MEASURING DEVICE FOR MEASURING A BODILY FUNCTION AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A MEASURING DEVICE

• US 20160367150A1
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG & Company KGaA (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Dragerwerk AG & Company KGaA (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: KOCH, Jochim, GRASSL, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,376,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/14 Coupling media or elements to improve sensor contact with skin or tissue
• 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 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 15/007 Testing

Abstract

A measuring device (10) has at least one sensor (16, 18), which can be applied to the skin surface (12) of a patient for detecting a measured value with the sensor (16, 18). The device (10) has two contact surfaces (20, 22) on an underside (24), which is intended for being in contact with the skin surface (12) of the patient. A current detecting (32, 34), detects a measuring current (30) resulting from a particular effective electric resistance between the contact surfaces (20, 22). A method for operating such a measuring device (10) and a system with such a measuring device (10) are also provided.

Claims

1. A measuring device comprising:

at least one sensor, wherein the measuring device can be placed on skin surface of a patient for detecting a measured value by means of the sensor;

at least one first contact surface on an underside of the measuring device;

at least one second contact surface on the underside (24) of the measuring device, which said underside is intended for being in contact with the skin surface of the patient; and

a detecting means for detecting a measuring current resulting from a particular effective electric resistance between the at least one first contact surface and second contact surface.

2. A measuring device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising another sensor of a same type as the at least one sensor and in addition to the at least one sensor.

3. A measuring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces are arranged in the form of a grid or in a labyrinthine pattern on the underside of the measuring device.

4. A measuring device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a display device, which is actuated as a function of the detected electric resistance or the detected electric conductivity between the at least one first and second contact surfaces.

5. A measuring device in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a local power source for supplying at least the display device with power.

6. A measuring device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer on or forming the underside of the measuring device, which said underside is intended for being in contact with the skin surface of the patient, said adhesive layer being suitable for bringing about an adhesion of the measuring device on the skin surface of the patient based on van der Waals forces, wherein the at least one first and second contact surfaces are embedded in or placed on a surface of the adhesive layer, which said surface is intended for being in contact with the skin surface of the patient.

7. A measuring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor and the measuring device comprises a temperature-measuring device.

8. A measuring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor and the at least one first and second contact surfaces are connected electrically in parallel and wherein a power cut-off element, is located either in a current path to the sensor or in a current path to the at least one first and second contact surfaces.

9. A measuring device in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a feed circuit to feed current to the measuring device alternatingly via a first feed line and a second feed line.

10. A measuring device in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a local power source, wherein the feed current is used to charge the power source.

11. A measuring device in accordance with claim 9 further comprising an electrothermal converter and a local power source, wherein a temperature difference occurring in the area of the measuring device is used to charge the power source by means of the electrothermal converter.

12. A system comprising:

a medical device; and

at least one measuring device connected to the medical device by means of a first feed line and a second feed line, the measuring device comprising;

at least one sensor, wherein the measuring device can be placed on skin surface of a patient for detecting a measured value by means of the sensor;

at least one first contact surface on an underside of the measuring device;

at least one second contact surface on the underside of the measuring device, which said underside is intended for being in contact with the skin surface of the patient; and

a detecting means for detecting a measuring current resulting from a particular effective electric resistance between the at least one first contact surface and second contact surface, wherein a feed current is fed to the measuring device by means of the medical device alternatingly via the first and second feed lines, and a measuring current which can be analyzed by means of the medical device during operation, is fed to the medical device by the measuring device via a respective complementary feed line.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12, further comprising another sensor, wherein each sensor is a temperature sensor and the measuring device comprises a temperature-measuring device.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the contact surfaces are arranged in the form of a grid or in a labyrinthine pattern on the underside of the measuring device.

15. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the measuring device further comprises:

a display device, which is actuated as a function of the detected electric resistance or the detected electric conductivity between the at least one first and second contact surfaces; and

a local power source for supplying at least the display device with power.

16. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the measuring device further comprises:

an adhesive layer defining the underside for contact with the skin surface of the patient, said adhesive layer providing an adhesion of the measuring device on the skin surface of the patient based on van der Waals forces, wherein the at least one first and second contact surfaces are embedded in or placed on a surface of the adhesive layer to from a portion of the underside for contact with the skin surface of the patient.

17. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the measuring device further comprises a power cut-off element and each sensor and the at least one first and second contact surfaces are connected electrically in parallel and wherein the power cut-off element is located either in a current path to each sensor or in a current path to the at least one first and second contact surfaces.

18. A measuring device method comprising:

providing a medical device with at least one measuring device connected to the medical device by means of a first feed line and a second feed line, wherein the measuring device comprises;

at least one sensor, wherein the measuring device can be placed on skin surface of a patient for detecting a measured value by means of the sensor;

at least one first contact surface on an underside of the measuring device;

at least one second contact surface on the underside of the measuring device, which said underside is intended for being in contact with the skin surface of the patient; and

a detecting means for detecting a measuring current resulting from a particular effective electric resistance between the at least one first contact surface and second contact surface; and

feeding current to the measuring device by means of the medical device alternatingly via the first and second feed lines, and a measuring current, which can be analyzed by means of the medical device during operation, is fed to the medical device by the measuring device via a respective complementary feed line.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein one of the medical device comprises a feed circuit feeding current to the measuring device alternatingly via a first feed line and a second feed line.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein the measuring device further comprises a local power source.