Medical sensor and technique for using the same
View Patent ↗A clip-style sensor may be constructed from materials having shape memory. A clip-style sensor is provided that is able to be flattened in order to simplify transport and storing. The sensors may be held flat by shipping restraints. Such a sensor is able to recover from being flattened and resume a curved shape.
1. A sensor adapted to be applied to a patient's tissue comprising:
a sensor body comprising a material with shape memory, wherein the sensor body is adapted to assume a substantially curved configuration in the absence of a deforming force and wherein the sensor is adapted to apply a spring force to the patient's tissue adapted to overcome a blood pressure of about 10 mm Hg to about 80 mm Hg; and
at least one sensing element disposed on the sensor body.
2. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor or a sensor for measuring a water fraction, or a combination thereof.
3. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensing element comprises an emitter and a detector.
4. The sensor, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the emitter comprises at least one light emitting diode and wherein the detector comprises at least one photodetector.
5. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the material with shape memory is configured to form a flat spring.
6. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the material with shape memory is configured to form a strap.
7. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , comprising an adhesive material disposed on a tissue-contacting surface of the sensor.
8. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the sensor is adapted to be used on a finger, toe, ear, or nose.
9. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the material with shape memory comprises a shape memory metal.
10. A sensor adapted to be applied to a patient's tissue comprising:
a sensor body comprising a material with shape memory, wherein the sensor body is adapted to assume a substantially curved configuration in the absence of a deforming force;
at least one sensing element disposed on the sensor body; and a restraining element adapted to hold the sensor body in a substantially planar configuration.
11. The sensor, as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the restraining element comprises a breakable component.
12. The sensor, as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the restraining element comprises a peelable adhesive layer disposed on the sensor body.
13. The sensor, as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the restraining element comprises a hollow sleeve adapted to slide over at least one end of the sensor.
14. A pulse oximetry system comprising:
a pulse oximetry monitor; and
a pulse oximetry sensor adapted to be operatively coupled to the monitor, the sensor comprising:
a sensor body comprising a material with shape memory, wherein the sensor body is adapted to assume a substantially curved configuration in the absence of a deforming force and wherein the sensor is adapted to apply a spring force to the patient's tissue adapted to overcome a blood pressure of about 10 mm Hg to about 80 mm Hg; and
at least one sensing element disposed on the sensor body.
15. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the sensor comprises a sensor for measuring a water fraction.
16. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the at least one sensing element comprises an emitter and a detector.
17. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the emitter comprises at lest one light emitting diode and wherein the detector comprises at least one photodetector.
18. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the material with shape memory is configured to form a flat spring.
19. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the material with shape memory is configured to form a strap.
20. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 14 , comprising an adhesive material disposed on a tissue-contacting surface of the sensor.
21. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the sensor is adapted to be used on a finger, toe, ear, or nose.
22. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the material with shape memory comprises a shape memory metal.
23. A pulse oximetry system comprising:
a pulse oximetry monitor; and
a pulse oximetry sensor adapted to be operatively coupled to the monitor, the sensor comprising:
a sensor body comprising a material with shape memory, wherein the sensor body is adapted to assume a substantially curved configuration in the absence of a deforming force:
at least one sensing element disposed on the sensor body; and
a restraining element adapted to hold the sensor body in a substantially planar configuration.
24. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 23 , wherein the restraining element comprises a breakable component.
25. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 23 , wherein the restraining element comprises a peelable adhesive layer disposed on the sensor body.
26. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 23 , wherein the restraining element comprises a hollow sleeve adapted to slide over at least one end of the sensor.
27. A sensor packaging system comprising:
a protective package having an interior to hold at least one sensor in a substantially planar position in the interior of the protective package; and at least one sensor, the sensor comprising:
at least one sensing element; and
a material having shape memory, wherein the sensor is adapted to be curved in the absence of a deforming force, and wherein the sensor is restrained in a substantially planar position.
28. The packaging system, as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor or a sensor for measuring a water fraction.
29. The packaging system, as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the sensing element comprises an emitter and a detector.
30. The packaging system, as set forth in claim 29 , wherein the emitter comprises a light-emitting diode and the detector comprises at least one photodetector.
31. The packaging system, as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the sensor is restrained with a breakable component disposed on the sensor body.
32. The packaging system, as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the sensor is restrained with a peelable adhesive layer disposed on the sensor body.
33. The packaging system, as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the sensor is restrained with a hollow sleeve adapted to slide over at least one end of the sensor.
34. The packaging system, as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the sensor is restrained by a restraining element disposed on the protective package.
35. The packaging system, as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the material with shape memory is configured to form a flat spring.
36. The packaging system, as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the material with shape memory is configured to form a strap.
37. The packaging system, as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the sensor comprises an adhesive material disposed on a tissue-contacting surface of the sensor.
38. A method for packaging a sensor comprising:
providing a substantially curved sensor body comprising a material with shape memory;
deforming the sensor body into a substantially flat position;
restraining the sensor body in the substantially flat position; and
packaging the sensor in a packaging container.
39. The method, as set forth in claim 38 , wherein restraining the sensor comprises using a restraining element disposed on the sensor body.
40. The method, as set forth in claim 39 , wherein the restraining element comprises a peelable adhesive layer, a hollow sleeve, or a breakable component.
41. The method, as set forth in claim 38 , wherein restraining the sensor comprises using a restraining element disposed on the packaging container.
42. The method, as set forth in claim 38 , wherein the sensor comprises an adhesive material disposed on a tissue-contacting surface of the sensor.
43. A method of manufacturing a sensor, comprising:
providing a sensor body comprising a material with shape memory, wherein the sensor body is adapted to assume a substantially curved configuration in the absence of a deforming force and wherein the sensor body is adapted to apply a spring force to the patient's tissue to overcome a blood pressure of about 10 mm Hg to about 80 mm Hg; and
providing at least one sensing element disposed on the sensor body.
44. The method, as set forth in claim 43 , wherein the material with shape memory is configured to form a flat spring.
45. The method, as set forth in claim 43 , wherein the material with shape memory is configured to form a strap.
46. The method, as set forth in claim 43 , wherein the sensing element comprises an emitter and a detector.
47. The method, as set forth in claim 43 , comprising:
providing an adhesive material disposed on a tissue-contacting surface of sensor body.
48. A method of manufacturing a sensor, comprising:
providing a sensor body comprising a material with shape memory, wherein the sensor body is adapted to assume a substantially curved configuration in the absence of a deforming force;
providing at least one sensing element disposed on the sensor body; and
providing a restraining element adapted to hold the sensor body in a substantially planar configuration.
49. The method, as set forth in claim 48 , wherein the restraining element comprises a breakable component disposed on the sensor body.
50. The method, as set forth in claim 48 , wherein the restraining element comprises a peelable adhesive layer disposed on the sensor body.
51. The method, as set forth in claim 48 , wherein the restraining element comprises a hollow sleeve adapted to slide over at least one end of the sensor.