RADIOMETERS AND RELATED DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20120053445A1
• Filed: 09/02/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ThermImage, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Themimage Incorporated
• Inventors: Snow, Brent W., Turnquist, Douglas G., Reudink, Doug
• Granted Patent: US 8,939,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0481 against EM radiation, e.g. microwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0228 Microwave sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0507 using microwaves or terahertz waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/202 Assessing bladder functions, e.g. incontinence assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/00 Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers drapes specially adapted for instruments A61B46/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/04 Protection of tissue around surgical sites against effects of non-mechanical surgery, e.g. laser surgery protection of eyes against laser radiation A61F9/022

Abstract

Certain radiometer assemblies can include an antenna that is shielded within an enclosure, which can have an open end. The antenna can be used to receive signals from a patient via a matching layer that is positioned at the open end of the enclosure. In some assemblies, a rim of shielding material encompasses the open end of the enclosure so as to reduce stray electromagnetic interference, such as when the assembly is used to monitor a deep tissue temperature.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an internal temperature of a patient, the system comprising:

an electrical shield that defines a cavity having an opening at an end thereof, wherein the electrical shield comprises a connection interface;

a radiometer, wherein at least a portion of the radiometer is positioned within the cavity of the shield so as to be protected from stray electromagnetic radiation;

an antenna coupled with the radiometer and positioned within the cavity of the shield; and

a disposable unit configured to selectively cover the opening of the cavity, wherein the disposable unit comprises;

a matching element configured to couple electromagnetic energy into or out of the antenna;

a shield extension configured to extend from the electrical shield when the disposable unit is coupled with the electrical shield so as to further protect the at least a portion of the radiometer that is positioned within the cavity of the shield from stray electromagnetic radiation; and

a connection interface that is configured to be selectively coupled with the electrical shield.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the matching element, the shield extension, and the connection interface are permanently attached to each other such that the disposable unit can be attached to and removed from the electrical shield as a cohesive unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is recessed from the opening of the cavity, and wherein at least a portion of the matching element is configured to be received into the cavity so as to contact the antenna when the disposable unit is coupled with the shield.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the disposable unit comprises a strip of conducting paste in electrical contact with the shield extension, wherein the strip of conducting paste is configured to contact a lower end of the electrical shield about a full periphery thereof when the disposable unit is coupled with the electrical shield.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection interface of the disposable unit comprises an outer edge of the matching element that is configured to frictionally engage an inner surface of the electrical shield when the disposable unit is coupled with the electrical shield.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection interface of the disposable unit comprises a series of resilient fingers that are configured to grip a lower end of the electrical shield when the disposable unit is coupled with the electrical shield.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the disposable unit further comprises an adhesive layer attached to the shield extension, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to attach the shield extension to the skin of a patient.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the matching element is coupled to a bolus that is configured to conform to a contour of the skin of a patient.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the disposable unit further comprises a layer of metamaterial.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the disposable unit further comprises a conduction ring electrically coupled with the shield extension, wherein the conduction ring is configured to receive a lower end of the electrical shield when the disposable unit is coupled with the electrical shield.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the disposable unit further comprises an electromagnetic interference gasket in electrical contact with the conduction ring, wherein the electromagnetic interference gasket is configured to be compressed between a portion of the conduction ring and a portion of the electrical shield when the disposable unit is coupled with the electrical shield.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the matching element comprises a layer of matching material that comprises one or more of a gel, jelly, or simi-gelatin material that is configured to contact the antenna when the disposable unit is coupled with the electrical shield.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising an additional disposable unit configured to selectively cover the opening of the cavity, wherein the additional disposable unit comprises:

an additional matching element configured to couple electromagnetic energy into or out of the antenna, wherein the additional matching element defines one or more of a thickness, density, and dielectric constant that differs from that of the matching element such that the additional matching element can couple electromagnetic energy into or out of the antenna in a different manner, as compared with the matching element;

an additional shield extension configured to extend laterally outward from the electrical shield when the disposable unit is coupled with the electrical shield so as to further protect the at least a portion of the radiometer that is positioned within the cavity of the shield from stray electromagnetic radiation; and

an additional connection interface that is configured to be selectively coupled with the electrical shield.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power source configured to provide power to the radiometer.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the disposable unit comprises the power source and an electrical connector coupled with the power source, wherein the electrical shield comprises an electrical connector coupled with the radiometer, and wherein the electrical connectors are configured to electrically couple with each other when the disposable unit is coupled with the electrical shield.

