JPH0884722A - Heat-sealed bougie for neonate medical surveillance - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To minimize employed structure elements and minimize the number of assembling processes by fixing a plurality of sensor elements in determined positions in a housing means by thermal sealing without providing supporting elements contained in the housing means. CONSTITUTION: This information unit for newborn baby 1 uses plural layers 11 to 16 that are used as a housing means to surround the sensor elements 17, 18 that are arranged in a sensor part 4. The two outer layers 15 and 16 among the plural layers 11 to 16 are thermally sealed to prevent the fluid exchange between the surrounding environment of the information unit 1 and each sensor 17, 18. By this thermal sealing, the plural layers 11 to 16 can fix each sensor element 17, 18 in determined positions without supporting elements. By this constitution, the number of employed structure elements are minimized and the processes of assembling the unit are also minimized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a medical monitoring device,
More specifically, it's easy to use, inexpensive and
The present invention relates to a neonatal probe that is easy to attach to a patient's limb, is sealed, can be cleaned for reuse, and can be efficiently manufactured.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One problem in the field of medical monitoring devices is to manufacture sons that meet a number of requirements that are diverse and sometimes conflicting with each other. It is important that the son is easy to use and adapts to different patients of different sizes and shapes. The son should be able to be firmly secured to the patient's extremities, etc., without the need for complicated structures or structures or elements that are offensive to the patient. In addition, the son should be inexpensive, disposable after a single use, or cleanable and usable for many patients. If the probe is reusable, it must be protected from the surrounding environment by the active or actuating elements contained within it that perform detection and measurement functions, and likewise There is a need to protect the patient from electrical signals or heat that could harm the patient. The son also needs to make the necessary measurements accurately and reliably. Therefore, the manufacturing method should be efficient and efficient to minimize the cost of the son, and simple to ensure a reliable son in use.

The reliability of an object (product) is a function of the number of components it contains, the reliability of each of those components, and the complexity of the structure being manufactured.
Therefore, it is advantageous to minimize the number of components used and the number of steps used in the assembly process. The assembly process also needs to be designed so that deodorants can be manufactured accurately without the use of complicated manufacturing equipment or processes.

[0004]

The son which is difficult to manufacture in the field of medical monitoring equipment is the son for newborns used for pulse / oxygen concentration measurement. This type of son is usually secured to the foot by wrapping it around the child's instep. This is because this site has many blood vessels and structurally has a shape suitable for firmly fixing the son to the child. Many of the existing neonatal pulse and oximetry sonometers are not reusable, which makes them considerably more expensive to use in hospitals to monitor neonatal patients. Reusable newborn son
They tend to be bulky and are difficult to adapt to the size and shape of the child being monitored. In addition, this type of son is fixed to the child's instep with an integral adhesive band,
If the adhesive band loses its ability to secure the son to the child, it must be disposed of, even if the son is still functional, resulting in unnecessary additional expense. Some sons have replaceable adhesive bands,
The replacement task is cumbersome and potentially less cost effective. The above problems are all well-known problems in the field of medical monitoring devices, and although many newborn sons are on the market, they are all of similar design and all of them are It does not solve the problem.

[0005]

The newborn son according to the present invention is implemented using a minimum number of components in a sealed enclosure and solves the above problems. And achieve technological advances in the field. The extinction device comprises a pair of light sources and a photodetector disposed between any two of the plurality of layers formed of a comfortable material used to implement the extinction. The layers are configured to be automatically aligned when placed in an assembly press to heat seal or heat seal the peripheral portion of the son. The heat-sealing process serves to protect the light source and detector from fluids and to accurately position and secure these devices. The son is reusable, which allows it to be amortized for use with multiple patients. In addition, the son is simple in construction and small in size, so that it can be easily fitted to the patient's extremities, or the instep of the newborn.
The son includes a replaceable adhesive band, and when the band cannot be firmly attached to the patient because the adhesive property of the band is deteriorated, the adhesive band is replaced to replace the adhesive band. The child can be fixed to the patient many times. Thus, the structure of the present son overcomes the problems inherent in existing sons and is easy to manufacture with high reliability and accuracy. Therefore, the structure of the present son represents a major advance in the problematic technology of neonatal sons.

