In an implementation, sheath 300 includes a ring 300d. The ring may be a rigid ring or a non-rigid ring. At step 4 the sterile operator grasps ring 300d and pulls the ring up towards the probe unit to expand the sheath and enclose the probe unit in the sheath. Ring 300d remains sterile because the nonsterile operator does not touch the ring.

The nonsterile operator can release their hold on the assembled oximeter device prior to the ring 300d being pulled up to enclose the oximeter device in the sheath. The sterile operator can hold the assembled oximeter device from the laparoscopic tube and the outside of the sheath and these devices will remain sterile. The oximeter device enclosed in the sheath becomes part of the sterile environment.

In an implementation, a tether 35 is attached to the top of the oximeter device. At step 5, the sterile operator can continue to hold ring 300d up so that the probe unit and the tether are enclosed in the sheath. The tether can be used by an operator to pull the oximeter device out of the sheath so that contaminants on the outer surface of the sheath do not contact the oximeter device after the oximeter device is used for surgery. In an implementation, a tether is not attached to the oximeter device.

This detailed description describes examples of implementations with specific measurements, angles, values, dimensions, shapes, and orientations. These examples implementations are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described.

The measurements, for example, in millimeters or centimeters are approximate values. The values can vary due to, for example, measurement or manufacturing tolerances (as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art) or other factors (as will be further understood by those of ordinary skill in the art). A measurement can vary, for example, by plus or minus 1 percent, plus or minus 5 percent, plus or minus 10 percent, plus or minus 15 percent, plus or minus 20 percent, plus or minus 1 to 5 percent, plus or minus 5 to 10 percent, or plus or minus 15 to 20 percent. Further, the measurements are for a specific implementation of the device, and other implementations can have different values, such as certain measurements, dimensions, or both made longer to accommodate smaller hands or larger hands or to access tissue in a particular location of a patient's body.

For the specific implementations described, some specific values, ranges of values, and numbers are provided. These values indicate, for example, dimension, angles, ranges, frequencies, wavelengths, numbers, a relationship (e.g., relative value), and other quantities (e.g., numbers of sensors, sources, detectors, diodes, fiber optic cables, and so forth). Some measurements are for a specific implementation of the device, and other implementations can have different values, such as certain dimensions made larger for a larger-sized product, or smaller for a smaller-sized product. The device may be made proportionally larger or smaller by adjusting relative measurements proportionally (e.g., maintaining the same or about the same ratio between different measurements). In various implementations, the values (or numbers or quantities) can be the same as the value given, about the same of the value given, at least or greater than the value given, or can be at most or less than the value given, or any combination of these. The values (or numbers or quantities) can also be within a range of any two values given or a range including the two values given. When a range is given, the range can also include any number within that range to any other number within that range.

The dimensions, for example, along an axis, a rotational orientation, or both are approximate values. The dimensions can be in values, directions, angles, or any combination of these dimension. Dimensions, for example, of values in millimeters or centimeters, of directions along an axis or at an angular orientation relative to an axis, of an angular orientation are approximate values. The values, direction, and angles can vary due to, for example, measurement or manufacturing tolerances or other factors. A dimension can vary, for example, by plus or minus 0.1 percent, plus or minus 0.2 percent, plus or minus 0.5 percent, plus or minus 1 percent, plus or minus 5 percent, plus or minus 10 percent, plus or minus 15 percent, plus or minus 20 percent, plus or minus 0.1 to 0.2 percent, plus or minus 0.2 to 0.5 percent, plus or minus 0.5 to 1 percent, plus or minus 1 to 5 percent, plus or minus 5 to 10 percent, plus or minus 10 to 15 percent, or plus or minus 15 to 20 percent.

