Wireless Sensors for Nerve Integrity Monitoring Systems

• US 20160038073A1
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: BROWN, Richard L., JUSTIS, Jeff R., POLLOCK, John G., MCFARLIN, Kevin L., SCHULHAUSER, Randal C., STEVENSON, Tyler S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,123,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00004 characterised by electronic signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2673 for monitoring movements of vocal chords
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0209 Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 : Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 : Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 : Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 : Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 : Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 : Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 : Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 : Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 : Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0443 : Special cuff-wall materials A61M16/0481, A61M16/0422 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 : sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 : related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 : Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 : Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 : Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 : using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 : specified by the stimulation parameters

Abstract

A sensor including electrodes, a control module and a physical layer module. The electrodes are configured to (i) attach to a patient, and (ii) receive a first electromyographic signal from the patient. The control module is connected to the electrodes. The control module is configured to (i) detect the first electromyographic signal, and (ii) generate a first voltage signal. The physical layer module is configured to: receive a payload request from a console interface module or a nerve integrity monitoring device; and based on the payload request, (i) upconvert the first voltage signal to a first radio frequency signal, and (ii) wirelessly transmit the first radio frequency signal from the sensor to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a plurality of electrodes configured to (i) attach to a patient, and (ii) receive a first electromyographic signal from the patient;

a control module connected to the plurality of electrodes, wherein the control module is configured to (i) detect the first electromyographic signal, and (ii) generate a first voltage signal; and

a physical layer module configured to

receive a payload request from a console interface module or a nerve integrity monitoring device, and

based on the payload request, (i) upconvert the first voltage signal to a first radio frequency signal, and (ii) wirelessly transmit the first radio frequency signal from the sensor to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein:

the payload request includes a data rate;

the physical layer module is configured to transmit a data payload to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device at the data rate; and

the data payload includes data generated based on the first electromyographic signal.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein:

the payload request includes a plurality of slot status words;

the control module is configured to (i) determine status of a plurality of time slots based on the plurality of slot status words, and (ii) select one or more of the time slots; and

the physical layer module is configured to transmit one or more data payloads in the selected one or more of the time slots.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein:

the physical layer module is configured to periodically receive synchronization request signals from the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device;

synchronization intervals exist between transmission of consecutive pairs of the synchronization request signals; and

the physical layer module is configured to transmit a plurality of data payloads in the selected one or more of the time slots of the synchronization request signals.

5. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a power module, wherein the power module is configured to (i) detect an impedance between the plurality of electrodes, and (ii) based on the impedance, power up a portion of the control module or a portion of the physical layer module.

6. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a power module, wherein the power module is configured to (i) detect an impedance between the plurality of electrodes, and (ii) based on the impedance, power up the control module and the physical layer module.

7. The sensor of claim 6, further comprising a power source,

wherein the power module is configured to, based on the impedance, enable supply of power from the power source to the control module or the physical layer module.

8. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the power module is configured to power up the control module or the physical layer module if the impedance is less than a predetermined impedance.

9. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a power module configured to (i) detect a voltage across the plurality of electrodes, and (i) based on the voltage, power up a portion of the control module or a portion of the physical layer module.

10. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a power module configured to (i) detect an amount of current received at one of the plurality of electrodes, and (i) based on the amount of current, power up a portion of the control module or a portion of the physical layer module.

11. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a power module configured to supply a voltage to the control module,

wherein the power module is configured to, based on whether the control module is receiving the voltage from the power module, transition (i) being OFF to being in a low power mode or a high power mode, or (ii) being in the low power mode to being in the high power mode.

12. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise pin electrodes.

13. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise pad electrodes.

14. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to connect to contacts on an endotracheal tube.

15. The sensor of claim 1, wherein:

the control module comprises a temperature sensor;

the temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature and generate a temperature signal; and

the physical layer module is configured to wirelessly transmit the temperature signal to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device.

16. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer configured to generate an acceleration signal,

wherein the physical layer module is configured to wirelessly transmit the acceleration signal to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device.

17. The sensor of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of electrodes are attached to a patch or are pin electrodes;

the control module snaps onto the plurality of electrodes via connectors;

the control module is reusable and configured to be disconnected from the first plurality of electrodes and connected to a second plurality of electrodes; and

the patch and the pin electrodes are not reusable.

18. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

a front end circuit connected to the plurality of electrodes;

an amplifier module configured to amplify an output of the front end circuit;

a detection module configured to, based on an output of the amplifier module (i) detect whether the plurality of electrodes are attached to the patient, and (ii) generate an output signal indicating whether the plurality of electrodes are attached to the patient,

wherein the control module is configured to generate the first voltage signal based on the output signal.

19. The sensor of claim 18, further comprising a timing module configured to periodically wake up and power on the amplifier module and the detection module to check whether the plurality of electrodes are attached to the patient.

20. A method comprising:

receiving a payload request from a console interface module or a nerve integrity monitoring device;

receiving, at a sensing module, a first electromyographic signal from a patient via a plurality of electrodes, wherein the sensing module is directly connected to the plurality of electrodes;

generate a first voltage signal based on the electromyographic signal;

upconverting the first voltage signal to a first radio frequency signal; and

based on the payload request, wirelessly transmitting the first radio frequency signal from the sensing module to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting a data payload to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device at a data rate, wherein:

the payload request includes the data rate; and

the data payload includes data generated based on the first electromyographic signal.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

determining status of a plurality of time slots based on a plurality of slot status words, and (ii) selecting one or more of the time slots, wherein the payload request includes the plurality of slot status words; and

transmitting one or more data payloads in the selected one or more of the time slots.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

periodically receiving synchronization request signals from the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device, wherein synchronization intervals exist between transmission of consecutive pairs of the synchronization request signals; and

transmitting a plurality of data payloads in the selected one or more of the time slots of the synchronization request signals.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

detecting an impedance between the plurality of electrodes; and

based on the impedance, powering up a portion of a control module of the sensing module or a portion of a physical layer module of the sensing module.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

detecting an impedance between the plurality of electrodes; and

based on the impedance, powering up a control module and a physical layer module,

wherein the sensing module comprises the control module and the physical layer module.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising, based on the impedance, enabling supply of power from a power source to the control module or the physical layer module,

wherein the sensing module comprises the control module and the physical layer module.

27. The method of claim 26, comprising powering up the control module or the physical layer module if the impedance is less than a predetermined impedance.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

detecting a voltage across the plurality of electrodes; and

based on the voltage powering up a portion of a control module or a portion of a physical layer module,

wherein the sensing module comprises the control module and the physical layer module.

29. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

detecting an amount of current received at one of the plurality of electrodes; and

based on the amount of current powering up a portion of a control module or a portion of a physical layer module,

wherein the sensing module comprises the control module and the physical layer module.

30. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

supplying a voltage to a control module of the sensing module via a power module; and

based on whether the control module is receiving the voltage, transitioning the power module from (i) being OFF to being in a low power mode or a high power mode, or (ii) being in the low power mode to being in the high power mode.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrodes are on an endotracheal tube.

32. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

detecting a temperature and generating a temperature signal; and

wirelessly transmitting the temperature signal to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device.

33. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

generating an acceleration signal via an accelerometer; and

wirelessly transmitting the acceleration signal to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device.