Nonin Medical, Inc.

Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Aequitron Medical, Inc.

Philip O Isaacson

Timothy L Johnson

David W Gadtke

Bryant Austin Jones

Matthew Prior

Christopher Holland

Josh D Schilling

Franz Willems Ulrich

Neal F Nordling

Douglas R Maser

Edwin C Thiede

Thomas R Coulter

Vernon D Heidner

Joe Raymond Crackel

Franz Ulrich

A system and method for controlling a light emitting device for an optical sensor based on signal quality and/or power consumption requirements. Drive current and/or integration time is controlled as a function of detected ambient light or signal quality. As the signal quality decreases the drive current or integration time can be adjusted to provide a more usable signal. If after some criteria for reduction, such as 'time on' or high signal quality, then the drive current can be decreased.

LED control utilizing ambient light or signal quality

A handheld device includes a contact surface, an optical module, a processor, a display module, and a user operable switch. The optical module is disposed on the contact surface. The optical module has at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector. The at least one optical detector has a light shield associated with the contact surface. The light shield is configured to exclude ambient light from the contact surface when the contact surface abuts tissue of a patient. The processor is coupled to the optical module and configured to execute instructions for determining a measure of oximetry corresponding to the tissue. The display module is coupled to the processor and is configured to indicate the measure of oximetry. The user operable switch is configured to activate at least one of the processor, the optical module, and the display module.

Self-contained regional oximetry

An apparatus includes a sensor body, a circuit board, a cable, at least one light emitting device, and at least one photodetector. The circuit board is enclosed within the sensor body and includes at least one conductive trace and at least one aperture. The cable is coupled to the at least one conductive trace. The cable includes a shield conductor and a signal conductor. The at least one light emitting device is coupled to the circuit board and is configured to emit light into a tissue. The at least one photodetector includes a planar active area coupled to the circuit board and is configured to provide an output signal based on light detected by the active area. The planar active area is aligned with the aperture. The output signal is coupled to the cable.

Non-invasive optical sensor

A device includes a sensor for measuring a parameter for tissue. The sensor includes a plurality of optical elements including a plurality of detectors and at least one emitter. Separation distances between the various optical elements are selected based on a depth corresponding to a region of interest in the tissue and based on a depth corresponding to an exclusion region in the tissue.

Optical sensor path selection

A device includes a guard member, at least one bias sensor, a display, and a measurement sensor. The guard member includes an aperture on an axis. The at least one bias sensor is coupled to the guard member. The at least one bias sensor is configured to provide a bias signal corresponding to a bias force on the guard member. The bias force is aligned parallel with the axis. The display is coupled to the at least one bias sensor and is configured to provide a visible indication of the bias force. The measurement sensor is configured to provide an output signal corresponding to a measured force proximate the aperture.

Home uterine activity monitoring

A device includes a clamp and a sensor. The sensor can be permanently attached to the clamp and tissue by the force exerted by the clamp. The clamp includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member has a jaw face and the second jaw member has a complementary face. The second jaw member is held in alignment with the first jaw member by a joint. The joint has an elastic member configured to exert a compressive force between the jaw face and the complementary face. The joint is configured to allow movement of the jaw face relative to the complementary face in directions corresponding to pitch, roll, yaw, and heave. The compressive force is distributed over a surface of the jaw face. The sensor is coupled to the jaw face or held in place by the compressive force of the jaw face. The sensor is configured to generate a sensor signal corresponding to a physiological parameter of tissue proximate the jaw face.

Tissue clamp for noninvasive physiological measurement

A device includes a clamp and a sensor. The sensor can be attached to the clamp and tissue by the force exerted by the clamp. The clamp includes a first jaw member having a jaw face and a second jaw member having a complementary face. The first and second jaw members are held in alignment by a joint. The joint has an elastic member configured to exert a compressive force. The joint allows movement of the jaw face relative to the complementary face in directions corresponding to pitch, roll, yaw, and heave. The compressive force is distributed over a surface of the jaw face. The sensor is coupled to the jaw face or held in place by the compressive force of the jaw face. The sensor is configured to generate a sensor signal corresponding to a physiological parameter of tissue proximate the jaw face.

An apparatus includes a first amplifier having a first input coupled to a first optical detector. The first amplifier includes a first output corresponding to a logarithm of the first input. The apparatus includes a second amplifier having a second input coupled to a second optical detector and having a second output corresponding to a logarithm of the second input. The apparatus includes a differential amplifier configured to amplify a difference between the first output and the second output.

Regional oximetry analog front end

A method of using an oximeter sensor assembly including the steps of detecting light from a light emitting element and storing digital data in a memory associated with the sensor assembly. The stored digital data includes coefficients for use by an oximeter monitor coupled to the sensor assembly to calculate data from the detected light, wherein the coefficients represent a combination of different sensor-specific characteristics, application-specific characteristics, and patient-specific characteristics. Control means including means for processing received information signals in accordance with the equation in response to received coefficients to determine blood oxygen levels is provided.

Sensor system with memory and method of using same

A flexible finger sensor having a finger entrance, a sensor holder at a distal end of the assembly, and a fenestrated region disposed between the finger entrance and the sensor holder. A displacement resistant finger sensor and method of use for reducing motion-related artifacts by mechanical isolation from external forces by providing a resilient sensor body having a digit entrance, a sensor holder, and a fenestrated region between the digit entrance and the sensor holder. The sensor holder maintains sensing elements relative to a user's finger, with said sensing elements being in communication with a monitoring device via a lead wire. The lead wire may extend at a lateral edge of the sensor body. A force to the lead wire may be applied so as to distort the fenestrated region without substantially disturbing the sensing elements relative to the finger surface.

Sensor assembly

In accordance with the present invention, a transmittance pulse oximeter sensor having an emitter that is offset from the detector. Offsetting the emitter and detector allows more light to pass through a thin tissue pulsating arterial bed than does a vertically aligned design. The offset between the emitter and the detector increases the effective arterial blood component without increasing artifact. Thus, the arterial blood component strength relative to the artifact strength is increased resulting in an improved signal and an improved pulse oximetry reading. The offset pulse oximetry sensor is especially important in veterinary pulse oximeter applications where it is necessary to monitor small animals whose optimal pulse oximetry location is a thin tissue tongue. The offset pulse oximetry sensor is additionally important in the realm of human medicine where often the optimal position for a pulse oximeter sensor is a thin tissue ear or an infant's thin tissue finger or toe.

Offset pulse oximeter sensor

An apparatus for measuring a physical parameter, such as the saturation percentage of oxygen in blood. The pulse oximeter is built into the finger clip, and therefore the device is small, lightweight and very portable, as well as more reliable.

Finger clip pulse oximeter

The invention is directed to Apparatus for measuring a physical parameter, such as the saturation percentage of oxygen in blood. The pulse oximeter is built into the finger clip, and therefore the device is small, lightweight and very portable, as well as more reliable.

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Chanhassen, MN, United States of America

Philip O Isaacson