SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF A BODY

• US 20100036211A1
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Washington State University
• Original Assignee: Washington State University
• Inventors: Rector, David, La Rue, George S., Heo, Deuk
• Application Number:
  US12/513,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036211A1
• 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 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/372 Analysis of electroencephalograms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles

Abstract

Systems and methods for measuring physiological parameters of a body are described. In some embodiments, the system employs a physiological monitoring device capable of measuring, amplifying, digitizing and transmitting events ranging in frequency from 0 (DC) to 10 kHz.

Claims

1. A method for measuring a physiological parameter of a mammalian body, the method comprising:

sampling the physiological parameter with a plurality of contacts positioned at the body to determine two or more sampled values for the physiological parameter;

constructing a value for the physiological parameter using the two or more sampled values; and

adjusting for a DC offset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting for a DC offset comprises applying an offset voltage to a signal corresponding to a sampled value of the physiological parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the signal from an analog signal to a digital signal.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the digital signal to a data station.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein applying an offset voltage comprises applying a dynamic offset voltage.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying an electrical stimulus to the body via one or more of the contacts.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising implanting the contacts within the body.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the contacts at a skin of the body.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning the contacts at a cortical surface of the body.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein sampling the physiological parameter comprises sampling an electrical potential of the body.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein sampling the physiological parameter with the contacts comprises sensing the physiological parameter with a plurality of detectors arranged in an array.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein:

sampling the physiological parameter with the contacts comprises at least approximately simultaneously sampling the physiological parameter with first and second contacts; and

the method further comprises at least approximately simultaneously sampling the physiological parameter with third and fourth contacts positioned at the body.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:

sampling the physiological parameter with the contacts comprises sampling the physiological parameter with first and second contacts at a first time interval; and

the method further comprises sampling the physiological parameter with third and fourth contacts at a second time interval different than the first time interval.

14. An apparatus for measuring a physiological parameter of a body, the apparatus comprising:

an array of contacts for sampling a physiological parameter of a body; and

a processing device electrically coupled to the contacts to receive signals from the contacts, the processing device including a voltage offset component for adjusting for a DC offset, an analog to digital converter for converting the signals from analog signals to digital signals, and an output component for transmitting the digital signals to an external device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the voltage offset component, the analog to digital converter, and the output component are disposed on a single chip.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the output component comprises a wireless transmitter.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the array of contacts and the processing device are sized for implantation into the body.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the voltage offset component is configured to apply a dynamic offset voltage to the signals.

19. A system for measuring a physiological parameter of a body, the system comprising:

a signal reception component that receives a signal related to a value of the physiological parameter measured from a contact at the body; and

a modulation component that modulates the signal to a higher frequency in order to reduce noise within the signal.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a demodulation component that demodulates the modulated signal; and

a filter component that removes frequencies of the demodulated signal that include the noise.

21. A system for measuring a physiological parameter of a body, the system comprising:

a signal reception component that receives signals from contacts at the body used to sample values of the physiological parameter, wherein each value is sampled at a time different than the other sampled values

a sampling component that reconstructs a value for the physiological parameter using the sampled values; and

a DC offset component that adjusts the value for a DC offset.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein reconstructing the value for the physiological parameter includes using interpolation to align the sampled values in timed order to construct a waveform based on the measured physiological parameter.

23. A method of measuring a value of a physiological parameter from a mammalian body, the method comprising:

sampling from an array of contacts at the mammalian body at frequencies of at least 7 kHz;

compensating for a DC offset from a signal substantially less than the DC offset to achieve high gain; and

reducing power consumption by chopping the signal.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the array of contacts covers a 5 mm by 5 mm area of the mammalian body.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the array of contacts is 5 mm by 5 mm in size.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the array of contacts is 8 mm by 8 mm in size.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein sampling at frequencies of at least 7 kHz includes sampling at frequencies between 7 kHz and 10 kHz.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein sampling from an array of contacts includes serially sampling at least two contacts within the array of contacts.

29. A system for measuring a value of a physiological parameter from a mammalian body, comprising:

a sampling component that samples an array of contacts at the mammalian body at frequencies of at least 7 kHz;

a signal compensation component that compensates for DC offset of a signal received from the sampling component; and

a power reduction component that chops a portion of the received signal after the DC offset compensation.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the signal compensation component applies an offset voltage to the received signal.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the sampling component samples the array of contacts below the Nyquist rate and constructs the received signal.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the sampling component samples the array of contacts serially.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the power reduction component modulates the received signal to a higher frequency and demodulates the received signal to remove noise from the received signal.

31. (canceled)