User-retainable temperature and impedance monitoring methods and devices

• US 20060047218A1
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Inventors: Kovacs, Gregory T.A., Salzberg, David, Bloom, Matthew, Heinrichs, WM. Leroy
• Application Number:
  US11/260,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047218A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• 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 5/0535 Impedance plethysmography for measuring blood flow A61B5/0295
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/413 Monitoring transplanted tissue or organ, e.g. for possible rejection reactions after a transplant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore

Abstract

A user-retainable monitoring system is disclosed. At least a pair of sensors is provided in association with a support member. The support member is preferably of a type that may be worn by or at least temporarily implanted in a patient. Possible sensor types include temperature sensors and impedance sensors. Temperature sensors may be used to detect a temperature differential between areas of tissue indicative of pathology. Impedance sensors are used to detect subcutaneous fluid detection. The support member may take the form of a bandage, drain or other structure. Monitor structures as described may have stand-alone utility or be connected to a processor or data recorder to enable various functions.

Claims

1-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A device for monitoring a condition of a subject, said device comprising:

a support member; and

one or more sensing portions supported by said support member, wherein said one or more sensing portions comprise at least one of;

an impedance sensor and two temperature sensors,

wherein at least a portion of said device is adapted to be implantable in the body of said subject.

40. The device of claim 39, further comprising electronic hardware connected to said one or more sensing portions.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein said electronic hardware includes one or more of an indicator for communicating information based on data from said one or more sensing portions;

a telemetry or transmission unit;

a memory unit;

hardware for data acquisition from said one or more sensing portions; and

a power source for said one or more sensing portions.

42. The device of claim 39, further comprising a programmed processor.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein said programmed processor is adapted to effect storage of data from said one or more sensing portions;

to effect analysis of data from said one or more sensing portions;

to effect a secondary medical procedure based on data from said one or more sensing portions;

or to produce a notification signal based on data from said one or more sensing portions.

44. The device of claim 39, wherein said support member is tubular.

45. The device of claim 39, wherein said support member is a shunt, a graft, a drain, a prosthesis or a catheter.

46. The device of claim 39, wherein the entire support member is adapted to be implantable in the body of said subject.

47. The device of claim 39, wherein said one or more sensing portions comprise two temperature sensors.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein said two temperature sensors are spaced-apart a distance on said support member sufficient to obtain measurements of a wound comprising area using one of the temperature sensors and measurements of an adjacent non-wound-comprising area of said subject using another temperature sensor.

49. The device of claim 39, wherein said one or more sensing portions comprise an impedance sensor.

50. The device of claim 49, wherein said impedance sensor is supported by said support in a manner sufficient to position a portion of said impedance sensor adjacent a first side of a wound of said subject and a different portion of said impedance sensor adjacent a second side of said wound.

51. The device of claim 39, wherein said one or more sensing portions comprise an impedance sensor and two temperature sensors.

52. A device for monitoring a condition of a subject, said device comprising:

a user-retainable support member comprising a sensor-supporting adhesive region and a sensor-supporting non-adhesive region,

one or more sensing portions supported by said sensor-supporting adhesive region and one or more sensing portions supported by said sensor-supporting non-adhesive region,

wherein said one or more sensing portions comprise at least one of;

a portion of an impedance sensor and a temperature sensor.

53. The device of claim 52, wherein said user-retainable support is a patch, bandage, strip, wrap, sleeve or bracelet.

54. The device of claim 52, wherein said one or more sensing portions of said adhesive region comprise a first temperature sensor and said one or more sensing portion of said non-adhesive region comprise a second temperature sensor.

55. The device of claim 54, wherein said first and second temperature sensors are spaced-apart a distance on said user-retainable support member sufficient to obtain measurements of a wound-comprising area using one said first temperature sensor and measurements of an adjacent non-wound-comprising area of said subject using said second temperature sensor.

56. The device of claim 52, wherein said one or more sensing portion of said adhesive region comprises a first electrode of an impedance sensor and said sensing portion of said non-adhesive region comprises a second electrode of said impedance sensor.

57. The device of claim 52, further comprising electronic hardware connected to said one or more sensing portions.

58. The device of claim 57, wherein said electronic hardware includes one or more of an indicator for communicating information based on data from said one or more sensing portions;

a telemetry or transmission unit;

a memory unit; and

hardware for data acquisition from said one or more sensing portions.

59. The device of claim 52, further comprising a programmed processor.

60. The device of claim 59, wherein said programmed processor is adapted to effect storage of data from said one or more sensing portions;

to effect analysis of data from said one or more sensing portions;

to effect a secondary medical procedure based on data from said one or more sensing portions;

or to produce a notification signal based on data from said one or more sensing portions.

61. A device for monitoring a condition of a subject, said device comprising:

a user-retainable support member comprising a non-adhesive region positioned between a first adhesive region and a second adhesive region; and

at least one sensor supported by said user retainable support member, wherein at least a part of said sensor is positioned at said first adhesive region and at least a part of said sensor is positioned at said second adhesive region.

62. The device of claim 61, wherein said sensor comprises a first electrode and a second electrode and said first electrode is positioned at said first adhesive region and said second electrode is positioned at said second adhesive region.

63. A system for monitoring a condition of a subject, said system comprising first and second sensing structures, wherein each sensing structure comprises a support member and one or more sensing portions supported by said support member, wherein said one or more sensing portions comprise at least one of:

an impedance sensor and two temperature sensors.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein said one or more sensing portions of said first sensing structure comprises a first temperature sensor and said one or more sensing portions of said second sensing structure comprises a second temperature sensor.

65. The system of claim 63, wherein said first temperature sensor is capable of obtaining the internal body temperature from a non wound-comprising reference area of a subject and said second temperature sensor is capable of obtaining the temperature of a wound-comprising area of said subject.

66. The system of claim 63, further comprising electronic hardware connected to said one or more sensing portions.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein said electronic hardware includes one or more of an indicator for communicating information based on data from said first and second temperature sensors;

a telemetry or transmission unit;

a memory unit;

hardware for data acquisition from said one or more sensing portions; and

a power source for said one or more sensing portions.

68. The system of claim 63, further comprising a programmed processor.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein said programmed processor is adapted to effect storage of data from said one or more sensing portions;

to effect analysis of data from said one or more sensing portions;

to effect a secondary medical procedure based on data from said one or more sensing portions;

or to produce a notification signal based on data from said one or more sensing portions.