Wireless medical diagnosis and monitoring equipment

• US 20040015058A1
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Body Science LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bax, Ralph, Besson, Marcus, von Czettriz, Gotthart
• Granted Patent: US 7,215,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6825 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45103 Non-folded cascode stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A medical diagnosis and monitoring equipment has wireless electrodes, which are attached to the surface of the skin of the patient. The electrodes comprise a digital transmitting and receiving unit with antenna and microsensors. The electrodes can be used, among other things, for decting EEG- and EKG-signals, as well as for monitoring body/breathing movements, the temperature, perspiration, etc. A preferred exemplified embodiment comprises an electrode comprising all functions in a semiconductor chip which, as an integrated circuit, is equipped with the respective sensor, sensor control, frequency generation, transmitting and receiving units, as well as with a transmission control unit. The antenna is arranged in this connection in the flexible electrode covering or directly in the chip.

Claims

1. A system for acquiring measured data from a patient comprising:

an electrode configured to be coupled to at least one sensor for collecting data from the patient and configured to wirelessly communicate with an evaluator station;

a first receiver and a first transmitter coupled to the evaluator station for sending digital data to and receiving digital data from the electrode;

a second receiver and a second transmitter coupled to the electrode for sending digital data to and receiving digital data from the evaluator station;

a first error diagnosis and correction unit coupled to the first receiver and first transmitter for detecting errors received from the electrode; and

a second error diagnosis and correction unit coupled to the second receiver and the second transmitter for detecting errors received from the evaluator station.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cable for coupling the at least one sensor to the electrode.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrode is configured to be coupled to a plurality of sensors.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising at least one cable for coupling the sensors to the electrode.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the evaluator station comprises a status unit, the status unit capable of controlling which data to detect from the patient by controlling the selection of the sensor to be addressed.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the status unit is capable of recognizing which sensors are properly attached to the patient.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the status unit is capable of sending a signal to an alarm unit when a sensor is not properly attached to the patient.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the evaluator station comprises at least one decoding unit and the electrode comprises at least one encoding unit.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the evaluator station comprises at least one encoding unit and the electrode contains at least one decoding unit.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the evaluator station comprises at least one demultiplexer unit and the electrode comprises at least one multiplexer unit.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the evaluator station comprises at least one multiplexer unit and the electrode comprises at least one demultiplexer unit.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the evaluator station further comprises a transmission control unit, the transmission control unit comprising a synchronization unit that synchronizes the reference frequencies, oscillator frequencies, carrier frequencies, the cycle, the phase and the time frame of the electrode.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the evaluator station further comprises a control unit always adjusting the transmitting power of the signals of the electrode and the evaluator station to the minimum value required for still operating the transmitter of the electrode, and if the transmitting power required by the electrode is too high, the respective electrode no longer transmits signals to the evaluator station and receives signals transmitted by the evaluator station.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the evaluator station comprises a display unit for displaying the data detected by the at least one sensor.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the data transmitted from the evaluator station to the electrode can control the data transmitted by the electrode to the evaluator station.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the data transmitted from the evaluator station to the electrode can manipulate the data transmitted by the electrode to the evaluator station.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the data sent from the evaluator station to the electrode can modulate the transmission power of the second transmitter.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the data sent from the evaluator station to the electrode can change the transmission channel of the second transmitter.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the data sent from the evaluator station to the electrode can change the format of the data sent from the second transmitter.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrode comprises a converter for converting the data detected by the at least one sensor on the patient into digital signals for transmission to the evaluator station.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is capable of collecting data selected from the group consisting of respiration rate, heart rate, body temperature, perspiration, EEG signals, EKG signals, pulse oximeter signals, electrodermal activity, patient position, and patient motion.

22. The system of claim 1 further comprising a pairing card for pairing the evaluator station with the electrode.

23. The system of claim 1 further comprising an identification unit coupled to the electrode.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein the evaluator station is capable of transmitting a command to the electrode to increase the transmitting power of the electrode if the signal transmitted from the electrode is too weak.

25. The system of claim 15 wherein the evaluator station is capable of transmitting a command to the electrode to change the transmitting channel of the electrode if the signal transmitted by the electrode is superimposed by sources of interference.

