초록 ▼

A system and method of standardizing modular probe housings so that the standardized probe housings may be incorporated into probes adapted to work with at least one of a multiplicity of manufacturers' oximeters. The probe housings are adapted to matingly engage at least a disposable bandage apparat

A system and method of standardizing modular probe housings so that the standardized probe housings may be incorporated into probes adapted to work with at least one of a multiplicity of manufacturers' oximeters. The probe housings are adapted to matingly engage at least a disposable bandage apparatus and a reusable finger attachment device.A sensor system for sensing a physiological parameter of a patient. A reusable probe sensor comprises a first housing element and a second housing element. The first housing element comprises at least one light emitter and the second housing element comprises at least one light detector. The first and second housing elements are movably coupled and configured to receive a disposable sensor shield. A disposable sensor shield comprises a first liner portion having a first aperture and a second liner portion having a second aperture. The first and second liner portions are configured to receive an appendage. The first and second apertures are configured to be aligned to allow light from the at least one light emitter to pass through the first aperture, the appendage, and the second aperture, to the at least one light detector during use. The disposable sensor shield is configured to engage the reusable probe sensor.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pulse oximeter probe system comprising a probe having at least one light emitting diode and at least one photocell detector wherein said emitter and detector are incorporated into modular plastic housings, at least one housing having an aperture or radiation transparent window aligned with said

