. A light emitting diode (LED) is affixed to the material, opposite the photodetector and above the chamber. The material which is supported by the aperture and therefore rests above or has intruded into the chamber is inhibited from compression since nothing comes in contact with this portion of the material, even when the material moves. Thus, light from the LED is directed through a stabilized portion of the material, i.e., the optical path length through which light travels is stabilized, even during motion of the material. This reduces noise in the signal measured by the photodetector. A scattering medium is interposed between the LED and the material, between the material and the photodetector, or between the LED and the material as well as between the material and the photodetector. The scattering medium is used to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the received optical signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Mohamed Kheir Diab
- 👤 Massi E. Kiani
- 👤 James M. Lepper, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/145; A61B5/1455; A61B5/14551; A61B5/14552; A61B5/02; A61B5/024; A61B5/02416; A61B5/02427; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6813; A61B5/6825; A61B5/6826; A61B5/6829; A61B5/683; A61B5/6838; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/08; A61B2562/12; H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/18; H05K1/189; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
An oximeter sensor for measuring electromagnetic energy which has been attenuated by a living flesh material, said sensor comprising: a light source; a base having a thickness, said base being positioned adjacent said flesh material when said optical probe is positioned for use; an aperture in said base, said aperture forming an entrance to a chamber which extends into said base, said aperture and chamber having a width of at least 3 mm and, said chamber having a particular depth such that the flesh material which penetrates into the chamber via said aperture is not substantially compressed with change in pressure between said flesh material and a surface defining said aperture typically expected from a patient; and a detector located within said chamber such that when said oximeter sensor is in use, said detector and light source are generally in axial alignment for transmission, said detector separated from any of said portion of flesh material which has penetrated into said chamber, said detector receiving electromagnetic energy transmitted by said light source and through said flesh material, said detector operative to generate a signal in response to said electromagnetic radiation, said width of said aperture being sized to reduce motion artifacts in said signal due to motion typically expected for a living patient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
An oximeter sensor for measuring electromagnetic energy which has been attenuated by a living flesh material, said sensor comprising: a light source; a base having a thickness, said base being positioned adjacent said flesh material when said optical probe is positioned for use; an aperture in said base, said aperture forming an entrance to a chamber which extends into said base, said aperture and chamber having a width of at least 3 mm and, said chamber having a particular depth such that the flesh material which penetrates into the chamber via said aperture is not substantially compressed with change in pressure between said flesh material and a surface defining said aperture typically expected from a patient; and a detector located within said chamber such that when said oximeter sensor is in use, said detector and light source are generally in axial alignment for transmission, said detector separated from any of said portion of flesh material which has penetrated into said chamber, said detector receiving electromagnetic energy transmitted by said light source and through said flesh material, said detector operative to generate a signal in response to said electromagnetic radiation, said width of said aperture being sized to reduce motion artifacts in said signal due to motion typically expected for a living patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The oximeter sensor of claim 1, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode configured to transmit light energy through said flesh material to said detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The oximeter sensor of claim 1, further comprising a pulse oximeter system having a pulse oximeter connected to said detector and responsive to the intensity of the electromagnetic energy transmitted through said flesh material and received by said detector to calculate the saturation of oxygen within the blood in the living flesh material.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of making a motion artifact resistant oximeter sensor, said method comprising the steps of: forming a chamber having an aperture and sizing said aperture with width large enough such that a compressible portion of living tissue material when covering said aperture may enter said chamber when said sensor is in use, said chamber sized to substantially reduce motion artifact with changes in pressure between said tissue material in the area about said aperture expected due to patient movement; locating a detector in said chamber in a position to detect electromagnetic energy which passes through a portion of tissue material covering the aperture of said chamber, said detector positioned so as not to contact said portion of tissue material; and locating an electromagnetic energy source on said oximeter sensor such that it is generally in axial alignment of transmission with said detector when said oximeter sensor is in use.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of making a motion artifact resistant oximeter sensor, said method comprising the steps of: forming a chamber having an aperture and sizing said aperture with width large enough such that a compressible portion of living tissue material when covering said aperture may enter said chamber when said sensor is in use, said chamber sized to substantially reduce motion artifact with changes in pressure between said tissue material in the area about said aperture expected due to patient movement; locating a detector in said chamber in a position to detect electromagnetic energy which passes through a portion of tissue material covering the aperture of said chamber, said detector positioned so as not to contact said portion of tissue material; and locating an electromagnetic energy source on said oximeter sensor such that it is generally in axial alignment of transmission with said detector when said oximeter sensor is in use.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said width is at least 10 millimeters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said width is at least 5 millimeters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said width is about 7 millimeters.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of stabilizing the optical path length through living flesh between a light source and a detector in an optical probe wherein the optical probe has a base and the detector is located in a chamber in the base that opens through an aperture to a surface of the base, said optical probe configure to be attached to flesh of a living subject, the method comprising: selecting the size of said aperture so that a portion of the surface of the living flesh through which the light will pass, when said optical probe is attached to flesh of said living subject, will protrude substantially uncompressed into the detector chamber upon motion typically expected for a living patient and so that the size of the aperture substantially reduces motion artifact; and affixing the probe to the living flesh so that the said portion of the surface of the living flesh which protrudes into the chamber and the base moves with the movement, if any, of the adjacent living flesh.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of stabilizing the optical path length through living flesh between a light source and a detector in an optical probe wherein the optical probe has a base and the detector is located in a chamber in the base that opens through an aperture to a surface of the base, said optical probe configure to be attached to flesh of a living subject, the method comprising: selecting the size of said aperture so that a portion of the surface of the living flesh through which the light will pass, when said optical probe is attached to flesh of said living subject, will protrude substantially uncompressed into the detector chamber upon motion typically expected for a living patient and so that the size of the aperture substantially reduces motion artifact; and affixing the probe to the living flesh so that the said portion of the surface of the living flesh which protrudes into the chamber and the base moves with the movement, if any, of the adjacent living flesh.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical probe in accordance with claim 7, wherein the probe is sized and shaped to create an optical path through a finger.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-11 | 2004-01-10 | 2004-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-11 | 2008-01-10 | 2008-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-11 | 2012-01-10 | 2012-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |