WIRELESS DIAGNOSTIC SENSOR LINK

• US 20130148701A1
• Filed: 12/08/2011
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Vink, Anthony B., Zachos, Mark P., Jewell, Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,254,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/219
• 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

Abstract

A wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device. The wireless diagnostic sensor link includes a signal input device operable for receiving a signal from the signal source in a first communication protocol in the form of an analog signal, converting the analog signal to a digital signal, and transmitting the digital signal in the form of a wireless communication protocol. The wireless diagnostic sensor link also includes a signal output device, which receives the digital signal. The signal output device is in electrical communication with the monitoring device, and is also operable for communicating with the signal input device. The signal output device converts the digital signal back to an analog signal, and sends the signal to the monitoring device in the form of a second communications protocol.

Claims

1. A wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication of raw data between a signal source and a monitoring device, comprising:

a signal input device operable for receiving an analog signal from said signal source, and converting said analog signal to a digital signal, and broadcasting said digital signal in at least one wireless communication protocol; and

a signal output device in electrical communication with said monitoring device operable for communicating with said signal input device in said at least one wireless communication protocol, and converting said digital signal to a second analog signal, and sending said second analog signal to said monitoring device such that raw data received from said signal source is transferred to said monitoring device.

2. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 1, said signal input device further comprising:

a first processor;

a first analog-to-digital converter in electrical communication with said first processor, said first analog-to-digital converter operable for receiving said analog signal from said signal source, and converting said analog signal to said digital signal in said at least one wireless communication protocol, such that said first processor receives said digital signal from said first analog-to-digital converter; and

a first radio transmitter in electrical communication with said first processor, said first processor transmits said digital signal to said first radio transmitter such that said first radio transmitter wirelessly transmits said digital signal to said signal output device in said at least one wireless communication protocol.

3. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 2, said signal output device further comprising:

a second radio transmitter in wireless communication with said first radio transmitter in said at least one wireless communication protocol;

a second processor in electrical communication with said second radio transmitter such that said second processor receives said digital signal from said second radio transmitter; and

a second analog-to-digital converter in electrical communication with said second processor, said second analog-to-digital converter operable for receiving said digital signal from said second processor, and converting said digital signal to said second analog signal prior to sending said second analog signal to said monitoring device.

4. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 1, said at least one wireless communication protocol being one selected from the group consisting of Zigbee, Wifi, infrared, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth, Ultra-wideband (UWA), and Z-Wave.

5. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 1, said signal source further comprising a transducer.

6. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 5, wherein said transducer measures a parameter that is one selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, force, and combinations thereof.

7. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 1, said monitoring device being one selected from the group consisting of a protocol adapter and a computer.

8. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 1, wherein said signal source measures a parameter at predetermined time intervals, and transmits said measured parameter to said signal input device.

9. A wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication of raw data between a signal source and a monitoring device, comprising:

a signal source for producing a first analog signal;

a signal input device for transmitting a digital signal in at least one wireless communication protocol, said signal input device having a first analog-to-digital converter for receiving said first analog signal from said signal source, and said first analog-to-digital converter converts said first analog signal to said digital signal;

a signal output device for communicating with said signal input device in said at least one wireless communication protocol such that said signal output device receives said digital signal, said signal output device having a second analog-to-digital converter for converting said digital signal to a second analog signal; and

a monitoring device in electrical communication with said second analog-to-digital converter such that said monitoring device receives said second analog signal from said second analog-to-digital converter.

10. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 9, said signal input device further comprising:

a first processor in electrical communication with said first analog-to-digital converter, said first processor receives said digital signal from said first analog-to-digital converter; and

a first radio transmitter in electrical communication with said first processor, such that said first processor sends said digital signal to said first radio transmitter and said first radio transmitter transmits said digital signal in said at least one wireless communications protocol.

11. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 10, said signal output device further comprising:

a second radio transmitter which communicates with said first radio transmitter in said at least one wireless communication protocol, and receives said digital signal from said first radio transmitter; and

a second processor in electrical communication with said second analog-to-digital converter and said second radio transmitter, said second processor receives said digital signal from said second radio transmitter and transmits said digital signal to said second analog-to-digital converter.

12. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 9, said at least one wireless communication protocol being one selected from the group consisting of Zigbee, Wifi, infrared, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth, Ultra-wideband (UWA), and Z-Wave.

13. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 9, wherein said signal source measures a parameter at predetermined time intervals, and transmits said measured parameter to said signal input device.

14. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 9, said monitoring device being one selected from the group consisting of a protocol adapter and a computer.

15. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 9, said signal source further comprising a transducer.

16. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 15, wherein said transducer measures a parameter that is one selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, force, and combinations thereof.

17. A wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication of raw data between a signal source and a monitoring device, comprising:

a signal source;

a first analog-to-digital converter for receiving a first analog signal from said signal source, and converting said first analog signal to a digital signal in at least one wireless communication protocol;

a first processor in electrical communication with said first analog-to-digital converter, and operable for receiving said digital signal from said first analog-to-digital converter;

a first radio transmitter in electrical communication with said first processor such that said first radio transmitter receives said digital signal and wirelessly transmits said digital signal in said at least one wireless communication protocol;

a second radio transmitter in wireless communication with said first radio transmitter in said at least one wireless communication protocol such that said second radio transmitter receives said digital signal from said first radio transmitter;

a second processor in electrical communication with said second radio transmitter, said second processor receives said digital signal from said second radio transmitter;

a second analog-to-digital converter in electrical communication with said second processor such that said second analog-to-digital converter receives said digital signal from said second radio transmitter in said at least one wireless communication protocol, and converts said digital signal to a second analog signal and sends said second analog signal to said second processor; and

a monitoring device operable for receiving said second analog signal from said second analog-to-digital converter.

18. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 17, said monitoring device further comprising a transducer operable for measuring a parameter that is one selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, force, and combinations thereof.

19. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 17, said at least one wireless communication protocol being one selected from the group consisting of Zigbee, Wifi, infrared, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth, Ultra-wideband (UWA), and Z-Wave.

20. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 17, wherein said signal source measures a parameter at predetermined time intervals, and transmits said measured parameter to said signal input device.

21. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device of claim 17, said monitoring device being one selected from the group consisting of a protocol adapter and a computer.