Physiological status monitoring system

• US 20070299325A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Foster-Miller Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Foster-Miller Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Farrell, Brian, Streeter, Richard, Bowman, Jeremy, McDonald, David, Nahass, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/807,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20070299325A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0806 by whole-body plethysmography measuring blood flow using plethysmography A61B5/0295; impedance plethysmography A61B5/053; measuring volume of the body or parts thereof A61B5/1073
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests

Abstract

A physiological status monitoring system includes a shirt and a stretchable circumferential band attached to the shirt. The stretchable band includes a respiration detector subsystem and signal transmission conductors. One or more sensors on the band are electrically connected to a signal transmission conductor. At least one sensor has an exposed electrode inside the shirt. The system includes a cover over the band and/or the one or more sensors. A connection subsystem on the band is electrically connected to the respiration detector subsystem and the signal transmission conductors and includes signal traces therefrom to a first connector accessible from outside the shirt. An electronics module is releasably attached to the shirt and includes a second connector which mates with the first connector. The electronics module includes a processing system and a transmitter. The remote display unit includes a receiver, a display, and a processing system.

Claims

1. A physiological status monitoring system comprising:

a shirt;

a stretchable circumferential band attached to the shirt, the stretchable band including;

a respiration detector subsystem integral with the band, and

signal transmission conductors also integral with the band and in a flexible configuration;

one or more sensors on the band each electrically connected to a signal transmission conductor, at least one sensor having an electrode exposed inside the shirt;

a cover over the band and/or the one or more sensors;

a connection subsystem on the band electrically connected to said respiration detector subsystem and said signal transmission conductors and including signal traces therefrom to a first connector accessible from outside the shirt;

an electronics module releasably attached to the shirt including a second connector which mates with the first connector, the electronics module including;

a processing system for processing signals from the respiration detector subsystem and the signal transmission conductors, and

a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the processed signals; and

a remote display unit including;

a receiver which receives said transmitted processed signals,

a display, and

a processing system for displaying said received processed signals on said display.

2. The system of claim 1 in which the electronics module includes a receiver for receiving communications from the remote display unit.

3. The system of claim 1 in which said shirt is made of Lycra material.

4. The system of claim 1 in which the shirt includes fabric having fibers of variable loft and thickness.

5. The system of claim 1 in which said respiration detector subsystem includes in-plane circumferential conductors integral with said stretchable band.

6. The system of claim 5 in which the in-plane circumferential conductors are in a sinusoidal configuration.

7. The system of claim 6 including a pair of adjacent in-plane nested circumferential conductors integral with said stretchable band.

8. The system of claim 7 in which the electronics module includes a circuit which detects changes in capacitance as the adjacent nested circumferential conductors move away from and towards each other as the stretchable band expands and contracts.

9. The system of claim 5 in which the electronics module includes a circuit which detects changes in inductance as the circumferential conductors move as the stretchable band expands and contracts.

10. The system of claim 1 in which the signal transmission conductors are sinusoidal and circumferential.

11. The system of claim 1 in which the signal transmission conductors are sinusoidal.

12. The system of claim 1 in which the at least one sensor exposed electrode is made of conductive fabric.

13. The system of claim 12 in which there are one or more foam layers behind the conductive fabric to promote contact of the conductive fabric with skin.

14. The system of claim 13 further including a fabric over and behind the one or more foam layers and attached to the stretchable band and the shirt.

15. The system of claim 13 in which the one or more foam layers are water impenetrable to promote the conductivity of the conductive fabric.

16. The system of claim 12 further including a conductive fastener through the conductive fabric and connected to a conductor coupled to a signal transmission conductor in the band.

17. The system of claim 1 in which one said sensor includes a thermistor coupled to the band and having a conductor coupled to a signal transmission conductor.

