Patent ID: 7469158
Filing Date: 2008-12-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A physiological condition measuring device comprising: an insertion rod; a sensor selectively attached to a distal end of said insertion rod; a circuit connector having a distal end coupled to said sensor and a proximal end that selectively couples said sensor to an external circuit; an introducer tube selectively positioned relative to said insertion rod so as to house at least a portion of said insertion rod therein with said circuit connector extending along at least a portion of a length of said insertion rod between said insertion rod and said introducer tube, said introducer tube being moveable in an axial direction relative to said insertion rod; a mechanism that selectively couples said insertion rod and said introducer tube to maintain said introducer tube in a first position relative to said insertion rod wherein said sensor is located entirely within said introducer tube and that permits said introducer tube to be moved to a second position relative to said insertion rod wherein at least a portion of said sensor is located outside said introducer tube; wherein said mechanism is a deflectable tab disposed on said insertion rod, said tab being deflectable from a non-deflected position to a deflected position, in said deflected position, said tab provides a configuration that permits a first portion of said tab to insert between a portion of said introducer tube and said insertion rod, with said tab being biased into an engaged relation with said introducer tube to maintain said introducer tube in said first position, and wherein removing said tab from within said introducer tube causes said tab to move to its non-deflected position out of a path of movement of said introducer tube relative to said insertion rod to permit said introducer tube to be moved to said second position; and further comprising a first tab provided on a side of said insertion rod opposite a side on which said deflectable tab is located, said first tab being sized and configured to provide a force on said introducer tube opposite a force provided thereon by said deflectable tab responsive to said deflectable tab being biased into said engaged relation with said introducer tube.