Sensor and transmitter product

Abstract

This disclosure generally relates to medical devices that include a transmitter assembly positioned on top of a sensor assembly. A sensor assembly includes a sensor base having a bottom surface and a top surface having an interface. The interface accommodates a sensor stack that includes at least one sensor head having electrical contact pads connected to an elastomeric connector. The sensor assembly further includes a mounting base having a first side that attaches to the bottom surface of the sensor base, and a second side that adheres to a patient's skin. A transmitter assembly includes a transmitter shell and a transmitter cap having an interface that engages with the sensor base. Also, the transmitter assembly includes electrical contacts disposed on the transmitter cap that connect with the electrical contact pad(s) of the sensor assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a sensor assembly having at least one sensor lockout having at least one feature particular to a generation of the sensor assembly; and   a transmitter assembly having at least one transmitter lockout having at least one feature particular to a generation of the transmitter assembly;   wherein the sensor assembly and the transmitter assembly connect with each other as a result of the at least one feature of the at least one sensor lockout matching the at least one feature of the transmitter lockout.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sensor assembly and the transmitter assembly are functionally incompatible with each other; and   the sensor assembly and the transmitter assembly do not connect with each other as a result of the at least one feature of the at least one sensor lockout not matching the at least one feature of the at least one transmitter lockout.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor lockout and the at least one transmitter lockout are included in an interchangeable mold insert adapted to be changed independently. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor lockout and the at least one transmitter lockout further include at least one slot and at least one rail on respective surfaces of the sensor assembly and the transmitter assembly that do not match and block the transmitter assembly from fully rotating onto and making a connection with a non-compatible sensor assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor lockout and the at least one transmitter lockout further include at least one slot and at least one rail on respective surfaces of the sensor assembly and the transmitter assembly that match each other to allow the transmitter assembly to fully rotate onto and make a connection with a compatible sensor assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one feature particular to the generation of the sensor assembly and the at least one feature particular to the generation of the transmitter assembly further include at least one of a length, a width, a shape or a positioning. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one feature particular to the generation of the sensor assembly further includes a placement along a predetermined diameter dimension on a sensor assembly surface, and the at least one feature particular to the generation of the transmitter assembly further includes a placement along a predetermined diameter dimension on a transmitter assembly surface. 
     
     
         8 . A device comprising:
 a first assembly including a first interface; and   a second assembly comprising a second interface, wherein the second assembly is incompatible for use with the first assembly, and wherein the first interface and the second interface block the first assembly from connecting with the second assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first interface and the second interface block the first assembly from fully rotating onto and making a connection with the second assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first interface and the second interface further include lockout features including at least one of a length, a width, a depth, a shape, or a positioning on a corresponding first assembly or second assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first interface further includes a slot, and the second interface further includes a rail that does not match the slot. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising an interchangeable mold insert adapted to be changed such that lockout features of the first interface or the second interface are changed. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first interface and the second interface are located on respective noncritical surfaces of the first assembly and the second assembly. 
     
     
         14 . A device comprising:
 a sensor assembly having sensor mechanical lockouts including a first sensor mechanical lockout feature and a second sensor mechanical lockout feature; and   a transmitter assembly having transmitter mechanical lockouts, where the first sensor mechanical lockout feature defines a generation of the sensor assembly, and the second sensor mechanical sensor feature determines a transmitter generation that will fit with the sensor assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the first sensor mechanical lockout feature includes a first slot and a second sensor mechanical lockout feature includes a second slot. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the transmitter mechanical lockouts further include at least one rail. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the transmitter mechanical lockouts further include a first transmitter mechanical lockout feature that defines a generation of the transmitter assembly, and a second transmitter mechanical lockout feature that determines which sensor generation will fit with the transmitter assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the transmitter assembly is configured to initially engage with the sensor assembly by lowering the transmitter assembly onto the sensor assembly and rotating the transmitter assembly on the sensor assembly, wherein the transmitter mechanical lockouts rotate through the sensor mechanical lockouts. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the second sensor mechanical lockout features match the transmitter mechanical lockouts such that full rotation of the transmitter mechanical lockouts is allowed and a connection is completed. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the second sensor mechanical lockout features do not match the transmitter mechanical lockouts, such that full rotation of the transmitter mechanical lockouts is prevented and a connection is not completed.