Hinged Oximeter Probe Cover With Optical Interface for Clean Reuse
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Oximeters are prone to contamination from patient tissue and fluids during use, leading to a need for improved sleeves that facilitate reuse while maintaining hygiene and sterility.
Innovation Solution
A sleeve is designed to cover the oximeter probe, preventing patient tissue and fluids from contacting the probe by using materials with small pores and conforming to the probe's shape, while allowing optical energy transmission through an optical interface portion with minimal refraction difference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sleeve is used to cover the oximeter probe to prevent contamination, then hygiene and sterility are improved, but the optical transmission and measurement accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve incorporates an optical interface portion made of optically transparent material with refractive index matching the optical sensor, creating a localized region optimized for light transmission while the rest of the sleeve provides barrier protection. This allows different parts of the sleeve to have different optical properties, resolving the contradiction between protection and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical interface portion acts as an intermediary between the optical sensor and the tissue, allowing optical energy to pass through while maintaining the barrier function. The refractive index matching minimizes optical distortion at this interface, enabling the sleeve to simultaneously provide contamination protection and maintain measurement precision.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the sleeve material has small pores to block contaminants, then barrier protection is improved, but optical energy transmission may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is segmented into distinct functional regions: a barrier portion with small pores for blocking contaminants and an optical interface portion with large pores or open structure for optimal light transmission. This segmentation allows each region to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different pore structures are applied to different parts of the sleeve - tight pore structure in the barrier portion for contamination protection, and open/transparent structure in the optical interface portion for light transmission. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between barrier performance and optical transmission.
3Reliability
If the sleeve conforms tightly to the probe shape for hygiene, then sterility is improved, but the probe may move inside the sleeve affecting grip, worsening ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve incorporates elastic or flexible materials that allow dynamic adjustment - tight enough to prevent contamination but flexible enough to accommodate probe movement and maintain user grip comfort. The material properties enable the sleeve to adapt between maintaining sterility and allowing operational flexibility.
4Measurement precision
If the optical interface portion has thickness less than 250 microns to minimize refraction, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The design specifies a thickness parameter range (less than 250 microns) that balances optical performance and manufacturability. By setting an upper limit rather than requiring exact thickness, the design accommodates normal manufacturing variations while maintaining adequate optical transmission performance.
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 sleeve maintains the probe's functionality and hygiene, enabling reuse by blocking contaminants and ensuring sterility, thus reducing the need for disposal and saving costs.
Implementation Method 1
allowing optical energy emitted by the optical sensor to pass through the optical interface portion of the probe cover to the tissue and allowing optical energy reflected by the tissue to pass through the optical interface portion of the probe cover to the optical sensor
Implementation Method 2
The first index of refraction of the optical interface portion differs from a second index of refraction for the optical sensor by less than 50 percent
Data Source
AI summary
A sleeve or sheath includes a body having a top opening. The body covers a handheld oximeter probe or a portion of the probe. The sleeve has a shape that approximately matches the oximeter probe or portion of the probe, which is covered by the sleeve. The sleeve has a top opening that allows a user to slide the oximeter probe into the sleeve. The sleeve is transparent to radiation emitted and collected by the oximeter probe. The sleeve is formed of a material that prevents patient tissue, fluid, viruses, bacteria, and fungus from contacting the covered portions of the oximeter probe. The sleeve leaves the probe relatively sterile after use so that little or no clearing of the probe is required for a subsequent use, such as when the probe is covered with a new, unused sleeve.