[0006]

EXAMPLE A pulse and oximeter is frequently used to monitor the condition of neonatal patients. The pulse / oxygen meter is an instrument that measures the oxygen saturation of blood and displays the heart rate and arterial blood saturation of the patient in a human-readable form. The readings displayed are important to the medical staff in determining whether the patient's respiratory system is functioning properly and supplying sufficient oxygen to the blood. Newborn patients often give supplemental oxygen because they cannot get enough oxygen from their lungs through normal breathing, and measurement with such an instrument is important for such newborn patients. The pulse / oxygen meter measures the amount of light transmitted through a part of human tissue rich in arterial blood and absorbed by the arterial blood, and thereby obtains the oxygen saturation of blood. The pulse and oximeter utilizes a pair of light-emitting diodes that emit light at predetermined wavelengths that are selected to be largely absorbed by oxygenated hemoglobin in arterial blood and reduced hemoglobin in arterial blood. . The amount of light absorbed by these light emitting diodes is a measure of the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin and reduced hemoglobin in arterial blood. In newborn patients, the foot has many blood vessels,
It has a shape in which a light emitting diode is attached to one side of the instep and a photodetector is attached to the other side of the instep, and two wavelengths of light are transmitted to arterial blood, and the intensity of each transmitted light is measured. It is a suitable site for. The amount of light absorbed through the heel of a neonatal patient includes a portion due to the loss of light caused by skin, bones, steady blood flow, and various other factors. The pulsatile portion, which is a small portion of the received signal, is utilized by the pulse and oximeter system to make the measurement. The measured value is calculated by periodically extracting the output of the photodetector, and the increase change of the light absorption amount of two wavelengths transmitted through the instep of the neonatal patient is obtained. Next, the oxygen saturation of arterial blood and the heart rate of the infant are calculated by using these increasing changes in the light absorption amount. Since the received signal represents only a small portion of the transmitted light, it is important to make the incident light considerably large in order to obtain a sufficiently large signal and ensure an accurate reading. Furthermore, the light emitting diode and the photodetector must be placed in close contact with the skin on opposite sides of the patient's instep for accurate readings. Therefore, the son should be able to accommodate different sizes and shapes of the instep of a newborn patient by nature, and medical staff should simply and properly attach the son to obtain the best (measured) reading. Must be of a configuration It is difficult for existing sons to meet such stringent requirements, and attempting to meet these requirements results in an increase in the cost of disposable sons.

[0007] Improving the design and manufacturing efficiency of a son, whatever the extent, leads to a considerable cost savings. The newborn son 1 of the present invention is shown in a perspective view in FIG. 1 and an exploded perspective view in FIG. This newborn son 1
Is configured such that the element shapes work in concert to solve the problem of existing neonatal sons and make them reusable, which allows them to be used in a large number of patients. , The cost of the son is amortized. The neonatal son 1 includes a cable 2 extending from the connector 3 to the sensor elements 17, 18 arranged in the sensor part 4. The cable 2 includes a plurality of conductors, each conductor terminating in a corresponding conductive element contained within the connector 3. The connector 3 firmly interconnects the cable lead 2 and a medical monitoring instrument (not shown), the medical monitoring instrument transmitting a drive signal to a light emitting diode housed in the light source element 17, and It enables the signal output by the photodetector 18 to be received. The sensor part 4 of the son 1 is a unitary structure consisting of a plurality of layers 11-16 of a comfortable material, said layers 11-16 surrounding a light emitting diode 17 and a photodetector 18 It is used to perform various auxiliary functions described in. The two light-emitting diodes of the light source 17 and the photodetector 18 are connected to the corresponding conductors of the cable 2 and form the active element used to perform the arterial blood monitoring function. The remaining elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 constitute the device used to position, align, secure and even isolate these active sensor elements 17, 18.

