Patent ID: 8233955
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: A61B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A noninvasive optical sensor having a reusable portion and a disposable portion and being capable of outputting a signal indicative of light attenuated by body tissue usable to determine one or more physiological characteristics of the body tissue, the optical sensor comprising: a reusable component including at least one energy emitter and a detector capable of detecting energy attenuated by body tissue and capable of outputting a signal usable to determine one or more physiological characteristics of the body tissue, the at least one energy emitter being housed in a first casing and the detector being housed in a second casing, wherein the first and second casings are connected by a flexible connector; and a disposable component including a first clip mechanically matable with the first casing and a second clip mechanically matable with the second casing, wherein at least one of the first and second clips mechanically mates in a substantially fixed manner with respect to the appropriate casing while the other of the first and second clips mechanically mates in a vertically and horizontally open manner with respect to the appropriate casing, wherein application of the disposable component to the body tissue moves the vertically and horizontally open mating to be at least substantially vertically fixed.