Wireless sensors for nerve integrity monitoring systems

• US 10,123,731 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Brown, Richard L., Pollock, John G., Justis, Jeff R., McFarlin, Kevin L., Schulhauser, Randal C., Stevenson, Tyler S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CERIONI, DANIEL LEE
• Application Number:
  US14/455,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20160038073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 600546
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00004 characterised by electronic signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2673 for monitoring movements of vocal chords
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0209 Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 : Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 : Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 : Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 : Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 : Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 : Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 : Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 : Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 : Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0443 : Special cuff-wall materials A61M16/0481, A61M16/0422 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 : sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 : related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 : Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 : Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 : Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 : using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 : specified by the stimulation parameters

Abstract

A sensor including electrodes, a control module and a physical layer module. The electrodes are configured to (i) attach to a patient, and (ii) receive a first electromyographic signal from the patient. The control module is connected to the electrodes. The control module is configured to (i) detect the first electromyographic signal, and (ii) generate a first voltage signal. The physical layer module is configured to: receive a payload request from a console interface module or a nerve integrity monitoring device; and based on the payload request, (i) upconvert the first voltage signal to a first radio frequency signal, and (ii) wirelessly transmit the first radio frequency signal from the sensor to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a plurality of electrodes configured to be (i) attached to a patient, and (ii) receive a first electromyographic signal from the patient to confirm integrity of a selected nerve within the patient based on the received first electromyographic signal;

a control module connected to the plurality of electrodes, wherein the control module is configured to (i) detect the first electromyographic signal, and (ii) generate a first voltage signal;

a physical layer module configured to

receive a payload request from a nerve integrity monitoring device, and

based on the payload request, (i) upconvert the first voltage signal to a first radio frequency signal, and (ii) wirelessly transmit the first radio frequency signal from the sensor to the nerve integrity monitoring device;

a power module, wherein the power module is configured to (i) detect at least one of a predetermined impedance or a predetermined voltage between the plurality of electrodes, and (ii) based on the detected at least one of the predetermined impedance or the predetermined voltage, power up at least a portion of the control module or a portion of the physical layer module; and

a power source, wherein the power module is configured to, based on the detected at least one of the predetermined impedance or the predetermined voltage, enable supply of power from the power source to the portion of the control module or the portion of the physical layer module;

a housing configured to house at least the physical layer module, the power module, and the power source and position the plurality of electrodes to be removably attached to the patient;

wherein the nerve integrity monitoring device is configured to receive the transmitted first radio frequency signal for monitoring the integrity of the selected nerve.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein:

the payload request includes a data rate;

the physical layer module is configured to transmit a data payload to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device at the data rate; and

the data payload includes data generated based on the first electromyographic signal.

3. The sensor of claim 2, further comprising:

a front end circuit connected to the plurality of electrodes;

an amplifier module configured to amplify an output of the front end circuit;

a detection module configured to, based on an output of the amplifier module (i) detect whether the plurality of electrodes are attached to the patient, and (ii) generate an output signal indicating whether the plurality of electrodes are attached to the patient,

wherein the control module is configured to generate the first voltage signal based on the output signal.