Measuring device and method for reducing measuring errors

• US 20050103091A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christian Stockinger
• Original Assignee: Christian Stockinger
• Inventors: Stockinger, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 7,159,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for determining the non precise placement of measuring sites on measuring sensors and for reducing measuring errors, which result from the movement between the measuring sites and the measuring sensors when measuring the most diverse quantities to be measured, with the aim of creating robust measuring systems for recording measured values under real or challenging conditions. The invention is characterized by: detecting whether and which sensor elements are covered and thus in contact with the site to be measured; tracking and/or adapting the sensor elements so that the contact is not interrupted even during movements, and; the resilient arrangement of the contacts for constantly maintaining the mechanical bearing pressure when measuring the electrical skin resistance. The measurement data are processed further by software that determines the area of contact from the signals from the device and from the knowledge of the arrangement of the measuring elements, and uses the completely covered sensor elements determined thereby in order to conduct measurements with the fewest possible number of errors.

Claims

1. ) Measuring device to detect non-precise application of testing sites onto measuring sensors to reduce measuring errors for an accurate as possible measurement of measuring values like e.g. physiological values from the human or animal skin surface for the purpose of creating robust measuring systems to measure values under real and challenging conditions respectively comprising

the sensor elements are divided into a number of main sensors and auxiliary sensors which are mounted on the surface to be contacted, that their positions to each other are known to the analyzing system, that one or more common reference sensors are arranged and that through the signals of the main sensors and auxiliary sensors the contact area of the main sensors and auxiliary sensors with the testing site can be detected whereat then only the completely covered main sensors and if wished for also the completely covered auxiliary sensors within the contact area are used for the actual measurements.

2. ) Device according to claim 1 comprising that

a multitude of sensor elements are mounted on the contacted surface which serve at the same time or consecutively as main, auxiliary and if necessary as reference sensors to detect the contact area of the testing site comprised of completely covered sensor elements through measuring in a matrix fashion with every sensor element whereat then again only the completely covered sensor elements within that contact area are used for the actual measurements.

3. ) Device according to claims 1 and 2 in order to not lose the contact of the testing site with the sensor elements and so avoid measuring errors comprising

the sensor elements are movable and thus at the first contact or at movements can track the testing site.

4. ) Device according to claims 1 and 2 in order to not lose the contact of the testing site with the sensor elements and so avoid measuring errors comprising

the sensor elements are pliable and thus at the first contact or at movements can track the testing site.

5. ) Device according to claims 1 and 2 in order to reduce measuring errors caused by variable bearing pressure of the skin onto the sensor elements comprising

the contact areas or the complete sensor element for the measurement of skin resistance is spring-mounted in order to produce a constant as possible bearing pressure.

6. ) Structure of a software for the analysis of the measuring data of the device according to claims 1 and 2 comprising

the state “

certain sensor elements completely covered”

can be distinguished through the positioning of the sensor elements which is known to the system and the signals of the sensor elements, in which case the detected completely covered sensor elements are used for measurements as accurately as possible while otherwise the measured data is rejected or corrected if possible and thus measuring errors are eliminated, as well that a warning can be given to the user, an action to correct the sensors can be demanded and the geometric position of the contact area can be processed further.