SIZING AND POSITIONING TECHNOLOGY FOR AN IN-THE-EAR MULTI-MEASUREMENT SENSOR TO ENABLE NIBP CALCULATION
First Claim
1. An in-the-ear (ITE) physiological measurement device, comprising:
- a structure formed for easy insertion into an ear canal;
one or more sensors operatively coupled to a portion of the structure that is inserted in the ear; and
an inflatable balloon operatively coupled to the portion of the structure inserted in the ear, the inflatable balloon inflates to position the one or more sensors proximate to tissue within the ear canal such that the one or more sensors can sense physiological signals from the surrounding tissue and bone structure.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An in-the-ear (ITE) physiological measurement device (2) includes a structure (4) formed for easy insertion into multiple shaped and sized ear canals. An inflatable balloon (6) surrounds an end portion of the structure (4) to be positioned in the ear. Optionally, a mushroom shaped tip (22) is connected with an end of the structure (4) and carries a plurality of sensors (8). Inflation of the balloon (6) expands the tip (22) radially to position the sensors (8) proximate to vascular tissue within the ear canal. Once suitably positioned, the one or more sensors (8) sense physiological signals from the vascular tissue and bone structure.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An in-the-ear (ITE) physiological measurement device, comprising:
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a structure formed for easy insertion into an ear canal; one or more sensors operatively coupled to a portion of the structure that is inserted in the ear; and an inflatable balloon operatively coupled to the portion of the structure inserted in the ear, the inflatable balloon inflates to position the one or more sensors proximate to tissue within the ear canal such that the one or more sensors can sense physiological signals from the surrounding tissue and bone structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for measuring physiological signals within the ear canal, comprising:
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inserting an in-the-ear structure into an ear canal to a desired depth; inflating an inflatable balloon operatively connected to an end portion of the in-the-ear structure to position one or more sensors proximate to vascular tissue of the ear canal; and using the one or more sensors to sense physiological signals from the surrounding tissue and bone structure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A physiological measurement device for measuring physiological signals from within the ear canal, comprising:
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a first structure formed for easy insertion into multiple shaped and sized ear canals; a second structure that supports the first structure to facilitate maintaining the position of the first structure within the ear canal; an inflatable balloon disposed around a portion of the first structure to be positioned in the ear, the inflatable balloon expands radially with inflation; a radially expanding tip connect with the first structure and extending at least partially around the inflatable balloon such that inflation of the balloon radially expands the tips; and a sensor carried by the tip to the pressed into sensing interaction within an ear canal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification