WIRELESS AND POWER-SOURCE-FREE EXTRAVASATION AND INFILTRATION DETECTION SENSOR

• US 20150011876A1
• Filed: 08/29/2012
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: Bouton, Chad E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,722,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/430
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0507 using microwaves or terahertz waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4878 Evaluating oedema
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/42 Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• 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: F04C 2270/041 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

A system detects extravasation or infiltration by segregating active components that drive a passive sensor for economical single use. A receiving antenna of the passive sensor receives antenna for receiving a transmitted signal comprising RF electromagnetic power. A first circuit transmits a first portion of the received signal through a body portion. A sensor detects a resultant signal from the body portion. A second circuit combines a reference signal comprising a second portion of the received signal with the resultant signal so as to define an output signal. A transmit antenna transmits the output signal to a receiver.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A passive sensor, comprising:

a receiving antenna for receiving a transmitted signal comprising Radio Frequency (RF) electromagnetic power as a received signal;

a first circuit for transmitting a first portion of the received signal through a body portion;

a sensor for detecting a resultant signal from the body portion;

a second circuit for combining a reference signal comprising a second portion of the received signal with the resultant signal so as to define an output signal; and

a transmit antenna for transmitting the output signal to a receiver for use in determining a change in a level of fluid in the body portion.

17. The passive sensor of claim 16, wherein the transmitted signal further comprises a time domain pulse of electromagnetic power, the passive sensor further comprising a first delay circuit for delaying a selected one of the first portion of the received signal comprising the time domain pulse and the second portion of the received signal comprising the time domain pulse as the reference signal.

18. The passive sensor of claim 17, further comprising a second delay circuit for delaying the other one of the first portion and the second portion of the time domain pulse, wherein the first and second delay circuits are configured to separate in time the resultant signal and the reference signal from each other as well as a noise pulse at the sensor arising due to a reflected portion of the transmitted signal.

19. The passive sensor of claim 16, wherein the receiving antenna is further for receiving the transmitted signal in a range of greater than 1.5 GHz to approximately 30 GHz over a period of time.

20. The passive sensor of claim 16, wherein the transmitted signal comprises a sweep of continuous wave electromagnetic power across a frequency range.

21. The passive sensor of claim 16, further comprising a substrate for supporting said receiving antenna, said first circuit for transmitting, said sensor, said second circuit for combining, and said transmit antenna.

22. A system for detecting extravasation, comprising:

a signal generator for transmitting a transmitted signal comprising Radio Frequency (RF) electromagnetic power selected for being transmittable through a body portion in relation to an amount of fluid in the body portion due to extravasation;

a passive sensor, comprising;

a receiving antenna for receiving the transmitted signal as a received signal,

a first circuit for transmitting a first portion of the received signal through the body portion,

a sensor for detecting a resultant signal from the body portion,

a second circuit for combining a reference signal comprising a second portion of the received signal with the resultant signal so as to define an output signal, and

a transmit antenna for transmitting the output signal as a transmitted output signal; and

a signal processor for receiving the transmitted output signal for use in determining a change in fluid level in the body portion.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the signal processor is further for performing a ratio comparison of peak amplitude of the resultant signal and the reference signal of the transmitted output signal.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the transmitted signal further comprises a time domain pulse of electromagnetic power, the passive sensor further comprising a first delay circuit for delaying a selected one of the first portion of the received signal comprising the time domain pulse and the second portion of the received signal comprising the time domain pulse as the reference signal.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a second delay circuit for delaying the other one of the first portion and the second portion of the time domain pulse, wherein the first and second delay circuits are configured to separate in time the resultant signal and the reference signal from each other as well as a noise pulse at the sensor arising due to a reflected portion of the transmitted signal.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the receiving antenna is further for receiving the transmitted signal in a range of greater than 1.5 GHz to approximately 30 GHz over a period of time.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the transmitted signal comprises a sweep of continuous wave electromagnetic power across a frequency range.

28. The system of claim 22, further comprising a substrate for supporting said receiving antenna, said first circuit for transmitting, said second circuit for combining, said sensor, and said transmit antenna.

29. A method for detecting extravasation, comprising:

transmitting a transmitted signal comprising Radio Frequency (RF) electromagnetic power selected for being transmittable through a body portion in relation to an amount of fluid in the body portion due to extravasation or infiltration;

receiving the transmitted signal as a received signal;

transmitting a first portion of the received signal through the body portion;

detecting a resultant signal from the body portion;

combining a reference signal comprising a second portion of the received signal with the resultant signal so as to define an output signal;

transmitting the output signal; and

receiving the transmitted output signal for use in determining a change in fluid level in the body portion.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising performing a ratio comparison of peak amplitude of the resultant signal and the reference signal.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the transmitted signal further comprises a time domain pulse of electromagnetic power, the method further comprising delaying a selected one of the first portion of the received signal comprising the time domain pulse and the second portion of the received signal comprising time domain pulse as the reference signal;

and

combining the reference signal with the resultant signal as pulses separated as a function of time.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising delaying the other one of the first portion and the second portion of the time domain pulse to separate in time the resultant signal and the reference signal from each other as well as blanking a noise pulse arising due to a reflected portion of the transmitted signal from an ambient environment.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising transmitting the transmitted signal in a range of greater than 1.5 GHz to approximately 30 GHz over a period of time.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the transmitted signal comprises a pulse of continuous wave electromagnetic power.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising presenting a user indication of a selected one of an inoperative state, a nominal state and an extravasation state.