IP Library › Granted Patent US 12661039
Granted Patent B2
US 12661039 · App. 18/746,671 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Noninvasive physiological sensor

Inventors: Hung The Vo (Fountain Valley, CA); Kevin Hughes Pauley (Lake Forest, CA); Cristiano Dalvi (Lake Forest, CA); Sean Merritt (Lake Forest, CA); Jesse Chen (Foothill Ranch, CA); Jeroen Poeze (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA); Ferdyan Lesmana (Irvine, CA); Ruiqi Long (Irvine, CA)
Assignee: Willow Laboratories, Inc.
A61B5/1455A61B5/6826A61B5/6838A61B2562/0242
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12661039
App. No.
18/746,671
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A noninvasive physiological sensor can include a first body portion and a second body portion coupled to each other and configured to at least partially enclose a user's finger. The sensor can further include a first probe coupled to one or more emitters and a second probe coupled to a detector. The first probe can direct light emitted from the one or more emitters toward tissue of the user's finger and the second probe can direct light attenuated through the tissue to the detector. The first and second probes can be coupled to the first and second body portions such that when the first and second body portions are rotated with respect to one another, ends of the first and second probes can be moved in a direction towards one another to compress the tissue of the user's finger.

Claims (34)

1 . A noninvasive physiological sensor comprising:

a first optical probe configured to direct optical radiation emitted from one or more emitters toward a tissue sample,

a second optical probe coupled to one or more detectors, the second optical probe configured to detect light corresponding to the emitted optical radiation after being attenuated through pulsatile blood flowing through the tissue sample;

a first sensor body and a second sensor body configured to rotate with respect to each other about a joint, the first sensor body comprising:

a first elongated slot configured to movably couple the first optical probe to the first sensor body; and

the second sensor body comprising:

a second elongated slot configured to movably couple the second optical probe to the second sensor body;

wherein, when the first sensor body or second sensor body are rotated about the joint to a first position, the first sensor body and second sensor body compress the tissue sample between the first optical probe and second optical probe, wherein in the first position the first optical probe and second optical probe are optically aligned through the tissue sample to facilitate optical communication.

2 . The noninvasive physiological sensor of claim 1 , wherein a first axis of the first elongated slot and a second axis of the second elongated slot are substantially aligned such that, when an end of the first optical probe passes through the first elongated slot into an interior space defined by the first sensor body and second sensor body and an end of the second optical probe passes through the second elongated slot into the interior space, the ends of the first optical probe and second optical probe oppose one another and compress the tissue sample.

3 . The noninvasive physiological sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor body and second sensor body comprise one or more stoppers, and wherein the stoppers are configured to set a minimum distance between an end of the first optical probe and an end of the second optical probe.

4 . The noninvasive physiological sensor of claim 1 , wherein, when the first sensor body and second sensor are rotated about the joint to a second position, an end of the first optical probe and an end of the second optical probe are configured to move further away from one another.

5 . The noninvasive physiological sensor of claim 1 , wherein the joint further comprises one or more hinges configured to facilitate a rotation of the first sensor body and second sensor body about the joint.

6 . The noninvasive physiological sensor of claim 5 , wherein the first sensor body comprises one or more recessed areas, and wherein each of the one or more hinges is coupled to one of the one or more recessed areas.

7 . The noninvasive physiological sensor of claim 5 , wherein the second sensor body comprises one or more recessed areas, and wherein each of the one or more hinges is coupled to one of the one or more recessed areas.

8 . The noninvasive physiological sensor of claim 1 , wherein the joint comprises a first hinge extending from the first sensor body, a second hinge extending from the second sensor body, and a pin configured to extend through holes in the first and second hinges and couple the first and second hinges to one another.

9 . The noninvasive physiological sensor of claim 1 , wherein at least one of an end of the first optical probe or an end of the second optical probe is angled.

10 . The noninvasive physiological sensor of claim 9 , wherein the end of the first optical probe is angled with respect to a first axis and the end of the second optical probe is angled with respect to a second axis.

11 . A method of measuring a physiological parameter of a user, the method comprising:

obtaining a sensor, wherein the sensor comprises:

a first optical probe configured to direct optical radiation emitted from one or more emitters toward a tissue sample,

a second optical probe coupled to one or more detectors, the second optical probe configured to detect light corresponding to the emitted optical radiation attenuated through pulsatile blood flowing through the tissue sample;

a first sensor body and a second sensor body configured to rotate with respect to each other about a joint, the first sensor body comprising:

a first elongated slot configured to movably couple the first optical probe to the first sensor body; and

the second sensor body comprising:

a second elongated slot configured to movably couple the second optical probe to the second sensor body;

rotating the first sensor body and the second sensor body about the joint to a first position, wherein in the first position, the first sensor body and second sensor body compress the tissue sample between the first optical probe and second optical probe, and wherein in the first position the first optical probe and second optical probe are optically aligned through the tissue sample to facilitate optical communication;

emitting optical radiation from the first optical probe into the compressed tissue of the user with the first optical probe;

detecting light corresponding to the emitted optical radiation after attenuation by pulsatile blood flowing in the compressed tissue with the second optical probe;

determining the physiological parameter based on the optical radiation detected by the detector.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the joint comprises a first hinge extending from the first sensor body, a second hinge extending from the second sensor body, and a pin configured to extend through holes in the first and second hinges and couple the first and second hinges to one another.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

rotating the first sensor body and the second sensor body about the joint to a second position, wherein in the second position, the first sensor body and second sensor body release the tissue sample between the first optical probe and second optical probe.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first sensor body and second sensor body comprise one or more stoppers, and wherein the stoppers are configured to set a minimum distance between an end of the first optical probe and an end of the second optical probe.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein an end of the first optical probe is angled with respect to a first axis and an end of the second optical probe is angled with respect to a second axis.