PATIENT CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH VERTICAL DETENTS

Abstract

The present disclosure includes a connector assembly that is a part of a sensor assembly for collecting patient physiological data. The connector assembly can include a first connector tab with catches, a second connector tab with openings, a retainer with pins, and a circuit board coupled to a cable. Each of the pins of the retainer can include a detent that can engage one of the catches of the first connector tab. The pins can extend through the openings of the second connector tab so that the retainer is coupled to the first connector tab by the detents engaging the catches. The first and second connector tabs can thereby be coupled together to support the circuit board and the cable between the first and second connector tabs.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A noninvasive physiological sensor assembly configured to monitor a tissue of a patient, the noninvasive physiological sensor assembly comprising: a noninvasive sensor; a cable assembly comprising a circuit board and conductors, the circuit board being coupled to a proximal end of the conductors, the cable assembly being coupled to the noninvasive sensor at a distal end of the conductors; and a connector assembly comprising: a first connector tab; a second connector tab; and a retainer comprising a plurality of pins, the plurality of pins extending through the second connector tab and mating with the first connector tab to support the circuit board between the first connector tab and the second connector tab.

22. The noninvasive physiological sensor assembly of claim 21, wherein the retainer comprises a base, the base being positioned in an inset portion of the second connector tab when the plurality of pins mate with the first connector tab.

23. The noninvasive physiological sensor assembly of claim 21, wherein the noninvasive sensor comprises an emitter and a detector.

24. The noninvasive physiological sensor assembly of claim 21, wherein the circuit board comprises a notch configured to engage a protrusion of the first connector tab.

25. A cable assembly comprising: a circuit board coupled to a proximal end of conductors; and a connector assembly comprising: a first connector tab; a second connector tab; and a retainer comprising a plurality of pins, the plurality of pins extending through the second connector tab and mating with the first connector tab to support the circuit board between the first connector tab and the second connector tab.

26. The cable assembly of claim 25, wherein the retainer comprises a base, the base being positioned in an inset portion of the second connector tab when the plurality of pins mate with the first connector tab.

27. The cable assembly of claim 25, wherein the circuit board comprises a notch configured to engage a protrusion of the first connector tab.

28. The cable assembly of claim 25, wherein the first connector tab comprises a first channel and the second connector tab comprises a second channel, the first channel and the second channel together defining an aperture.

29. The cable assembly of claim 28, wherein the circuit board is positioned between the first connector tab and the second connector tab so that at least a portion of the conductors is positioned within the aperture.

30. The cable assembly of claim 25, wherein the second connector tab comprises a plurality of openings through which the plurality of pins extend.

31. The cable assembly of claim 25, wherein the first connector tab comprises an inner surface that is configured to mate with the plurality of pins.

32. The cable assembly of claim 25, wherein the plurality of pins includes of a total of two pins.

33. The cable assembly of claim 25, wherein the plurality of pins and the first connector tab, when mated, align and couple the first connector tab and the second connector tab.

34. The cable assembly of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of the circuit board extends through a cutout of the first connector tab.

35. A method of manufacturing a connector assembly, the method comprising: placing a circuit board and a portion of conductors on an inner surface of a first connector tab; placing a second connector tab on top of the first connector tab so that an inner surface of the second connector tab faces the inner surface of the first connector tab; extending a plurality of pins of a retainer through the second connector tab; and mating the plurality of pins with the inner surface of the first connector tab.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising applying an adhesive between the circuit board and the inner surface of the first connector tab.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising aligning the circuit board with the inner surface of the first connector tab to align a notch of the circuit board with a protrusion of the first connector tab.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising pushing the plurality of pins together with the inner surface of the first connector tab.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the plurality of pins includes of a total of two pins.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein said mating aligns and couples the first connector tab and the second connector tab.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1A illustrates a top view of a sensor assembly.

[0019] FIG. 1B illustrates an exploded perspective view of the sensor assembly of FIG. 1A.

[0020] FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of a sensor assembly.

[0021] FIG. 2B illustrates an exploded perspective view of the sensor assembly of FIG. 2A.

[0022] FIG. 3A illustrates a top view of a connector assembly and a cable assembly of the sensor assembly of FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B.

[0023] FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic diagram of the sensor assembly of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

[0024] FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of a bottom connector tab of the patient connector assembly of FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B.

[0025] FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view of the bottom connector tab of FIG. 4A.

[0026] FIG. 4C illustrates a bottom view of a cable assembly.

