EAR SENSOR
An ear sensor provides physiological parameter monitoring. The ear sensor may comprise an in-ear portion configured to fit in an ear of a user. The in-ear portion may include at least one light emitter configured to emit light into an ear tissue site of the user and at least one light detector configured output a signal responsive to at least a portion of the emitted light after attenuation by ear tissue of the ear tissue site.
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The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/975,008, filed Aug. 23, 2013, titled “Ear Sensor,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/658,872, filed Feb. 16, 2010, titled “Ear Sensor,” which claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/152,964, filed Feb. 16, 2009, titled “Ear Sensor,” each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPulse oximetry systems for measuring constituents of circulating blood have gained rapid acceptance in a wide variety of medical applications, including surgical wards, intensive care and neonatal units, general wards, home care, physical training, and virtually all types of monitoring scenarios. A pulse oximetry system generally includes an optical sensor applied to a patient, a monitor for processing sensor signals and displaying results and a patient cable electrically interconnecting the sensor and the monitor. A pulse oximetry sensor has light emitting diodes (LEDs), typically one emitting a red wavelength and one emitting an infrared (IR) wavelength, and a photodiode detector. The emitters and detector are typically attached to a finger, and the patient cable transmits drive signals to these emitters from the monitor. The emitters respond to the drive signals to transmit light into the fleshy fingertip tissue. The detector generates a signal responsive to the emitted light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the fingertip. The patient cable transmits the detector signal to the monitor, which processes the signal to provide a numerical readout of physiological parameters such as oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulse rate.
Pulse oximeters capable of reading through motion induced noise are disclosed in at least U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,770,028, 6,658,276, 6,650,917, 6,157,850, 6,002,952, 5,769,785, and 5,758,644; low noise pulse oximetry sensors are disclosed in at least U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,088,607 and 5,782,757; all of which are assigned to Masimo Corporation, Irvine, Calif. (“Masimo”) and are incorporated by reference herein. An ear sensor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,341,559 titled Pulse Oximetry Ear Sensor, also assigned to Masimo and also incorporated by reference herein.
Advanced physiological monitoring systems may incorporate pulse oximetry in addition to advanced features for the calculation and display of other blood parameters, such as carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO), methemoglobin (HbMet) and total hemoglobin (Hbt), as a few examples. Advanced physiological monitors and corresponding multiple wavelength optical sensors capable of measuring parameters in addition to SpO2, such as HbCO, HbMet and Hbt are described in at least U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/056,179, filed Mar. 26, 2008, titled Multiple Wavelength Optical Sensor and U.S. patent application Ser No. 11/366,208, filed Mar. 1, 2006, titled Noninvasive Multi-Parameter Patient Monitor, both incorporated by reference herein. Further, noninvasive blood parameter monitors and corresponding multiple wavelength optical sensors, such as Rainbow™ adhesive and reusable sensors and RAD57™ and Radical-7™ monitors for measuring SpO2, pulse rate, perfusion index (PI), signal quality (SiQ), pulse variability index (PVI), HbCO and HbMet among other parameters are also available from Masimo.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of an ear sensor optically measures physiological parameters related to blood constituents by transmitting multiple wavelengths of light into a concha site and receiving the light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the concha site. The ear sensor comprises a sensor body, a sensor connector and a sensor cable interconnecting the sensor body and the sensor connector. The sensor body comprises a base, legs and an optical assembly. The legs extend from the base to detector and emitter housings. An optical assembly has an emitter and a detector. The emitter is disposed in the emitter housing and the detector is disposed in the detector housing. The legs have an unflexed position with the emitter housing proximate the detector housing and a flexed position with the emitter housing distal the detector housing. The legs are moved to the flexed position so as to position the detector housing and emitter housing over opposite sides of a concha site. The legs are released to the unflexed position so that the concha site is grasped between the detector housing and emitter housing.
In various embodiments, the ear sensor has a resilient frame and a one piece molded skin disposed over the resilient frame. A cup is disposed proximate the detector housing and has a surface that generally conforms to the curvature of the concha site so as to couple the detector to the concha site and so as to block ambient light. A sensor cable has wires extending from one end of the sensor cable and disposed within channels defined by the resilient frame. The wires electrically and mechanically attach to the optical assembly. A connector is attached to the other end of the sensor cable, and the cable wires electrically and mechanically attach to the connector so as to provide communications between the connector and the optical assembly.
In other embodiments, a stabilizer maintains the position of the detector housing and the emitter housing on the concha site. The stabilizer may have a ring that encircles the legs. The ring has a hold position disposed against the legs and a release position spaced from the legs. A release, when pressed, moves the ring from the hold position to the release position, allowing the ring to slidably move along the legs in a direction away from the base so as to increase the force of the emitter housing and detector housing on the concha site in the hold position and in a direction toward the base so as to decrease the force of the emitter housing and the detector housing on the concha site in the hold position. The stabilizer may have an ear hanger that rests along the back of the ear and couples to at least one of the legs and the sensor cable.
