SYSTEM CONFIGURATION FOR MONITORING SYSTEMS

• US 20120165621A1
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Grayzel, Joseph Grayzel
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Grayzel, Joseph Grayzel
• Inventors: Grayzel, Joseph, Grayzel, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 9,149,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/221 Arrangements of sensors with cables or leads, e.g. cable harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/223 Optical cables therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/224 Cables for conducting fluids therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/225 Connectors or couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/247 Hygienic covers, i.e. for covering the sensor or apparatus during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/303 Patient cord assembly, e.g. cable harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00

Abstract

A physical configuration of cables connecting a monitoring apparatus to a human patient, where said patient and his immediate surroundings define a potentially infectious contaminated zone. The configuration provides for the monitor and main trunk cable to lie outside of the contamination zone, and one or more serial cables connect to the trunk cable and enter the contamination zone to provide contact with the patient. This physical configuration prevents contamination of the monitor and trunk cable, so they may be reused on successive patients, while lightweight and inexpensive serial cables contacting the patient and his contamination zone may be disposable. Examples of monitoring various physiological variables are provided to exemplify the universal concept of such physical configuration. Adaptation for wireless transmission is also described.

Claims

1. A system for transferring information from a patient to a monitoring console comprising:

A monitoring console to process and/or display said information from said patient;

A trunk cable of a first length having a proximal end and a distal end;

A serial cable of a second length having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end comprising at least one sensor device adapted to interface with said patient and capture said information from said patient;

wherein said patient resides within an infectious zone surrounding said patient that is contaminated with infective agents;

wherein said trunk cable proximal end is adapted to connect to said monitor console;

wherein said trunk cable distal end and said serial cable proximal end are each adapted to connect to one another;

wherein said trunk cable and said monitor console reside entirely outside the perimeter of said infectious zone;

wherein the combination of said first length and said second length is a sufficient length to reach from said patient to said monitor console; and

wherein connection of said sensor device to said patient and connection of said serial cable to said trunk cable and connection of said trunk cable to said monitor console will allow for conveyance of said information from said patient to said monitor console.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said information relates to at least one of the functions of electrocardiogram, heart rate, respiration, temperature, blood pressure, bio-impedance, blood oxygen, ultrasound, electro-encephalography, pulse-oximetry.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said trunk cable first length is of insufficient length to reach from said monitor console to the perimeter of said infectious zone surrounding said patient.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the serial cable is disposable.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said cables are electrical cables.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said cables are pneumatic cables.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said cables are fiber-optic cables.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said cables are filled with a fluid.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said serial cable proximal end connects to a wireless transmitter and said trunk cable distal end connects to a wireless receiver.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said serial cable proximal end connects to a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver is connected to said monitor.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said wireless receiver is contained within said monitor'"'"'s enclosure.

12. The system of claim 1 further including an intermediate cable of a third length having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end adapted to connect to said serial cable proximal end and said proximal end adapted to connect to said trunk cable distal end;

wherein said serial cable second length is of insufficient length to extend beyond the perimeter of said infectious zone when connected to said patient; and

wherein upon connection of said serial cable distal end to said patient and said serial cable proximal end to said intermediate cable the combined second length and third length is sufficient to extend beyond the perimeter of said infectious zone to connect to said trunk cable.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said intermediate cable proximal end connects to a wireless transmitter and said trunk cable distal end connects to a wireless receiver.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said intermediate cable proximal end connects to a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver is connected to said monitor.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said wireless receiver is contained within said monitor'"'"'s enclosure.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sheath adapted to be disposed over a cable;

wherein said trunk cable and/or said serial cable are encased in said sheath.

17. A system for monitoring electrocardiographic signals from a patient, said system comprising:

A monitoring console to process and/or display said signals from said patient;

A trunk cable of a first length having a proximal end and a distal end; and

A serial cable of a second length having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end comprising at least one conductive electrode adapted to couple with said patient and capture said electrocardiographic signal from said patient;

wherein said patient resides within an infectious zone surrounding said patient that may be contaminated with infective agents;

wherein said trunk cable proximal end is adapted to connect to said monitor console;

wherein said trunk cable distal end and said serial cable proximal end are each adapted to connect to one another;

wherein said trunk cable and said monitor console reside entirely outside the perimeter of said infectious zone;

wherein said second length is of a length such that when said at least one conductive electrode is coupled with said patient said serial cable proximal end resides outside the perimeter of said infectious zone;

wherein the combination of said first length and said second length is a sufficient length to reach from said patient to said monitor console; and

wherein connection of said conductive electrode to said patient and connection of said serial cable to said trunk cable and connection of said trunk cable to said monitor console will allow the conveyance of said electrocardiographic signals from said patient to said monitor console.

18. The System of claim 17 wherein said first length is of insufficient length to reach from said monitor console to said patient.

19. A system of monitoring blood pressure signals from a patient, said system comprising:

a monitoring console to process and/or display said signals from said patient;

a trunk cable of a first length having a proximal end and a distal end;

a serial cable of a second length having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end comprising at least one blood pressure sensor adapted to couple with said patient and capture said blood pressure signals from said patient;

wherein said patient resides within an infectious zone surrounding said patient that may be contaminated with infective agents;

wherein said trunk cable proximal end is adapted to connect to said monitor console;

wherein said trunk cable distal end and said serial cable proximal end are each adapted to connect to one another;

wherein said trunk cable and said monitor console reside entirely outside the perimeter of said infectious zone;

wherein said second length is of a length such that when said at least one blood pressure sensor is coupled to said patient said serial cable proximal end resides outside the perimeter of said infectious zone;

wherein the combination of said first length and said second length is a sufficient length to reach from said patient to said monitor console; and

wherein connection of said blood pressure sensor to said patient and connection of said serial cable to said trunk cable and connection of said trunk cable to said monitor console will allow the conveyance of said blood pressure signals from said patient to said monitor console.

20. The system of claim 20 wherein said trunk cable and/or said serial cable is a pneumatic tubular structure.

21. A method of preventing the transfer of infective agents along a series of patients successively utilizing the same monitoring system comprising:

Defining an infectious zone surrounding said patient that may be contaminated with infective agents;

Placing a monitor console outside of the perimeter of said infectious zone;

Connecting said patient to said monitor console utilizing a series of cables comprising a trunk cable of a first length and a serial cable of a second length, said serial cable and said trunk cable each comprising a distal end and a proximal end, said trunk cable proximal end adapted to connect to said monitor console, said trunk cable distal end and said serial cable proximal end adapted to connect to one another, and said serial cable distal end comprising a sensor device adapted to couple to said patient;

Connecting said trunk cable proximal end to said monitor console and placing the entirety of said trunk cable in a position outside said infectious zone;

Connecting said trunk cable distal end to said serial cable proximal end such that both ends are positioned outside the perimeter of said infectious zone;

Extending said serial cable distal end into the infectious zone to reach patient; and

Coupling said sensor device to said patient;

wherein the combination of said first length and said second length is a sufficient length to reach from said patient to said monitor console; and

wherein connection of said sensor device to said patient and connection of said serial cable to said trunk cable and connection of said trunk cable to said monitor console will allow for conveyance of said information from said patient to said monitor console.