Patent ID: 8301217

Claim:
A physiological sensor adapted to removably attach an emitter assembly and a detector assembly to a fingertip, the emitter assembly adapted to transmit optical radiation having a plurality of wavelengths into fingertip tissue, the detector assembly adapted to receive the optical radiation after attenuation by the fingertip tissue, the sensor comprising: a first shell including a proximal end and a distal end and an axis running from the proximal end to the distal end; a second shell hingedly coupled to the first shell at a first location proximate the proximal end of the first shell; a spring disposed between and urging together the shells, the spring including: a coil located proximate the first location, a first leg extending from the coil to a second location proximate the distal end of the first shell; an emitter assembly fixedly attached to one of the first shell or second shell; and a detector assembly fixedly attached to the other of the first shell and second shell.