26. A system for acquiring measured data from a plurality of patients comprising, in combination:

a plurality of electrodes, each electrode configured to be attached to a patient and configured to be coupled to at least one sensor for collecting data from the patient, the electrodes configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one evaluator station;

a first receiver and a first transmitter coupled to the at least one evaluator station for sending digital data to and receiving digital data from the electrodes;

a second receiver and a second transmitter coupled to each electrode for sending digital data to and receiving digital data from the at least one evaluator station;

a first error diagnosis and correction unit coupled to the first receiver and first transmitter for detecting errors received from the electrodes; and

a second error diagnosis and correction unit coupled to the second receiver and the second transmitter for detecting errors received from the at least one evaluator station.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein at least one sensor is associated with each electrode and further comprising a cable for coupling the at least one sensor to each electrode.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein each electrode is configured to be coupled to a plurality of sensors.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein a set of sensors is associated with each electrode and further comprising at least one cable for coupling the set of sensors to the electrode.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the at least one evaluator station comprises at least one status unit, the status unit capable of controlling which data to detect from which patient by controlling the selection of the electrode and the sensor to be addressed.

31. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one evaluator station comprises at least one status unit, the status unit capable of controlling which data to detect from which patient by controlling the selection of the electrode to be addressed.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the status unit is capable of recognizing which sensors are properly attached to the patients.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the status unit is capable of sending a signal to an alarm unit when a sensor is not properly attached to one of the patients.

34. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one evaluator station comprises at least one decoding unit and each electrode comprises at least one encoding unit.

35. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one evaluator station comprises at least one encoding unit and each electrode contains at least one decoding unit.

36. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one evaluator station comprises at least one demultiplexer unit and each electrode comprises at least one multiplexer unit.

37. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one evaluator station comprises at least one multiplexer unit and each electrode comprises at least one demultiplexer unit.

38. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one evaluation station further comprises at least one transmission control unit, the transmission control unit comprising a synchronization unit for synchronizing the reference frequencies, oscillator frequencies, carrier frequencies, the cycle, the phase and the time frame of at least one of the electrodes.

39. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one evaluation station further comprises at least one control unit always adjusting the transmitting power of the signals of at least one electrode and the evaluation station to the minimum value required for still operating the transmitter of the electrode, and if the transmitting power required by the electrode is too high, the respective electrode no longer transmits signals to the evaluation station and receives signals transmitted by the evaluation station.

40. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one evaluator station comprises a display unit for displaying the data detected by the plurality of electrodes.

41. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one evaluator station comprises a display unit for displaying the data detected by at least one of the electrodes.

42. The system of claim 26 wherein the data transmitted from the at least one evaluator station to the electrodes can control the data transmitted by the electrodes to the evaluator station.

43. The system of claim 26 wherein the data transmitted from the at least one evaluator station to the electrodes can manipulate the data transmitted by the electrodes to the evaluator station.

44. The system of claim 42 wherein the data sent from the at least one evaluator station to the electrodes can modulate the transmission power of the second transmitter.

45. The system of claim 42 wherein the data sent from the at least one evaluator station to the electrodes can change the transmission channel of the second transmitter.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein the data sent from the at least one evaluator station to the electrodes can change the format of the data sent from the second transmitter.

47. The system of claim 26 wherein each electrode comprises a converter for converting the data detected by the at least one sensor on the patient into digital signals for transmission to the at least one evaluator station.

48. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one sensor is capable of collecting data selected from the group consisting of respiration rate, heart rate, body temperature, perspiration, EEG signals, EKG signals, pulse oximeter signals, electrodermal activity, patient position, and patient motion.

49. The system of claim 26 further comprising a pairing card for pairing the at least one evaluator station with any one of the electrodes.

50. The system of claim 26 further comprising an identification unit coupled to each electrode.

51. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one evaluator station comprises a plurality of receivers and a plurality of transmitters for communicating with the plurality of electrodes.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the evaluator station further comprises a plurality of error diagnosis and correction units coupled to the receivers and transmitters for detecting errors received from the electrodes.

53. The system of claim 26 wherein each electrode is associated with a different patient.

54. The system of claim 42 wherein the at least one evaluator station is capable of transmitting a command to the electrodes to increase the transmitting power of any one of the electrodes if the signal transmitted from that electrode is too weak.

55. The system of claim 42 wherein the at least one evaluator station is capable of transmitting a command to the electrodes to change the transmitting channel of any one of the electrodes if the signal transmitted by that electrode is superimposed by sources of interference.