1. A pulse oximeter probe system comprising a probe having at least one light emitting diode and at least one photocell detector wherein said emitter and detector are incorporated into modular plastic housings, at least one housing having an aperture or radiation transparent window aligned with said diode, and at least a second housing having an aperture or radiation transparent window aligned with said detector; a selected one of: (a) a reusable finger attachment device having a first modular receptacle pair mounted thereon, or(b) a disposable bandage device having a second modular receptacle pair mounted thereon; wherein respective ones of said housings can lockingly engage and disengage respective ones of said modular receptacles and transmit and receive light through the appendage of a patient when the selected one of the above devices (a) or (b) is attached to a patient and when the the respective receptacles of the attached device; and the receptacles of the disposable bandage device or the reusable finger attachment device have locking levers for lockingly engaging and disengaging said modular probe housings, respectively. 2. The probe system of claim 1 in which said housings have indentations for lockingly engaging and disengaging the levers of receptacles of a disposable bandage apparatus or reusable finger attachment device. 3. The probe system of claim 1 wherein said disposable bandage apparatus incorporates radiation transparent windows for the isolation of the probe housings from the patient. 4. The probe system of claim 1 in which the probe housings of probes to be used on a multiplicity of manufacturers' oximeters are adapted to be matedly engaged with a selected reusable finger attachment device or a disposable bandage apparatus having receptacles designed to mate with said probe housings. 5. A reusable finger attachment device for use with a pulse oximeter probe incorporating modular housings, comprising said attachment device incorporating modular receptacles for matingly engaging said modular probe housings; wherein the receptacles of the reusable finger attachment device have locking levers for lockingly engaging and disengaging said modular probe housings. 6. The reusable finger attachment device of claim 5 which said modular probe housings are adapted to be removed from said reusable finger attachment device in order to clean or sterilize said reusable finger attachment device. 7. A method of standardizing probes comprising designing probe housings to be matingly engageable with modular receptacles of a disposable bandage apparatus and a reusable finger attachment device and further constructing said probe housings to be incorporated into probes adapted to work with at least one of a multiplicity of manufacturers' oximeters. 8. A sensor system for sensing a physiological parameter of a patient, the system comprising: a reusable probe sensor comprising a first housing element and a second housing element, wherein the first housing element comprises at least one light emitter and the second housing element comprises at least one light detector, wherein the first and second housing elements are movably coupled and configured to receive a disposable sensor shield, wherein each of the first and second housing elements comprises a modular connector for engaging respective modular connectors of a disposable sensor shield;a disposable sensor shield comprising a first liner portion having a first aperture and a second liner portion having a second aperture, wherein the first and second liner portions are configured to receive an appendage, wherein the first and second apertures are configured to be aligned to allow light from the at least one light emitter to pass through the first aperture, the appendage, and the second aperture, to the at least one light detector during use, wherein the disposable sensor shield is configured to engage the reusable probe sensor, and wherein each of the first and second liner portions comprises a modular connector for engaging respective modular connectors of the first and second housing elements, wherein at least one of the modular connectors comprises a locking member. 9. The system of claim 8, comprising a connector configured to couple the reusable probe sensor to a pulse oximeter system. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the reusable probe sensor is a clip-type sensor. 11. The system of claim 8, comprising a portable monitor configured to be coupled to the reusable probe sensor. 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the reusable probe sensor comprises a hinge portion coupling the first and second housing elements. 13. The system of claim 8, wherein the reusable probe sensor comprises a spring. 14. The system of claim 8, wherein the disposable sensor shield forms a cavity for receiving the appendage. 15. The system of claim 8, wherein the disposable sensor shield is configured to slidably engage the reusable probe sensor. 16. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the first and second liner portions comprises an adhesive. 17. The system of claim 8, wherein the disposable sensor shield comprises snap-on connectors. 18. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second apertures comprises a window. 19. The system of claim 8, wherein the modular connectors of the first and second housing elements comprise slots. 20. The system of claim 8, wherein the modular connectors of the first and second liner portions comprise slot engaging members. 21. A device for use with a reusable probe sensor in a system for sensing a physiological parameter of a patient, the device comprising: a disposable sensor shield comprising a first liner portion having a first aperture and a second liner portion having a second aperture, wherein the first and second liner portions are configured to receive an appendage, wherein the first and second apertures are configured to be aligned to allow light from a light emitter of a reusable probe sensor to pass through the first aperture, the appendage, and the second aperture, to a light detector of a reusable probe sensor, and wherein the disposable sensor shield is configured to be coupled to a reusable probe sensor to shield the reusable probe sensor from contact with the appendage, wherein each of the first and second liner portions comprises a modular connector for engaging respective modular connectors of the reusable probe sensor, wherein at least one of the modular connectors comprises a locking member. 22. The device of claim 21, comprising one or more securing features configured to interact with one or more corresponding features of the reusable probe sensor to releasably secure the disposable sensor shield with the reusable probe sensor. 23. The device of claim 21, wherein the disposable sensor shield forms a cavity for receiving the appendage. 24. The device of claim 21, wherein the disposable sensor shield is configured to slidably engage a reusable probe sensor. 25. The device of claim 21, wherein each of the first and second liner portions comprises an adhesive. 26. The device of claim 21, wherein the disposable sensor shield comprises one or more locking features selected from the group consisting of a fastener, a hook-and-loop type material, a snap-on connector, a ring, a groove, a notch, a twistable connector, a contoured portion of a receptacle, a threaded connector, a flange, a tab, an indentation and a slot. 27. The device of claim 21, wherein the first liner portion is attached to the second liner portion. 28. The device of claim 21, wherein the first liner portion is separate from the second liner portion. 29. The device of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first and second apertures comprises a window. 30. A method of preparing a system for sensing a physiological parameter of a patent, the method comprising: providing a reusable probe sensor comprising a first housing element and a second housing element, wherein the first housing element comprises at least one light emitter and the second housing element comprises at least one light detector, wherein the first and second housing elements are movably coupled and configured to receive a disposable sensor shield, wherein each of the first and second housing elements comprises a modular connector for engaging respective modular connectors of a disposable sensor shield;providing a disposable sensor shield comprising a first liner portion having a first aperture and a second liner portion having a second aperture, wherein the first and second liner portions are configured to receive an appendage, wherein the first and second apertures are configured to be aligned to allow light from the at least one light emitter to pass through the first aperture, the appendage, and the second aperture, to the at least one light detector during use, wherein the disposable sensor shield is configured to engage the reusable probe sensor, and wherein each of the first and second liner portions comprises a modular connector for engaging respective modular connectors of the first and second housing elements, wherein at least one of the modular connectors comprises a locking member;coupling the disposable sensor shield to an appendage; andcoupling the disposable sensor shield to the reusable probe sensor. 31. The method of claim 30, comprising: transmitting light through the appendage; andsensing a physiological parameter of the patent. 32. The method of claim 30, comprising: uncoupling the disposable sensor shield from the reusable probe sensor; anduncoupling the disposable sensor shield from the appendage.