Miniature Physiological Telemeter

• US 20090201172A1
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Innersea Technology
• Original Assignee: Innersea Technology
• Inventors: Edell, David J.
• Application Number:
  US11/920,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20090201172A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• 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 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]

Abstract

A low power miniaturized telemeter (25, 40-42) provides data from a monitored subject at internal or external locations. A charge integration and pulse stream encoding (30) in the telemeter (25, 40-42) contributes to reduced power consumption. A transmitter (29) in the telemeter (25, 40-42) may be omnidirectional to permit operation without physical obstruction or limitations to movement. A receiver (22) collects transmitted information and may have an adaptive threshold pulse detector to permit further reductions in power usage. The telemeter (25, 40-42) can multiplex monitored parameters on a time division basis to permit trans-mission of multiple data channels. Individual telemeters may have unique transmission frequencies to permit multiple telemeters to be used concurrently without interference. A self-contained power source in the telemeter (25, 40-42) permits long term operation at low power without the need of replacement. The telemeter (25, 40-42) can be packaged to accommodate a number of applications, such as by permitting adjustable density.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring a parameter of a subject and providing data communications related to the parameter, comprising:

a transducer coupled to the subject for sensing the parameter and providing a signal with characteristics related to a parameter value;

a converter coupled to the transducer for converting the signal to a pulse stream thereby forming a low power representation of the signal;

an omnidirectional transmitter coupled to the converter for transmitting the low power representation;

a receiver spaced from the subject and arranged to receive the transmitted low power representation from the transmitter.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transducer, converter and transmitter form a telemeter.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the telemeter is located external to the subject.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the telemeter is enclosed within protective package.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the telemeter is located internal to the subject.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the telemeter further comprises a self-contained power source.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the telemeter further comprises a self-contained power source located within the protective package.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the telemeter has a greatest dimension less than about 25 mm.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the telemeter has a greatest dimension less than about 30 mm.

10. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the telemeter is shaped as a disk with a diameter of less than about 25 mm and a thickness of less than about 5 mm.

11. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the telemeter further comprises:

another transducer coupled to the subject for sensing another parameter of the subject and providing another signal with characteristics related to another parameter value; and

a multiplexer coupled to the transducers to selectively apply the respective signals to the converter.

12. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

another telemeter with another omnidirectional transmitter operating in a different communication range from the other transmitter; and

the receiver being operable to receive low power representations from both transmitters.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal is a current.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the converter further comprises a charge integration circuit to contribute to converting the current to the pulse stream.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the pulse stream is formed as an asynchronous pulse stream that encodes a value of the current.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the pulse stream is formed as an asynchronous pulse stream that encodes a value of the current.

17. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein telemeter power is less than about 0.1 W.

18. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein telemeter power is less than about 0.025 W.

19. A method for measuring a parameter of a subject and providing data communications related to the parameter, comprising:

sensing the parameter to provide a signal with characteristics related to a parameter value;

converting the signal to a pulse stream thereby forming a low power representation of the signal;

transmitting the low power representation with an omnidirectional transmitter; and

receiving the low power representation at a receiver spaced from the subject.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising locating the transmitter internal to the subject.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising enclosing the transmitter within a protective package.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising locating a self-contained power source for powering the transmitter within the protective package.

23. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

sensing another parameter of the subject to provide another signal with characteristics related to a value of the another parameter; and

selectively converting the one and another signals to respective pulse streams thereby forming a plurality of low power representations.

24. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

providing another omnidirectional transmitter operating in a different communication range from the other transmitter; and

receiving transmissions from both transmitters at the receiver.