Device with disposable element

Inventors

BURNS, Martin F.Campbell, BillGiuntoli, David M.Raptis, MarkROSS, Graham O.

Assignees

Bruin Biometrics LLC

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Publication Number

US-11342696-B2

Patent

Publication Date

2022-05-24

Expiration Date


Abstract

The construction of a medical device having a disposable element is disclosed. Detachable elements comprising a body having a retention feature, an electrical contactor, and sensors are also disclosed. Further disclosed are detachable elements comprising a body having a hole and a retention pocket, an electrical contactor, and a printed circuit board assembly (PCB) in contact with the innermost surface of the body that forms the retention pocket. Further disclosed are detachable elements comprising a body having an opening and a printed film comprising conductive elements, where the conductive elements comprise a sensor configured to be aligned with the opening to expose the sensor. Further disclosed are reusable components having matching retention features.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a detachable element configured to be used with a reusable component that includes a retention groove, an alignment guide, and a planar contact surface parallel to the retention groove. The detachable element includes a body with a retention feature configured to engage the retention groove, and an electrical contactor coupled to the body.

The electrical contactor includes a cantilever element configured to touch the planar contact surface when the retention feature is engaged with the retention groove. The cantilever element is configured to slide along the contact surface as the detachable element is brought together with the reusable component. A printed circuit board assembly is included, comprising a printed circuit board having an outer edge, where the PCB is coupled to the contactor and to the body.

A portion of the contactor extends beyond the outer edge of the PCB, and the portion that extends beyond the outer edge is coupled to the body. The disclosure further describes detachable element constructions in which a compliant cantilever contactor extends into contact with a reference surface while being coupled with a PCB or PCBA, including configurations that enable sliding or scrubbing electrical contact as components are mated.

Claims Coverage

The partial content includes one independent claim. Its main inventive features are centered on a detachable element with retention groove engagement, cantilever-based sliding electrical contact with a planar contact surface, and a PCBA/contactor coupling where a contactor portion extends beyond the PCB outer edge and is coupled to the body. Dependent claims refine the detachable element with alignment constraints and, in some embodiments, optical and electrode-geometry details.

Cantilever electrical contact with sliding on planar contact surface during groove engagement

An electrical contactor coupled to the body includes a cantilever element configured to touch the planar contact surface when the retention feature is engaged with the retention groove, and configured to slide along the contact surface as the detachable element is brought together with the reusable component.

Detachable element body retention-feature engaging retention groove of reusable component

A body includes a retention feature configured to engage the retention groove of the reusable component, with the reusable component also having an alignment guide and a planar contact surface parallel to the retention groove.

Pcba coupling to contactor with portion extending beyond pcb outer edge and coupled to body

A printed circuit board assembly comprising a printed circuit board having an outer edge, where the PCB is coupled to the contactor and to the body, and a portion of the contactor extends beyond the outer edge of the PCB, wherein the portion that extends beyond the outer edge of the PCB is coupled to the body.

Alignment feature mating with alignment guide to condition groove engagement

The detachable element includes an alignment feature that mates with the alignment guide of the reusable component and prevents the retention feature from engaging the retention groove unless the alignment feature is mated with the alignment guide.

Optical subsystem with light sensor electrically connected to electrical contactor

The detachable element further includes a light sensor and a light emitting source electrically connected to the electrical contactor.

Dual-emitter light source for specified wavelengths

The detachable element includes a light emitting source with dual emitters configured to emit 660 nm and 880 nm light.

Concentric two-electrode arrangement with central and toroidal electrodes

The detachable element includes two electrodes arranged with a central electrode and a toroidal electrode positioned concentrically.

Specified spacing between electrodes and ground plane

The detachable element further includes a ground plane and specifies that the spacing between the two electrodes and the ground plane is about 0.4064 mm (0.016 inches).

Across the independent claim and refinements in the dependent claims, the detachable element centers on groove-engageable retention with cantilever sliding contact on a planar contact surface, coupled to a PCBA in which the contactor has a portion extending beyond the PCB outer edge and coupled to the body, with further optional refinements for alignment-conditioned engagement, an optical light sensor/light emitting source, dual-emitter wavelengths, and specific two-electrode geometry and spacing relative to a ground plane.

Stated Advantages

Not explicitly described in patent.

Documented Applications

Not explicitly described in patent.

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