Another aspect of an ear sensor comprises providing a sensor body having a base, legs extending from the base and an optical housing disposed at ends of the legs distal the base. An optical assembly is disposed in the housing. The sensor body is flexed so as to position the housing over a concha site. The sensor body is unflexed so as to attach the housing to the concha site and position the optical assembly to illuminate the concha site.
In various embodiments, an ear surface conforming member is molded to at least a portion of the housing so as to physically couple the housing to the concha site and block ambient light from the optical assembly accordingly. The force of the housing against the concha site is adjusted. The adjusting comprises positioning a force adjustment ring on the sensor body so as to encircle the legs. The positioning comprises squeezing a ring release so as to move ring grips away from the legs, moving the force adjustment ring along the legs and toward the housing so as to increase the force of the housing on the concha site, and moving the force adjustment ring along the legs and away from the housing so as to decrease the force of the housing on the concha site.
In other embodiments, an aspect of the ear sensor comprises supporting at least a portion of the weight of the sensor body and corresponding sensor cable so as to reduce the force needed to attach the housing to the concha site. The supporting comprises attaching at least one of the sensor body and sensor cable to an ear hook placed over the ear.
A further aspect of an ear sensor comprising a clip means having a flexed position and an unflexed position. An optical means transmits multiple wavelength light into a tissue site when activated and receives the light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site. The optical means is disposed on the clip means so that the optical means can be positioned on a concha site in the flexed position and pinched against the concha site in the unflexed position. A connector means mechanically attaches to and electrically communicates with a monitor. A cable means interconnects the connector means with the optical means. In various embodiments, the clip means comprises a resilient frame means for securing the optical means in a fixed position relative to the tissue site. A housing means encloses the resilient frame means and the optical means. A cup means physically couples at least a portion of the optical means to the concha site and blocks ambient light from the optical means. An adjustable force means holds the clip means to the concha site. Alternatively, or in addition to, a support means holds the clip means to the concha site.
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In an embodiment, the concha-placed sensor body 820 has at least one emitter and at least one detector in lieu of an ear canal extension emitter and detector. The sensor body emitter and detector are disposed proximate the concha surface so as to transmit light into concha tissue and to detect the transmitted light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the concha tissue. In an embodiment, the concha-placed sensor body 820 and the ear canal extension 810 both have at least one emitter and at least one detector, creating a multi-site (concha and ear canal) reflective sensor. Connected with the sensor body 820 is a sensor cable 830 providing electrical communications between sensor body/ear canal emitter(s) and detector(s) and a monitor. Detector and emitter assemblies are described with respect to
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A sensor body 1800 (
In a particular advantageous embodiment, a single finger lever can extend from one leg to a position below the base. This single finger lever can be squeezed using a sensor cable portion extending from the sensor body base for leverage. Such a single finger lever configuration eliminates potential discomfort from a second lever poking a patient's neck area.
An ear sensor has been disclosed in detail in connection with various embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed by way of examples only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims that follow. One of ordinary skill in art will appreciate many variations and modifications.
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. An in-ear pulse oximetry device comprising:
- an in-ear portion configured to fit in an ear of a user, the in-ear portion including: at least one light emitter configured to emit light into an ear tissue site of the user; and at least one light detector configured output a signal responsive to at least a portion of the emitted light after attenuation by ear tissue of the ear tissue site; and
- a cable portion extending from the in-ear portion and configured to communicate the signal from the in-ear pulse oximetry device to a receiver, the signal useable by the receiver to determine at least one of an oxygen saturation or a pulse rate of the user.
3. The in-ear pulse oximetry device of claim 2, wherein the in-ear portion further includes:
- an extension portion that extends at least partially into an ear canal of the ear of the user, wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light detector are positioned on the extension portion.
4. The in-ear pulse oximetry device of claim 3, wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light detector are further positioned axially on the extension portion.
5. The in-ear pulse oximetry device of claim 3, wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light detector are further positioned radially on the extension portion at a fixed angle comprising 30, 45, 120, 135, 160, or 180 degrees.
6. The in-ear pulse oximetry device of claim 2, wherein the in-ear portion is configured to conform to a concha of the ear of the user.
7. The in-ear pulse oximetry device of claim 2, wherein the in-ear portion is configured to conform to portion of the ear of the user including at least a portion of a concha and a portion of an ear canal of the ear of the user.
8. An in-ear physiological measurement sensor comprising:
- a base portion;
- an extension portion that extends at least partially into an ear canal of a user;
- one or more light emitters configured to emit light into an ear tissue site of the user; and
- one or more light detectors configured output a signal responsive to at least a portion of the emitted light after attenuation by ear tissue of the ear tissue site, the signal indicative of at least one physiological parameter of the user.
