Wireless medical monitoring apparatus and system

• US 20060155183A1
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halthion Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Halthion Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kroecker, Stephan V, Krampe, Richard L
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/391
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0285 Apparatus for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring an electrical signal from a patient'"'"'s body includes a disposable electrode patch having a thin flexible housing with an adhesive exterior, a power source, a printed circuit board, a plurality of electrodes, a converter for converting a detected electrical signal from the patient'"'"'s body to a digital signal, a processor for processing the digital signal, and a transmitter connected for transmitting the processed digital signal as a wireless signal. A monitoring unit communicating with the electrode patch includes a power source, a transceiver, a global positioning receiver, a processor, at least one communication port for external communications, and a display. A system of the invention includes a plurality of patients having medical monitors wirelessly communicating biometric information to a central processor for archiving and accessing.

Claims

1. A disposable electrode patch for monitoring of at least one electrical signal from a patient'"'"'s body, said patch comprising:

a relatively thin and flexible sealed housing having an adhesive surface effective for releasably adhering said patch to the patient;

a power source positioned in said housing for providing power;

a printed circuit board positioned in said housing connected to said power source for thereby distributing power;

at least one electrode adjacent a surface of said housing and connected through said circuit board so as to detect the electrical signal when the patch is properly adhered to the patient'"'"'s body;

a converter positioned in said housing connected through said circuit board to said at least one electrode for converting a detected electrical signal from the patient'"'"'s body to a digital signal;

a processor having a clock and positioned in said housing connected through said circuit board to said converter for processing the digital signal responsive to time; and

a transmitter having a relatively flexible antenna and positioned in said housing connected to said processor through said circuit board for transmitting the processed digital signal as a wireless signal.

2. The electrode patch of claim 1, wherein said at least one electrode further comprises a plurality of electrodes having a sufficient number of individual electrodes for effectively detecting a cardiac electrical signal.

3. The electrode patch of claim 1, further including a ground electrode for grounding the electrode patch to the patient'"'"'s body.

4. The electrode patch of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrodes wherein at least one individual electrode of said plurality of electrodes is positioned on a housing member extending outwardly from said housing so as to allow predetermined placement on the patient'"'"'s body of said individual electrode spaced apart relative to said housing.

5. The electrode patch of claim 4, wherein said housing member is adjustably extendable from said housing.

6. The electrode patch of claim 4, wherein said housing member is pivotably connected to said housing.

7. The electrode patch of claim 1, further comprising a hardwire connector for transmitting the processed digital signal by wire as a backup to wireless.

8. The electrode patch of claim 1, wherein said housing is constructed from a plurality of laminated layers comprising woven material and plastic.

9. The electrode patch of claim 1, wherein said at least one electrode comprises an electrically conductive gel.

10. The electrode patch of claim 1, wherein said circuit board comprises an activation switch allowing a patient to manually activate the electrode patch.

11. The electrode patch of claim 1, wherein said transmitter further comprises a transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless signals.

12. The electrode patch of claim 11, wherein said transceiver further comprises an antenna filter for filtering radio interference.

13. The electrode patch of claim 1, further comprising a light source connected to said circuit board to provide a visual indication of electrode patch activation.

14. The electrode patch of claim 1, wherein said power source comprises a relatively flat, compact disposable battery.

15. An apparatus for wireless monitoring of at least one electrical signal from a patient'"'"'s body, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a disposable electrode patch having a relatively thin and flexible sealed housing disposed with an adhesive effective for releasably adhering said patch to the patient, a power source positioned in said housing for providing power, a printed circuit board positioned in said housing connected to said power source for thereby distributing power, a plurality of electrodes connected through said circuit board and positioned spaced apart in said housing so as to detect the electrical signal when the patch is properly adhered to the patient'"'"'s body, a converter positioned in said housing connected through said circuit board to said plurality of electrodes for converting a detected electrical signal from the patient'"'"'s body to a digital signal, a processor having a clock and positioned in said housing connected through said circuit board to said converter for processing the digital signal responsive to time, and a transmitter having a relatively flexible antenna and positioned in said housing connected to said processor through said circuit board for transmitting the processed digital signal as a wireless signal; and

a monitoring unit comprising a power source, a transceiver in wireless communication with at least said electrode patch, a global positioning receiver, a processor programmed at least to control the apparatus and to process signals received, at least one communication port for external communications, and a display connected to said processor to visually display information from signals processed thereby.

16. The electrode patch of claim 15, wherein said monitoring unit further comprises an activation switch for manually activating said apparatus.

17. The electrode patch of claim 15, wherein said monitoring unit is sized so as to be portable by a patient wearing said electrode patch.

18. The electrode patch of claim 15, wherein said monitoring unit further comprises a plurality of light sources connected to function as visual indicators of apparatus status.

19. The electrode patch of claim 15, wherein said at least one communication port in said monitoring unit further comprises a plurality of communication ports.

22. The electrode patch of claim 15, wherein said monitoring unit power source is rechargeable.

23. The electrode patch of claim 15, wherein said monitoring unit power source is a rechargeable battery and further comprising a battery charger therefor.

24. The electrode patch of claim 15, further comprising a speaker connected to provide an audible signal responsive to apparatus status.

25. The electrode patch of claim 15, wherein said monitoring unit further comprises at least one scroll switch connected to allow a patient to scroll through information appearing on said display.

