초록 ▼

A sensor for trans-illumination of a blood perfused portion of flesh to measure light extinction during trans-illumination is disclosed. The sensor is preferably mounted on a fingertip but any digit or blood perfused portion of flesh will work. The sensor includes a first end for disposition on one

A sensor for trans-illumination of a blood perfused portion of flesh to measure light extinction during trans-illumination is disclosed. The sensor is preferably mounted on a fingertip but any digit or blood perfused portion of flesh will work. The sensor includes a first end for disposition on one side of the trans-illuminated flesh and a second end for disposition on the opposite and opposed side of the trans-illuminated flesh. A light source is mounted to the first side and a photo-sensor is mounted to the second side. If an elongated flexible strip is used, it is provided with adhesive and is suitably windowed that light is allowed to take an optical path through the finger. If no flexible strip is used, the two ends are aligned and secured to the flesh such that the light emitted takes an optical path through the finger. When the adhesive fastener is used, the effect of the light source and photo-detector substrates being integrated into the adhesive fastener is that they become, in effect, a part of the skin. The resulting device is resistant to accidental removal and avoids constriction of blood vessels. Most importantly, the low mass of the sensor itself and its conformance to, so as to effectively become a part of, the skin, prevents relative motion between the light source and sensor and the perfused flesh. This eliminates the common interference associated with the operation of conventional plethysmographs and oximeters.

대표청구항 ▼

A non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe for removable adhesive attachment to a convex portion of the skin of a patient for use in measuring light extinction during transillumination of the blood-perfused tissue beneath said skin comprising: a flexible, initially substantially planar, web-like su

A non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe for removable adhesive attachment to a convex portion of the skin of a patient for use in measuring light extinction during transillumination of the blood-perfused tissue beneath said skin comprising: a flexible, initially substantially planar, web-like support structure having substantially parallel, spaced, oppositely facing upper and lower surfaces; a light source mounted in the web of said support structure, said light source having a light-emitting surface facing in the same direction as said lower surface; a photo-sensor mounted in the web of said support structure, said photo-sensor having a light-responsive surface facing in the same direction as said lower surface, said photo-sensor being spaced from said light source in the plane of said support structure; and an adhesive layer on said lower surface for removably adhesively securing said lower surface to said convex portion of said skin so that said lower surface is held in conformance with said skin, said support structure being flexible also to conform to said skin without stressing either of said skin and the underlying tissue at any time during operation of said sensor probe, the convexity of said skin portion between the locations of said light source and said photo-sensor causing said light-emitting and light-responsive surfaces to be inclined toward one another so that light from said light source transilluminates the tissue between said light source and said photo-sensor and said light-responsive surface receives at least a part of said light.