Medical Monitoring Device With Flexible Circuitry

• US 20100234706A1
• Filed: 03/16/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gilland, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/344
• 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 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor

Abstract

Embodiments described herein may include systems and methods for monitoring physiological parameters of a patient. Specifically, embodiments disclose the use of a flexible circuitry in a medical sensor that is small and lightweight and easily bendable, such that it may be comfortably affixed to a patient while also providing added electronic functions, such as digital conversion and wireless capability.

Claims

1. A sensor capable of placement adjacent to tissue to be tested, comprising:

a light emitter and a light detector capable of acquiring physiological data from a patient;

a flexible circuit comprising an analog-to-digital converter capable of being coupled to an output of the light detector and capable of outputting a digital signal based at least in part upon the physiological data from the patient; and

a flexible outer covering capable of being positioned generally adjacent the tissue of a patient, and capable of housing the flexible circuit.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit comprises thin film transistors disposed on a flexible polymer substrate.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit comprises low-temperature polycrystalline silicon.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible outer covering is capable of being wrapped generally around a body part of a patient.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible outer covering comprises a clip capable of generally attaching to an extremity of the patient.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the light emitter comprises a generally flexible, organic light emitting diode.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit comprises a wireless device coupled to an output of the digital-to-analog converter, and capable of wirelessly transmitting the digital signal to a monitor.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit comprises an amplifier coupled to an output of the detector, and a filter coupled to an output of the amplifier, wherein an output of the filter is coupled to an input of the digital-to-analog converter.

9. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit comprises a drive circuit coupled to an input of the emitter and configured to provide an electrical signal to the emitter that causes the emitter to emit a signal into a tissue of the patient.

10. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit comprises a display capable of displaying an output based at least in part upon the physiological data, and/or a state of the sensor.

11. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit comprises a processor capable of receiving the digital signal, and further capable of generating an output based at least in part upon the physiological data.

12. A monitoring system, comprising:

a sensor, comprising;

a light emitter and a light detector, capable of acquiring physiological data from a patient;

a flexible circuit comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled to an output of the light detector and capable of outputting a digital signal based at least in part upon the physiological data from the patient; and

a monitor communicatively coupled to the sensor, and capable of receiving the digital signal, and further capable of generating an output based at least in part upon the physiological data.

13. The monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the output corresponding to the physiological data is capable of being transmitted from the monitor to the sensor;

and wherein the sensor comprises a display configured to display the output.

14. The monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the flexible circuit of the sensor comprises a flexible wireless transmitter capable of transmitting the digital signal to the monitor.

15. The monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the flexible circuit of the sensor comprises a thin film transistor comprising generally low-temperature, polycrystalline silicon disposed on a flexible polymer substrate.

16. A method of generating physiological data, comprising:

driving circuit configured to drive a light emitting diode generally disposed in a sensor and configured to emit a light signal into a tissue;

receiving a modified light signal generally via a light detector disposed in the sensor, the modified light signal corresponding to the light signal after it has passed through the tissue;

generating a digital signal in part using an analog-to-digital converter generally disposed in the sensor, the digital signal based at least in part upon the modified signal; and

generating a physiological parameter at least in part upon the digital signal;

wherein the driving circuit, the light emitting diode, the light detector, and/or the analog-to-digital converter comprises a flexible circuit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein generating a physiological parameter comprises sending the digital signal to a flexible processor disposed generally on the sensor.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising wirelessly transmitting the digital signal via a flexible wireless transmitter to a monitor, display, and/or other device.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising wirelessly transmitting the physiological parameter from the monitor, display, and/or other device to the sensor and displaying the physiological parameter on a flexible display disposed generally on an outer surface of the sensor.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein driving the light emitting diodes comprises sequentially activating a red light emitting diode and an infrared light emitting diode using a flexible light drive disposed in the sensor.