Packages Of Apparatus For Non-Invasive Detection Of Pulse Rate And Blood Flow Anomalies

• US 20100042006A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nanyang Polytechnic
• Original Assignee: Nanyang Polytechnic
• Inventors: Gooi, Boon Chong, Lim, Chin Leng Peter, Phua, Chee Teck
• Granted Patent: US 8,246,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0265 using electromagnetic means, e.g. electromagnetic flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/09 Magnetoresistive devices

Abstract

The present invention provides a package for an apparatus for non-invasively monitoring of blood flow of an object, a magnetic field sensing device, and a magnetic source positioning device.

Claims

1. A package for an apparatus for non-invasively monitoring of blood flow of an object, comprising:

a magnetic source for producing a localized, uni-directional, and constant magnetic field;

a signal acquisition module with a magnetic sensor disposed within the magnetic field for detecting the modulations of the magnetic field caused by the blood flow; and

a gaseous damping cushion, wherein the magnetic source may be disposed within or onto the gaseous damping cushion;

thereby the gaseous damping cushion enables the modulations of the magnetic field of the magnetic source caused by the blood flow to be amplified and/or propagated, and isolated from external noises.

2. The package of claim 1, further comprising:

a signal conditioning module for converting the output of the signal acquisition module with appropriate amplifications; and

a digital signal processing module for processing the output signal from the signal conditioning module;

thereby pulse rate and blood flow anomaly can be monitored

3. The package of claim 1, further comprising a display/user interface/alarm module for providing visual or acoustic notification to a user.

4. The package of claim 1, wherein the magnetic source is a permanent magnet.

5. The package of claim 1, wherein the magnetic source is an electromagnet.

6. The package of claim 1, wherein the magnetic source comprises a plurality of electromagnets.

7. The package of claim 6, wherein the strength of the magnetic field produced by the plurality of electromagnets is controlled electronically.

8. The package of claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor is any magnetic sensor with appropriate sensitivity of detecting the modulation of the magnetic field from the magnetic source.

9. The package of claim 8, wherein the magnetic sensor is a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) based magnetic sensor.

10. The package of claim 8, wherein the magnetic sensor is a tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) magnetic sensor.

11. The package of claim 8, wherein the magnetic sensor is an anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensor.

12. The package of claim 1, wherein the signal acquisition module comprises a printed circuit board and two magnetic sensors;

wherein the printed circuit board is sandwiched by the two magnetic sensors; and

wherein the two magnetic sensors are configured to have an orthogonal formation.

13. The package of claim 1, wherein the gaseous damping cushion has a doughnut configuration with a circular chamber;

wherein the circular chamber is disposed with means for allowing the embedded magnetic source to move and holding the embedded magnetic source in place.

14. The package of claim 13, wherein the means within the circular chamber comprises a plurality of semi-flexible flaps.

15. The package of claim 1, wherein the gaseous damping cushion comprises air or non-magnetic gas.

16. A magnetic field sensing device, comprising:

two magnetic sensors for sensing a magnetic field;

a printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board is sandwiched by the two magnetic sensors that are configured to have an orthogonal formation, and wherein the two magnetic sensors are electrically coupled to the printed circuit board;

thereby the signals from the two magnetic sensors are outputted into the printed circuit board; and

a means for channeling the signals from the printed circuit board so that the signals can be processed.

17. The magnetic field sensing device of claim 16, wherein the magnetic sensors are any magnetic sensor with appropriate sensitivity of detecting the modulation of the magnetic field from the magnetic source.

18. The magnetic field sensing device of claim 16, wherein the magnetic sensor is a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) magnetic sensor.

19. The magnetic field sensing device of claim 16, wherein the magnetic sensor is a tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) based magnetic sensor.

20. The magnetic field sensing device of claim 16, wherein the magnetic sensor is an anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensor.

21. A magnetic source positioning device, comprising:

at least one magnetic source; and

a gaseous damping cushion that has a doughnut configuration with a circular chamber;

wherein when the at least one magnetic source is embedded within the circular chamber, the circular chamber is disposed with means for allowing the embedded magnetic source to move and position the embedded magnetic source within the circular chamber.

22. The magnetic source positioning device of claim 21, wherein the magnetic source is a permanent magnet.

23. The magnetic source positioning device of claim 21, wherein the magnetic source is an electromagnet.

24. The magnetic source positioning device of claim 21, wherein the means within the circular chamber comprises a plurality of semi-flexible flaps.

25. The magnetic source positioning device of claim 21, wherein the gaseous damping cushion comprises air or non-magnetic gas.