Apparatus and Method for Mitigating Noise Affecting a Transcutaneous Signal

• US 20130237787A1
• Filed: 03/10/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ivWatch, LLC
• Original Assignee: ivWatch, LLC
• Inventors: Warren, Gary P., Alley, Matthew S.
• Application Number:
  US13/792,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20130237787A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/185 Optical shielding, e.g. baffles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02014 Determining aneurysm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02042 Determining blood loss or bleeding, e.g. during a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16836 by sensing tissue properties at the infusion site, e.g. for detecting infiltration detecting tissue temperature for diagnostic purposes A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/42 having means for desensitising skin, for protruding skin to facilitate piercing, or for locating point where body is to be pierced

Abstract

A system and method include a sensor overlying a target area of skin to aid in diagnosing subcutaneous fluid leakage. The sensor includes an absorbent that minimizes noise in detected electromagnetic radiation to make it easier to analyze a signal that is indicative of subcutaneous fluid leakage.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating an anatomical change over time in perivascular tissue, the method comprising:

emitting a first electromagnetic radiation signal through an epidermis; and

absorbing a second electromagnetic radiation signal, the second electromagnetic radiation signal being a first portion of the first electromagnetic radiation signal that is at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected by the epidermis.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second electromagnetic radiation signal impinges on a surface of a housing, and absorbing the second electromagnetic radiation signal includes the housing absorbing the second electromagnetic radiation signal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein emitting the first electromagnetic radiation signal includes a first end face of a first optical fiber emitting the first electromagnetic radiation signal, and detecting the third electromagnetic radiation signal includes a second end face of a second optical fiber detecting the third electromagnetic radiation signal, and the surface cinctures the first and second end faces.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising potting the first and second optical fibers in the housing.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein potting the first and second optical fibers includes cincturing at least portions of the first and second optical fibers with an electromagnetic radiation absorbing material.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein potting the first and second optical fibers includes injecting epoxy into the housing.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein emitting the first electromagnetic radiation signal comprises a first end face of a first optical fiber emitting the first electromagnetic radiation signal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the surface cinctures the first end face, and the housing cinctures at least a portion of the first optical fiber.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a superficies configured to confront the epidermis includes the first end face and the surface.

10. The method of claim 2, comprising detecting a third electromagnetic radiation signal through the epidermis, the third electromagnetic radiation signal being a second portion of the first electromagnetic radiation signal that is at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected by perivascular tissue underlying the epidermis.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein emitting the first electromagnetic radiation signal includes a first end face of a first optical fiber emitting the first electromagnetic radiation signal, and detecting the third electromagnetic radiation signal includes a second end face of a second optical fiber detecting the third electromagnetic radiation signal, the surface cinctures the first and second end faces, and the housing cinctures at least a portion of the first optical fiber and at least a portion of the second optical fiber.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a superficies configured to confront the epidermis includes the first end face, the second end face, and the surface.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein absorbing the second electromagnetic radiation signal comprises absorbing at least approximately 50% of the second electromagnetic radiation signal that impinges on the surface.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein absorbing the second electromagnetic radiation signal comprises absorbing at least approximately 90% of the second electromagnetic radiation signal that impinges on the surface.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein absorbing the second electromagnetic radiation signal comprises absorbing near-infrared energy having wavelengths between approximately 600 nanometers and approximately 2,100 nanometers.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein absorbing the second electromagnetic radiation signal comprises absorbing near-infrared energy having wavelengths between approximately 600 nanometers and approximately 1,800 nanometers.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein absorbing the second electromagnetic radiation signal comprises absorbing near-infrared energy having wavelengths between approximately 800 nanometers and approximately 1,050 nanometers.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein absorbing the second electromagnetic radiation signal comprises absorbing a near-infrared energy signal centered about approximately 970 nanometers.

19. The method of claim 1, comprising aiding in diagnosing at least one of infiltration and extravasation.