18. The system of claim 17 in which a side of the thermistor not in contact with a wearer is insulated.

19. The system of claim 1 in which the cover is an outer cover.

20. The system of claim 19 in which the outer cover is made of fabric.

21. The system of claim 20 in which said outer cover fabric is the same as the shirt fabric.

22. The system of claim 1 in which the connection subsystem is an insulation displacement connector.

23. The system of claim 1 in which the connection subsystem is a circuit board.

24. The system of claim 23 in which said circuit board is rigid.

25. The system of claim 23 in which said circuit board is a flex circuit.

26. The system of claim 1 in which said first connector is a Lemo connector.

27. The system of claim 1 in which said first connector is a pin connector.

28. The system of claim 1 in which said connection subsystem is encapsulated by a sealant.

29. The system of claim 1 in which said transmitter is configured according to the Bluetooth standard and the remote display unit is a hand held electronic device.

30. The system of claim 29 in which said hand held device is a personal digital assistant.

31. The system of claim 1 further including a portal accessible over a network responsive to the remote display unit to display and log said processed signals.

32. The system of claim 31 in which said portal is a website.

33. The system of claim 1 in which said electronics module further includes a position detection subsystem.

34. The system of claim 33 in which the position detection subsystem is a GPS subsystem.

35. The system of claim 1 further including a position detection subsystem separate from but in communication with said electronics module.

36. The system of claim 1 in which said electronics module further includes a motion detector.

37. The system of claim 36 in which said motion detector is an accelerometer.

38. The system of claim 1 in which said electronics module includes a display for displaying said processed signals.

39. The system of claim 1 further including one of a hook and loop fastener on the shirt and the other of the hook and loop fastener on the electronics module for releasably attaching the electronics module to the shirt.

40. The system of claim 1 further including snap connectors for releasably attaching the electronics module to the shirt:

41. The system of claim 1 further including magnetic connectors for releasably attaching the electronics module to the shirt.

42. The system of claim 41 in which the magnetic connectors provide electrical connectivity between the shirt and the electronics module.

43. The system of claim 1 in which the processing system of the electronics module or the remote display unit includes a rules set including a rule which signals from the respiration detector subsystem are not transmitted if they indicate a breathing rate higher than possible by a subject wearing the shirt.

44. The system of claim 1 in which the one or more sensors on the band includes electrocardiogram sensors located on opposite sides of the band and positioned to form a line across a wearer'"'"'s heart.

45. The system of claim 1 in which the shirt is made of loose fitting material and includes an inner liner attached to the loose fitting material.

46. The system of claim 45 in which the inner liner extends to each edge of the loose fitting material.

47. The system of claim 45 in which the inner liner extends from select edges of the loose fitting material to the stretchable circumferential band.

48. The system of claim 45 in which the inner liner is attached to the loose fitting material by connecting material segments.

49. The system of claim 45 in which the loose fitting material includes at least one opening therein for releasable attachment of the electronics module to the shirt.

50. The system of claim 45 in which the stretchable circumferential band is included in the inner liner.

51. A physiological status monitoring system comprising:

a garment;

a stretchable band attached to or integral with the garment, the stretchable band including;

conductors integral with the band forming a respiration detector, and

at least one signal transmission conductor also integral with the band;

at least one sensor electrically connected to the signal transmission conductor; and

an electronics module responsive to the conductors and the signal transmission conductor, the electronics module including;

a circuit which detects changes in impedance as geometry of the conductors changes as the stretchable band expands and contracts, and

a transmitter responsive to the circuit and to signals transmitted from said sensor for wirelessly transmitting respiration and sensor signals.

52. The system of claim 51 further including an outside cover over the band.

53. The system of claim 51 further including a connection subsystem on the band electrically connected to said conductors and to said signal transmission conductor and including signal traces therefrom to a first connector accessible from outside the garment.

54. The system of claim 53 in which the electronics module includes a second connector which mates with the first connector.

55. The system of claim 51 in which the electronics module further includes a processing system for processing signals from the circuit and the signal transmission conductor.

56. The system of claim 51 in which the conductors are in a sinusoidal configuration.

57. The system of claim 56 in which the at least one signal transmission conductor is in a sinusoidal configuration.

58. The system of claim 51 in which the conductors include a pair of adjacent nested conductors.

59. The system of claim 55 further including a remote display unit comprising:

a receiver which receives signals from the transmitter,

a display, and

a processing system for displaying said received signals on said display.

