Wireless patient monitoring device for magnetic resonance imaging
First Claim
1. A system for wirelessly communicating physiologic data indicative of a condition of a patient exposed to a scanner of a magnetic resonance (MR) system, said system comprising:
- (a) a sensor mechanism for acquiring from said patient said physiologic data;
(b) a first transducer circuit connected to said sensor mechanism for converting said physiologic data received therefrom from optical format to electrical format;
(c) a first RF transceiver circuit connected to said first transducer circuit for transmitting said physiologic data received therefrom;
(d) a second RF transceiver circuit remote from said first RF transceiver circuit for receiving said physiologic data transmitted by said first RF transceiver circuit; and
(e) a second transducer circuit connected to said second RF transceiver circuit for converting said physiologic data received therefrom from electrical format to optical format and for conveying said physiologic data to an apparatus remote from said sensor mechanism;
wherein communication between said sensor mechanism and said apparatus via said first and said second RF transceiver circuits is accomplished without adversely affecting, or being adversely affected by, operation of said MR system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to systems, methods, and associated devices for wirelessly communicating physiologic signals or other data in an electromagnetically noisy environment, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite. They permit wireless communication of data obtained from a sensor module attached to a patient while situated within the bore of an MR scanner. The system includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver. The first transceiver is linked to the sensor module for transmitting the data received therefrom. The second transceiver, which is connected to an apparatus remote from the first transceiver, is used to convey to the apparatus the data received from the first transceiver. The first and second transceivers enable the sensor module and the apparatus to communicate unidirectionally or bidirectionally without being adversely affected by, or adversely affecting, the operation of the MR system.
82 Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A system for wirelessly communicating physiologic data indicative of a condition of a patient exposed to a scanner of a magnetic resonance (MR) system, said system comprising:
-
(a) a sensor mechanism for acquiring from said patient said physiologic data;
(b) a first transducer circuit connected to said sensor mechanism for converting said physiologic data received therefrom from optical format to electrical format;
(c) a first RF transceiver circuit connected to said first transducer circuit for transmitting said physiologic data received therefrom;
(d) a second RF transceiver circuit remote from said first RF transceiver circuit for receiving said physiologic data transmitted by said first RF transceiver circuit; and
(e) a second transducer circuit connected to said second RF transceiver circuit for converting said physiologic data received therefrom from electrical format to optical format and for conveying said physiologic data to an apparatus remote from said sensor mechanism;
wherein communication between said sensor mechanism and said apparatus via said first and said second RF transceiver circuits is accomplished without adversely affecting, or being adversely affected by, operation of said MR system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A system for wirelessly communicating data in an electromagnetically noisy environment, said system comprising:
-
(a) a first transducer circuit connected to a first device of a bifurcated system for converting said data received therefrom from optical format to electrical format;
(b) a first RF transceiver circuit connected to said first transducer circuit for transmitting said data received therefrom;
(c) a second RF transceiver circuit remote from said first RF transceiver circuit for receiving said data transmitted by said first RF transceiver circuit; and
(d) a second transducer circuit connected to said second RF transceiver circuit for converting said data received therefrom from electrical format to optical format and for conveying said data to a second device of said bifurcated system;
wherein a scheme of communication employed by said first and said second RF transceivers enables said first and said second devices to communicate without being adversely affected by noise in said environment. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for wirelessly communicating data in a magnetic resonance (MR) suite, said system comprising:
-
(a) a first transceiver circuit connected to a sensor module for transmitting said data received therefrom and for conveying to said sensor module said data transmitted thereto; and
(b) a second transceiver circuit, connected to a monitoring apparatus, for conveying said data received from said first transceiver circuit to said monitoring apparatus and for transmitting to said first transceiver circuit said data received from said monitoring apparatus;
wherein said first and said second transceiver circuits communicate using predetermined frequencies outside a range of, and without adversely affecting, operation of equipment situated in said MR suite. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A system for wirelessly communicating data obtained from a sensor module attached to a patient situated within an imaging scanner, said system comprising:
-
(a) a first transceiver linked to said sensor module for transmitting said data received therefrom; and
(b) a second transceiver, connected to an apparatus remote from said first transceiver, for conveying to said apparatus said data received from said first transceiver;
wherein said first and said second transceivers enable said sensor module and said apparatus to communicate without being adversely affected by, or adversely affecting, an operation of said imaging scanner. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method of wirelessly communicating data indicative of at least a condition of a patient exposed to a scanner of a magnetic resonance (MR) system, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) acquiring said data from a sensor mechanism attached to said patient;
(b) converting said data obtained from said patient from optical format to electrical format;
(c) transmitting in radio frequency (RF) format said data received in electrical format;
(d) receiving said data transmitted in said transmitting step;
(e) converting said data received in said receiving step from electrical format to optical format; and
(f) conveying said data to an apparatus remote from said patient;
wherein communication of said data is accomplished without being adversely affected by, or adversely affecting, an operation of said MR system. - View Dependent Claims (24)
-
-
25. A method of wirelessly communicating data in an imaging suite, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a first transceiver connected to a sensor for transmitting said data received therefrom and for conveying to said sensor said data transmitted thereto; and
(b) providing a second transceiver, connected to an apparatus remote from said first transceiver, for conveying said data received from said first transceiver to said apparatus and for transmitting to said first transceiver said data received from said apparatus;
wherein said first and said second transceivers communicate without being adversely affected by, or adversely affecting, an operation of equipment in said imaging suite. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A communications module for wirelessly communicating electrocardiographic (ECG) signals obtained from a patient situated in a noisy environment, said module comprising:
-
(a) at least one RF filter linked to a sensor of bioelectric signals for removing therefrom frequencies outside those carrying said bioelectric signals;
(b) a network for selecting, in response to control signals, appropriate lead(s) of a multiple-lead lead-set from which to pickup selected one(s) of said bioelectric signals;
(c) a differential amplifier for deriving said ECG signals from said bioelectric signals selected via said network;
(d) an amplifier circuit for amplifying said ECG signals received from said differential amplifier;
(e) a signal processing circuit for improving a condition of said ECG signals received from said amplifier circuit;
(f) a modulator circuit for digitally modulating a carrier signal in accordance with said ECG signals received from said signal processing circuit to form a modulated signal therewith;
(g) a transmitter circuit connected to said modulator circuit for transmitting said modulated signal received therefrom; and
(h) a filter circuit connected to said transmitter circuit for passing, and effectively attenuating frequencies outside of, said modulated signal. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A communications module for wirelessly communicating physiologic signals obtained from a patient situated in a noisy environment, said module comprising:
-
(a) an input conditioning circuit linked to a sensor of said physiologic signals for adapting said physiologic signals received therefrom for use in said module;
(b) a signal processing circuit for improving a condition of said physiologic signals received from said input conditioning circuit;
(c) a converter circuit for converting said physiologic signals received from said signal processing circuit to digital signals corresponding thereto;
(d) a transmitter circuit connected to said converter circuit for transmitting said digital signals received therefrom; and
(e) a filter circuit connected to said transmitter circuit for passing, and effectively attenuating frequencies outside of, said digital signals. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
Specification