APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS USING ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENTS

• US 20110160548A1
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: FORSTER, Ian J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,874,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• 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 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches

Abstract

A system for monitoring a physiological parameter comprises a substrate, a pair of drive electrodes, a pair of detection electrodes, and an RFID apparatus. The substrate is arranged to be removably securable to a biological organism. At least the pair of drive electrodes or the pair of detection electrodes is secured to the substrate. The RFID apparatus is arranged to be in electrical communication with at least the pair of drive electrodes or the pair of detection electrodes. Methods of using the device are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a physiological parameter comprising;

a substrate,

a first drive electrode, a second drive electrode, a first detection electrode, a second detection electrode, and a RFID device;

the substrate is arranged to be removably securable to a biological organism;

the first drive electrode, the second drive electrode, the first detection electrode, the second detection electrode, and the RFID device are each disposed on the substrate;

the RFID device is arranged to be in electrical communication with each of the first drive electrode, the second drive electrode, the first detection electrode, and the second detection electrode in order to produce a voltage profile to determine a physiological parameter.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the physiological parameter is selected from a group including heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature, perspiration rate, the presence or level of bacteria, body hydration, blood oxygen levels and combinations thereof.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the RFID device further includes a memory device.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the RFID device includes an on-board power supply.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the on-board power supply is a battery.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the voltage profile can be determined at various depths of a wound.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein a first voltage is provided to the first driver and a second voltage is provided to the second driver.

8. A system for monitoring a physiological parameter, comprising a patch, a first drive electrode, a second drive electrode, a first detection electrode, a second detection electrode, an RFID apparatus, and an RFID transceiver;

the patch is arranged to be removably securable to a biological organism;

the first drive electrode and the first detection electrode are each coupled to the patch;

the second drive electrode is coupled to the patch and located proximate to the first drive electrode;

the second detection electrode is coupled to the patch and located proximate to the first detection electrode;

the RFID apparatus is coupled to the patch;

the RFID apparatus is arranged to be in electrical communication with each of the first drive electrode, the second drive electrode, the first detection electrode, and the second detection electrode; and

the RFID transceiver is arranged to transmit radio signals to, and receive radio signals from, the RFID apparatus relating to a physiological parameter.

9. The system as provided in claim 8, wherein the first drive electrode provides a first voltage to generate a first voltage parameter and the second drive electrode provides a second voltage to generate a second voltage parameter distinct from the first voltage parameters.

10. The system as provided in claim 9, wherein the first and second voltage parameters are used to create a physiological parameter.

11. The system as provided in claim 8, wherein the physiological parameter is selected from a group including heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature, perspiration rate, the presence or level of bacteria, body hydration, blood oxygen levels and combinations thereof.

12. A system for monitoring a physiological parameter, comprising;

a first substrate, a second substrate, a first drive electrode, a second drive electrode, a first detection electrode, a second detection electrode, and an RFID apparatus;

the first substrate and the second substrate are each arranged to be removably securable to a biological organism;

the first drive electrode and the second drive electrode are coupled to the first substrate;

the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are coupled to the second substrate; and

wherein the RFID apparatus is arranged to be in electrical communication with each of the first drive electrode, the second drive electrode, the first detection electrode, and the second detection electrode.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the first drive electrode creates a first voltage parameter and the second drive electrode creates a second voltage parameter and the first and second voltage parameters generate a physiological parameter.

14. A method of monitoring a physiological parameter, comprising the steps of;

positioning an RFID apparatus proximate a biological organism;

using the RFID apparatus to generate an electrical current in response to a signal request;

quantifying characteristics of the electrical current;

driving the electrical current through a portion of the biological organism;

detecting a voltage from a voltage profile that has been radiated from the electrical current after it is driven through the portion of the biological organism;

and quantifying characteristics of the detected voltage to ascertain data or other parameters from the voltage.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the electric current reaches different levels of the organism to produce at least two different voltage profiles.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the voltage profile is used to create a physiological parameter.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the physiological parameter is selected from a group including heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature, perspiration rate, the presence or level of bacteria, body hydration, blood oxygen levels and combinations thereof.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, including further step of providing a substrate, the substrate having a first drive electrode, a second drive electrode, a first detection electrode, a second detection electrode, and a radio frequency identification device disposed thereon.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the RFID apparatus is arranged to be in electrical communication with each of the first drive electrode, the second drive electrode, the first detection electrode, and the second detection electrode in order to produce a voltage profile to determine a physiological parameter.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the voltage for the voltage profile is created by the first and second drive electrodes.