Disposable Sensor Cartridge for Reusable Physiological Sensor Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-invasive physiological sensors, particularly reusable ones, are at risk of contamination and damage due to repeated use, leading to potential nosocomial infections and inaccurate measurements, and they often require complex alignment with tissue sites.
Innovation Solution
A disposable sensor cartridge with a first and second portion forming a cavity for the tissue site, allowing light transmission and reception, and optionally including electrical components, which can be aligned and attached to the sensor for improved measurement accuracy and protection against contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If reusable sensors are used to reduce cost, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but contamination risk and sensor damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into reusable components (sensor housing, electronics) and disposable components (cartridge, adhesive portion). This segmentation allows the expensive reusable parts to be protected from contamination while the inexpensive disposable parts absorb the contamination risk, resolving the contradiction between cost-effectiveness and contamination prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable sensor cartridges and adhesive portions that are discarded after a single use. These cheap, single-use components eliminate contamination risk to the reusable sensor and prevent sensor damage, while the reusable sensor itself can be used repeatedly across multiple patients, achieving both cost-effectiveness and reliability.
2Loss of substance
If reusable sensors are used for multiple patients, then cost is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to contamination and damage
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the sensor into reusable and disposable portions, the measurement interface (cartridge) is discarded after each use, ensuring that the reusable sensor components never come into contact with patient tissue. This guarantees consistent measurement accuracy across multiple uses while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable cartridge ensures that the measurement interface is always fresh and uncontaminated, preserving measurement accuracy. The reusable sensor can be used repeatedly without degradation of measurement quality, as the disposable cartridge protects it from contamination and damage.
3Measurement precision
If complex alignment procedures are used to ensure proper sensor positioning, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor cartridge is pre-formed with alignment features and a cavity that guides proper positioning on the tissue site. The adhesive portion is pre-applied to the cartridge, so that when the cartridge is placed on the tissue, it automatically aligns and adheres without requiring complex adjustment procedures, thus achieving accurate alignment while simplifying operation.
4Reliability
If disposable sensor cartridges are used to prevent contamination, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is segmented into reusable and disposable portions, with the disposable cartridge being a simple, single-use component that prevents contamination. This segmentation allows the complex reusable sensor to be protected while the simple disposable cartridge handles the contamination prevention function, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sensor cartridge provides cost-effective protection against contamination, reduces sensor damage, ensures proper alignment, and accommodates various tissue sizes, enhancing measurement accuracy and safety in clinical settings.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor is attached to a tissue site, such as a finger, toe, ear lobe, nose, hand, foot, or other site having pulsatile blood flow which can be penetrated by light from the emitters. The detector is responsive to the emitted light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flowing in the tissue site.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor cartridge according to embodiments of the disclosure is capable of being used with a non-invasive physiological sensor. Certain embodiments of the sensor cartridge protect the sensor from damage, such as damage due to repeated use, reduce the need for sensor sanitization, or both. Further, embodiments of the sensor cartridge are positionable on the user before insertion in the sensor and allow for improved alignment of the treatment site with the sensor. In addition, the sensor cartridge of certain embodiments of the disclosure can be configured to allow a single sensor to comfortably accommodate treatment sites of various sizes such as for both adult and pediatric applications.