Two piece sensor assembly and method of use

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a two-piece sensor assembly that includes an attachment collar configured to attach to a body surface of a patient and comprising at least one opening, and a skin sensor configured to seat into the at least one opening in the attachment collar. The skin sensor includes at least one radiation source configured to irradiate the body surface with at least one interrogation light, at least one detector configured to detect at least one response light incident from the direction of the body surface, and a controller communicatively coupled to the skin sensor, the attachment collar or both, wherein the controller is programed to transmit information and to receive information between the controller and the skin sensor and/or the attachment collar, and to control the at least one radiation source and the at least one detector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A two-piece sensor assembly comprising:
 an attachment collar configured to attach to a body surface of a patient and comprising at least one opening,   a skin sensor configured to seat into the at least one opening in the attachment collar and comprising:   at least one radiation source configured to irradiate the body surface with at least one interrogation light,   at least one detector configured to detect at least one response light incident from the direction of the body surface, and   a controller communicatively coupled to the skin sensor, the attachment collar or both, wherein the controller is programed to transmit information and to receive information between the controller and the skin sensor and/or the attachment collar, and to control the at least one radiation source and the at least one detector,   wherein the skin sensor and the attachment collar further comprise a means of authentication between the skin sensor and the attachment collar.   
     
     
         2 . The two-piece sensor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the means of authentication comprises a pressure sensitive element configured to provide communication between the attachment collar and the skin sensor when the skin sensor attaches to the attachment collar. 
     
     
         3 . The two-piece sensor assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the pressure sensitive element provides an indication of secure attachment of the skin sensor to the body surface of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The two-piece sensor assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the pressure sensitive element provides an indication that the skin sensor is no longer securely attached to the body surface of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The two-piece sensor assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the attachment collar is configured for single use and wherein the pressure sensitive element is configured to prevent more than a single use of the attachment collar. 
     
     
         6 . The two-piece sensor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the means of authentication comprises a bar code configured to authenticate the combination of the skin sensor and the attachment collar. 
     
     
         7 . The two-piece sensor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the means of authentication comprises an RFID chip on the attachment collar configured to be detected by the skin sensor in order for the two-piece sensor assembly to operate. 
     
     
         8 . The two-piece sensor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the means of authentication comprises an identifier tab on the attachment collar configured to be detected by the skin sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The two-piece sensor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the means of authentication comprises at least one communication port configured to send and receive information between the skin sensor and the attachment collar. 
     
     
         10 . The two-piece sensor assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one communication port comprises an EEPROM chip configured to prevent use of the skin sensor unless a connection is made between the skin sensor and the attachment collar.