[0027] FIG. 4D illustrates a perspective view of the cable assembly of FIG. 4C and the bottom connector tab of FIG. 4B.

[0028] FIG. 4E illustrates a top view of the cable assembly of FIG. 4D positioned on the bottom connector tab of FIG. 4B.

[0029] FIG. 4F illustrates a perspective, exploded view of the patient connector assembly of FIG. 1A including the bottom connector tab of FIG. 4B and the cable assembly of FIG. 4D.

[0030] FIG. 4G illustrates a perspective view of the patient connector assembly of FIG. 4F.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] A connector assembly is disclosed that can be part of a sensor assembly usable to collect patient physiological data. The connector assembly can include first and second connector tabs, and a circuit board of a cable assembly for the sensor assembly placed between the first connector tab and the second connector tab. The connector assembly can further include a retainer that can extend through the second connector tab and be coupled to the first connector tab to secure the first and second connector tabs together. The sensor assembly can include a noninvasive sensor that may be positioned proximate to a patient’s skin for generating the patient physiological data.

[0032] The first connector tab can include catches disposed on an inner surface of the first connector tab. The second connector tab can include openings, where the openings correspond to the catches. The retainer can include pins, where each of the pins correspond to the openings and the catches of the second and first connector tabs, respectively.

[0033] The pins of the retainer can extend through the openings of the second connector assembly. The detents of the pins can engage the catches of the first connector tab when the retainer is pushed down towards the first connector tab. The engagement between the catches and the detents of the pins of the retainer can cause the first connector tab and the second connector tab to align and mate, thereby securing the circuit board between the first connector tab and the second connector tab.

[0034] To facilitate a complete understanding of the disclosure, the remainder of the detailed description references the drawings, wherein like references number are references with numerals throughout.

[0035] FIG. 1A illustrates a sensor assembly 100 including a connector assembly 110 coupled to a sensor 130 via a cable assembly 150. The cable assembly 150 can include a round or flat cable 452 with conductor cords 450 (shown in FIGS. 4C-4F) that can transmit digital or analog signals between the sensor 130 and the connector assembly 110. The sensor 130 may be a noninvasive oximetry sensor that can be positioned proximate to or adhered to a patient’s body. Examples of the connector assembly 110 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,697,928, U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2016/0234944, and U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2016/0233632, which are incorporated by reference herein.

[0036] FIG. 1B shows an exploded, perspective view of the sensor assembly 100 shown in FIG. 1A. The connector assembly 110 can include a first connector tab 112, a connector shield 114, an adhesive 116, a circuit board 118, a second connector tab 120, and a retainer 122. The circuit board 118 can be part of the cable assembly 150. The sensor 130 can include a liner 132, a first tape 134, a detector 136, a detector shield 138, an emitter 140, an adhesive 142, a second tape 144, and an applicator 146. The sensor 130 can position the detector 136 and the emitter 140 proximate to a tissue of a patient for monitoring.

[0037] FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of a sensor assembly 200 including the connector assembly 110 coupled to a sensor 230 via the cable assembly 150. The sensor 230 can be designed for use by neonates (for example, humans less than four months old) while the sensor 130 can be designed for individuals older than neonates.

[0038] FIG. 2B illustrates an exploded perspective view of the sensor assembly 200 shown in FIG. 2A. The sensor 230 can include a liner 232, a first tape 234, a detector 236, a detector shield 238, an emitter 240, an adhesive 242, a second tape 244, and an applicator 246. The sensor 230 can position the detector 236 and the emitter 240 proximate to a tissue of a patient for monitoring.

[0039] FIG. 3A shows a top view of the connector assembly 110 and the cable assembly 150.

[0040] The connector assembly 110 can include electrical contacts 300, which are numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in FIGS. 3A and 3B for reference. The electrical contacts 300 can be on the circuit board 118. The number of electrical contacts 300 or the size of the electrical contacts 300 on the circuit board 118 can vary from the illustration in FIG. 3A and depend on a number of signals transmitted or types of signals transmitted. The electrical contacts 300 can be printed on the circuit board 118. The size of the connector assembly 110 can vary depending on the number or size of electrical contacts 300. The shapes or locations of each of the electrical contacts 300 on the circuit board 118 can vary from the illustration in FIG. 3A and depend on a number of signals transmitted or types of signals transmitted.

[0041] FIG. 3B shows a schematic diagram of the sensor assembly 100 with the electrical contacts 300. The electrical contacts 300 can facilitate electrical communication between a patient monitor and a memory (for example, EEPROM), and the detector 136 and the emitter 140 of the sensor 130. The electrical contacts 300 can also include one or more contacts that serve as an electrical ground.

