Gel pad for use with an ultrasonic monitor

• US 20060106311A1
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Salutron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salutron, Inc.
• Inventors: Lo, Thomas Ying-Ching, Chang, Rong Jong
• Application Number:
  US10/991,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106311A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/02 Measuring pulse or heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4227 characterised by straps, belts, cuffs or braces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4236 characterised by adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/02 Mechanical acoustic impedances; Impedance matching, e.g. by horns; Acoustic resonators

Abstract

An ultrasonic monitor implemented on a PCB includes a gel pad comprised of a gel layer and a membrane layer. Ultrasonic signals are transmitted between the ultrasonic monitor and a living subject through the gel pad. An air gap is formed in the PCB underneath transducer elements to provide for more efficient signal transmission. These features provide for a low power, low cost, more efficient ultrasonic monitor. The entire ultrasonic monitor may be encapsulated in plastic, a gel, or both to provide water resistant properties.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic monitor, comprising:

a transmission transducer configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal;

a receiving transducer configured to receive a reflected ultrasonic signal;

circuitry to process the received ultrasonic signal;

a housing containing the transmission transducer, the receiving transducer and the circuitry; and

a gel pad attached to the housing, the gel pad having a gel layer and a membrane, the ultrasonic signal and reflected ultrasonic signal transmitted through the gel pad between the transducers and a subject'"'"'s skin.

2. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 1, wherein the membrane is laminated to the gel layer.

3. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 1, wherein the membrane is adhered to the gel layer with a primer.

4. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 1, the gel pad further including a pressure sensitive adhesive.

5. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 4, the gel pad attached to the housing with the pressure sensitive adhesive.

6. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 1, the gel layer having a high percentage of diluents entrapped in an elastomeric network.

7. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 1, further comprising:

an RTV silicone rubber layer within the housing, the RTV silicone rubber layer in contact with the gel pad.

9. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 7, wherein a first surface of the membrane is in contact with a first surface of the gel layer, a second surface of the membrane is exposed to a subject'"'"'s skin, a second surface of the gel layer attached to the RTV silicone rubber with an adhesive.

10. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 9, wherein the second surface of the membrane includes an adhesive.

11. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a recessed portion corresponding to the position of the transducers, the gel pad positioned over the recessed portion.

12. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 11, further including:

an RTV silicone rubber layer within the housing, the RTV silicone rubber layer in contact with the transducers and exposed by the recessed portion.

13. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 12, further comprising:

an attachment means attached to the housing, the attachment means maintaining a position of the housing over the gel pad against the subject'"'"'s skin.

8. The ultrasonic monitor of 7, wherein the RTV silicone rubber is adhered to the gel pad.

14. An ultrasonic monitor comprising:

an ultrasonic monitor module, and

a gel pad, the gel pad including a gel layer and a membrane, the gel pad positioned in contact with and providing transmission of ultrasonic signals between the ultrasonic monitor module and a subject'"'"'s skin.

15. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 14, wherein the gel pad further includes an adhesive.

16. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 14, wherein the gel pad is attached in-situ to the ultrasonic monitor module.

17. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 14, wherein the ultrasonic monitor module includes a recess, the gel pad attached in-situ over the recess.

18. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 14, the membrane is positioned to prevent the gel layer from diffusing to the subject'"'"'s skin.

19. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 14, the ultrasonic monitor module including:

a surface having an exposed area of RTV silicone rubber, the gel pad positioned over the exposed area of RTV silicone rubber.

20. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 14, the ultrasonic monitor further including:

an attachment means attached to the ultrasonic monitor module, the attachment means maintaining a position of the housing over the gel pad against the subject'"'"'s skin.

21. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 20, the gel pad including a pressure sensitive adhesive.

22. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 21, the pressure sensitive adhesive positioned to remove air pockets when compressed between the ultrasonic monitor module and the subject'"'"'s skin by the strapping means.

23. The ultrasonic monitor of claim 19 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is on a first surface of the gel applied to the subject'"'"'s skin and a second surface of the gel pad applied to the ultrasonic monitor module.

24. A method for monitoring a heart rate, comprising:

applying a gel pad to an ultrasonic monitor module, the gel pad including a gel material and a membrane;

transmitting an ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic monitor module through the gel pad to a subject;

receiving a reflected ultrasonic signal by the ultrasonic monitor module through the gel pad from the subject; and

processing the received ultrasonic signal.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the gel includes a high percentage of diluents entrapped in an elastomeric network.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the membrane prevents the diluents from diffusing to the subject.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the gel pad includes a pressure sensitive adhesive.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein applying the gel includes:

positioning the gel pad between the ultrasonic monitor module and the subject.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the ultrasonic monitor module and the gel pad are positioned over an artery.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the gel pad includes a primer.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

compressing the gel pad between the ultrasonic monitor module and the subject'"'"'s skin.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein applying the gel pad to the ultrasonic monitor module includes:

accessing a portion of the ultrasonic monitor module having an exposed surface of RTV silicone rubber; and

applying the gel pad to the exposed surface of RTV silicone rubber.

33. A gel pad, comprising:

a gel layer and a membrane, the gel layer having an upper surface and a lower surface and a thickness between 1 and 5 millimeters, the gel layer configured to eliminate air pockets when positioned between an ultrasonic monitor and a subject'"'"'s skin and applied to the subject'"'"'s skin by the ultrasonic monitor.

34. The gel pad of claim 33, wherein the gel layer is comprised of a thermoplastic gel.

35. The gel pad of claim 33, wherein the gel layer is comprised of a thermoset gel.

36. The gel pad of claim 33, wherein the gel layer is comprised of a hydrogel.

37. The gel pad of claim 33, wherein the membrane is a polyurethane film.

38. The gel pad of claim 33, wherein the membrane is a synthetic rubber film.

39. The gel pad of claim 33, wherein the membrane is a silicone rubber film.

40. The gel pad of claim 33, wherein the membrane is a poly(vinyl chloride) film.

41. The gel pad of claim 33, wherein the membrane is a low density polyethylene film.