Apparatus and Method for Mitigating Noise Affecting a Transcutaneous Signal

• US 20130237858A1
• Filed: 03/10/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ivWatch, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gary P. Warren, ivWatch, LLC, Matthew S. Alley
• Inventors: Warren, Gary P., Alley, Matthew S.
• Application Number:
  US13/792,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20130237858A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• 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 aiding in diagnosing at least one of infiltration and extravasation, the method comprising:

emitting a first near-infrared signal through an epidermis;

detecting a second near-infrared signal through the epidermis, the second near-infrared signal being a portion of the first near-infrared signal that is at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected by perivascular tissue underlying the epidermis; and

absorbing a third near-infrared signal, the third near-infrared signal being a portion of the first near-infrared signal that is at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected by the epidermis.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein signal peaks of the first, second and third near-infrared signals are centered about a common wavelength.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the common wavelength of the signal peaks of the first, second and third near-infrared signals is centered between approximately 600 nanometers and approximately 2,100 nanometers.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the common wavelength of the signal peaks of the first, second and third near-infrared signals is centered between approximately 600 nanometers and approximately 1,800 nanometers.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the common wavelength of the signal peaks of the first, second and third near-infrared signals is centered between approximately 800 nanometers and approximately 1,050 nanometers.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein absorbing the third near-infrared signal comprises absorbing the third near-infrared signal at a first portion of a superficies overlying the target area.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein emitting the first near-infrared signal comprises emitting the first near-infrared signal at a second portion of the superficies, the first portion of the superficies cincturing the second portion of the superficies.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein detecting the second near-infrared signal comprises detecting the second near-infrared signal at a third portion of the superficies, the first portion of the superficies cincturing the third portion of the superficies.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein absorbing the third near-infrared signal comprises absorbing at least approximately 50% of the third near-infrared signal that impinges on the first portion of the superficies.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein absorbing the third near-infrared signal comprises absorbing at least approximately 90% of the third near-infrared signal that impinges on the first portion of the superficies.

11. The method of claim 6, comprising absorbing a fourth near-infrared signal, the fourth near-infrared signal being a portion of the first near-infrared signal that is reflected, scattered and redirected by the perivascular tissue.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein absorbing the fourth near-infrared signal comprises absorbing at least approximately 50% of the fourth near-infrared signal that impinges on the first portion of the superficies.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein absorbing the fourth near-infrared signal comprises absorbing at least approximately 90% of the fourth near-infrared signal that impinges on the first portion of the superficies.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein emitting the first near-infrared signal comprises a first end face of a first optical fiber emitting the emitting the first near-infrared signal.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the second near-infrared signal comprises a second end face of a second optical fiber detecting the emitting the second near-infrared signal.

16. The method of claim 1, comprising aiding in diagnosing at least one of infiltration and extravasation by detecting the second near-infrared signal.

17. The method of claim 1, comprising improving a signal-to-noise ratio of the second near-infrared signal by absorbing the third near-infrared signal.