Apparatus and method for measuring biologic parameters

• US 10,123,732 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brain Tunnelgenix Technologies Corp.
• Original Assignee: Geelux Holdings, Ltd.
• Inventors: Abreu, Marcio Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US14/500,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20150148681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 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 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14553 specially adapted for cerebral tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B

Abstract

Support structures for positioning sensors on a physiologic tunnel for measuring physical, chemical and biological parameters of the body and to produce an action according to the measured value of the parameters. The support structure includes a sensor fitted on the support structures using a special geometry for acquiring continuous and undisturbed data on the physiology of the body. Signals are transmitted to a remote station by wireless transmission such as by electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared, sound and the like or by being reported locally by audio or visual transmission. The physical and chemical parameters include brain function, metabolic function, hydrodynamic function, hydration status, levels of chemical compounds in the blood, and the like. The support structure includes patches, clips, eyeglasses, head mounted gear and the like, containing passive or active sensors positioned at the end of the tunnel with sensing systems positioned on and accessing a physiologic tunnel.

Claims

1. A sensing system for detecting thermal radiation at one end of a brain tunnel, said sensing system comprising

a housing for placement adjacent to the end of the brain tunnel,

a radiation sensor located inside one end of the housing, said radiation sensor generating a signal indicative of a temperature measured at the brain tunnel,

an extension located at the one end of the housing, said extension extending from and projecting beyond said one end of the housing, and said extension being sized and dimensioned for placement between an eyebrow and an eye of a subject on the skin at the end of the brain tunnel,

a wall of said extension defining a radiation cavity for collecting thermal radiation emitted from the brain tunnel, said extension directing the thermal radiation to the radiation sensor, and

a free end of said extension located opposite to an end of said extension positioned at the one end of the housing defining an opening having a greatest dimension equal to or less than 13 mm,

said radiation cavity tapering inwardly from said free end of said extension towards said radiation sensor.

2. The sensing system according to claim 1, wherein said radiation cavity is in a shape of a cone.

3. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said opening has the greatest dimension equal to or less than 8 mm.

4. The sensing system of claim 3, wherein said opening has the greatest dimension equal to or less than 5 mm.

5. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said free end includes an inner concave surface to match a contour of an eyelid.

6. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said free end includes a convex surface to match a contour of a medial canthal area and upper eyelid above a medial corner of the eye.

7. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said radiation cavity is in a shape of an oval.

8. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said radiation cavity is in a shape of one of an ellipse, a banana and a half moon for contacting a medial canthal area and an upper eyelid area simultaneously.

9. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said housing includes an electronics processing unit for calculating measured temperature, a display for the temperature and a sound device for producing an audio signal based upon measuring of a predetermined temperature.

10. A method of measuring thermal radiation emitted by a brain tunnel, said method comprising

positioning an extension projecting and extending from one end of a housing adjacent to a brain tunnel area such that walls of the extension lie on the skin at the brain tunnel area so that a radiation sensor positioned inside the one end of the housing is positioned in proximity to the brain tunnel area, said extension being sized and dimensioned for placement between an eyebrow and an eye of a subject on the skin at the end of the brain tunnel, said extension defining a radiation cavity for collecting thermal radiation emitted from the brain temperature tunnel, said extension directing the thermal radiation to the radiation sensor, and said radiation cavity tapering inwardly from a free end of said extension towards said radiation sensor, said free end of said extension being located opposite to an end of said extension positioned at the one end of the housing, and

receiving thermal radiation from the brain tunnel area by the radiation sensor,

converting the thermal radiation received by the radiation sensor to a temperature level by a processor in the housing, and

displaying the temperature level on a display.

11. The method of measuring thermal radiation according to claim 10, wherein an infrared radiation transparent window is positioned between the radiation sensor and the brain tunnel area.

12. The method of measuring thermal radiation according to claim 11, wherein the radiation sensor is a thermopile.

13. The method of measuring thermal radiation according to claim 10, wherein the extension is sized and dimensioned to match a dimension and a geometry of the brain tunnel area.

14. The method of measuring thermal radiation according to claim 13, wherein the free end of the extension has a greatest dimension adjacent to the brain tunnel area of equal to or less than 13 mm.

15. The method of measuring thermal radiation according to claim 14, wherein the greatest dimension is equal to or less than 8 mm.

16. The method of measuring thermal radiation according to claim 15, wherein the greatest dimension is equal to or less than 5 mm.