The assembled neonatal son 1 shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1 comprises an assembled sensor part 4, a conductor cable 2 and a connector 3 fixed to the distal end of the cable. The sensor part 4 is composed of a hermetically sealed housing, which forms a moisture barrier and an electrical barrier, and which may contain contaminants or contaminants between the sensor elements 17 and 18 and the environment surrounding the son. Prevents electric signals from passing back and forth. This sticker is the sensor part 4
To the cable 2 so as to completely seal. Although the sealing method disclosed in this document is a heat sealing method (heat sealing method), other sealing methods such as the use of an adhesive and ultrasonic bonding depending on the properties of the material used to provide each layer of the sensor unit 4 are used. Can also be used. Sealed sensor part 4
Protects the sensor elements 17, 18 from fluids, such as cleaning or disinfecting fluids used by the son, prior to reuse. Two circles 5 and 6 shown on one side of the sensor unit 4 are light passage ports, and the light rays generated by the light emitting diode 17 are passed through the light passage ports and pass through the limbs (human body parts) of the patient. The light received from the light path is measured by the photodetector 18, respectively. The area around the butterfly-shaped part 7 between these two light passages 5, 6 is an adhesive element used for adhesively fixing the neonatal son 1 to the instep of the patient. In use, a newborn son 1
Both ends are folded around each other around the center line C shown in FIG. 1 to form a U shape. This U-shaped configuration allows the central portion of the newborn son to conform to the shape of the patient's instep and the integral adhesive secures the sensor portion 4 to the instep of one neonatal patient. As mentioned above, this integrated structure
It is a complete mechanism in that it is simple in structure and does not require the use of adhesive bands that need to be wrapped around the foot of the neonatal patient, and because it is a structure that is not bulky, it is attached and fixed to the patient. Is easy to do.

Multilayer Structure FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the elements used to form the sensor portion 4 shown in FIG. Light emitting diode 1
7 is selected to generate a high-intensity light beam having a predetermined wavelength in order to perform the necessary pulse / oxygen concentration measurement. In order to obtain sufficient light output, the light emitting diode 17 must be a fairly powerful device, producing a certain amount of heat output in relation to the light output. In order to prevent the heat output from giving discomfort to the patient, a heat buffer 14 is provided on the light emitting diode 17 to thermally isolate the patient's limbs from the heat of the light emitting diode 17. This heat buffer 14
Must be transparent to light but have an adiabatic effect. Therefore, the thermal buffer unit 14 is a Kraton G (Kraton G).
G) It is made of a film and is selected to have a size that covers the light emitting diode 17 but does not significantly increase the volume of the sensor unit 4. When the light generated by the light emitting diode 17 reaches the photodetector 18 directly, the intensity of the light is large and it is possible to detect a desired pulsatile portion of the light transmitted through the limbs (body parts) of the patient. Since it becomes difficult, it is important not to reach the photodetector 18 directly. For this reason, a layer 13 of translucent material is then applied to the light emitting diode 17 and the photodetector 18. These multiple layers, when sealed together during the manufacturing process, form a weir for the light to prevent lateral transmission of the light generated by the light emitting diode 17 and allow the output light of the light emitting diode 17 to reach the patient's skin. Focus in the direction of incidence. The translucent material is made of pink Kraton G film and the element or member 13 is sized and dimensioned to match the final size and dimensions of the outer packaging of the sensor section 4. The element that is subsequently added to the structure is a pair of port covers 12 made from clear Kraton G film,
These covers isolate the light emitting diode 17 and the photodetector 18 from the surrounding environment, but are used to form a transmission path of light from the light emitting diode 17 to the surrounding environment. The last element 11 to be attached following the above mentioned elements is a transparent one-sided adhesive polyethylene film adhesive surface,
This adhesive surface forms the adhesive area needed to secure the sensor 1 to the patient and also the inner layer 13 described above.
Functioning as a layer for sandwiching the transmission port cover 12 with respect to the light transmission ports 5 and 6. At the bottom of the light emitting diode 17 and the photodetector 18 are two layers 1
5, 16 are provided, the first layer 15 of which is an opaque or translucent layer, for example made of Kraton G film, which is used to prevent ambient light from penetrating into it. The size and dimensions of this layer 15 are chosen to match the size and dimensions of the final outer dimensions of the sensor section 4. Finally, a backside 16 made of polyethylene coextrusion is disposed on the light buffer layer 15 to form an outward facing cover. This cover is the surface exposed to the outside air when the sensor 1 is fixed to the instep of the newborn patient,
This is the most easily worn part. The above layers 11-16 are
They are stacked and heat-sealed at the peripheral portions of the light transmission ports 5 and 6 by using a device described below to form a light weir, and also at the peripheral portion of the sensor unit 4 are heat-sealed. . The monolithic structure thus obtained forms a water- and light-resistant housing which is light in weight and simple in structure but which surrounds the photodiode 17 and the photodetector 18. Each of the above layers electrically isolates the light emitting diode 17 and the photodetector 18 from the patient's skin, and forms a light transmission path so that the generated light rays can be formed on the patient's instep. It is positioned and serves to receive incident light of two selected wavelengths that is transmitted through the arteries and out of the patient's skin.

