Abstract:
A pulse oximeter sleeve of elastic and/or form-fitting material for positioning light-emitting diodes and a detector securely with respect to a human&#39;s foot or hand.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/782,192, filed Mar. 14, 2006, by the same title. The present application incorporates the foregoing disclosures herein by reference.  
       CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0002]     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,199, issued on Oct. 22, 2002, titled “Elastic Sock for Positioning an Optical Probe.” The present application incorporates the foregoing disclosures herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0003]     1. Field of the Disclosure  
         [0004]     This present disclosure relates to the field of pulse oximetry, and more particularly attachment devices that are used to secure a pulse oximeter optical probe element about a human foot or hand. In an embodiment, the attachment devices advantageously reduce a likelihood that the pulse oximeter will be dislodged from the foot or hand.  
         [0005]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0006]     The technology of pulse oximetry is well known in the art. Caregivers can use pulse oximeters to measure among other things the amount of oxygen in a patient&#39;s blood. A common type of pulse oximeter uses light-emitting diodes to direct light of predetermined wavelengths through a translucent part of the patient&#39;s body such as a fingertip. The pulse oximeter also has a photodetector that receives the emitted light so that the amount of light that was absorbed by the patient&#39;s blood can be measured. That measurement is then used to determine among other things the amount of oxygen in the patient&#39;s blood. Exemplary pulse oximeters are commercially available from Masimo Corporation of Irvine, Calif. Moreover, exemplary pulse oximeters are disclosed in at least U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,490,505; 5,482,036; 5,632,272; 6,584,336 and 6,770,028, each of which is incorporated herein.  
         [0007]     Reusable probes are typically attached to a patient&#39;s fingertip with a clip that attaches over the end of the fingertip such that the light-emitting diodes are positioned over the fingernail. The disadvantage of the clip is that it may to fall off or to be dislodged from the patient&#39;s fingertip.  
         [0008]     Further, clips are sometimes disadvantageous to use in connection with infants. For example, infant fingertips are small, making it difficult to obtain an accurate reading and making the clip more likely to be dislodged. Thus, pulse oximeters have often been attached to an infant&#39;s foot with an disposable adhesive strip that wraps around the foot such that the light-emitting diodes are positioned over the thinner part of the infant&#39;s foot near the toes. One disadvantage of the adhesive strip is that it may tend to fall off the infant&#39;s foot or to be dislodged as the infant&#39;s foot moves about. Another disadvantage is that the adhesive strip may contain latex to which some infants are allergic. Moreover, the adhesive may harbor bacteria and potential pathogens as a result of the skin underneath the adhesive obtaining and retaining moisture.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0009]     The present disclosure addresses and solves the problems of the prior art by providing a sleeve of elastic and form-fitting material that substantially fixes the light-emitting diodes and photodetector in place with respect to one another and to the tissue to which the sleeve is attached. In one embodiment the sleeve is similar to a sock and is used to position the light-emitting diodes and photodetector in place near the toes on an infant&#39;s foot. The sleeve is open at the toes. At least some open toes advantageously provide visibility of the toes in the event that the sleeve is too tight. For example, tightness may cause the infant&#39;s toes to become blue.  
         [0010]     In addition, the sleeve may advantageously extend past the ankle to assist in ensuring that it remains securely in place. The light-emitting diodes, photodetector, and in the case of wired communications, the accompanying wiring are sewn into the fabric of the sleeve or otherwise attached to the sleeve in the appropriate position. In an embodiment, the sleeve may include modular housings adapted to snap fit electronic elements of a probe into place. Exemplary snap fit or other matable housings are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,920,345; 6,343,244; 6,735,459; 6,519,487; 6,011,986, each of which are incorporated herein.  
         [0011]     In another embodiment of the disclosure, the sleeve is similar to a glove wherein the sleeve covers substantially the entire hand and some or the entirety of at least one finger. The remaining fingers and thumb may be free to provide added comfort to the individual wearing the sleeve and to ensure visual confirmation of good perfusion. The portion of the sleeve covering one finger has the light-emitting diodes and the photodetector positioned near the fingertip.  
         [0012]     In some or all of the foregoing embodiments, the pulse oximeter is capable of giving a continuous and more accurate reading because it is held in place. Further, the sleeve may advantageously eliminate interference from outside light sources that can affect the pulse oximeter reading. Additionally, the sleeve may advantageously warm the skin of the patient to further increase the accuracy of the reading.  
         [0013]     For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects, advantages and novel features of the disclosure have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such aspects, advantages or features will be embodied in any particular embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The following drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the claims.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the prior art used in conjunction with a human hand;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the prior art used in conjunction with a human foot;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a sock used in conjunction with a human foot; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a glove used in conjunction with a human hand. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]     To facilitate a more complete understanding of the disclosure, the Detailed Description describes the disclosure with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are referenced with like numerals throughout.  
         [0020]     Referring to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a conventional pulse oximeter  10 , wherein the pulse oximeter  10  comprises a clip  12  that is attached to an individual&#39;s fingertip  14 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another conventional pulse oximeter  16 , wherein an adhesive strip  18  is used to position the pulse oximeter  16  on an infant&#39;s foot  20 .  
         [0022]     In  FIG. 3  there is shown a perspective view of one embodiment of the pulse oximeter sleeve  22  of the disclosure wherein the sleeve  22  is positioned about an infant&#39;s foot  24  and ankle  26  and has an open end  28  through which the infant&#39;s toes  30  extend. In this embodiment the light-emitting diodes  32  are located on top of the infant&#39;s foot  24  near the toes  30 , and the photodetector  34  is positioned directly below so that the photodetector  34  can receive the light emitted by the light-emitting diodes  32  and not absorbed by the blood within the infant&#39;s foot  24  as the light passes therethrough. Also shown is wiring  35  sewn into the sleeve  22  for transmitting information generated by the light emitting diodes  32  and the photodetector  34  to a medical monitor. An artisan will recognize from the disclosure herein that the optical probe may advantageously be reflective, transmissive, disposable, reusable, some combination of the foregoing, or the like.  
         [0023]     In  FIG. 4  there is shown a perspective view of another embodiment of the disclosure wherein the sleeve comprises a glove  36  that covers substantially the entire hand  38  of an individual and the entirety of at least one finger  40 . The portion of the glove  36  that covers the finger  40  has positioned thereon near the fingertip  42  the light-emitting diodes  32  on one side of the finger  40  and the photodetector  34  on the opposite side.  
         [0024]     Although preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, a more than two wavelength optical probe may be positioned using the disclosed sleeve embodiments; monitors monitoring different parameters may be employed, tightness may be advantageously be controlled through sleeve size, adjustments such as Velcro straps, or the like. Moreover, one or more digits may extend out of the sleeve to ensure visual confirmation of blood perfusion through tissue. Additionally, other combinations, omissions, substitutions and modifications will be apparent to the skilled artisan in view of the disclosure herein. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited by the reaction of the preferred embodiments, but is to be defined by reference to the appended claims.  
         [0025]     Additionally, all publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.