Noise shielding for a noninvasive device

Abstract

A noninvasive physiological sensor for measuring one or more physiological parameters of a medical patient can include a bump interposed between a light source and a photodetector. The bump can be placed in contact with body tissue of a patient and thereby reduce a thickness of the body tissue. As a result, an optical pathlength between the light source and the photodetector can be reduced. In addition, the sensor can include a heat sink that can direct heat away from the light source. Moreover, the sensor can include shielding in the optical path between the light source and the photodetector. The shielding can reduce noise received by the photodetector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical medical sensor configured to detect light attenuated by body tissue of a patient, the sensor comprising:
 a sensor housing comprising a first shell and a second shell pivotally connected together, the first and second shells each shaped to accept body tissue of a medical patient;   an emitter disposed in the first shell, the emitter configured to emit light on the body tissue of the medical patient;   a detector disposed in the second shell, the detector configured to receive light attenuated by the body tissue along an optical path; and   shielding disposed between the emitter and the detector, the shielding comprising a substantially-transparent, electrically-conductive material in the optical path.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the shielding is configured to reduce noise received by the detector. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing coupled to the shielding. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor of  claim 3 , wherein the housing is further coupled to a submount of the emitter, such that the housing, submount, and shielding provide a substantially airtight seal to protect the emitter from fluids and vapors. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor of  claim 3 , wherein the housing is further coupled to a submount of the detector, such that the housing, submount, and shielding provide a substantially airtight seal to protect the detector from fluids and vapors. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the shielding comprises conductive-coated glass. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the shielding comprises conductive-coated plastic. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive material comprises indium tin oxide. 
     
     
         9 . The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially-transparent portion comprises a protrusion. 
     
     
         10 . A conductive shield configured to shield noise interference from a light sensitive detector, the shield comprising:
 a substantially transparent material; and   a conductive material disposed on at least a portion of the substantially transparent material;   wherein the conductive shield is configured to be positioned between a light source and a light detector such that at least some light from said light source passes through said conductive shield and impinges on said light detector.   
     
     
         11 . The conductive shield of  claim 10 , wherein the conductive material is configured to be in electrical communication with a ground conductor. 
     
     
         12 . The conductive shield of  claim 11 , wherein the conductive material conducts noise away from said detector toward the ground conductor. 
     
     
         13 . The conductive detector shield of  claim 10 , wherein the substantially transparent material comprises plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The conductive detector shield of  claim 10 , wherein the substantially transparent material comprises glass. 
     
     
         15 . The conductive detector shield of  claim 10 , wherein a surface resistivity of the conductive material ranges from about 30 ohms per square inch to about 500 ohms per square inch. 
     
     
         16 . The conductive detector shield of  claim 10 , wherein the conductive material comprises indium tin oxide. 
     
     
         17 . The conductive detector shield of  claim 10 , wherein the conductive material is a coating on the substantially transparent material, said coating being distributed over the substantially transparent material in a manner selected from the group consisting of: distributed with an even thickness, distributed in varying thicknesses, distributed over the periphery edges of the transparent portion, distributed in a speckled pattern, distributed in a grid, and distributed in lines. 
     
     
         18 . A system for shielding one or more photocommunicative devices, comprising:
 an emitter configured to emit optical radiation;   a detector; and   a shielding device disposed between the emitter and the detector, the shielding device comprising a substantially-transparent, electrically-conductive material, the shielding device configured to pass at least a portion of the optical radiation to the detector and to reduce a noise received by the detector.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the transparent portion comprises a layer of transparent material and a layer of conductive material. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the layer of transparent material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and glass.