Ambulatory surface skin temperature monitor

• US 20030069714A1
• Filed: 10/04/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Original Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Inventors: Stott, David D., Wise, Robert A., Lew, Ark L., Wigley, Fredrick M., Le, Binh Q., Schwartz, Paul D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,847,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• 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 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals

Abstract

An ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system. A flexible band is attachable to a patient. The flexible band also secures an electronics assembly that comprises the various electrical components that monitor and operate the ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system. At least one skin temperature sensor is positioned so that it is in contact with the patients skin when the system is attached to the patient. There is also an ambient temperature sensor positioned on the top surface of the electronics assembly housing for measuring and contrasting the ambient temperature to the skin temperature. The electronics assembly positioned within generally comprises a power source and a micro-controller. The micro-controller is coupled with the skin temperature sensor and the ambient temperature sensor. The micro-controller also includes a memory unit for storing temperature data obtained from the skin temperature sensor and the ambient temperature sensor. Data from the system can be downloaded to a remote computing device where software can plot the data in a desired format for analysis by medical personnel.

Claims

1. An ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system comprising:

a flexible band attachable on a patient;

a skin temperature sensor positioned to be in direct contact with the skin of the patient when said flexible band is attached to said patient;

an ambient temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the environment about the patient;

an electronics assembly attached to said flexible band wherein the electronics assembly comprises;

a power source; and

a micro-controller coupled with said skin temperature sensor and said ambient temperature sensor including a memory unit for storing temperature data obtained from said skin temperature sensor and said ambient temperature sensor.

2. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said electronics assembly further comprises a skin conductivity sensor coupled with said micro-controller.

3. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 2 further comprising a data transport mechanism that facilitates the extraction of data from the micro-controller to a remote computing device.

4. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 3 wherein the data transport mechanism that facilitates the extraction of data from the micro-controller to a remote computing device comprises electrical contacts coupled with the micro-controller that are positioned to be accessible to a cable that can be connected to the remote computing device.

5. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 3 wherein the data transport mechanism that facilitates the extraction of data from the micro-controller to a remote computing device comprises a wireless transmitting device coupled with the micro-controller that can transmit data to the remote computing device.

6. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the flexible band includes an adhesive area for securing the flexible strap to the patient.

7. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the flexible band is adapted to fit about the finger of the patient.

8. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a test/event button coupled with the micro-controller, said test/event button for permitting the patient to test whether the ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system has been properly affixed to the patient and is in an operational status.

9. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 8 further comprising a test/event button coupled with the micro-controller, said test/event button for permitting the patient to record the onset of a suspected Raynaud'"'"'s event.

10. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 9 further comprising an LED coupled with the micro-controller for indicating to the patient an acknowledgement of a depression of the test/event button.

11. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 3 further comprising a power readout button coupled with the micro-controller, said power readout button for powering the data transport mechanism.

12. An ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system comprising:

means for measuring the skin temperature of the patient;

means for measuring the ambient temperature near the patient; and

means for storing temperature data obtained by said means for measuring the skin temperature and said means for measuring the ambient temperature near the patient; and

means for attaching the ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system to a patient.

13. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 12 further comprising means for measuring the skin conductivity of the patient with respect to the ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system.

14. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 13 further comprising means for transporting stored data from the ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system to a remote computing device.

15. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 13 further comprising means for wirelessly transporting stored data from the ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system to a remote computing device.

16. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 12 wherein the means for attaching the ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system to a patient includes an adhesive area.

17. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 16 wherein the means for attaching the ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system to a patient is adapted to fit about the fingertip of the patient.

18. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 12 further comprising means for permitting the patient to test whether the ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system has been properly affixed to the patient and is in an operational status.

19. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 18 further comprising means for permitting the patient to record the onset of a suspected Raynaud'"'"'s event.

20. The ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system of claim 19 further comprising means for indicating to the patient an acknowledgement of a depression of the test/event button.

21. An ambulatory monitoring system comprising:

a flexible band attachable on a patient;

a sensor positioned to be in direct contact with the skin of the patient when said flexible band is attached to said patient;

an electronics assembly attached to said flexible band wherein the electronics assembly comprises;

a power source; and

a micro-controller coupled with said sensor including a memory unit for storing sensor data obtained from said sensor.

22. The ambulatory monitoring system of claim 21 wherein said sensor is for detecting the pulse rate of the patient.

23. The ambulatory monitoring system of claim 21 wherein said sensor is for detecting the blood pressure of the patient.

24. The ambulatory monitoring system of claim 21 further comprising a data transport mechanism that facilitates the extraction of data from the micro-controller to a remote computing device.

25. The ambulatory monitoring system of claim 24 wherein the data transport mechanism that facilitates the extraction of data from the micro-controller to a remote computing device comprises electrical contacts coupled with the micro-controller that are positioned to be accessible to a cable that can be connected to the remote computing device.

26. The ambulatory monitoring system of claim 24 wherein the data transport mechanism that facilitates the extraction of data from the micro-controller to a remote computing device comprises a wireless transmitting device coupled with the micro-controller that can transmit data to the remote computing device.