TWO-PART PATCH SENSOR FOR MONITORING VITAL SIGNS

• US 20080114220A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Triage Wireless, Inc.
• Inventors: Hunt, Kenneth Robert, Banet, Matthew John, Zhou, Zhou
• Granted Patent: US 8,449,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02125 of pulse wave propagation time
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68335 including release sheets or liners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation

Abstract

A two-component monitoring device and system for monitoring blood pressure from a patient is disclosed herein. The two-component monitoring device includes a disposable component and a main component. The disposable component features: i) a backing structure having a first aperture; and ii) first and second electrodes, each electrode connected to the backing structure and including an electrical lead and a conductive electrode material, and configured to generate an electrical signal that passes through the electrical lead when the conductive electrode material contacts the patient. The main component includes: i) first and second connectors configured to connect to the first and second electrical leads to receive the first and second electrical signals; and ii) an optical component comprising a light source that generates optical radiation and a photodetector that detects the optical radiation. The optical component inserts into the first aperture of the disposable component. The main component optionally includes an acoustic sensor. The system utilizes a processing device, connected to the monitoring device by a cable which receives and processes a plurality of signals to determine real-time blood-pressure values for the patient.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the blood pressure of a patient, the system comprising:

a monitoring device comprising;

a patch sensor component comprising;

i) a backing structure comprising a first aperture, and

ii) a first electrode and a second electrode, each of the first and second electrodes connected to the backing structure and comprising an electrical lead in contact with a conductive electrode material, the first electrode configured to measure a first signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the first electrode, and the second electrode configured to measure a second signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the second electrode, and

a sensor component comprising;

i) a first connector and a second connector, the first connector configured to removably connect to the first electrode to receive the first signal and the second connector configured to removably connect to the second electrode to receive the second signal, and,

ii) an optical component comprising a light source that generates optical radiation and a photodetector that detects the optical radiation and generates a third signal, the optical component configured to insert through the first aperture;

a processing device configured to receive and process the first signal or a processed version thereof, the second signal or a processed version thereof, and the third signal or a processed version thereof to determine a real-time blood-pressure value for the patient; and

a cable for transmitting signals between the monitoring device and the processing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is disposed at a first end of the backing structure, the second electrode is disposed at an opposing second end of the backing structure, and the first aperture is disposed between the first and second ends of the backing structure.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical lead of each of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a metal component.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the metal component is substantially cylindrical and configured to removably connect with the first connector or second connector of the main component.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the metal component further comprises an Ag/AgCl coating.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the conductive electrode material is a conductive solid gel.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the conductive electrode material is a conductive liquid gel.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the backing structure is a flexible foam material.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the backing structure further comprises an adhesive layer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the main component further comprises an acoustic sensor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the backing structure has a second aperture, and the acoustic sensor is configured to insert into the second aperture.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the backing structure further comprises an impedance-matching gel disposed over the second aperture.

13. A two-component monitoring device comprising:

a disposable component comprising;

i) a backing structure having a first aperture,

ii) a first electrode and a second electrode, each of the first and second electrodes disposed on the backing structure and comprising an electrical lead in contact with a conductive electrode material, the first electrode configured to generate a first signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the first electrode, and the second electrode configured to generate a second signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the second electrode; and

a sensor component comprising;

i) a first connector and a second connector, the first connector configured to removably connect to the first electrode to receive the first signal and the second connector configured to removably connect to the second electrode to receive the second signal, and

ii) an optical component comprising a light source that generates optical radiation and a photodetector that detects the optical radiation and generates a third signal, the optical component configured to insert through the first aperture of the backing structure.

14. The monitoring device of claim 13, wherein the first electrode connects to a first portion of the backing structure, the second electrode connects to a second portion of the backing material, and the first aperture is disposed between the first and second portions of the backing structure.

15. The monitoring device of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second electrical leads comprise a metal component.

16. The monitoring device of claim 15, wherein the metal component comprises a substantially cylindrical component configured to snap into a connector comprised by the circuit board component.

17. The monitoring device of claim 16, wherein the metal component comprises an Ag/AgCl coating.

18. The monitoring device of claim 17, wherein the conductive electrode material comprises a conductive gel.

19. The monitoring device of claim 13, wherein the backing structure comprises a flexible foam material.

20. The monitoring device of claim 13, wherein the backing structure further comprises an adhesive layer.

21. A system for measuring blood pressure values for a user, the system comprising:

a monitoring component comprising;

a main component comprising an optical sensor, an acoustic sensor, first receptor and second receptor,

a disposable component removably attachable to the main component, the disposable component comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface with an adhesive coating, a first electrode part, a second electrode part, a first aperture and a second aperture, the optical sensor extending through the first aperture, the acoustic sensor extending through the second aperture, the first electrode part removably connected to the first receptor of the main component and the second electrode part removably connected to the second receptor of the main component;

a processing component for generating a blood pressure value for the user from an electrical-based signal generated from the first electrode part and the second electrode part, an optical-based signal generated from the optical sensor, and an acoustic-based signal from the acoustic sensor;

means for transmitting information between the processing component and the monitoring component.

22. A two-component monitoring device comprising:

a disposable component comprising;

i) a backing structure having a first aperture and a second aperture,

ii) a first electrode and a second electrode, each of the first and second electrodes disposed on the backing structure and comprising an electrical lead in contact with a conductive electrode material, the first electrode configured to generate a first signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the first electrode, and the second electrode configured to generate a second signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the second electrode; and

a sensor component comprising;

i) a first connector and a second connector, the first connector configured to removably connect to the first electrode to receive the first signal and the second connector configured to removably connect to the second electrode to receive the second signal,

ii) an optical component comprising a light source that generates optical radiation and a photodetector that detects the optical radiation and generates a third signal, the optical component configured to insert through the first aperture of the backing structure, and,

iii) an acoustic sensor configured to insert through the second aperture of the backing structure and to generate a fourth signal.

23. A two-component sensor comprising:

a disposable component comprising;

i) a backing structure,

ii) an electrode disposed on the backing structure and comprising an electrical lead in contact with a conductive electrode material, the electrode configured to generate a first signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the electrode; and

a sensor component configured to removably connect to the disposable component and comprising;

i) a connector configured to receive the first signal from the electrode, and

ii) an optical component comprising a light source that generates optical radiation and a photodetector that detects the optical radiation and generates a second signal.

23-1. A two-component sensor comprising:

a disposable component configured to attach to a patient and comprising;

i) a backing structure,

ii) an electrode disposed on the backing structure and comprising an electrical lead in contact with a conductive electrode material, the electrode configured to generate a first signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the electrode; and

a sensor component configured to removably connect to the disposable component and comprising;

i) a connector configured to receive the first signal from the electrode,

ii) an optical component comprising a light source that generates optical radiation and a photodetector that detects the optical radiation and generates a second signal, and,

iii) an acoustic component comprising an acoustic sensor that receives an acoustic signal and generates a third signal.

24. A two-component sensor comprising:

a disposable component comprising;

i) a backing structure,

ii) an electrode disposed on the backing structure and comprising an electrical lead in contact with a conductive electrode material, the electrode configured to generate a first signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the electrode; and

a detachable sensor component configured to adhere to the disposable component and comprising;

i) a connector configured to receive the first signal from the electrode, and

ii) an optical component comprising a light source that generates optical radiation and a photodetector that detects the optical radiation and generates a second signal.