PRESSURE SENSOR FOR MONITORING A SUBJECT AND PRESSURE SENSOR WITH INFLATABLE BLADDER

• US 20110306844A1
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
• Original Assignee: BAM Labs, Inc. (Sleep Number Corporation)
• Inventors: Young, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02444 Details of sensor A61B5/02427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1102 Ballistocardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/445 in a horizontal position
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 5/04 with means for measuring the pressure imposed by the load on a liquid pressure gauges per se G01L
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/02 by hydraulic or pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/144 with dismountable parts, e.g. for maintenance purposes or for ensuring sterile conditions for detachable interface or adapter between the process medium and the pressure gauge G01L19/003

Abstract

Pressure sensing devices for use with an inflatable bladder and monitoring apparatus for an at rest subject are disclosed herein. The device can comprise a housing comprising a recess and configured to be welded in a seam of the inflatable bladder. A pressure sensor can be located within the recess with a sensing side configured to be exposed to the cavity of the inflatable bladder and a reference side configured to be exposed to ambient air. A printed circuit board can be located within the recess and coupled to the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is operable to detect a pressure change within the cavity due to a force exerted by a subject on the inflatable bladder.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring a subject at rest comprising:

an inflatable bladder comprising a cavity housing a fluid and a hermetically sealed seam;

a housing comprising a recess and hermetically sealed within the seam;

a pressure sensor located within the recess, the pressure sensor having a sensing side exposed to the cavity of the inflatable bladder and a reference side exposed to ambient air; and

a printed circuit board located within the recess and coupled to the pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is operable to detect a pressure change within the cavity due to a force exerted by a subject on the inflatable bladder.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing has a distal end having a tubular aperture providing a conduit between the recess and the cavity and a proximal end having an opening through which the pressure sensor and printed circuit board are inserted into the recess.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pressure sensor has a stem fit within the tubular aperture through which the sensing side of the pressure sensor is exposed to the fluid within the cavity.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises a plug inserted within the opening in the proximal end, the plug having a first aperture through which the reference side of the pressure sensor is exposed to ambient air and a second aperture through which electrical conduit extends between the printed circuit board and an external controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first and second apertures are sealed with a frangible cap configured for removal prior to use.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to determine at least one vital sign of a subject on the inflatable bladder based on a signal from the printed circuit board.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one vital sign is one or more of a heart rate, a respiration rate, movement, weight and presence of the subject on the inflatable bladder.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the force exerted on the inflatable bladder originates from at least one of a heart rate and a respiration rate of the subject.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of tubes extending from the tubular aperture, each of the plurality of tubes terminating in a different location within the cavity of the inflatable bladder.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a plurality of compartments, each compartment having a cavity, wherein each of the plurality of tubes is in fluid communication with a different one of the plurality of compartments.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more housings, wherein the housings are hermetically sealed in different locations around a perimeter of the inflatable bladder.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a plurality of compartments, each compartment having a cavity, wherein the housing are positioned at locations around the perimeter so that each housing is in fluid communication with a different one of the plurality of compartments.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises two plastic shells hermetically sealed.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is further configured to communicate fluid to the cavity from a source external the inflatable bladder.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is sized and configured to have substantially the same dimension as an inflation valve.

16. A pressure sensing device for use with an inflatable bladder, the device comprising:

a housing comprising a recess and configured to be welded in a seam of the inflatable bladder;

a pressure sensor located within the recess, the pressure sensor having a sensing side configured to be exposed to the cavity of the inflatable bladder and a reference side configured to be exposed to ambient air; and

a printed circuit board located within the recess and coupled to the pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is operable to detect a pressure change within the cavity due to a force exerted by a subject on the inflatable bladder.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the housing has a distal end having a tubular aperture providing a conduit from the recess and a proximal end having an opening through which the pressure sensor and printed circuit board are inserted into the recess.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the pressure sensor has a stem fit within the tubular aperture through which the sensing side of the pressure sensor is configured for exposure to a fluid.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the housing further comprises a plug configured to close the opening within the proximal end of the housing, the plug having a first aperture through which the reference side of the pressure sensor is exposed to ambient air and a second aperture sized to fit electrical conduit between the printed circuit board and an external controller.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first and second apertures are sealed with a frangible cap.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of tubes extending from the tubular aperture and configured to terminate as different locations within the cavity of the inflatable bladder.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein the housing is a plastic material.