Medical sensor for reducing signal artifacts and technique for using the same
A sensor may be adapted to reduce motion artifacts by mitigating the effects of the tissue moving within the sensor. A sensor is provided with an elastic sensor body adapted to accommodate patient motion. Further, a sensor is provided in which the sensor cable is arranged to mitigate its pressure on a patient's tissue.
1. A sensor comprising: a sensor body configured to be applied to a patient's digit comprising at least one elastic electronic component disposed on the sensor body; and an emitter and a detector disposed on the sensor body, wherein the at least one elastic electronic component and the sensor body are adapted to expand in response to a bending movement of the digit and maintain a substantially fixed optical distance between the emitter and the detector.
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.
3. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the elastic electronic component comprises a uniaxially elastic material.
4. The sensor, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the uniaxially elastic material is elastic along an imaginary axis connecting the emitter and the detector.
5. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the elastic electronic component comprises an elastic polymer.
6. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the elastic electronic component comprises a wire lead.
7. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a reflectance-type sensor.
8. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a transmission-type sensor.
9. A system comprising: a monitor; and a sensor adapted to be operatively coupled to the monitor, the sensor comprising: a sensor body configured to be applied to a patient's digit comprising at least one elastic electronic component disposed on the sensor body; and an emitter and a detector disposed on the sensor body, wherein the at least one elastic electronic component and the sensor body are adapted to expand in response to a bending movement of the digit and maintain a substantially fixed optical distance between the emitter and the detector.
10. The system, as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor or a sensor for measuring a water fraction.
11. The system, as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the elastic electronic component comprises a uniaxially elastic material.
12. The system, as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the uniaxially elastic material is elastic along an imaginary axis connecting the emitter and the detector.
13. The system, as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the elastic electronic component comprises an elastic polymer.
14. The system, as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the elastic electronic component comprises a wire lead.
15. The system, as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises a reflectance-type sensor.
16. The system, as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises a transmission-type sensor.
17. A method of response to movement of a sensor comprising: applying a sensor body comprising an emitter and a detector disposed on the sensor body to a patient's digit; and stretching the sensor body and an elastic electronic component of the sensor body in response to a bending movement of the digit while maintaining a substantially fixed optical distance between the emitter and the detector.
18. The method, as set forth in claim 17 , comprising stretching the elastic electronic component along an imaginary axis connecting the emitter and the detector.
19. A method of manufacturing a sensor, comprising: providing a sensor body configured to be applied to a patient's digit comprising at least one elastic electronic component disposed on the sensor body; and providing an emitter and a detector disposed on the sensor body, wherein the at least one elastic electronic component and the sensor body are adapted to expand in response to a bending movement of the digit and maintain a substantially fixed optical distance between the emitter and the detector, wherein the at least one elastic electronic component comprises a cable.
20. The method, as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the elastic electronic component comprises a uniaxially elastic material.
21. The method, as set forth in claim 20 , wherein the uniaxially elastic material is elastic along an imaginary axis connecting the emitter and the detector.
22. The method, as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the elastic electronic component comprises an elastic polymer.
23. The method, as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the elastic electronic component comprises a wire lead.
24. A sensor comprising: a sensor body configured to be applied to a patient's digit; an emitter and a detector disposed on the sensor body; and an elastic electronic component operatively connected to the emitter or the detector, wherein the elastic electronic component and the sensor body are adapted to expand in response to a bending movement of the digit and maintain a substantially fixed optical distance between the emitter and the detector wherein the elastic electronic component comprises a cable.
25. The sensor, as set forth in claim 24 , wherein the elastic electronic component is adapted to expand in length along an imaginary axis connecting the emitter and the detector.
26. The sensor, as set forth in claim 24 , wherein the elastic electronic component comprises an elastic polymer.
27. The sensor, as set forth in claim 24 , wherein the elastic electronic component comprises a wire lead.