Physiological sensor

Abstract

A sensor used to measure physiological characteristics of body tissues is provided. The physiological sensor includes a first light source assembly having a first light source in parallel with a second light source. Each of the first light source and the second light source have an anode and a cathode. A second light source assembly includes a third light source in parallel with a fourth light source. Each of the third light source and the fourth light source have an anode and a cathode. The anode of the first light source is electrically connected to the cathode of the second light source, the anode of said third light source, and the cathode of said fourth light source. The anode of the third light source is electrically connected to the cathode of the fourth light source.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A sensor comprising:
 a first light source assembly including a first light source and a second light source, each of said first light source and said second light source having an anode and a cathode;   a second light source assembly including a third light source and a fourth light source, each of said third light source and said fourth light source having an anode and a cathode; and   wherein said anode of said first light source is electrically connected to each of said cathode of said second light source, said anode of said third light source, and said cathode of said fourth light source and wherein said anode of said third light source is electrically connected to said cathode of said fourth light source.   
     
     
         15 . The sensor of  claim 16 , wherein said cathode of said first light source is electrically connected to said anode of said second light source and said cathode of said second light source is electrically connected to said cathode of said fourth light source. 
     
     
         16 . The sensor of  claim 14 , further comprising a third light source assembly including a fifth light source and a sixth light source and each of said fifth light source and said sixth light source having an anode and a cathode, and wherein said anode of said fifth light source is electrically connected to said cathode of said first light source, said anode of said second light source, and said cathode of said sixth light source. 
     
     
         17 . The sensor of  claim 16 , wherein said cathode of said fifth light source is electrically connected to said cathode of said third light source, said anode of said fourth light source, and said anode of said sixth light source. 
     
     
         18 . The sensor of  claim 16 , wherein said anode of said sixth light source is electrically connected to said cathode of said third light source and said anode of said fourth light source, and said cathode of said sixth light source is electrically connected to said cathode of said first light source and said anode of said second light source. 
     
     
         19 . The sensor of  claim 14 , further comprising a light detector in optical communication with said first light source assembly and said second light source assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The sensor of  claim 14 , further comprising a pad defining at least one opening and wherein at least one of said first light source assembly and said second light source assembly is disposed in said at least one opening. 
     
     
         21 . The sensor of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said first light source assembly and said second light source assembly includes at least one of a light emitting diode and a laser diode. 
     
     
         22 . A sensor comprising:
 a first light source assembly having two light sources arranged in a first anti-parallel pair; and   a second light source assembly having two light sources arranged in a second anti-parallel pair;   wherein one light source from the first light source assembly is arranged in parallel with one light source from the second light source assembly.   
     
     
         23 . The sensor of  claim 22 , further comprising a third light source assembly having two light sources arranged in a third anti-parallel pair, wherein one light source from the first light source assembly and one light source from the second light source assembly are arranged in parallel with one light source from the third light source assembly. 
     
     
         24 . The sensor of  claim 22 , further comprising a light detector in optical communication with the first light source assembly and the second light source assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The sensor of  claim 22 , further comprising a pad defining at least one opening and wherein at least one of the first light source assembly and the second light source assembly is disposed in the at least one opening. 
     
     
         26 . The sensor of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first light source assembly and the second light source assembly includes at least one of a light emitting diode and a laser diode. 
     
     
         27 . The sensor of  claim 22 , wherein the first light source assembly and the second light source assembly are electrically connected to a monitoring device, wherein a number of wires connecting the first and second light source assemblies to the monitoring device is less than a total number of light sources in the first and second light source assemblies. 
     
     
         28 . A physiological sensor system comprising:
 a sensor having a first light source assembly having two light sources arranged in a first anti-parallel pair and a second light source assembly having two light sources arranged in a second anti-parallel pair, wherein one light source from the first light source assembly is arranged in parallel with one light source from the second light source assembly; and   a monitoring device electrically connected to the sensor, wherein a number of wires connecting the sensor to the monitoring device is less than a total number of light sources in the first and second light source assemblies.   
     
     
         29 . The physiological sensor system of  claim 28 , wherein a maximum number of light source assemblies disposed on the sensor is defined by the following equation: N LSA =N W *(N W −1)/2, wherein N LSA  is the number of light source assemblies and N w  is the number of wires connecting the sensor to the monitoring device. 
     
     
         30 . The physiological sensor system of  claim 28 , wherein the monitoring device includes plurality of switches arranged in pairs and wherein no more than one switch in each pair is enabled at any time. 
     
     
         31 . The physiological sensor system of  claim 30 , wherein enabling select combinations of the plurality of switches activates more one light source from each of the first and second light source assemblies. 
     
     
         32 . The physiological sensor system of  claim 30 , wherein enabling each of the plurality of switches in a predetermined sequence activates each of the light sources in the first and second light source assemblies according to the predetermined sequence. 
     
     
         33 . The physiological sensor system of  claim 28 , wherein the sensor includes a light detector in optical communication with the first light source assembly and the second light source assembly.