[0042] FIG. 4A shows a top view of the first connector tab 112 of the connector assembly 110 with the connector shield 114. The first connector tab 112 can include a platform 401, catches 400, receptors 402, guides 406, a cable cutout 408, and protrusions 430.

[0043] The first connector tab 112 can have an outer surface 470 and an inner surface 480. The catches 400, the receptors 402, and the guides 406 can be disposed on the inner surface 480. The catches 400, the receptors 402, and the guides 406 can extend upward and away from the inner surface 480. Additionally or alternatively, the catches 400, the receptors 402, and the guides 406 can extend in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to a plane defined by the inner surface 480.

[0044] The guides 406 can form a channel for aligning the cable assembly 150 within the first connector tab 112. The distance between the guides 406 can be greater than or equal to a width of the cable 452 of the cable assembly 150. The guides 406 can have a length that can be greater than or equal to, or less than or equal to the width of the cable 452 of the cable assembly 150.

[0045] The cable cutout 408 can be dimensioned to receive the cable 452 of the cable assembly 150. The cable cutout 408 can be characterized by a width and a height, where the width and the height can be sufficient to allow at least a portion of the cable assembly 150 to be placed within the cable cutout 408. The second connector tab 120 can have a cable cutout that is similar to the cable cutout 408. The cable cutout of the second connector tab 120 may allow at least a portion of the cable assembly 150 to be similarly placed within the second connector tab 120. The cable cutout 408 and the cable cutout of the second connector tab 120 can together form an aperture sized to receive the cable 452 of the cable assembly 150.

[0046] The protrusions 430 can extend from the inner surface 480. The protrusions 430 can act as a guide for notches 440 (see FIG. 4C) of the circuit board 118. The protrusions 430 can be circular, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, or rectangular, triangular, among other possible shapes, to match a shape of the notches 440.

[0047] The first connector tab 112 can include a cutout dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the circuit board 118. The second connector tab 120 can similarly include a cutout dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the circuit board 118. The circuit board cutouts of the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120 can together form a circuit board aperture sized to receive the circuit board 118. The circuit board aperture can be positioned opposite from the aperture configured to receive the cable 452. The circuit board aperture can be positioned and extend between the protrusions 430.

[0048] The connector shield 114 can be adhered to the inner surface 480 of the first connector tab 112. The size and dimension of the connector shield 114 can correspond to the size of the circuit board 118, the size of the first connector tab 108, or the size of the connector assembly 110.

[0049] FIG. 4B shows an exploded perspective view of the first connector tab 112 with the connector shield 114 positioned for placement on the first connector tab 112. As shown in FIG. 4B, the catches 400, the receptors 402, the guides 406, and the protrusions 430 can extend from the inner surface 480 of the first connector tab 112. The catches 400 each can include a groove 420. The grooves 420 of the catches 400 can face each other as illustrated in FIG. 4B or may not face each other (for example, may face away from each other). The grooves 420 of the catches 400 can each be a space between the inner surface 480 of the first connector tab 112, an end of one of the catches 400 opposite the inner surface 480 of the first connector tab 112, and a side of one of the catches 400.

[0050] FIG. 4C illustrates a bottom view of the cable assembly 150 with the circuit board 118. The cable assembly 150 can include conductor cords 450 that encase conductors (for example, wires) that carry signals between the sensor 130 and the circuit board 118. The conductors can be coupled to the circuit board 118, thus creating an electrical connection between the conductors and the circuit board 118. The conductors can be coupled to either a top surface or a bottom surface of the circuit board 118. The conductor cords 450 can, in turn, be encased at least partly by the cable 452 that provides support and groups the conductor cords 450 as part of a single cable.

[0051] As previously described, the circuit board 118 can include notches 440. The notches 440 can be disposed on the side of the circuit board 118 as shown in FIG. 4C. The notches 440 can engage the protrusions 430 of the first connector tab 112 to retain the circuit board 118 to the first connector tab 112. The notches 440 can be circular, as shown in FIG. 4C, rectangular, triangular, among other shapes. The shape of the notches 440 can correspond to that of the protrusions 430 to enable the notches 440 and the protrusions 430 to engage one another. The notches 440 and the protrusions 430 can together hold the circuit board 118 in place and prevent longitudinal movement (which can be in a direction along a length of the connector assembly 110) and horizontal movement (which can be in a direction along a width of the connector assembly 110) of the circuit board 118 with respect to the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120.

