Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated

Nellcor Incorporated

Steve L Nierlich

Stephen J Ruskewicz

James R Casciani

Paul David Mannheimer

Phillip S Palmer

Adnan I Merchant

Mitch Levinson

A pulse oximeter sensor with a light source optimized for low oxygen saturation ranges and for maximizing the immunity to perturbation induced artifact. Preferably, a red and an infrared light source are used, with the red light source having a mean wavelength between 700-790 nm. The infrared light source can have a mean wavelength as in prior art devices used on patients with high saturation. The sensor of the present invention is further optimized by arranging the spacing between the light emitter and light detectors to minimize the sensitivity to perturbation induced artifact. The present invention optimizes the chosen wavelengths to achieve a closer matching of the absorption and scattering coefficient products for the red and IR light sources. This optimization gives robust readings in the presence of perturbation artifacts including force variations, tissue variations and variations in the oxygen saturation itself.

Pulse oximeter and sensor optimized for low saturation

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for measuring blood oxygen saturation. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention include emitting light having a wavelength spectrum that is optimized for an oxygen saturation reading less than 80 percent, detecting the light, and transmitting signals based on the detected light, the signals being useful in determining blood oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter.

An oximeter sensor formed with a housing made of a relatively rigid material into which the oximeter electrical components can be mounted is provided. An overmolded material, of lesser rigidity, is injection-molded over the housing to complete the sensor. In one embodiment the housing is made of plastic, such as polypropylene, and the overmolded material is an injection-molded thermal plastic elastomer, such as Santoprene.TM. (polypropylene with 1 micron size particles of rubber). The housing preferably contains thin portions connecting thicker portions which support the electrical and optical components. These thin portions provide natural bending portions in the final oximeter sensor. By having the thin portions near or at the central, neutral axis of the sensor, flexibility is optimized in the longitudinal direction, while the housing provides stiffness laterally.

Oximeter sensor with rigid inner housing and pliable overmold

Sensor connector

A connector for a medical sensor is provided. The connector includes a number of contacts, and includes an electronic device for encoding a characteristic of the medical sensor. The electronic device is insertable into the connector. This simplifies the design of a sensor, which no longer needs to include a calibration element. In addition, the sensor can be made more cheaply, which is especially important for disposable sensors.

Medical sensor connector with removable encoding device

A pulse oximeter sensor with a light source optimized for low oxygen saturation ranges and for maximizing the immunity to perturbation induced artifact. Preferably, a red and an infrared light source are used, with the red light source having a mean wavelength between 700-790 nm. The infrared light source can have a mean wavelength as in prior art devices used on adults. The sensor of the present invention is further optimized by arranging the spacing between the light emitter and light detectors to minimize the sensitivity to perturbation induced artifact. The present invention optimizes the chosen wavelengths to achieve a closer matching of the absorption and scattering coefficient products for the red and IR light sources. This optimization gives robust readings in the presence of perturbation artifacts including force variations, tissue variations and variations in the oxygen saturation itself.

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Oakland, CA, United States of America

Steve L Nierlich