Reusable pulse oximeter probe and disposable bandage apparatii

1. An oximetry apparatus comprising:

a first discrete bandage strip apparatus having adhesive on at least a portion of at least one face thereof, and at least one receptacle mounted thereon; and

a second discrete bandage strip apparatus having adhesive on at least a portion of at least one face thereof, and having at least one receptacle mounted thereon;

wherein said first and second discrete bandage strip apparatii may be positioned on a patient, wherein said at least one receptacle of said first discrete bandage strip apparatus can matedly and removably engage a first housing of a reusable pulse oximeter probe, said first housing incorporating thereon or therein at least one photocell detector, wherein said at least one receptacle of said second discrete bandage strip apparatus can matedly and removably engage a second housing of a reusable pulse oximeter probe, said second housing incorporating thereon or therein at least one light emitting diode, and wherein said first discrete bandage strip apparatus is coupled to said second discrete bandage strip apparatus.

2. The oximetry bandage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first discrete bandage strip apparatus is coupled to said second discrete bandage strip apparatus by a biasing member.

3. An optical probe system capable of sensing a physiological parameter, the system comprising:

a first bandage comprising a first receptacle, the first receptacle being configured to be removably coupled to a probe emitter;

a second bandage comprising a second receptacle, the second receptacle being configured to be removably coupled to a probe detector; and

a biasing member coupled between the first bandage and the second bandage;

wherein the first and second bandages are configured to be positioned generally opposite each other on an appendage of a patient for sensing a physiological parameter of the patient.

4. The optical probe system of claim 3 , additionally comprising a probe emitter and a probe detector configured to be removably coupled to said first and second bandage receptacles in an oximetry system.

5. The optical probe system of claim 3 , wherein the appendage of the patient is a finger.

6. The optical probe system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second bandages are adapted for single use application in an oximetry system.

7. The optical probe system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second receptacles each comprise an aperture.

8. The optical probe system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second receptacles each comprise a radiation transparent window.

9. The optical probe system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second receptacles each substantially enclose the probe emitter and the probe detector, respectively, when engaged.

10. A disposable portion of an optical probe usable to determine at least one physiological parameter, the disposable portion comprising:

a first bandage portion including adhesive on at least a portion of at least one face thereof and comprising a first receptacle configured to be removably coupled to a probe emitter; and

a second bandage portion including adhesive on at least a portion of at least one face thereof and comprising a second receptacle configured to be removably coupled to a probe detector, the first and second adhesive bandage portions configured to cooperate to position said probe emitter generally opposite said probe detector when said disposable portion is removably attached to a patient and said probe emitter and probe detector are respectively coupled to said first and second receptacles, wherein the first bandage portion is coupled with the second bandage portion via a biasing member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said first and second bandage portions are adapted for single use application in an oximetry system.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first bandage portion and the second bandage portion each comprise a radiation transparent window.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the bandage apparatus comprises an adhesive backing.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first bandage portion and the second bandage portion are discrete bandages.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first and second receptacles each comprise an aperture.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first and second receptacles each comprise a radiation transparent window.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first and second receptacles each substantially enclose the probe emitter and the probe detector, respectively, when engaged.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first and second receptacles each comprise a locking mechanism for matedly and removably engaging said probe emitter and probe detector, respectively.

19. A bandage sensor system comprising:

a bandage apparatus including adhesive on at least a portion of at least one face thereof, said bandage apparatus including first and second receptacles mounted thereon, wherein said first and second receptacles are capable of removably mating with reusable sensor elements, wherein said bandage apparatus comprises a first discrete bandage strip and a second discrete bandage strip and the first discrete bandage strip is coupled with said second discrete bandage strip by a biasing member.

20. The bandage sensor system of claim 19 , additionally comprising a first reusable sensor element and a second reusable sensor element.

21. The bandage sensor system of claim 20 , wherein the first reusable sensor element includes a probe emitter.

22. The bandage sensor system of claim 20 , wherein the second reusable sensor element includes a probe detector.