16. A system for monitoring an internal temperature of a patient, the system comprising:

an electrical shield that defines a cavity having an opening at an end thereof, wherein the electrical shield comprises a connection interface;

a radiometer, wherein at least a portion of the radiometer is positioned within the cavity of the shield so as to be protected from stray electromagnetic radiation;

an antenna coupled with the radiometer and positioned within the cavity of the shield;

a matching element in contact with the antenna, wherein the matching element is configured to couple electromagnetic energy into or out of the antenna; and

a shield extension that is electrically coupled with and extends from the electrical shield so as to further protect the at least a portion of the radiometer that is positioned within the cavity of the shield from stray electromagnetic radiation.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the shield extension is flexible so as to be able to conform to a contour of the skin of a patient.

18. A modular unit configured for connection with an electrical shield having at least a portion of a radiometer therein, the modular unit comprising:

a matching element that comprises a dielectric material, wherein the matching element is configured to couple electromagnetic energy into or out of an antenna;

a shield extension comprising an electrically shielding flexible material that encompasses and extends laterally outward from the matching element;

an adhesive layer attached to the shield extension, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to attach the shield extension to the skin of a patient; and

a connection interface that is configured to selectively couple the modular unit with an electrical shield.

19. The modular unit of claim 18, wherein the matching element, the shield extension, the adhesive layer, and the connection interface are permanently attached to each other such that the modular unit can be attached to and removed from the electrical shield as a cohesive unit.

20. The modular unit of claim 18, wherein the matching element extends upwardly relative to the shield extension such that at least a portion of the matching element can be received into the electrical shield when the shield extension is coupled to a lower end of the electrical shield.

21. The modular unit of claim 18, wherein the connection interface comprises an outer edge of the matching element that is configured to frictionally engage an inner surface of the electrical shield when the modular unit is coupled with the electrical shield.

22. The modular unit of claim 18, wherein the connection interface comprises a series of resilient fingers that are configured to grip a lower end of the electrical shield when the modular unit is coupled with the electrical shield.

23. The modular unit of claim 18, wherein the matching element is coupled to a bolus that is configured to conform to a contour of the skin of a patient.

24. The modular unit of claim 18, further comprising a layer of metamaterial.

25. The modular unit of claim 18, further comprising a conduction ring electrically coupled with the shield extension, wherein the conduction ring is configured to receive a lower end of the electrical shield when the modular unit is coupled with the electrical shield.

26. The modular unit of claim 25, further comprising an electromagnetic interference gasket in electrical contact with the conduction ring, wherein the electromagnetic interference gasket is configured to be compressed between a portion of the conduction ring and a portion of the electrical shield when the disposable unit is coupled with the electrical shield.

27. The modular unit of claim 18, further comprising a power source configured to provide power to a radiometer.

28. A method of coupling a radiometer to a patient, the method comprising:

providing at least a portion of a radiometer within an electrical shield that comprises a connection interface;

providing a modular unit that comprises a shield extension, a matching layer, and a connection interface; and

coupling the connection interface of the electrical shield with the connection interface of the modular unit so as to physically couple the modular unit with the electrical shield and so as to electrically couple the shield extension with the electrical shield.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the shield extension comprises a flexible material, the method further comprising arranging the flexible material to follow a contour of the skin of a patient.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the modular unit further comprises an adhesive layer attached to the shield extension, the method further comprising adhering the adhesive layer to the skin of the patient.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the connection interface of the electrical shield comprises an outer surface thereof, wherein the connection interface of the modular unit comprises a series of resilient fingers, and wherein the resilient fingers grip the outer surface of the electrical shield when the connection interfaces are coupled to each other.