56. A system for acquiring measured data from a plurality of patients comprising, in combination:

a plurality of electrodes, each electrode configured to be coupled to at least one sensor for collecting data from a patient, each electrode having a receiver and a transmitter, the electrodes configured to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of evaluator stations, each evaluator station comprising a plurality of global transmission antennas and a plurality of global receiving antennas for sending digital data to and receiving digital data from the electrodes;

at least one error diagnosis and correction unit coupled to each evaluator station for detecting errors received from the electrodes; and

an error diagnosis and correction unit coupled to each receiver and transmitter for detecting errors received from the evaluator stations.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the evaluator stations are interlinked via radio transmission.

58. The system of claim 56 wherein the evaluator stations are interlinked via cables.

59. The system of claim 56 wherein at least one sensor is associated with each electrode and further comprising a cable for coupling the at least one sensor to each electrode.

60. The system of claim 56 wherein each electrode is configured to be coupled to a plurality of sensors.

61. The system of claim 60 wherein a set of sensors is associated with each electrode and further comprising at least one cable for coupling the set of sensors to the electrode.

62. The system of claim 60 wherein each evaluator station comprises a status unit, the status unit capable of controlling which data to detect from which patient by controlling the selection of the electrode and sensor to be addressed.

63. The system of claim 56 wherein each evaluator station comprises a status unit, the status unit capable of controlling which data to detect from which patient by controlling the selection of the electrode to be addressed.

64. The system of claim 62 wherein the status unit is capable of recognizing which sensors are properly attached to the patients.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein the status unit is capable of sending a signal to an alarm unit when a sensor is not properly attached to one of the patients.

66. The system of claim 56 wherein each evaluator station comprises at least one decoding unit and each electrode comprises at least one encoding unit.

67. The system of claim 62 wherein each evaluator station comprises at least one encoding unit and each electrode contains at least one decoding unit.

68. The system of claim 56 wherein each evaluator station comprises at least one demultiplexer unit and each electrode comprises at least one multiplexer unit.

69. The system of claim 56 wherein each evaluator station comprises at least one multiplexer unit and each electrode comprises at least one demultiplexer unit.

70. The system of claim 56 wherein each evaluation station further comprises a transmission control unit, the transmission control unit comprising a synchronization unit that synchronizes the reference frequencies, oscillator frequencies, carrier frequencies, the cycle, the phase and the time frame of at least one of the electrodes.

71. The system of claim 56 wherein each evaluation station further comprise a control unit always adjusting the transmitting power of the signals of at least one of the electrodes and the evaluation station to the minimum value required for still operating the transmitter of the electrode, and if the transmitting power required by the electrode is too high, the respective electrode no longer transmits signals to the evaluation station and receives signals transmitted by the evaluation station.

72. The system of claim 56 wherein each evaluator station comprises a display unit for displaying the data received from at least one of the electrodes.

73. The system of claim 56 wherein each evaluator station comprises a display unit for displaying the data received from a plurality of the electrodes.

74. The system of claim 56 wherein the data transmitted from each evaluator station to the electrodes can control the data transmitted by the electrodes to the evaluator station.

75. The system of claim 56 wherein the data transmitted from each evaluator station to the electrodes can manipulate the data transmitted by the electrode to the evaluator station.

76. The system of claim 74 wherein the data sent from each evaluator station to the electrode can modulate the transmission power of the transmitter.

77. The system of claim 74 wherein the data sent from each evaluator station to the electrodes can change the transmission channel of the transmitter.

78. The system of claim 75 wherein the data sent from each evaluator station to the electrodes can change the format of the data sent from the transmitter.

79. The system of claim 56 wherein each electrode comprises a converter for converting the data detected by the at least one sensor on the patient into digital signals for transmission to at least one of the evaluator stations.

80. The system of claim 56 wherein the at least one sensor is capable of collecting data selected from the group consisting of respiration rate, heart rate, body temperature, perspiration, EEG signals, EKG signals, pulse oximeter signals, electrodermal activity, patient position, and patient motion.

81. The system of claim 56 further comprising an identification unit coupled to each electrode.

82. The system of claim 56 wherein each electrode is associated with a different patient.

83. The system of claim 56 wherein the global transmission antennas and global receiving antennas are spatially distributed throughout a medical facility such that different global transmission antennas and global receiving antennas provide data transmission and reception coverage for different areas of the medical facility.

84. The system of claim 56 wherein the global receiving antennas are configured to receive the data transmitted from the electrodes and to forward the data over a wired connection to the evaluator station.