Medical sensor and technique for using the same
View Patent ↗A unitary sensor is provided that includes a frame upon which electrical and optical components may be disposed and a coating, such as an overmolded coating provided about the frame. The unitary sensor includes a spring, such as a flat spring or torsion spring, provided on the frame that provides a closing force for the sensor. The sensor may be placed on a patient's finger, toe, ear, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements.
1. A sensor assembly, comprising:
a frame;
an emitter disposed on the frame;
a detector disposed on the frame;
a biasing component attached to an end of the frame; and
a coating molded over at least the frame to form a sensor assembly, wherein the coating provides a biasing force to supplement the biasing component.
2. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly comprises at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor, a sensor for measuring a water fraction, or a combination thereof.
3. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , comprising one or more signal transmission structures connected to at least one of the emitter or the detector.
4. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the biasing component comprises at least one of a formed flat spring or a torsion spring.
5. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a single molded part.
6. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises two or more parts joined to form the frame.
7. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the biasing component comprises a polymeric material.
8. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.
9. The sensor assembly of claim 8 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises at least one of a thermoplastic polyolefin, a thermoplastic vulcanizate alloy, thermoplastic polyurethane, silicone, or a combination thereof.
10. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a conformable material.
11. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein no moving parts of the frame remain exposed from the coating.
12. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is fluid tight.
13. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coating is chemically bonded to the frame.
14. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , comprising a pulse oximeter monitor configured to receive data from the sensor assembly.
15. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , comprising a multi-parameter monitor configured to receive data from the sensor assembly.
16. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , comprising at least one integrated circuit device.
17. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , comprising a cable comprising one or more integrated circuits.
18. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , comprising an adapter cable connected to one or more signal transmission structures of the sensor assembly.
19. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the emitter comprises one or more light emitting diodes.
20. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises a photodetector.
21. A sensor assembly, comprising:
a frame;
an emitter disposed on the frame;
a detector disposed on the frame; and
a coating provided over at least the frame to form a sensor assembly, wherein the coating provides a closing force that acts to close one end of the sensor assembly in the absence of an opposing force.
22. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , wherein the sensor assembly comprises at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor, a sensor for measuring a water fraction, or a combination thereof.
23. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , comprising one or more signal transmission structures connected to at least one of the emitter or the detector.
24. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , wherein the frame comprises a single molded part.
25. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , wherein the frame comprises two or more parts joined to form the frame.
26. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , wherein the coating comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.
27. The sensor assembly of claim 26 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises at least one of a thermoplastic polyolefin, a thermoplastic vulcanizate alloy, thermoplastic polyurethane, silicone, or a combination thereof.
28. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , wherein the coating comprises a conformable material.
29. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , wherein no moving parts of the frame remain exposed from the coating.
30. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , wherein the unitary sensor assembly is fluid tight.
31. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , wherein the coating is chemically bonded to the frame.
32. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , comprising a pulse oximeter monitor configured to receive data from the sensor assembly.
33. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , comprising a multi-parameter monitor configured to receive data from the sensor assembly.
34. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , comprising at least one integrated circuit device.
35. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , comprising a cable comprising one or more integrated circuits.
36. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , comprises an adapter cable connected to one or more signal transmission structures of the sensor assembly.
37. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , wherein the coating comprises one or more regions configured to allow at least one of the emitter or the detector to be displaced relative to a substantially rigid portion of the frame upon placement of the sensor assembly on a patient.
38. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , wherein the emitter comprises one or more light emitting diodes.
39. The sensor assembly of claim 21 , wherein the detector comprises a photodetector.
40. A sensor body, comprising:
a frame;
a biasing component attached to the frame; and
a coating molded over the frame and the biasing component to form a sensor body, wherein the coating provides a biasing force to supplement the biasing component.
41. The sensor body of claim 40 , wherein the frame comprises a single molded part.
42. The sensor body of claim 40 , wherein the frame comprises two or more parts joined to form the frame.
43. The sensor body of claim 40 , wherein the coating comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.
44. The sensor body of claim 40 , wherein the coating comprises a conformable material.
45. The sensor body of claim 40 , wherein no moving parts of the frame remain exposed from the coating.
46. The sensor body of claim 40 , wherein the sensor body is fluid tight.
47. The sensor body of claim 40 , wherein the coating is chemically bonded to the frame.
48. The sensor body of claim 40 , wherein the biasing component comprises at least one of a formed flat spring or a torsion spring.
49. A sensor body, comprising:
a frame; and
a coating provided over the frame to form a sensor assembly, wherein the coating provides a closing force that acts to close one end of the sensor assembly in the absence of an opposing force.
50. The sensor body of claim 49 , wherein the frame comprises a single molded part.
51. The sensor body of claim 49 , wherein the frame comprises two or more parts joined to form the frame.
52. The sensor body of claim 49 , wherein the coating comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.
53. The sensor body of claim 52 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises at least one of a thermoplastic polyolefin, a thermoplastic vulcanizate alloy, thermoplastic polyurethane, silicone, or a combination thereof.
54. The sensor body of claim 49 , wherein the coating comprises a conformable material.
55. The sensor body of claim 49 , wherein no moving parts of the frame remain exposed from the coating.
56. The sensor body of claim 49 , wherein the sensor body is fluid tight.
57. The sensor body of claim 49 , wherein the coating is chemically bonded to the frame.
58. A sensor assembly, comprising:
a frame;
an emitter disposed on the frame;
a detector disposed on the frame;
a biasing component attached to an end of the frame, wherein the biasing component comprises a metal alloy; and
a coating molded over at least the frame to form a sensor assembly.
59. A sensor assembly, comprising:
a frame;
an emitter disposed on the frame;
a detector disposed on the frame;
a biasing component attached to an end of the frame; and
a coating molded over at least the frame to form a sensor assembly, wherein the coating comprises one or more regions configured to allow at least one of the emitter or the detector to be displaced relative to a substantially rigid portion of the frame upon placement of the sensor assembly on a patient.