9. The in-ear physiological measurement sensor of claim 8, wherein at least one light emitter and at least one light detector is positioned on the extension portion.
10. The in-ear physiological measurement sensor of claim 9, wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light detector are further positioned axially on the extension portion.
11. The in-ear physiological measurement sensor of claim 9, wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light detector are further positioned radially on the extension portion.
12. The in-ear physiological measurement sensor of claim 11, wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light detector are positioned at a fixed angle comprising 30, 45, 120, 135, 160, or 180 degrees.
13. The in-ear physiological measurement sensor of claim 8, wherein at least one light emitter and at least one light detector is positioned on the base portion.
14. The in-ear physiological measurement sensor of claim 8, wherein each of the base portion and the extension portion includes at least one light emitter and at least one light detector positioned thereon.
15. The in-ear physiological measurement sensor of claim 8, wherein the in-ear physiological measurement sensor comprises an ear bud.
16. The in-ear physiological measurement sensor of claim 8, wherein the in-ear physiological measurement sensor further includes a flexible portion, wherein the in-ear physiological measurement sensor may be mounted in the ear of the user by at least particular compression of the flexible portion.
17. The in-ear physiological measurement sensor of claim 16, wherein the flexible portion is configured to mount the in-ear physiological measurement sensor in the concha and/or ear canal of the ear of the user.
18. The in-ear physiological measurement sensor of claim 8 further including:
- a cable portion coupled to the base portion and configured to communicate the signal from the in-ear physiological measurement sensor to a monitor, the signal useable by the monitor to determine the at least one physiological parameter of the user.
19. The in-ear physiological measurement sensor of claim 8, wherein the at least one physiological parameter includes at least one of oxygen saturation or pulse rate of the user.
20. An in-ear physiological measurement device comprising:
- an in-ear portion configured to fit in an ear of a user, the in-ear portion including: at least one light emitter configured to emit light into an ear tissue site of the user; and at least one light detector configured output a signal responsive to at least a portion of the emitted light after attenuation by ear tissue of the ear tissue site; and
- a cable portion extending from the in-ear portion and configured to communicate the signal from the in-ear physiological measurement device to a receiver, the signal useable by the receiver to determine at least one physiological parameter of the user.
21. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 20, wherein the in-ear portion further includes:
- an extension portion that extends at least partially into an ear canal of the ear of the user.
22. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 21, wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light detector are positioned on the extension portion.
23. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 22, wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light detector are positioned on a surface of the extension portion.
24. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 22, wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light detector are further positioned axially on the extension portion.
25. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 22, wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light detector are further positioned radially on the extension portion.
26. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 25, wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light detector are positioned at an angle comprising 30, 45, 120, 135, 160, or 180 degrees.
27. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 20, wherein the ear tissue of the ear tissue site includes at least one of ear canal ear tissue or concha ear tissue.
28. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 20, wherein the portion of the emitted light is reflected by the ear tissue to the at least one light detector.
29. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 20, wherein the in-ear portion is configured to conform to a concha of the ear of the user.
30. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 20, wherein the in-ear portion is configured to conform to portion of the ear of the user including at least a portion of a concha and a portion of an ear canal of the ear of the user.
31. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 20, wherein the in-ear portion comprises an ear bud.
32. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 20, wherein the in-ear portion further includes a foam portion, wherein the in-ear physiological measurement device may be mounted in the ear of the user by first squeezing and then releasing foam portion after placement of the in-ear portion in the ear.
33. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 32, wherein the foam portion is configured to mount the in-ear physiological measurement device in the concha and/or ear canal of the ear of the user.
34. The in-ear physiological measurement device of claim 20, wherein the at least one physiological parameter includes at least one of oxygen saturation or pulse rate of the user
35. A multi-site in-ear physiological measurement system comprising:
- two in-ear physiological measurement devices according to claim 20, each in-ear physiological measurement device configured to be simultaneously placed in either a right or left ear of the user,
- wherein the receiver comprises a monitoring device, and
- wherein the cable portions of each in-ear physiological measurement device communicate the signals to the monitoring device, the signals useable by the monitoring device to determine the at least one physiological parameter of the user.
36. The multi-site in-ear physiological measurement system of claim 35, wherein the two in-ear physiological measurement devices are coupled to a single flexible frame.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 18, 2014
Publication Date: Jul 31, 2014
Applicant: MASIMO CORPORATION (Irvine, CA)
Inventors: Yassir Abdul-Hafiz (Irvine, CA), Ammar Al-Ali (San Juan Capistrano, CA), Kevin Forrest (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA), Eugene Mason (La Habra Heights, CA), John Schmidt (Lake Forest, CA), Virginia Thanh Ta (Santa Ana, CA)
Application Number: 14/218,328
International Classification: A61B 5/00 (20060101); A61B 5/024 (20060101); A61B 5/1455 (20060101);