VITAL SIGNS MONITORING USING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• US 20090221884A1
• Filed: 03/02/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard H. Ryan
• Original Assignee: Richard H. Ryan
• Inventors: Ryan, Richard H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,005,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• 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 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/088 Mouth inserted protectors with tether or strap
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/08 other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/20 blood composition characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/085 Mouth or teeth protectors A63B71/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A vital signs monitor system is integrated with personal protective equipment (“PPE”) so that upon wearing the PPE, the monitor is placed in an operational position to monitor a vital sign. In one embodiment, the vital signs sensor comprises a thermal sensor located at a mouth guard to automatically make operational contact with tissue under the tongue when the mouth guard is worn. A second vital signs monitor comprising reflective pulse oximetry devices senses oxygen saturation and heart rate. Vital signs data are communicated to an RF module located in an associated helmet for transmission to a remote location. A gateway at that remote location receives the transmitted vital signs data and forwards that data to a data collection, organization, and access system that is programmed to make the vital signs data available over the Internet. Medical personnel, coaches, supervisors at the location of the PPE can monitor the vital signs of the wearer by accessing the data collection, organization, and access system with hand held, or portable computing equipment over the Internet.

Claims

1. A vital signs monitoring system formed as an integral part of personal protective equipment, the vital signs monitoring system comprising:

a vital signs sensor mounted with the personal protective equipment such that when the personal protective equipment is worn, the vital signs sensor is automatically placed in operational position for monitoring a vital sign, the vital signs sensor providing vital signs data representative of the sensed vital sign; and

a communication device adapted to receive the vital signs data and transmit the vital signs data to a remote location.

2. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the communication device is also mounted in personal protective equipment separate from the vital signs sensor.

3. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the communication device is adapted to provide wireless transmission of the vital signs data to a remote location.

4. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the vital signs sensor is mounted as part of the personal protective equipment so that when the personal protective equipment is worn, the vital signs sensor is automatically placed in operational contact with internal tissue and provides the vital signs data based on the contact.

5. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the vital signs sensor comprises a temperature sensor mounted in a mouth guard predetermined position so that when the mouth guard is worn, the temperature sensor automatically makes operational contact with a mucosal membrane of the oral cavity and senses the internal oral temperature at that location.

6. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the vital signs sensor comprises a temperature sensor mounted through a mouth guard and angled so that when the mouth guard is worn, the temperature sensor automatically makes operational contact with an oral membrane under the tongue and senses the internal oral temperature at that location.

7. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a wired connection between the vital signs sensor and the communication device by which the vital signs data provided vital signs monitor is provided to the communication device through wired communication.

8. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter located at the vital signs sensor configured to wirelessly transmit the vital signs data, wherein the communication device is configured to wirelessly receive the vital signs data.

9. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the vital signs data to the remote location.

10. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 9, further comprising:

a gateway located at the remote location configured to wirelessly receive the transmitted vital signs data; and

a data collection system configured to receive vital signs data and provide access to that received data through a network;

wherein the gateway is configured to provide the received vital signs data to the data collection system.

11. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the data collection system is configured to provide access to the received data through the Internet.

12. A vital signs monitoring system formed as an integral part of personal protective equipment, the vital signs monitoring system comprising:

a mouth guard adapted for wearing over teeth;

a thermal sensor mounted at the mouth guard so that when the mouth guard is worn over teeth, the thermal sensor automatically makes operational contact with tissue under the tongue, the thermal sensor providing temperature signals representative of temperature sensed;

a first RF module configured to receive the temperature signals and transmit the received temperature signals wirelessly to a remote location; and

a data collection system configured to collect transmitted temperature signals, store those collected signals as temperature data, and make the stored temperature data available to a network of computers.

13. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the temperature sensor is located at the mouth guard so that when the mouth guard is worn, the temperature sensor automatically makes operational contact with tissue under the tongue and senses the internal temperature at that location.

14. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 13, further comprising a wireless transmitter located at the thermal sensor configured to wirelessly transmit the vital signs data at a relatively low power, wherein the first RF module is configured to wirelessly receive the vital signs data.

15. The vital signs monitoring system of claim 14, further comprising:

a gateway located at the remote location configured to wirelessly receive the transmitted vital signs data and forward that received vital signs data to the data collection system;

wherein the data collection system is configured to receive, organize, and provide access to that received data through the network.

16. A method for monitoring a vital sign using first personal protective equipment, the method comprising:

embedding a vital signs sensor in personal protective equipment in a selected location so that when the personal protective equipment is worn, the vital signs sensor is automatically located in an operational position to sense a vital sign and provide vital signs data representative of the vital sign sensed; and

configuring a communication device to receive the vital signs data and transmit the vital signs data to a remote location.

17. The method for monitoring a vital sign using first personal protective equipment of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

locating the communication device in second personal protective equipment that is associated with the first personal protective equipment;

configuring a vital signs sensor system to communicate the vital signs data from the vital signs sensor to the communication device by wired communication; and

configuring the communication device to wirelessly transmit the vital signs data from the communication device to the remote location.

18. The method for monitoring a vital sign using first personal protective equipment of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

locating the communication device in second personal protective equipment that is associated with the first personal protective equipment;

configuring a vital signs sensor system to communicate the vital signs data from the vital signs sensor to the communication device by wireless communication; and

configuring the communication device to wirelessly transmit the vital signs data from the communication device to the remote location.

19. The method for monitoring a vital sign using first personal protective equipment of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

configuring a gateway to receive the transmitted vital signs data at the remote location and to forward the received vital signs data to a data collection, organization, and access system; and

configuring the data collection, organization, and access system to organize the received vital signs data and provide access to the organized vital signs data.

20. The method for monitoring a vital sign using first personal protective equipment of claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

configuring the data collection, organization, and access system to provide access to the organized data by an access device located near the first personal protective equipment.