Oximeter device with replaceable probe tip
An oximeter device has a replaceable probe tip. The probe tip can be removed or detached from the probe unit and discarded. A replacement probe tip can be attached to the probe tip. The replaceable probe tip allows the probe unit to be reused many times, each time with new sterile probe tip.
1. A method comprising:
providing a first portion of an oximeter device comprising a first connection interface, an electrical circuit, a latch, a latch actuator, and a battery, wherein the first portion does not have source structures and detector structures, and the latch actuator is coupled to the latch to operate the latch; and
providing a second portion of the oximeter device comprising a second connection interface, and source structures and detector structures, wherein the second connection interface is removably couplable to the first connection interface;
coupling the first and second portions together to form a complete oximeter device;
forming a joint between the first and second portions when the complete oximeter device is formed; and
providing for the joint to be flush where the first and second portions meet, wherein an entirety of the joint is between first and second ends of the oximeter device and a portion of the latch is located under the joint.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the latch is not visible from an exterior of the complete oximetry device.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein when the first connection interface is coupled to the second connection interface, the source structures and detector structures are coupled to the electrical circuit.
4. The method of claim 1 comprising:
coupling source devices and detector devices to the electrical circuit;
optically coupling the source structures and to the source devices; and
optically coupling the detector structures and to the detector devices.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the source devices and detector devices are contained within the first portion.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the source devices and detector devices are contained within the second portion.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the oximeter device is a tissue oximeter.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein after removably coupling the second portion to the first portion, the second portion is detachable from the first portion and is replaceable with a replacement second portion.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein after removably coupling the second portion to the first portion, the first portion is detachable from the second portion and is replaceable with a replacement first portion.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second connection interface is removably coupled to the first connection interface via the latch.
11. The method of claim 1 comprising extending the latch through an aperture formed in a first portion of the first connection interface to cover a second portion of the first connection interface with a portion of the latch.
12. The method of claim 1 comprising extending a portion of the latch over a portion of the first connection interface.
13. The method of claim 1 comprising extending a portion of the latch under a portion of the second connection interface when the complete oximeter device is formed.
14. The method of claim 1 comprising extending the latch through an aperture formed in a first surface of the first connection interface to cover a portion of a second surface of the first connection interface with a portion of the latch, and the first and second surfaces are transverse.
15. The method of claim 1 comprising:
actuating the latch actuator to decouple the latch from the second portion;
uncoupling the first and second portions; and
replacing the second portion with a replacement second portion.
16. The method of claim 1 comprising:
after removably coupling the second portion to the first portion, detaching the second portion from the first portion; and
replacing the second portion with a replacement second portion.
17. The method of claim 1 comprising replacing the second portion with a replacement second portion on the first portion.
18. A device comprising:
a first portion of an oximeter device comprising an electrical circuit, a battery, a latch, a latch actuator, and a first connection interface, wherein the first portion does not comprise source structures and detector structures and the latch actuator is coupled to the latch to operate the latch;
a second portion of an oximeter device comprising a second connection interface, source structures, and detector structures, wherein the second connection interface is removably couplable to the first connection interface; and
a joint between the first and second portions when the first and second portions together form a complete oximeter device, wherein the joint is flush with the first and second portions when the first and second portions meet, an entirety of the joint is between first and second ends of the complete oximeter device and a portion of the latch is located under the joint.
19. The device of claim 18 comprising: an aperture formed in the first connection interface, wherein a first portion of the latch is located in the aperture and a second portion of the latch extends from the aperture over a portion of the first connection interface and under a portion of the second connection interface when the complete oximeter device is formed.
20. The device of claim 18 wherein the second portion does not comprise a battery.
21. The device of claim 18 wherein the second portion comprises a light emitter circuit and a light detector circuit, and the battery of the first portion is coupled to the light emitter circuit and light detector circuit via the first and second connection interfaces.
22. The device of claim 18 wherein the first portion comprises a light emitter circuit and a light detector circuit, and the light emitter circuit and light detector circuit are coupled to a light source structure and light a detector structure of the second portion.
23. The device of claim 18 wherein the latch is not visible from an exterior of the complete oximetry device.
24. A device comprising:
a first portion of an oximeter device comprising an electrical circuit, a battery, a latch, a latch actuator, and a first connection interface, wherein the latch actuator is coupled to the latch to operate the latch;
an aperture formed in the first connection interface, wherein a first portion of the latch is located in the aperture and a second portion of the latch extends from the aperture over a second portion of the first connection interface;
a second portion of the oximeter device comprising a second connection interface, source structures, and detector structures, wherein the second connection interface is removably couplable to the first connection interface; and
a joint between the first and second portions when the first and second portions together form a complete oximeter device, wherein the joint is flush with the first and second portions when the first and second portions meet, an entirety of the joint is between first and second ends of the complete oximeter device, a portion of the latch is located under the joint, and the latch is not visible from an exterior of the complete oximetry device, wherein a first portion of the latch is located under a portion of the second connection interface when the complete oximeter device is formed.
25. The device of claim 24 wherein the first connection interface comprises a first electrical connector coupled to the processor, the second connection interface comprises a second electrical connector coupled to the source structures and detector structures, and the first and second electrical connectors are connected when the complete oximeter device is formed.
26. The device of claim 25 wherein the first and second connection interfaces do not include optical waveguides.