Patent ID: 7039449

Claim:
An optical probe formed from disposable and reusable portions, the optical probe being capable of receiving one or more emitter drive signals and outputting one or more intensity signals indicative of one or more physiological parameters of body tissue of a patient, the optical probe comprising: a reusable portion including a plurality of flexible conductors, a light emitter capable of emitting light, and a light detector capable of detecting the light after it has been attenuated by body tissue including blood, wherein ones of the plurality of flexible conductors communicate electrical signals to the emitter and others of the flexible conductors communicate electrical signals from the detector, the reusable portion also including a housing assembly housing the emitter and at least a portion of the flexible conductors along a substantially planar surface, the housing assembly including a detector housing portion extending above the substantially planar surface; and a disposable portion including a face tape layer and a base tape layer having an adhesive side capable of securing the optical probe to a measurement site on the body tissue, the face and the base tape layers combining to sandwich a majority of the reusable portion between the face and the base tape layers, wherein the face tape layer includes one or more electrical components capable of electrical communication with ones of the plurality of conductors in the reusable portion.