Patent ID: 7096052

Claim:
An optical probe capable of outputting a signal indicative of light transmitted through body tissue, the optical probe comprising: one or more emitters capable of emitting light; detector circuitry capable of detecting light transmitted through body tissue of a patient and outputting a signal usable to determine at least one physiological parameter of the patient; a substantially rigid probe housing including a substantially planar lens side, wherein said probe housing houses the one or more emitters and the detector circuitry; a single substantially circular substantially convex emitter lens protruding a distance from the probe housing; a single substantially circular substantially convex detector lens protruding about the distance from the probe housing; and a protruding optical barrier protruding from the probe housing substantially along an axis perpendicular to a line connecting the single emitter lens and the singal detector lens, wherein the optical barrier is positioned to reduce an amount of emitted light capable of reaching the detector circuitry without being transmitted through body tissue, wherein only the single emitter lens, the single detector lens, and the optical barrier protrude from the substantially planar lens side of the probe housing, thereby reducing an amount of protruding structure recessing into the body tissue of the patient.