Patent ID: 8721989

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring blood oxygen saturation comprising a housing ( 1 ), a sensor ( 2 ), a connecting cable ( 3 ) and a plug ( 4 ), wherein: the housing ( 1 ) has a cavity ( 5 ) for accepting a patient's tissue that is supplied with blood; the housing ( 1 ), sensor ( 2 ), connecting cable ( 3 ) and plug ( 4 ) comprise exposed exterior surfaces and enclosed interior surfaces; the sensor ( 2 ) is arranged on the housing and has at least one light source ( 21 ) for the emission of light that passes through said patient tissue and a detector ( 22 ) for receiving the light passing through said patient tissue; and the apparatus can be connected to an evaluation unit via the plug ( 4 ); further wherein: the housing ( 1 ), the sensor ( 2 ), the connecting cable ( 3 ) and the plug ( 4 ) are connected to one another in an interlocking and nondetachable manner; and the exterior surfaces of at least the housing ( 1 ), the connecting cable ( 3 ) and the plug ( 4 ) are formed of a first flexible, autoclavable material that is heat resistant at temperatures up to 180°C. and that has chemical and physical properties that remain unchanged during sterilization by autoclave; and the light source ( 21 ) and the detector ( 22 ) have a temperature stability sufficient to withstand high temperatures that accompany autoclaving.