Ear sensor assembly
View Patent ↗A sensor assembly for monitoring physiological characteristics interfaces to a subject's ear. The sensor assembly has a projection that projects into the subject's concha. The projection may have a notch to accommodate the subject's anti-tragus. A clip connected to the projection holds a sensor against the subject's lobule. The sensor may comprise a pulse-oximetry-type sensor.
1. An ear sensor assembly comprising:
a projection insertable into the concha of a subject's ear;
a clip connected to the projection, the clip comprising a first part biased toward a second part; and
a sensor on the first part of the clip,
wherein one end of the second part is connected to the first part, a second end of the second part is movable toward and away from the first part, the projection projects from the first part; and
wherein the projection is penetrated by an aperture and comprises a portion of a ring and the portion of a ring has a radius in the range of 3.5mm to 6mm and a thickness in the range of 1.5mm to 3mm.
2. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein a sensor is on the second part of the clip.
3. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first and second parts of the clip are hingedly connected to one another.
4. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first and second parts of the clip are coupled together by a resilient member, and the resilient member biases the second end of the second member toward the first member.
5. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the projection comprises a half-ring.
6. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the projection has a surface characterized by a high coefficient of friction with human skin.
7. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 comprising a removable cover on the projection.
8. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 7 wherein the removable cover comprises an elastomeric material.
9. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a first component on the first part of the clip and a second component on the second part of the clip.
10. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 9 wherein one of the first and second components emits radiation and another one of the first and second components receives the radiation.