60. The system of claim 59 in which the electronics module includes a receiver which is responsive to the remote display unit and to signals transmitted from said remote display unit for receiving communications from the remote display unit.

61. The system of claim 51 in which said garment is made of Lycra material.

62. The system of claim 51 in which the garment includes fabric having fibers of variable loft and thickness.

63. The system of claim 51 in which said band is circumferential and said conductors are in-plane.

64. The system of claim 51 in which the at least one sensor includes an exposed electrode made of conductive fabric.

65. The system of claim 64 in which there are one or more foam layers behind the conductive fabric to promote contact of the conductive fabric with skin.

66. The system of claim 65 further including fabric over and behind the one or more foam layers and attached to the stretchable band.

67. The system of claim 66 in which the one or more foam layers are water impenetrable to promote the conductivity of the conductive fabric.

68. The system of claim 64 further including a conductive fastener through the conductive fabric and connected to a conductor coupled to a signal transmission conductor in the band.

69. The system of claim 51 in which one said sensor includes a thermistor coupled to the band and having a conductor coupled to a signal transmission conductor.

70. The system of claim 69 in which a side of the thermistor not in contact with a wearer is insulated.

71. The system of claim 53 in which the connection subsystem is an insulated displacement connector.

72. The system of claim 53 in which the connection subsystem is a circuit board.

73. The system of claim 72 in which said circuit board is rigid.

74. The system of claim 72 in which said circuit board is a flex circuit.

75. The system of claim 53 in which said first connector is a Lemo connector.

76. The system of claim 53 in which said first connector is a pin connector.

77. The system of claim 51 in which said electronics module further includes a position detection subsystem.

78. The system of claim 77 in which the position detection subsystem is a GPS subsystem.

79. The system of claim 51 further including a position detection subsystem separate from but in communication with said electronics module.

80. The system of claim 51 in which said electronics module further includes a motion detector.

81. The system of claim 80 in which said motion detector is an accelerometer.

82. The system of claim 51 in which said electronics module includes a display for displaying said respiration and sensor signals.

83. The system of claim 51 further including one of a hook and loop fastener on the garment and the other of the hook and loop fastener on the electronics module for releasably attaching the electronics module to the garment.

84. The system of claim 51 further including snap connectors for releasably attaching the electronics module to the garment.

85. The system of claim 51 further including magnetic connectors for releasably attaching the electronics module to the garment.

86. The system of claim 85 in which the magnetic connectors provide electrical connectivity between the garment and the electronics module.

87. The system of claim 51 further including a processing system including a rules set including a rule in which signals from the respiration detector are not transmitted if they indicate a breathing rate higher than possible by a subject wearing the garment.

88. The system of claim 51 further including electrocardiogram sensors on the stretchable band located on opposite sides of the band and positioned to form a line across a wearer'"'"'s heart.

89. The system of claim 51 in which the garment is made of loose fitting material and includes an inner liner attached to the loose fitting material.

90. The system of claim 89 in which the inner liner extends to each edge of the loose fitting material.

91. The system of claim 89 in which the inner liner extends from select edges of the loose fitting material to the stretchable circumferential band.

92. The system of claim 88 in which the inner liner is attached to the loose fitting material by connecting material segments.

93. The system of claim 88 in which the loose fitting material includes at least one opening therein for releasable attachment of the electronics module to the garment.

94. The system of claim 89 in which the stretchable band is included in the inner liner.

95. A physiological status monitoring system comprising:

a stretchable circumferential band including;

a respiration detector subsystem integral with the band, and

signal transmission conductors also integral with the band and in a flexible configuration;

one or more sensors on the band and electrically connected to a signal transmission conductor, at least one sensor having an exposed electrode;

a connection subsystem on the band electrically connected to said respiration detector subsystem and the signal transmission conductors and including signal traces therefrom to a first connector; and

an electronics module with a second connector which mates with the first connector, the electronics module including;

a processing system for processing signals from the respiration detector subsystem and the signal transmission conductors, and

a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the processed signals.