Apparatus and Method for Mitigating Noise Affecting a Transcutaneous Signal

• US 20130237788A1
• 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:
  US13/792,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20130237788A1
• 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 analyzing a transcutaneous electromagnetic signal, the transcutaneous electromagnetic signal being at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected by perivascular tissue underlying an epidermis, the method comprising:

detecting the transcutaneous electromagnetic signal with a receiver, the receiver being at least partially disposed in a housing overlying the epidermis; and

absorbing an extracorporeal electromagnetic signal with the housing, the extracorporeal electromagnetic signal being at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected in a cavity between the housing and the epidermis.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiver includes a detector face, and the housing includes a surface cincturing the detector face.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a generally smooth superficies confronting the epidermis includes the detector face and the surface.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the detector face and the surface partially contiguously engage the epidermis.

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

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

7. The method of claim 1, comprising emitting an electromagnetic signal with a transmitter, the transcutaneous electromagnetic signal including a first portion of the electromagnetic signal that is at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected by perivascular tissue, and the extracorporeal electromagnetic signal including a second portion of the electromagnetic signal that is at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected in the cavity.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the receiver includes a detector face, the transmitter includes an emitter face, and the housing includes a surface cincturing the detector and emitter faces.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a generally smooth superficies confronting the epidermis includes the detector face, the emitter face, and the surface.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the detector face, the emitter face, and the surface partially contiguously engage the epidermis.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein absorbing the extracorporeal electromagnetic signal improves a signal-to-noise ratio of the transcutaneous electromagnetic signal.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising cavity changes in response to relative movement of the housing and the epidermis, the cavity changes include at least one of cavity shape change and cavity volume change.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising monitoring patient motion based on at least one of the cavity changes.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising monitoring epidermis inspection frequency based on at least one of the cavity changes.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein absorbing the extracorporeal electromagnetic signal comprises absorbing near-infrared energy having wavelengths between approximately 600 nanometers and approximately 2,100 nanometers.

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

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

18. The method of claim 1 wherein absorbing the extracorporeal electromagnetic 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.