26. The electrode patch of claim 15, wherein said monitoring unit is remotely programmable from a base station processor communicating therewith through at least one individual communication port of the plurality of communication ports.

20. The electrode patch of claim (above), wherein at least one communication port of said plurality of communication ports comprises an RS-232 port.

21. The electrode patch of claim (above), wherein at least one communication port of said plurality of communication ports is responsive to infrared light.

27. A disposable electrode patch for monitoring of at least one electrical signal from a patient'"'"'s body, said patch comprising:

a relatively thin and flexible sealed housing externally disposed with an adhesive effective for releasably adhering said patch to the patient, having an electrode docking port positioned on an undersurface of said housing for therein engaging an electrode, and having a plurality of manually actuated stops adjacent said electrode docking port for releasably securing an electrode therein engaged;

a power source positioned in said housing for providing power;

a printed circuit board positioned in said housing connected to said power source for thereby distributing power;

an electrode releasably engaged in said electrode docking port so as to detect and communicate through said circuit board the at least one electrical signal when the patch is properly adhered to the patient'"'"'s body;

a converter positioned in said housing connected through said circuit board to said electrode for converting the detected electrical signal from the patient'"'"'s body to a digital signal;

a processor having a clock and positioned in said housing connected through said circuit board to said converter for processing the digital signal responsive to time;

a transmitter having a relatively flexible antenna and positioned in said housing connected to said processor through said circuit board for transmitting the processed digital signal as a wireless signal; and

a light source connected to provide a visual signal indicative of functional status of said electrode patch.

28. The electrode patch of claim 27, in combination with a monitoring unit comprising a power source, a transceiver in wireless communication with at least said electrode patch, a global positioning receiver, a processor programmed to control the apparatus and to process signals received, at least one communication port for external communications, and a display connected to said processor for visually displaying information from signals processed thereby.

29. A patient kit for use by a patient requiring medical monitoring, said kit comprising:

a carrying case disposed with interior cushioning material having a plurality of cavities therein for containing kit components;

a packet containing a plurality of disposable electrode patches, each patch of the plurality comprising a relatively thin and flexible sealed housing disposed with an adhesive effective for releasably adhering said patch to the patient, a power source positioned in said housing for providing power, a printed circuit board positioned in said housing connected to said power source for thereby distributing power, a plurality of electrodes connected through said circuit board and positioned spaced apart in said housing so as to detect the electrical signal when the patch is properly adhered to the patient'"'"'s body, a converter positioned in said housing connected through said circuit board to said plurality of electrodes for converting a detected electrical signal from the patient'"'"'s body to a digital signal, a processor having a clock and positioned in said housing connected through said circuit board to said converter for processing the digital signal responsive to time, and a transmitter having a relatively flexible antenna and positioned in said housing connected to said processor through said circuit board for transmitting the processed digital signal as a wireless signal;

a monitoring unit comprising a rechargeable power source, a transceiver in wireless communication with at least said electrode patch, a global positioning receiver, a processor programmed at least to control the apparatus and to process signals received, at least one communication port for external communications, and a display connected to said processor to visually display information from signals processed thereby;

a charger for said rechargeable power source; and

an instructional video recording containing instructions for the patient on proper use of kit components.

30. A system for monitoring a plurality of patients, said system comprising:

a plurality of patients each individual patient of the plurality wearing a disposable electrode patch having a relatively thin and flexible sealed housing disposed with an adhesive effective for releasably adhering said patch to the patient, a power source positioned in said housing for providing power, a printed circuit board positioned in said housing connected to said power source for thereby distributing power, a plurality of electrodes connected through said circuit board and positioned spaced apart in said housing so as to detect the electrical signal when the patch is properly adhered to the patient'"'"'s body, a converter positioned in said housing connected through said circuit board to said plurality of electrodes for converting a detected electrical signal from the patient'"'"'s body to a digital signal, a processor having a clock and positioned in said housing connected through said circuit board to said converter for processing the digital signal responsive to time, and a transmitter having a relatively flexible antenna and positioned in said housing connected to said processor through said circuit board for transmitting the processed digital signal as a wireless signal, each individual patient of the plurality also wearing a monitoring unit comprising a power source, a transceiver in wireless communication with said disposable electrode patch, a global positioning receiver, a processor programmed at least to control the apparatus and to process signals received, at least one communication port for external communications, and a display connected to said processor to visually display information from signals processed thereby; and

a base station processor comprising a transceiver in wireless communication with each individual monitoring unit worn by the plurality of patients so as to receive therefrom the signals processed, and a display for displaying information contained in the received signals, including patient location information received from said global positioning system receiver.

31. A system for wirelessly monitoring a plurality of patients, said system comprising:

a plurality of patients wherein each individual patient of the plurality has associated therewith a medical monitor which collects biometric information from said patient and includes a converter to convert collected biometric information to a digital signal, a processor for processing the digital signal, and a wireless transceiver for wirelessly transmitting the digital signal comprising the biometric information; and

a central processor receiving the transmitted digital signal for further processing and having a display for displaying the biometric information contained in a received signal.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a plurality of processors in communication with said central processor through a network to thereby access the biometric information.

33. The system of claim 31, further comprising a cellular wireless network for receiving from said medical monitor the wirelessly transmitted digital signal and forwarding said signal to said central processor.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein said central processor comprises data storage for archiving received biometric information.