Sonics Manufacturing Apparatus FIG. 3-7 is a view showing an apparatus used for manufacturing the sensor 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The manufacturing apparatus 30 uses three tooling plates 31-33 to perform positioning, holding, and heat-sealing of the sensor unit 4 of the newborn baby son 1 in three steps. As can be seen, the upper plate 31 includes three heat sealing elements of different shapes. Upper plate 31 and bottom plate 3 when used
3 is attached to the top and bottom of the device 30, and the device constitutes a press machine which is operated by appropriate operating means such as compressed air, hydraulic pressure, mechanical operation, etc., and the upper plate 31 and the bottom plate 33 are pressed together. Each layer shown in FIG. 2 is sandwiched in between, and a predetermined range of the peripheral portion of the sensor unit 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is heat-sealed. The intermediate plate 32 of the device positions the cable 2 with the light-emitting diode 17 and the photodetector 18, and the heat-sealing member protects the housing layer without damaging the conductors contained therein. Used to allow controlled sealing. The intermediate plate 32 also serves as a carrier which allows the operator to position the various elements of the son 1 without having to contact the upper plate 31 and the bottom plate 33 with heating elements. Fulfill As can be seen, the upper plate 31 and the bottom plate 33 are the heights used to controllably position the upper plate 31 and the bottom plate 33 relative to each other when the press 30 is closed. Includes detents 34-38, 44-48. Alignment pins 54-5 are used on the intermediate plate 32 to locate the layers shown in FIG. 2 in precise alignment.
9 are provided. The intermediate plate 32 has a slot 40 for the passage of the cable 2 and an elliptical opening 50 in which the light emitting diode 17 and the photodetector 18 are positioned, as shown in FIG.

