Measurement system to measure a physiological condition in a body

• US 20080200770A1
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical Coordination Center BVBA (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Radi Medical Systems AB (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Hubinette, Ulrik
• Granted Patent: US 7,946,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/225 Connectors or couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6851 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

Measurement system comprising a sensor wire provided, at its distal end, with a physiological condition sensor to measure a physiological condition inside a patient, and to provide measured data to an external device, the measurement system comprises a transceiver unit adapted to be connected to the proximal end of the sensor wire, and a communication unit arranged in connection with the external device. The transceiver unit is adapted to communicate, by a communication signal, with the communication unit, in order to transfer measured data to the external device. The communication signal, including the measured data, is generated by the transceiver unit and transferred as an output signal and the communication unit is arranged to be connected to a standard input/output connector of the external device and to communicate with the external device in accordance with an established standard, or in accordance with relevant parts of an established standard, e.g. BP22 or USB. The measurement system further comprises a physical optical communication link arranged between the transceiver unit and the communication unit, wherein the communication signal is an optical signal transferred by the optical communication link. The transceiver unit also comprises an energy means adapted to energize the sensor, the transceiver unit and also the optical communication link.

Claims

1. Measurement system comprising a sensor wire provided, at its distal end, with a physiological condition sensor to measure a physiological condition inside a patient, and to provide measured data to an external device, the measurement system comprises a transceiver unit adapted to be connected to the proximal end of the sensor wire, and a communication unit arranged in connection with the external device, said transceiver unit is adapted to communicate, by a communication signal, with said communication unit, in order to transfer measured data to the external device, the communication signal, including the measured data, is generated by the transceiver unit and transferred as an output signal, said communication unit is arranged to be connected to a standard input/output connector of the external device and to communicate with the external device in accordance with an established standard, or in accordance with relevant parts of an established standard, e.g. BP22 or USB,

characterized in that the measurement system further comprises a physical optical communication link arranged between said transceiver unit and said communication unit, wherein said communication signal is an optical signal transferred by said optical communication link, and that said transceiver unit comprises an energy means adapted to energize said sensor, said transceiver unit and the distal part of said optical communication link.

2. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said optical communication link comprises a first communication means to be electrically connected to the transceiver unit to handle the communication to and from the transceiver unit, in order to convert an electrical signal from the transceiver unit to an optical signal and vice versa.

3. Measurement system according to claim 2, wherein the optical connector link further comprises a second communication means to be electrically connected to the communication unit to handle the communication to and from the communication unit, in order to convert an optical signal to an electrical signal and vice versa.

4. Measurement system according to claim 2, wherein said energy means in the transceiver unit is adapted to energize the first communication means of the optical communication link.

5. Measurement system according to claim 3, wherein the second communication means of the optical communication link is energized from the communication unit.

6. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said data stream is in the form of data packets.

7. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said transceiver unit and communication unit are provided with means to perform bidirectional communication via said optical communication link.

8. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said communication signal is an infrared signal.

9. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said optical communication link is an optocoupler including a light emitting diode and an integrated high gain photo detector.

10. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver unit is activated and initiated by an activation means.

11. Measurement system according to claim 10, wherein said activation means is an activation button arranged on said unit.

12. Measurement system according to claim 10, wherein said activation means activates and initiates the unit when electrical connections are established between corresponding electrical contact surfaces of female and male connectors of said transceiver unit and the proximal end of the sensor wire, respectively.

13. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said transceiver unit comprises a female connector comprising an insulating hollow housing containing a predetermined number of hollow contact surfaces to make contact with the conductive surfaces of the male connector of the sensor wire.

14. Measurement system according to claim 13, wherein at the distal end of the female connector, fastening means for securing the male connector in the female connector are provided.

15. Measurement system according to claim 13, wherein said transceiver unit is provided with guiding means to guide the sensor wire during insertion into a patient.

16. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said transceiver unit comprises a sensor signal adapting circuitry adapted to filter, process, and format the signal received from the sensor wire.

17. Measurement system according to claim 16, wherein said sensor signal adapting circuitry comprising a programmable sensor conditioning means, a calibration unit, energy means and an output amplifying unit.

18. Measurement system according to claim 17, wherein said programmable sensor conditioning means is a PGA309 programmable analog sensor conditioner.

19. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said energy means is a battery means or a capacitor means.

20. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is adapted to receive sensor values in the form of “

raw”

measured data and to apply said data to a processing and conditioning means in order to process and condition the data to be supplied to the external device according to a prescribed standard format.

21. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor.

22. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor is a piezoresistive, piezocapacitive, piezoelectric sensor or an optical sensor.

23. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor.

24. Measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is a flow sensor.

25. Measurement system according to claim 11, wherein said activation means activates and initiates the unit when electrical connections are established between corresponding electrical contact surfaces of female and male connectors of said transceiver unit and the proximal end of the sensor wire, respectively.

26. Measurement system according to claim 14, wherein said transceiver unit is provided with guiding means to guide the sensor wire during insertion into a patient.