Medical sensor for reducing motion artifacts and technique for using the same
View Patent ↗A sensor may be adapted to reduce motion artifacts by damping the effects of outside forces and sensor motion. A sensor is provided with a motion damping structure adapted to reduce the effect of motion of a sensor emitter and/or detector. Further, a method of damping outside forces and sensor motion is also provided.
1. A sensor comprising:
a sensor body;
an impact-absorbing chamber associated with the sensor body, wherein the impact-absorbing chamber is configured to damp a force experienced by the sensor body, wherein the impact-absorbing chamber comprises a fluid, and wherein the fluid comprises a viscoelastic fluid or a gel; and
an emitter and a detector disposed on the sensor body, wherein at least one of the emitter or the detector is disposed within the impact-absorbing chamber.
2. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a pulse oximetry sensor.
3. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the emitter comprises at least one light emitting diode, and wherein the detector comprises at least one photodetector.
4. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to be applied to a forehead of a patient.
5. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the sensor body comprises a plastic.
6. A patient monitoring system comprising:
a patient monitor; and
a sensor configured to be operatively coupled to the patient monitor, wherein the sensor comprises:
a sensor body;
an impact-absorbing chamber associated with the sensor body, wherein the impact-absorbing chamber is configured to damp a force experienced by the sensor body, wherein the impact-absorbing chamber comprises a fluid, and wherein the fluid comprises a viscoelastic fluid or a gel; and
an emitter and a detector disposed on the sensor body, wherein at least one of the emitter or the detector is disposed within the impact-absorbing chamber.
7. The patient monitoring system, as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor or a sensor for measuring a water fraction.
8. The patient monitoring system, as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the emitter comprises at least one light emitting diode, and wherein the detector comprises at least one photodetector.
9. The patient monitoring system, as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the sensor is configured to be applied to a forehead of a patient.
10. The patient monitoring system, as set forth in claim 6 , comprising a cable configured to couple the sensor to the patient monitor.
11. A method of manufacturing a sensor, comprising:
providing a sensor body; and
providing an impact-absorbing chamber disposed on the sensor body, wherein the impact-absorbing chamber surrounds at least one of an emitter or a detector associated with the sensor, wherein providing the impact-absorbing chamber comprises providing a chamber comprises a fluid, and wherein the fluid comprises a viscoelastic fluid.
12. The method, as set forth in claim 11 , wherein providing the sensor body comprises providing a sensor body configured to be applied to a forehead of a patient.
13. The method, as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor or a sensor for measuring a water fraction.