Tissue oximeter intraoperative sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9706954-B1
Application number	US-201615168836-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 31, 2016
Priority date	Nov 23, 2009
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

An oximeter probe includes sensor head with a probe face having one or more sensor structures to make measurements, a handle, and an elastic member connected between the handle and the base. A user can hold the handle while measurements are made and the elastic member permits the handle to flex relative to the sensor head with one or more sensor structures.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
providing an oximeter device comprising a sensor head comprising a probe face that faces a tissue to be measured and a handle;
on the probe face, forming first, second, and third sensor structures;
positioning the second sensor structure at a first distance from the first sensor structure;
positioning the third sensor structure at a second distance from the first sensor structure, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance; and
providing an elastic member comprising a spring constant coupled between the sensor head and handle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first sensor structure comprises a source structure and the second and the third sensor structures comprise detector structures.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first sensor structure comprises a detector structure and the second and the third sensor structures comprise source structures.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second sensor structures are positioned to form a first line, the first and third sensor openings are positioned to form a second line, and the first line is not parallel to the second line.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first, second, and third sensor structures are arranged in a line.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising:
providing a pressure sensor on the sensor head.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising:
coupling a light emitting diode to the first sensor structure;
coupling a photodetector to the second sensor structure; and
coupling a battery coupled to the light emitting diode and the photodetector.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a first line passes through the base portion, in a first direction that is transverse to the bottom surface of the base portion,
a second line extends in the first direction and intersects a surface of the handle,
the first line passes through the first sensor structure,
the first line does not pass through the handle, and
a first distance is between the first line and the second line in a second direction, transverse to the first direction, wherein the first distance is greater than about 1 millimeter.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising:
coupling a light emitting diode to the first sensor structure;
coupling a photodetector to the second sensor structure; and
coupling a battery coupled to the light emitting diode and the photodetector,
wherein a first line passes through the base portion, in a first direction that is transverse to the bottom surface of the base portion,
a second line extends in the first direction and intersects a surface of the handle,
the first line passes through the first sensor structure,
the first line does not pass through the handle, and
a first distance is between the first line and the second line in a second direction, transverse to the first direction, wherein the first distance is at least about 1 millimeter.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the oximeter device is a tissue oximeter probe.

11. A method comprising:
providing an oximeter device comprising a probe face that will face a tissue to be measured and a handle;
forming at least one sensor structure on the probe face;
providing a pressure sensor at a sensor head, wherein the sensor head comprises the probe face; and
coupling an elastic member comprising a spring constant between the sensor head and the handle.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising:
using the pressure sensor, detecting a pressure being applied to the tissue by the probe face.

13. The method of claim 11 comprising:
coupling a battery to the pressure sensor.

14. The method of claim 11 comprising:
coupling a light emitting diode to a first sensor structure formed on the bottom surface of the base portion; and
coupling a photodiode to a second sensor structure formed on the probe face.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the oximeter device is a tissue oximeter probe.

16. A method comprising:
providing an oximeter device comprising a probe face that faces a tissue to be measured and a handle;
forming a first sensor structure and a second sensor structure on the probe face;
coupling a light emitting diode to the first sensor structure;
coupling a photodiode to the second sensor structure;
coupling a battery to the light emitting diode and the photodetector; and
coupling a flexible member comprising a spring constant between the probe face and the handle.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the battery supplies power to the light emitting diode and the photodetector, and the method comprises:
coupling a recharger circuit to the battery, wherein the recharger circuit recharges the battery.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein a first line passes through the base portion, in a first direction that is transverse to the bottom surface of the base portion,
a second line extends in the first direction and intersects a surface of the handle,
the first line passes through the first sensor structure,
the first line does not pass through the handle, and
a first distance is between the first line and the second line in a second direction, transverse to the first direction, wherein the first distance is at least about 1 millimeter.

19. The method of claim 16 comprising:
coupling a processing circuit to the light emitting diode, photodetector, and battery.

20. The method of claim 16 comprising:
coupling a processing circuit to the light emitting diode, photodetector, and battery; and
a display, coupled to the processing circuit.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the handle comprises:
a proximal end;
a distal end, closer to the base portion than the proximal end;
a front side, wherein the front side comprises a first portion from the proximal end to a first bend having a first slope, and a second portion from the first bend to the distal end having a second slope; and
a back side that is opposite the front side.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the second slope is steeper than the first slope.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein a first line passes through the first sensor structure and a second line passes through an axis of the handle, and the first line and second line are angled with respect to each other.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein at least a first portion of the handle is adapted to be cradled in an area between a thumb and forefinger of a user's hand.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein at least a second portion of the handle is adapted to be contacted by the forefinger of the user's hand, and the second portion of the handle is on a different side of the handle to the first portion of the handle.

26. The method of claim 16 comprising:
forming a third sensor structure on the probe face,
positioning the second sensor structure at a first distance from the first sensor structure;
positioning the third sensor structure at a second distance from the first sensor structure, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance,
wherein at least a first portion of the handle is adapted to be cradled in an area between a thumb and forefinger of a user's hand.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein the oximeter device is a tissue oximeter probe.

Assignees

• Vioptix Inc
• Vioptix Inc

Inventors

• Lash Robert E
• Janis Scott
• Eghbal Darius

Classifications

• A61B2562/187

  Strain relief means · CPC title

• A61B5/6843

  Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure · CPC title

• A61B5/14552 Primary

  Details of sensors specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• A61B5/02427

  Details of sensor · CPC title

• A61B2562/0247

  Pressure sensors · CPC title