WIRELESS DISPOSABLE PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSOR
First Claim
1. Apparatus for measuring at least one physiological parameter of a subject, said apparatus comprising:
- a sensor assembly including a disposable support portion, a reusable portion releasably attached to and supported by said disposable support portion, at least one physiological parameter responsive element, said at least one element producing a first signal upon detection of a change in physiological parameter, a converter for converting the first signal into an electrical signal, and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the converted electrical signal upon demand, said reusable portion being releasably attached to and entirely fitted onto a top surface of said disposable support portion, said disposable support portion including a bottom surface having an adhesive backing enabling attachment of said sensor assembly to an article and further including said at least physiological parameter responsive element, said reusable portion including said converter and said transmitter; and
an interrogation device having a transmitter which wirelessly transmits a trigger signal wherein said sensor assembly does not transmit readings of said at least one physiological parameter responsive element until the interrogation device transmits the trigger signal, and in which said sensor assembly is disposed on a subject to enable parameter readings to be taken without significant delay.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A patient physiological parameter monitoring apparatus for a subject includes a sensor assembly having at least one responsive element that produces a first signal upon detection of a change in temperature. The assembly also includes a converter for converting the first signal into an electrical signal, and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting converted electrical signals upon demand based upon receipt of a transmitted signal from an interrogation device. Preferably, at least a portion of the sensor assembly is disposable to permit single use or single subject use and can be further used to track location and information of medical equipment in addition to subjects.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for measuring at least one physiological parameter of a subject, said apparatus comprising:
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a sensor assembly including a disposable support portion, a reusable portion releasably attached to and supported by said disposable support portion, at least one physiological parameter responsive element, said at least one element producing a first signal upon detection of a change in physiological parameter, a converter for converting the first signal into an electrical signal, and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the converted electrical signal upon demand, said reusable portion being releasably attached to and entirely fitted onto a top surface of said disposable support portion, said disposable support portion including a bottom surface having an adhesive backing enabling attachment of said sensor assembly to an article and further including said at least physiological parameter responsive element, said reusable portion including said converter and said transmitter; and an interrogation device having a transmitter which wirelessly transmits a trigger signal wherein said sensor assembly does not transmit readings of said at least one physiological parameter responsive element until the interrogation device transmits the trigger signal, and in which said sensor assembly is disposed on a subject to enable parameter readings to be taken without significant delay. - 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 identifying the location of medical equipment in a patient room, said method including the steps of:
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adhesively attaching a sensor assembly to at least one piece of medical equipment, said sensor assembly including a disposable support portion, a reusable portion that is releasably attached to and supported by said disposable support portion, a programmable ASIC that includes information concerning said equipment stored therein, a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver and an antenna for permitting bi directional wireless communication in which said programmable ASIC is disposed in said reusable portion of said sensor assembly, said reusable portion being releasably attached to and entirely fitted upon a top surface of said disposable support portion having an adhesive backing for permitting attachment of said sensor assembly to said at least one piece of medical equipment; selectively transmitting a trigger signal from an interrogation device in said patient room; and in which said at least one sensor assembly transmits equipment information to said interrogation device only in response to said trigger signal.
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20. A method for measuring a physiological parameter of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:
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attaching an integrated sensor assembly to the body of a subject, said integrated sensor assembly including a disposable support portion including a flexible substrate having an adhesive backing strip and at least one physiological parameter sensor and a reusable portion releasably attached to and fitted entirely upon the top surface of said disposable support portion, said reusable portion including circuitry responsive to a trigger signal for retrieving data from said sensor; selectively transmitting a trigger signal in the vicinity of said sensor assembly; and in which said sensor assembly transmits data from said sensor only in response to reception of said trigger signal.
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Specification