Combined electrical and audio anatomical signal sensor

• US 20040215094A1
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inovise Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inovise Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Galen, Peter M., Baumer, Martin, Mahoney, Steven A., Saroya, Jagtar S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,110,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R

Abstract

A combined audio and electrical anatomy-signal sensor which is designed to collect, essentially from a selected, common anatomical site, related audio and electrical anatomical signals, such as heart-produced signals. The sensor includes a unique body structure which is designed to function both as a part of the audio-information gathering structure, and as a part of electrical electrode structure for gathering electrical signals. Chamber space is provided within this body for receiving and containing desired electrical circuitry, in the form of circuit-board-supported electrical components, which may be designed to perform any one of a number of different functions relative to signal gathering and transferring at and from an anatomical site. The presence of such circuitry within the body of the proposed sensor enables use of the sensor for specialized signal gathering and processing purposes, under circumstances which can obviate the need for various, special retro-modifications of existing, external, signal-monitoring apparatus.

Claims

1. A combined signal sensor for collecting electrical and audio signals from a selected, common anatomical site comprising

a sensor body which defines a signal-collection axis intended to intersect such a site during use of the sensor, and

portions formed with said body enabling the body effectively to function both as an electrical electrode component involved in the collection of anatomical electrical signals, and

as an acoustic sound-gathering component involved in the collection of anatomical audio signals.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said body is a unitary structure.

3. The sensor structure of claim 1, wherein said body is a plural-part structure.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein such electrical and audio signals are heart-activity-related signals, including ECG signals.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the portion of said body which is formed to enable functionality of the body as an electrical electrode component takes the form of a electrically conductive material distributed within the body.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the portion of the body which is formed to enable functionality of the body as an electrical electrode component takes the form of a defined surface coating of electrically conductive material.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the portion of said body which is formed to enable functionality of the body as an acoustic sound-gathering component takes the form of an integral, concave, sound-gathering cavity in the body.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said sound-gathering component takes the form of a microphone.

9. A combined signal sensor possessing a defined signal-collection axis for collecting electrical and audio signals from a selected, common anatomical site comprising

conductive electrode structure having an anatomy-facing side in the form of a conductive expanse which, with the sensor in use, includes a continuity region that extends in a circumsurrounding fashion with respect to said axis, and

an acoustic-path opening formed in said expanse with a disposition wherein said opening extends across said axis, and is circumsurrounded by said continuity region.

10. A combined electrical and audio anatomy-signal sensor comprising

conductive electrode structure having an anatomy-facing side conductively connectable to the anatomy for collecting an electrical signal, and

an acoustic, sound-gathering cavity formed in said anatomy-facing side.

11. The sensor of claim 10, wherein said cavity takes the form of a concave dome.

12. The sensor of claim 11, wherein said dome possesses curvature characterizable as being one of (a ) spherical, (b) parabolic, and (c) ellipsoidal.

13. The sensor of claim 10, wherein said cavity opens to said anatomy-facing side, and is there perimetered by a portion of said electrode structure which carries a different-material, perimetrally-distributed conductive layer through which a collected electrical signal flows.

14. The sensor of claim 13, wherein said conductive layer is formed of silver-silver-chloride.

15. The sensor of claim 13 which further includes a flexible skirt mounted on, and extending generally laterally outwardly from, said electrode structure adjacent that structure'"'"'s said anatomy-facing side, with said flexible skirt having an anatomy-facing side which is generally co-extensive with said electrode structure'"'"'s anatomy-facing side, and a sticky, conductive gel formed as a layer on said skirt'"'"'s anatomy-facing-side, and conductively connected to said electrode structure.

16. A combined electrical and audio anatomy-signal sensor having a signal-collection symmetry axis comprising

conductive electrode structure deployed electrically symmetrically with respect to said axis, and

an acousto-electric transducer disposed on said axis adjacent said electrode structure.

17. The sensor of claim 16 which further comprises electrical circuitry including electrical circuit elements operatively connected both to said electrode structure and to said transducer.

18. The sensor of claim 17, wherein said electrode structure possesses a component chamber, and said circuit elements are disposed within that chamber.

19. The sensor of claim 18, wherein said component chamber includes a socket, said transducer is fitted within a vibration-isolating boot, and the boot-fitted transducer is seated within said socket.

20. The sensor of claim 18, wherein said circuit elements are supported on one side of a generally planar circuit board, the opposite side of said circuit board carries a pattern of conductors connected by way of vias through the board to selected ones of said circuit elements, and said conductors enable operative electrical connection to structure which is external to the sensor.

21. The sensor of claim 16, wherein said electrode structure includes an acoustic sound-gathering cavity substantially centered on said symmetry axis, and said transducer is acoustically coupled to said cavity.

22. The sensor of claim 19, wherein said electrode structure includes an acoustic sound-gathering cavity substantially centered on said symmetry axis, said transducer is acoustically coupled to said cavity by way of a passage which extends between said cavity and said socket, and said cavity and chamber are fluid-passage sound-isolated from one another within said electrode structure.

23. A combined electrical and audio anatomy-signal sensor comprising

body structure defining an acoustic cavity having a perimeter placeable adjacent the anatomy during use of the sensor to gather anatomy signals, and

a conductive electrode gel distributed along said perimeter and adherable to the anatomy to form both (a) a part of an electrical-signal electrode structure for gathering anatomy electrical signals, and (b) an acoustic seal for sealing and acoustically isolating said cavity.

24. A combined ECG/audio sensor comprising

an electrically conductive body portion having an anatomy-facing side which, during use of the transducer, is conductively connectable to the anatomy to serve as an ECG signal-gathering electrode, and

an outwardly facing acoustic cavity formed in said body on its said anatomy-facing side, adapted to face the anatomy for collecting therefrom sound energy under circumstances with said body portion'"'"'s said anatomy-facing side simultaneously conductively connected to the anatomy to act as an ECG signal-gathering electrode.

25. A combined ECG/audio sensor comprising

an acoustic-cavity-defining, intrinsically electrically conductive body portion constructed to function simultaneously both as a an ECG-electrical signal gatherer, and as an anatomical sound collector, and

signal-output transfer structure operatively connected to said body portion for enabling outputting of both ECG and audio signal information.