For ease of alignment, layers 11-16 shown in FIG. 2 were produced using a wider range of layers than those shown in FIG. 2 (see FIGS. 8-18). As shown), the extensive layer has preformed holes that correspond to and align with the alignment pins 54-59 shown on the intermediate plate 32 of the manufacturing apparatus. Thus, the layers 11-16 shown in FIG. 2 represent the shape of each element or element that has been heat-sealed and finally trimmed, representing the raw materials used in the manufacture of the newborn son 1. is not. Upon completion of each manufacturing step, the subassembly moves from left to right from the land area on the bottom plate 33 to the next land area and finally to the third or most of the land areas shown in Figure 3-7. A heat sealing operation is performed on the land area 43 on the right side. These three steps can be carried out manually, or the untrimmed layers shown in Figures 8-18 are portions of continuous feed roll material that are sequentially fed through the three portions 41-43. It will also be apparent that automation is possible in the case of configurations that are eventually separated and trimmed by a non-cutting operation. For clarity of explanation, the subassembly is disclosed as being manually moved over a three step process, and layers 11-16 are shown individually in FIGS. 8-18 to show the assembly operation and the resulting product. Please note that it has made the explanation of [1] easier to understand. From the above description and the following description, there are variations in the process for assembling the newborn baby son 1, and the range of heat sealing performed in each process of the manufacturing method of the present invention is a matter of design choice, and is disclosed in this document. As a trivial variation of the preferred embodiment described above,
It will be apparent that there are various variations as modifications within the scope of the dependent claims.

Method of Manufacture In the first step of the method of manufacture, the light emitting diode 17, the photodetector 18, and the layers 11-13 shown in FIG. 2 disposed between the skin of the patient are aligned with each other. Connected to. Light emitting diode 17 and photodetector 18
For providing a light transmission path for the above, and for disposing the heat insulating layer 13, the light blocking layer 12, and the adhesive layer 11 for fixing the manufactured neonatal son 1 to the patient, Each layer 11-13 must be precisely aligned. The manufacturing method is started by placing the intermediate plate 32 (transport tool) on the bottom plate 33 of the manufacturing apparatus 30. The intermediate plate 32 has a clearance (clearance) aligned with the height stop alignment pins 44-48 of the bottom plate 33 and the height stop pins 34-38 of the upper plate 31.
Includes holes 64-68. Land area 41 of the bottom plate 33
-43 protrudes through the corresponding holes of the intermediate plate 32, so that the upper plate 31 and the bottom plate 33 come into contact with the layers of material, but there is still some space between these plates to keep the heating element in place. The material can flow when activated. The light shielding material 13 is
Including a pair of pre-cut light transmission apertures 5, 6;
It is placed on the first land region 41 of the intermediate plate 32, and the alignment pins 54 and 55 are configured to be able to perform accurate alignment through the openings of the light shielding layer 13. The light shielding layer 13
The next layer overlaid is the permeation port cover layer 12. This is two transparent aperture covers 12 of the transparent kraton shown in FIG. 2, and each of the covers has a pair of arms and an alignment pin 5 of the intermediate plate 32 shown in FIG. 3-7.
Interconnected with a frame that includes a pair of openings that are aligned with 4, 55. The example shown in FIG. 9 is a sheet-shaped material having an alignment opening, and is different from the layer shape shown in FIG. 2 which is finally heat-sealed and cut with a die. Finally, FIG. 10 shows the adhesive / release liner layer 11 with the adhesive integrally attached thereto, and the sheet material of the adhesive / release liner layer 11 also has a pair of alignment holes formed therein. There is. The layers shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 are sequentially laid on the intermediate plate 32 over the first land region 41, and the alignment pins 54 and 55 of the intermediate plate 32 are placed on the intermediate plates 32. Each of these layers 11-13 is precisely aligned with each other through the respective openings. Next, the press machine 30 is closed, the heat sealing element of the upper plate 31 is activated, and the peripheral portion of the sensor unit 4 of the son 1 for newborn baby is heat sealed.
These three layers 11-13 are fixed together. As an alternative, the layers 11-13 are reversed in the reverse order to that described above.
Can be stacked to produce a subassembly.

