Patent · US Expired

Conformal pulse oximetry sensor and monitor

US5817008A · kind A · utility

409Cited by
56References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 31, 1996
Grant dateOct 6, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 31, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/14552
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optoelectronic pulse oximetry sensor is described which physically conforms to a body portion of a patient, such as a finger, and provides a firm pressing engagement between the sensor and the patient's body portion. The sensor includes a flexible substrate, such as an elastic bandage-type material, which is physically conformable and attachable/adherable to the patient's body portion. The sensor also includes a light source assembly for transilluminating the patient's body portion, and a light detector assembly for measuring transmitted light. The dimensions of the light source and light detector assemblies are constructed to provide a high aspect ratio relative to the flexible substrate. When the sensor is conformably applied to the patient's body portion, localized pressure is exerted on the body portion at the points of contact with the light source and light detector assemblies, thereby stressing the skin and the underlying blood-perfused tissue. The stress imparted to the skin and underlying tissues affects the distributions of blood in the tissues and provides improved accuracy and sensitivity in arterial oxygen saturation measurement, especially in circumstances of low p…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.