Ceramic emitter substrate

1. An optical medical device that transmits optical radiation into a fleshy tissue site, the optical radiation detected after absorption by pulsatile blood flow within the fleshy tissue site so as to compute constituents of the pulsatile blood flow, the optical medical device comprising:

a multi-layer generally rectangular-cross-sectioned ceramic body having a top side, a bottom side and an edge adjoining the sides, the ceramic body forming an emitter package different and separate from any detector package configured to output signals indicative of said absorption;

a cavity defined by an outer periphery of the ceramic body disposed on the top side;

a plurality of conductive bonding pads disposed within the cavity;

a plurality of conductive solder pads disposed on the bottom side proximate the edge; and

a plurality of conductive traces and a plurality of conductive vias forming an interconnect of the bonding pads and the solder pads so that light emitting diodes (LEDs) can be attached to the bonding pads and individually activated as an emitter array via row and column drive signals applied to the solder pads in order to transmit optical radiation out of the cavity.

2. The optical medical device according to claim 1 wherein the multi-layers of the ceramic body comprises:

a first ceramic layer defining the top side and the cavity;

a ceramic second layer underlying the first layer;

a first portion of the bonding pads disposed on the second layer;

a ceramic third layer underlying the second layer;

a second portion of the bonding pads disposed on the third layer; and

a ceramic fourth layer underlying the third layer and defining the bottom side.

3. The optical medical device according to claim 2 further comprising:

a plurality of LEDs mounted to the bonding pads disposed on the third layer; and

the LEDs wire bonded to the bonding pads disposed on the second layer.

4. The optical medical device according to claim 1 further comprising:

an encapsulant disposed within the cavity over at least a portion of the LEDs; and

the encapsulant functioning as at least one of an optical filter and an optical diffuser.

5. The optical medical device according to claim 4 wherein the ceramic body is constructed of a substantially light absorbing material so as to substantially block LED emitted optical radiation from being transmitted through the ceramic body.

6. A ceramic emitter substrate comprising:

a ceramic body having a top side, an opposite bottom side and an edge disposed between and along the periphery of the top and bottom sides;

the ceramic body having a first ceramic layer corresponding to the top side, a second ceramic layer adjacent the first layer, a third ceramic layer adjacent the second layer and a fourth ceramic layer corresponding to the bottom side;

a cavity defined by the first layer;

a plurality of solder pads disposed on the fourth layer on the bottom side proximate the edge;

a plurality of bonding pads disposed on the second layer and on the third layer accessible via the cavity; and

a plurality of traces disposed on the second, third and fourth layers and vias disposed between the second, third and fourth layers so as to interconnect the solder pads and the bonding pads.

7. A ceramic emitter substrate comprising:

a ceramic body having a top side, an opposite bottom side and an edge disposed between and along the periphery of the top and bottom sides;

the ceramic body having a first layer corresponding to the top side, a second layer adjacent the first layer, a third layer adjacent the second layer and a fourth layer corresponding to the bottom side;

a cavity defined by the first layer;

a plurality of solder pads disposed on the fourth layer on the bottom side proximate the edge;

a plurality of bonding pads disposed on the second layer and on the third layer accessible via the cavity;

a plurality of traces disposed on the second, third and fourth layers and vias disposed between the second, third and fourth layers so as to interconnect the solder pads and the bonding pads, wherein the resistance of any one of the traces is less than about 290 milliohms, wherein:

the ceramic body measures about 0.23×0.15×0.04 inches; and

the cavity measures about 0.18×0.10 inches.

8. The optical medical device according to claim 7 wherein the ceramic body comprises a dark material that substantially absorbs light transmitted from the light emitting diodes so as to substantially block optical leakage through the ceramic body edge and bottom side.