The shapes, for example, a geometric shape can be approximate shapes. The shapes can be in values, directions, angles, terms, or any combination of these shapes. The shapes can vary due to, for example, measurement or manufacturing tolerances or other factors. A shape can vary, for example, by plus or minus 0.1 percent, plus or minus 0.2 percent, plus or minus 0.5 percent, plus or minus 1 percent, plus or minus 5 percent, plus or minus 10 percent, plus or minus 15 percent, plus or minus 20 percent, plus or minus 0.1 to 0.2 percent, plus or minus 0.2 to 0.5 percent, plus or minus 0.5 to 1 percent, plus or minus 1 to 5 percent, plus or minus 5 to 10 percent, plus or minus 10 to 15 percent, or plus or minus 15 to 20 percent.

The orientations, for example, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, and angle are approximate values. The orientation can be in values, directions, angles, terms, or any combination of these orientations. Orientations, for example, of terms or angles can be approximate orientations. The orientations vary due to, for example, measurement or manufacturing tolerances or other factors. An orientation can vary, for example, by plus or minus 0.1 percent, plus or minus 0.2 percent, plus or minus 0.5 percent, plus or minus 1 percent, plus or minus 5 percent, plus or minus 10 percent, plus or minus 15 percent, or plus or minus 20 percent. Terms, such as about, substantially, approximately, or other relative terms can include the described ranges as will be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art and can include ranges that will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram for a method of use of oximeter device 5 and a sheath 400, in an implementation. The method allows for a portion of the oximeter device to be placed into the sheath 400, which keeps the probe unit of the oximeter device sterile during use. Steps may be added, combined, or removed from the diagram without deviating from the scope and purview of the method.

Boxes 1a and 1b of the flow diagram of FIG. 3 show hands 305 and 310 of two different operators working together to place probe unit 10 into sheath 400. The two operators can be nurses or other medical staff. The first operator (also referred to with reference number 305) is in a nonsterile environment and the second operator (also referred to with reference number 310) is in a sterile environment. The boxes labeled 1a-4a in FIG. 3 represent the nonsterile environment, and boxes 1b-4b and 5-6 represent the sterile environment.

At an initial step in box 1a in the nonsterile environment, the first operator 305 removes a probe unit 10 from the provided packaging. At the initial step in box 1b, the sterile operator removes a laparoscopic tube 15 from packaging 315. Packaging 315 keeps the laparoscopic tube sterile prior to use.

The laparoscopic tube includes a first portion 15a and a second portion 15b. The first portion 15a is an extended tube adapted to be inserted into the body cavity of a patient. The first portion can be inserted into the body cavity of a patient through a trocar. The outside surface of the extended tube can be smooth and seamless so that the extended tube can move smoothly inside a trocar and slip by tissue and internal organs without abrading the tissue and organs.

The second portion 15b includes one or more couplers that connect the laparoscopic tube to the probe unit. The coupler includes a mechanical coupler. The mechanical coupler can include an optical coupler, an electrical coupler, and an NFC tag, or anyone or more of these couplers in any combination. The coupler can connect to the probe unit via a push-and-twist mechanism and method. The NFC tag can couple to an NFC tag reader (e.g., through a radio frequency magnetic field), which is included in the probe unit. The NFC tag and NFC tag reader can couple when the laparoscopic tube is coupled to the probe unit and the reader is powered for reading the tag. The NFC tag can form a portion of the mechanical coupler of the second portion 15b of the laparoscopic tube. The NFC tag reader can form a portion of a mechanical coupler of the probe unit, where the mechanical coupler of the probe unit removably couples to the mechanical coupler of the laparoscopic tube. In an implementation, sheath 400 is connected to the laparoscopic tube. The sheath can be connected to the first portion 15a of the laparoscopic tube, the second portion 15b of the laparoscopic tube, or both. As shown in the implementation of FIG. 3, sheath 400 is connected to the first portion 15a of the laparoscopic tube.

The sheath includes a first aperture that the first portion 15b of the laparoscopic tube fits through. The first aperture can be circular or noncircular. In an implementation where the aperture is circular, the diameter of the aperture of the sheath can be 0.25 millimeters to 10 millimeters greater than the diameter of the first portion 15a. The aperture has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of first portion 15a. The diameter of the aperture of the sheath can be 0.25 millimeters to 10 millimeters greater than the diameter of the first portion 15a.