When the heat sealing element is activated, the three layers 11-
Acting to heat seal 13, the press is opened and the subassembly is ready to move to the next part of the intermediate plate 32. Prior to moving the subassembly, the bottom layers 15, 16 of the sensor part 4 are put in place on the intermediate plate 32. Back cover 1 made by co-extrusion shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 6 is made of a solid sheet material and has two alignment openings formed therein. FIG. 13 shows a backside opaque or semi-transparent light shielding dam layer 15 made of a continuous sheet of material, again with a pair of alignment openings formed therein. The final element of the device stack is the light emitting diode thermal buffer layer 14 shown in FIG. This layer is a buffer layer that is attached to the frame by two arms and has a single alignment opening formed in the frame. This final layer is
Overlying the opaque or translucent layer 15 overlying the back cover layer 16. Then these three layers 14-16
On top of it is placed the subassembly that has been conveyed from the first land area 41 of the die, and all the alignment openings of the six layers 11-16 are on the alignment pins 56, 57 of the intermediate plate 32. Once fitted, the plate 32 is aligned on the second land area 42 of the bottom plate 33.
The press 30 is then activated to operate the six layers 11-16.
, And the heat-sealing element of the upper plate 31 is actuated to heat-seal approximately three-fourths of the peripheral portion of the portion of the newborn baby son 1 which becomes the sensor unit 4. Figure 15 shows the scope of this heat-sealing operation, but the figure is a plan view of a six-element package, with the hatched portion showing the portion that is heat-sealed with the second portion of the die set. Again, elements 11-16
It is possible to assemble the stacks of the above in the reverse order to that described above.

Upon completion of the heat sealing operation in the second of these three steps, the subassembly is ready for transfer to the third part of the die set. Press machine 3 for subassembly
0, and active element 1 as shown in FIG.
7, 18 are inserted between the second layer 15 and the third layer 14 of the six-layer subassembly. Die set intermediate plate 3
2 has an opening 40 cut corresponding to the cable 2, the light emitting diode 17 and the photodetector 18. 16th
The second subassembly with the active elements 17, 18 and the cable 2 inserted as shown is placed on the third part of the intermediate plate 32, and the six layers 11-16 of the subassembly are The alignment openings are located on the alignment pins 58, 59 of the third portion of the plate 32 having the shape shown in FIG. Next, the press machine 30 is closed again, the heat sealing device of the third portion of the upper plate 31 is operated to complete the heat sealing work, and about four quarters of the peripheral portion of the sensor unit 4 of the newborn baby son 1 is completed. Seal one. This remaining sealing portion is shown in FIG. 16 by hatching to indicate the heat-sealing range required in the final step of the three-step assembly operation. As is apparent from FIG. 16, the sensor part 4 of the newborn son 1 is completely heat-sealed therein, including the inlet for inserting the cable 2 into the sandwich assembly layer shown in FIG. Extra material outside the heat-sealed area may be removed as it is not necessary for the functioning of the neonatal son 1. This excess material can be trimmed using a die cutting machine (not shown). This die cutting work is performed including a part of the heat-sealed portion, so that the peripheral portion of the sensor portion 4 of the newborn baby son 1 is smooth and surely no rough lines are left. . The sensor part 4 of the last die-cut son 1 shown in FIG. 17 is a relatively large bandage 1 as shown in FIG.
It is attached to 9 and this band is wrapped around the infant's foot to secure the son 1 in place. In the present example, the completed son 1 is composed of a plurality of layers 11 which are hermetically sealed together at the periphery.
-16 in the outer layer 1 in a heat-sealing operation
1 and 16 are sealed together at their peripheries and the inner layer 12-1
5 together and the inner layer 12-15 is the outer layer 1
It will be clear that it may be attached to at least one of 1, 1 and 16.