[0052] The circuit board 118 can be adhered to the inner surface of the first connector tab 112 via the adhesive 116. The adhesive 116 can be applied to a bottom surface of the circuit board 118 so that it does not interfere with transmission of signals via the conductors. The adhesive 116 can additionally or alternatively be placed (i) between the bottom surface of the circuit board 118 and the inner surface 480 of the first connector tab 112 or (ii) between the bottom surface of the circuit board 118 and the platform 401 of the first connector tab 112.

[0053] FIG. 4D illustrates a perspective view of the cable assembly 150 and the first connector tab 112 with the cable assembly 150 positioned for placement on the first connector tab 112. The circuit board 118 can be positioned on top of the first connector tab 112 so that the electrical contacts 300 face away from the platform 401, thereby allowing the electrical contacts 300 be exposed after the second connector tab 120 is positioned on top of the first connector tab 112.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 4E, the circuit board 118 can be laid on top of the platform 401 of the first connector tab 112, while the cable 452 of the cable assembly 150 can be laid on top of the cable cutout 408 (see FIG. 4B). The platform 401 can provide support for the circuit board 118 when the circuit board 118 is placed on the first connector tab 112. As discussed herein, the circuit board 118 can be adhered to the platform 401 using the adhesive 116. The protrusions 430 can correspond to the plurality of notches 440 of the circuit board 118 as discussed above. The protrusions 430 and the notches 440 can assist with aligning or securing the circuit board 118 to the first connector tab 112 and may prevent the circuit board 118 from moving along an axis defined by a length or a width of the circuit board 118.

[0055] The guides 406 can be located proximate to the cable cutout 408 to prevent the cable 452 of the cable assembly 150 from bending near the cable cutout 408, thereby preventing damage to the cable assembly 150. The guides 406 can prevent the cable assembly 150 from moving along a length or a width of the cable assembly 150.

[0056] FIG. 4F illustrates an exploded perspective view of the connector assembly 110 and the cable assembly 150. As can be seen, the second connector tab 120 is positioned above of the first connector tab 112 and the cable assembly 150. The second connector tab 120 and the first connector tab 112 can be brought together to secure at least a portion of the cable assembly 150 and the circuit board 118 between the second connector tab 120 and the first connector tab 112. The second connector tab 120 can include pins configured to engage the receptors 402 of the first connector tab 112. The pins and the plurality of receptors 402 can align the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120 with respect to one another for coupling and assist with securing the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120 together.

[0057] When the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120 are aligned, openings 410 of the second connector tab 120 and the catches 400 of the first connector tab 112 can also be aligned. Once the second connector tab 120 is placed on top of the first connector tab 112 and properly aligned, the retainer 122 can couple the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120 to one another so that the inner surface of the second connector tab 120 and the inner surface of the first connector tab 112 face one another. The retainer 122 can prevent longitudinal movement (which can be along the length of the connector assembly 110) or horizontal movement (which can be along the width of the connector assembly 110) of the first connector tab 112 with respect to the second connector tab 120, or longitudinal movement or horizontal movement of the second connector tab 120 with respect to the first connector tab 112. The second connector tab 120 may not cover at least a portion of the platform 401 of the first connector tab 112 and the circuit board 118. The second connector tab 120 may not cover any of the electrical contacts 300 of the circuit board 118.

[0058] The second connector tab 120 can include an inset portion 412. The openings 410 can be formed on the inset portion 412. The inset portion 412 can be sufficiently inset to match a thickness of the retainer 122 and so that the retainer fills the inset portion 412 and the outer surface of the second connector tab 120 is substantially flush with an outer surface of the retainer 122 when the retainer 122 is inserted. The inset portion 412 can have a depth that is less than or equal to, or greater than or equal to the thickness of the retainer 122. The outer surface of the second connector tab 120 may not be flush with the outer surface of the retainer 122 in other implementations.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 4F, the retainer 122 can include a base 414 and a pins 416. The base 414 can have a shape that corresponds to the inset portion 412. The surface area of the inset portion 412 may be greater than a surface area of the base 414. Each of the pins 416 can include a detent 418. The detents 418 can engage the grooves 420 of the catches 400. The pins 416 can have a length so that the pins 416 can extend through the second connector tab 120 towards the inner surface 480 of the first connector tab 112 when the second connector tab 120 and the first connector tab 112 are coupled. The base 414 of the retainer 122 can have a shape that substantially matches a shape of the inset portion 412. For example, the base 414 and the inset portion 412 can both be substantially rectangular in shape so that the inset portion 412 can receive the base 414.