The sheath can be connected to the laparoscopic tube so that the sheath is held in place on the first portion 15a. In an implementation, a retaining ring 400b holds the sheath in place on the first portion 15a. The retaining ring can be a clamp, a rubber-type o-ring, or another type of device to hold the sheath to first portion 15a of the laparoscopic tube. In an implementation, the first portion 15a includes a groove formed in the exterior surface and the retaining ring is placed over or at least partially in the groove. Other devices can connect the sheath to the first portion 15a of the laparoscopic tube, such as an adhesive.

At step 1b, the sterile operator 310 places their hand (e.g., a gloved hand) into packaging 315 to remove the laparoscopic tube from the packaging while the packaging and the laparoscopic tube are in the sterile environment. After removing the laparoscopic tube from the packaging, a pull tab 400a of the sheath is exposed, in one implementation. In an alternative implementation, the sheath does not include a pull tab. In one configuration of the sheath inside the packaging, the pull tab is registered with connector 15b of the laparoscopic tube as shown in box 1b. In another configuration of the sheath inside the packaging, the pull tab is registered with the first portion 15a of the laparoscopic tube. Box 2b shows the pull tab registered with the laparoscopic tube.

At step 2a, the nonsterile operator 305 holds the probe unit and moves the probe unit and the unit's coupler 10a towards connector 15b of the laparoscopic tube. Coupler 10a can include a mechanical coupler, an optical coupler, an electrical coupler, or any combination of these couplers. Coupler 10a is configured to couple to coupler 15b of the laparoscopic tube. The mechanical couplers of couplers 10a and 15b can be configured to mechanically couple, just as by pressing the coupler together and twisting or by other mechanical mechanisms (e.g., pins and apertures where the pins of one element are configured to be held in the apertures of the other element). The optical coupler of couplers 10a and 15b can include a coupler that couples waveguides, such as optical fibers. The electrical couplers of couplers 10a and 15b can be couplers that couple electrical conductors, such as wires (e.g., in the form of ribbon cables). The NFC tag and NFC tag reader can be coupled when the mechanical couplers are coupled as described above.

At step 2b, the sterile operator 310 removes or has removed the laparoscopic tube from packaging 315. Thereafter, the sterile operator holds the laparoscopic tube in their hand by the first portion 15a of the tube. The sterile operator also moves coupler 15b of the laparoscopic tube towards coupler 10a of the probe unit. The probe unit remains in the nonsterile environment and the laparoscopic tube remains in the sterile environment.

In one implementation, at steps 3a and 3b, the nonsterile operator pushes couplers 10a and 15b together and releasably locks the probe unit and laparoscopic tube together. Locking may be accomplished by pressing the couplers together (e.g., pins entering apertures), by twist locking, or by other devices and methods. In an alternative implementation, one or both of the nonsterile and sterile operators can perform the steps for releasably locking the probe unit and the laparoscopic tube to form the oximeter device.

At steps 4a and 4b, the sterile operator grasps tab 400a and pulls the tab up towards the probe unit to expand the sheath from a collapsed configuration (steps 1a-3a) so that the probe unit is placed inside the sheath. The sterile operator can thereafter hold the assembled oximeter device and the nonsterile operator can release their hold on the assembled oximeter device. In an implementation where the sheath does not include tab 400a, the sterile operator can pull up the sheath by the top edge of the sheath at the top opening.

At step 5, the sterile operator can continue to pull tab 400a up so that the probe unit of the assembled oximeter device is entirely located in the sheath. The oximeter device and sheath become part of the sterile environment when the oximeter device is inside the sheath.

The sheath includes a liner 400c that covers an adhesive film 400d, in an implementation. At step 5, the sterile operator pulls the liner free from the adhesive layer exposing the adhesive layer. The sterile operator can use both of their hands to hold the sheath and assembled oximeter device when removing the liner from the adhesive film as shown in