The present invention described in the claims is not limited to the above description of the preferred embodiments, but various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. It will be clear.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a newborn baby son according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the newborn son of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of an apparatus used for manufacturing a newborn baby son according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of an apparatus used for manufacturing a newborn baby son according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an apparatus used for manufacturing the newborn baby son of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an installation plate used in a lower portion of a press used for manufacturing the newborn baby son of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an installation plate used in a press used to manufacture the newborn baby son of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing constituent layers used for manufacturing a newborn baby son according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing constituent layers used for manufacturing the newborn baby son of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing constituent layers used in the production of the newborn baby son of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing constituent layers used for manufacturing a newborn baby son of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing constituent layers used in the production of the newborn baby son of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing constituent layers used for manufacturing a newborn baby son of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing constituent layers used for manufacturing a newborn baby son according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a combination of various constituent layers used for manufacturing the newborn baby son of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a combination of various constituent layers used for manufacturing the newborn baby son of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a combination of various constituent layers used for manufacturing the newborn baby son of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a combination of various constituent layers used in the production of the newborn baby son of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 son 2 cable conductor 3 connector 4 sensor part 5, 6 light passage port 11 layer (adhesive surface) 13 layer of translucent material 14 thermal buffer part 15, 16 layer 17 light emitting diode 18 photodetector

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Dana Em Rayleigh, Colorado, USA 80027 Luisville South Jefferson Avenue 328 (72) Inventor, James H. Taylor, United States of America Colorado 80302 Boulder Twenty Second Street 637 (72) Inventor Timothy Atari U.S. Colorado 80126 Hairan's Ranch South Clareton Way 9885 (72) Inventor Kirk El Weimer Colorado, USA 80027 Superior South Boyero Court 1275

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A medical monitoring son, comprising: a plurality of sensor elements; and housing means surrounding the plurality of sensor elements, wherein the housing means includes an environment surrounding the son and the plurality of sensor elements. Having at least two outer layers of comfortable material hermetically sealed together to substantially prevent fluid flow between the housing means and the housing means without the support elements included in the housing means by the heat sealing. A son, characterized in that a plurality of sensor elements are fixed in place in the housing means. 2. The plurality of sensor elements comprises a light source means for generating at least two light rays having predetermined wavelengths different from each other, and a light detecting means for receiving light and generating a signal indicating the intensity of the received light. The son of claim 1, wherein the son is included. 3. The housing means further comprises a plurality of inner layers sealed together with the outer layers inside the at least two outer layers of the housing means to form a unitary structure. The son of claim 2, wherein the son is a son. 4. At least one of said inner layers prevents transmission of light from said light source means to said light detecting means inside said at least two outer layers of said housing means, and said at least one inner layer comprises: The at least one inner layer is a first and a second layer respectively disposed on the light source means and the light detecting means to allow transmission of light therethrough from the light source means to the light detecting means. The son according to claim 3, wherein the son includes an opening. 5. The housing means for allowing the at least two light rays from the light source means to pass through the first opening of the at least one inner layer to the ambient environment. Further comprising means and means for allowing the light from the ambient environment to pass through the second opening in the at least one inner layer to the light detection means. The son listed in 4. 6. The plurality of inner layers include first and second inner layers, and the light source means and the light detection means are located at the predetermined positions with a space between the first and second layers. The son according to claim 3, further comprising means for fixing. 7. The plurality of inner layers insulate the light source means from the at least two outer layers of the housing means and are transmitted to the patient produced by the light source means and to which the son is fixed. A son according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises means for reducing the conduction of heat. 8. The son is attachable to a site on the patient's skin, and the housing further includes one of the at least two outer layers to adhere the son to the site on the patient's skin. The son according to claim 1, wherein the son has an adhesive layer attached, the adhesive layer being attached to an outer layer closer to the skin when the son is attached to the skin of the patient. 9. The son is attachable to a site on the patient's skin, and the housing further includes the son to attach to the site on the patient's skin to adhere the son to the site on the patient's skin. 9. The son according to claim 8, further comprising a bandage means removably attached to the outer layer opposite the outer layer which is located closer to the skin when attached. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising electrically conductive means for interconnecting the plurality of sensor elements to interconnect the plurality of sensor elements with a monitoring instrument. The son listed in 1. 11. The son according to claim 10, wherein the housing means is sealed to a portion of the conductive means at the point where one of the conductive means exits the housing means.