Non-invasive physiological sensor cover
A sensor cover according to embodiments of the disclosure is capable of being used with a non-invasive physiological sensor, such as a pulse oximetry sensor. Certain embodiments of the sensor cover reduce or eliminate false readings from the sensor when the sensor is not in use, for example, by blocking a light detecting component of a pulse oximeter sensor when the pulse oximeter sensor is active but not in use. Further, embodiments of the sensor cover can prevent damage to the sensor. Additionally, embodiments of the sensor cover prevent contamination of the sensor.
1. A method of providing a sensor cover for a noninvasive optical physiological sensor, the method comprising:
providing a sensor cover comprising:
a first cover portion attachable to the sensor and configured to block at least a portion of light from one or more emitters of the sensor from being received by a detector of the sensor when the sensor is active; and
a second cover portion that protrudes from the sensor to facilitate removal of the sensor cover; and
removably attaching the sensor cover to the sensor,
wherein the sensor comprises:
the one or more emitters configured to emit light; and
the detector configured to receive at least some of the light emitted by the one or more emitters after the light has passed through a tissue site.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second cover portion comprises an elongate portion that extends past the sensor.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein removably attaching the sensor cover to the sensor comprises removably attaching the sensor cover over both the light source and the detector of the sensor.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cover portion is opaque.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cover portion is partially opaque.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
activating the light source of the sensor to emit light from the one or more emitters of the sensor; and
blocking, with the sensor cover, the portion of light.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cover portion is attachable over at least one of the detector or the one or more emitters.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cover portion is further configured to block at least a portion of ambient light from a surrounding area.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a pulse oximeter sensor.
10. A noninvasive optical physiological sensor including a sensor cover, the sensor comprising:
one or more emitters configured to emit light; and
a detector configured to receive at least some of the light emitted by the one or more emitters after the light has passed through a tissue site; and
a sensor cover comprising:
a first cover portion attachable to the sensor and configured to block at least a portion of light from the one or more emitters from being received by the detector when the sensor is active; and
a second cover portion that protrudes from the sensor to facilitate removal of the sensor cover.
11. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein the second cover portion comprises an elongate portion that extends past the sensor.
12. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is an adhesive sensor comprising a flexible substrate and an adhesive layer.
13. The sensor of claim 12 , wherein at least the first cover portion comprises an adhesive cover attachable to the adhesive layer of the sensor.
14. The sensor of claim 10 further comprising:
an adhesive layer on the first cover portion, the adhesive layer configured to removably attach over a sensing portion of the sensor.
15. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein the first cover portion is attachable over at least one of the detector or the one or more emitters.
16. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein the first cover portion is further configured to block at least a portion of ambient light from a surrounding area.
17. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is a pulse oximeter sensor.
18. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein the first cover portion is opaque.
19. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein the first cover portion is partially opaque.
20. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein the portion of light comprises at least a range of wavelengths of light.
21. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein the first cover portion is further configured to reduce a likelihood of a false measurement by the sensor.
22. A sensor cover for use with a noninvasive optical physiological sensor, the sensor cover comprising:
a first cover portion attachable to the sensor and configured to block at least a portion of light from one or more emitters of the sensor from being received by a detector of the sensor when the sensor is active; and
a second cover portion that protrudes from the sensor to facilitate removal of the sensor cover from the sensor.
23. The sensor cover of claim 22 , wherein the second cover portion comprises an elongate portion that extends past the sensor.
24. The sensor cover of claim 23 further comprising:
an adhesive layer on the first cover portion, the adhesive layer configured to removably attach over a sensing portion of the sensor.
25. The sensor cover of claim 24 , wherein:
the sensor is a pulse oximeter sensor, and
the first cover portion is opaque or partially opaque.
26. A system comprising:
a noninvasive optical physiological sensor comprising:
one or more emitters configured to emit light; and
a detector configured to receive at least some of the light emitted by the one or more emitters after the light has passed through a tissue site; and
a sensor cover comprising:
a planar portion that extends beyond at least one border of the sensor; and
an additional portion configured to cover, when the sensor cover is adhesively coupled to the sensor, at least one of: the detector, or the one or more emitters,
wherein the sensor cover is configured to block at least a portion of light from the one or more emitters from being received by the detector when the sensor is active.
27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the planar portion is configured to enable removal of the sensor cover from the sensor.
28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the sensor cover is further configured to:
reduce a likelihood of a false measurement when the sensor is active but not placed on a measurement site, and
be removed to no longer cover the at least one of the detector or the one or more emitters when the sensor is placed on the measurement site.
29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the sensor is a pulse oximeter sensor.
30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the first cover portion is opaque or partially opaque.