Mucosal sensor adaptor
Devices for treating a patient by measuring a condition, such as the partial pressure of CO 2 , at a location on a mucosal membrane surface in the mouth region of the patient, includes a sensor ( 14, 16 ) with an end ( 44, 46 ) that lies against the mucosal surface, and a seal ( 20 ) that extends 360° around the sensor end and presses against the mucosal surface. The sensor end and the seal lie on the first end portion ( 24 ) of a holder ( 22 ) which has a second end portion ( 26 ) that presses against the outside of the patient at a location opposite the sensor and seal. The holder is a clasp which can be formed as a single piece of resilient material that extends in a loop, or which can be formed in the manner of a clothespin with a spring that pivots two bars to urge their end portions towards each other.
1. A mucosal tissue sensing apparatus which includes a sensor arrangement and a holder for holding the sensor arrangement at a mucosal surface of mucosal tissue in the mouth region of a patient, wherein:
said sensor arrangement includes a sensor with a sensor end, a seal that has a seal axis, said seal extending 360° around said axis and forming a hollow microenvironment within said seal, said sensor lying in said microenvironment, said seal being constructed of a material chosen from the group of materials that consist of elastomeric and rigid materials;
said seal having a sealing surface that faces generally in a first direction along said seal axis to seal to the mucosal surface of the patient;
said holder is constructed to apply a spring force that continually presses said seal and presses said sensor end, firmly toward the mucosal surface;
said sensor end being positioned to lie against the mucosal surface within said 360° when said holder presses said seal against the mucosal surface, to thereby hold the sensor end against a location on the mucosal surface while sealing the area immediately around the location;
said holder comprises a clasp in the form of a bar that is bent in about a primarily 360° loop to form first and second end portions that face each other, said loop being large enough to fit around the patient's jaw so said first end portion can press against a location under the patient's tongue while the second end portion can press against an under-chin area on the outside skin of the patient or said end portions can press against the cheek of the patient.