[0060] During manufacture, the retainer 122 can be moved towards the second connector tab 120 so that the pins 416 extend through the openings 410. The retainer 122 can then further be pushed towards the first connector tab 112 so that the pins 416 extend through the second connector tab 120. The detents 418 can engage the catches 400 to secure the first connector tab 112 to the second connector tab 120. The grooves 420 of the catches 400 can receive the detents 418 to prevent longitudinal movement (which can be along the length of the connector assembly 110), horizontal movement (which can be along the width of the connector assembly 110), or vertical movement (which can be away or toward the connector assembly 110) of the second connector tab 120 with respect to the first connector tab 112. The first connector tab 112 to the second connector tab 120 can together in turn support and secure the connector assembly 110 including the circuit board 118 and a portion of the cable assembly 150.

[0061] The pins 416 can generally align with the catches 400. When the retainer 122 is pushed down so that the pins 416 extend through the openings 410, the detents 418 can engage top portions of the catches 400. Pushing the retainer 122 further down towards the first connector tab 112 can cause the pins 416 to bend away from the catches 400 while the detents 418 engage the top portion of the catches 400.

[0062] The retainer 122 can be pushed down or extend through the openings 410 a first distance to cause the detents 418 to engage top portions of the catches 400. The retainer 122 can be pushed downward or extend through the openings 410 a second distance to cause the pins 416 to be pushed away from the catches 400. As discussed herein, continued engagement between the detents 418 and the top portions of the catches 400 can cause the pins 416 to bend away from the catches 400. Pushing down the retainer 122 further or extending the retainer 122 further through the openings 410 can cause the detents 418 to disengage from the catches 400. Disengagement between the detents 418 and the catches 400 can cause the pins 416 to snap back towards the catches 400. As the pins 416 snap back towards the catches 400, the detents 418 can engage the grooves 420 of the catches 400.

[0063] When the detents 418 no longer engage the top portion of the catches 400, the pins 416 can snap back towards the catches 400 to allow the detents 418 to engage the grooves 420 of the catches 400. The grooves 420 can engage the detents 418 to fix the pins 416 and thereby hold the retainer 122 in place. The engagement between the grooves 420 and the detents 418 can keep the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120 mated. The engagement between the grooves 420 and the detents 418 can keep the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120 aligned or coupled.

[0064] While the grooves 420 and the detents 418 are engaged, the grooves 420 can push the detents 418 downward towards the first connector tab 112, which in turn causes the pins 416 and the retainer 122 be pushed downward towards the first connector tab 112. Furthermore, the contact between the base 414 of the retainer 122 and the inset portion 412 of the second connector tab 120 can cause the base 414 to push the second connector tab 120 towards the first connector tab 112.

[0065] The retainer 122 can be integrated with the second connector tab 120 rather than separate from the second connector tab 120. The second connector tab 120 can include the pins 416 protruding towards the first connector tab 112 when the second connector tab 120 is placed on top of the first connector tab 112.

[0066] The retainer 122 can include one, two, three, four, or more of the pins 416. For example, the second connector tab 120 and the first connector tab 112 can have two openings and two catches, respectively, that correspond to two retainers 122 each with one of the pins 416.

[0067] The retainer 122 can be made of the same material as or different material from the second connector tab 120 and the first connector tab 112. The retainer 122 can be made out of plastic. The pins 416 can be made of the same material as or different material from the base 414. The pins 416 can include a flexible portion located between the pins 416 and the base 414. The flexible portion can act as a hinge to facilitate movement of the pins 416 when the pins 416 are pushed towards the grooves 420 of the first connector tab 112.

[0068] The second connector tab 120 can include one, two, three, or more sets of the openings 410 for the retainers 122. For example, the second connector tab 120 can include two sets of the openings 410 for two of the retainers 122 (for example, two separate retainers) in an example other than the example illustrated in FIG. 4F. In another example, the second connector tab 120 can include three or more sets of the openings 410 for three or more of the retainers 122.

[0069] Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Further, the term “each,” as used herein, in addition to having its ordinary meaning, can mean any subset of a set of elements to which the term “each” is applied.

[0070] Additionally, other combinations, omissions, substitutions and modifications will be apparent to the skilled artisan in view of the disclosure herein. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the reaction of the preferred embodiments, but is to be defined by reference to the appended claims.

[0071] Additionally, all publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.