Integrated physiologic sensor system

• US 20030062046A1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioasyst
• Original Assignee: Bioasyst
• Inventors: Pranger, Loland Alexander, Wiesmann, William Paul, Bogucki, Mary Sandra
• Granted Patent: US 6,934,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/006 Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) mask that incorporates a series of physiologic sensors. These physiologic sensors are mounted on the interior of the SCBA mask in such a way as to contact the facial skin of an individual wearing the mask. The physiologic sensors monitor, among other things, heart rate and carbon monoxide and oxygen saturation levels. The physiologic sensors are connected to a transmitting apparatus attached to the SCBA. The SCBA transmitter sends output data from the physiologic sensors to a remote processor. The SCBA transmitter also sends location information of the individual wearing the SCBA mask to the remote processor. The remote processor compiles the physiologic and location data for the wearer of the SCBA and transmits a signal back to the SCBA receiver which, in turn, sends a signal to a display integrated into a SCBA mask. The display indicates to the individual his physiologic status. The display incorporates indicator lights are integrated into the mask of the SCBA to indicate, for example, when bottled air must be switched on, to indicate the emergency situation of the wearer and/or to indicate the direction that the wearer of the SCBA is going. The processor associated with the transmitter also monitors groups of individuals wearing the SCBA masks. In this way, the particular status of several individuals in the hazardous environment can be monitored at once and their situation known over a period of time in the hazardous conditions. Specifically, the physiologic condition of the group can be monitored to track the changes in the group condition over the time that the group is exposed to the hazardous environment.

Claims

1. A breathing apparatus, comprising:

a source of gas;

a face mask connected to said source of gas wherein gas is passed from said source of gas through said face mask;

a first sensor mounted on said face mask wherein said first sensor detects exhaled carbon dioxide;

a second sensor attached to said face mask wherein said second sensor detects the amount of carbon monoxide in the blood of a user wearing the face mask;

a third sensor attached to said face mask wherein said third sensor detects the amount of oxygen in the blood of a user wearing the face mask;

a processor connected to said sensors wherein said processor receives data from said sensors and creates at least one condition signal indicating a hazard condition; and

a display attached to said face mask and receiving said condition wherein said display indicates to a user a status of said condition signal.

2. A breathing apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

a position sensor connected to said face mask wherein said position sensor detects a location of said breathing apparatus.

3. A breathing apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter/receiver connected to said processor wherein said transmitter/receiver receives data from said processor and transmits said data to a base unit, said base unit having a base processor and storage unit for processing and storing data from a plurality of transmitter/receiver units, and said base unit transmits data to each of said transmitter/receiver units.

4. A breathing apparatus, as in claim 3, further comprising:

a position sensor connected to said face mask wherein said position sensor detects a location of said breathing apparatus.

5. A control system, comprising:

a plurality of breathing apparatii, each of said plurality of breathing apparatii having

a source of gas;

a face mask connected to said source of gas wherein gas is passed from said source of gas through said face mask;

a first sensor mounted on said face mask wherein said first sensor detects exhaled carbon dioxide;

a second sensor attached to said face mask wherein said second sensor detects the amount of carbon monoxide in the blood of a user wearing the face mask;

a third sensor attached to said face mask wherein said third sensor detects the amount of oxygen in the blood of a user wearing the face mask;

a processor connected to said sensors wherein said processor receives data from said sensors and creates at least one condition signal indicating a hazard condition;

a display attached to said face mask and receiving said condition wherein said display indicates to a user a status of said condition signal;

a transmitter/receiver connected to said processor wherein said transmitter/receiver receives data from said processor and transmits said data to a base unit, said base unit having a base processor and storage unit for processing and storing data from a plurality of transmitter/receiver units, and said base unit transmits data to each of said transmitter/receiver units; and

a plurality of base units;

each of said plurality of base units monitoring the status of said sensors in said breathing apparatus;

6. A control system, as in claim 5, further comprising:

a station unit having a station processor and a storage unit wherein said station unit communicates with said plurality of base units.

7. A sensor system, comprising:

a first sensor attached to said headband wherein said first sensor detects the amount of carbon monoxide in the blood of a user wearing said headband;

a second sensor attached to said headband wherein said second sensor detects the amount of oxygen in the blood of a user wearing said headband; and

a processor connected to said sensors and attached to said headband wherein said processor receives data from said sensors and creates at least one condition signal indicating a hazard condition.

8. A sensor system, as in claim 7, further comprising:

a position sensor connected to said headband wherein said position sensor detects a location of said sensors.

9. A sensor system, as in claim 7, further comprising:

a transmitter/receiver connected to said processor and attached to said headband wherein said transmitter/receiver receives data from said processor and transmits said data to a base unit, said base unit having a base processor and storage unit for processing and storing data from a plurality of transmitter/receiver units, and said base unit transmits data to each of said transmitter/receiver units.

10. A sensor system, as in claim 9, further comprising

a position sensor attached to said headband wherein said position sensor detects a location of said sensors.