Skin patch including a temperature sensor

• US 20040215098A1
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mini-Mitter Co., Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Mini-Mitter Co., Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Meyer, Thomas Clifton, Laird, Jesse S., Bell, Florian G., Barton, Donna K.
• Application Number:
  US10/848,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215098A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/247 Hygienic covers, i.e. for covering the sensor or apparatus during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A skin patch includes first and second layers of material and a telesensor sandwiched between the first and second layers. The first layer has a coating of skin-compatible adhesive material on its face that is remote from the second layer.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A device for acquiring physiological data comprising:

a support layer having first and second opposite main faces and the first main face having a coating of skin-compatible adhesive material,

a sensor element for sensing a physiological parameter and generating a signal representative of the physiological parameter, the sensor element being attached to the support layer at the second main face thereof,

a data storage element for measuring the signal generated by the sensor element and storing values representing the signal measurements, and

an output means for retrieving the stored values.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the signal generated by the sensor element represents evolution of the physiological parameter as a function of time during a measurement period and the data storage element measures the signal generated by the sensor element during a measurement period.

16. A device according to claim 14, wherein the signal generated by the sensor element represents evolution of temperature as a function of time during a measurement period and the data storage element measures the signal generated by the sensor element during a measurement period.

17. A device according to claim 14, wherein the support layer is a flexible circuit substrate of electrically insulating material.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the flexible circuit substrate is formed with through holes spaced from the sensor element.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein the sensor element includes at least one electrical component attached to the flexible substrate, and the holes are spaced from said electrical component.

20. A device according to claim 14, wherein the physiological parameter is temperature and the signal generated by the sensor element is a temperature signal.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein the sensor element includes an astable multivibrator incorporating a thermistor, the astable multivibrator generating a square wave output signal having a duty cycle that depends on the temperature of the thermistor, and the temperature sensor further comprises a microcontroller that receives the output signal of the multivibrator and generates said temperature signal.

22. A device according to claim 14, wherein the support layer comprises an attachment layer having first and second opposite main faces, the first main face of the attachment layer being the first main face of the support layer, and a flexible circuit substrate having first and second opposite main faces, the first main face of the flexible circuit substrate being in confronting relationship with the second main face of said attachment layer and the second main face of the flexible circuit substrate being the second main face of the support layer.

23. A device according to claim 14, further comprising a second layer having first and second main faces, wherein the first main face of the second layer is in confronting relationship with the second main face of the support layer and the sensor element is between the support layer and the second layer.

24. A device according to claim 23, wherein the second layer is a conformal coating over the sensor element.

25. A device according to claim 23, wherein the second layer is made of a material that is permeable to water vapor at its first face and is impermeable to liquid water at its second face.

26. A device according to claim 25, further comprising a conformal coating of electrically insulating and water impermeable material over the sensor element.

27. A device according to claim 23, wherein the sensor element is a temperature sensor and the second layer is made of a thermally insulating material.

28. A device according to claim 23, wherein the support layer is made of a material that is permeable to water vapor present at its first face and the second layer is made of a material that is permeable to water vapor at its first face and is impermeable to liquid water at its second face.

29. A device according to claim 14, wherein the support layer is permeable to water vapor present at its first main face.