Patent ID: 7127278

Claim:
A probe for measurement of pulse-based differences in light absorbence across the vascularized tissue of a lip or a cheek of a patient, comprising: a. a resilient probe frame having an inner face and an outer face, said frame comprising a proximal arm connecting at one end to a cable and at the other end to a bridging section of said frame, said bridging section connecting the proximal arm to one end of a distal arm of said frame, wherein a portion of said distal arm is at a determined distance from an opposing portion of said proximal arm; b. a first pad positioned over at least two light-generating structures that emit light at at least two different wavelength bands known to differentiate oxygenated from non-oxygenated hemoglobin, on the inner face of said portion of the distal arm or of the proximal arm; c. a second pad positioned over at least one light-detecting structure that detects light transmitted from said first pad, on the inner face of the arm opposing the first pad; and d. first individual conductors for energizing said at least two light-generating structures, connecting said structures to a monitoring system for light signal production and modulation, and second individual conductors connecting said at least one light-detecting structure to said monitoring system to convey signals of light detected by said at least one light-detecting structure, said first and said second individual conductors passing within said resilient probe frame and thereafter through said cable for carrying said first and said second individual conductors to said monitoring system.