Wireless medical diagnosis and monitoring equipment

• US 5,862,803 A
• Filed: 03/01/1996
• Issued: 01/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Body Science LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gotthart Von Czettriz, Marcus Besson, Ralph Bax
• Inventors: Bax, Ralph, Besson, Marcus, Von Czettriz, Gotthart
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US08/605,197
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 128/640, 128/696, 128/700, 128/903, 128/904
• US Class Current: 600/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6825 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45103 Non-folded cascode stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A medical diagnosis and monitoring equipment has wireless electrodes, which are attached to the surface of the skin of the patient. The electrodes comprise a digital transmitting and receiving unit with antenna and microsensors. The electrodes can be used, among other things, for detecting EEG- and EKG-signals, as well as for monitoring body/breathing movements, the temperature, perspiration, etc. A preferred exemplified embodiment comprises an electrode comprising all functions in a semiconductor chip which, as an integrated circuit, is equipped with the respective sensor, sensor control, frequency generation, transmitting and receiving units, as well as with a transmission control unit. The antenna is arranged in this connection in the flexible electrode covering or directly in the chip.

Claims

1. A medical system for acquiring measured data, in particular for monitoring body functions, comprising:

an evaluator station having at least one receiver and at least one transmitter for wireless digital data transmission and receiving, and an error diagnosis and correction unit coupled to said receiver and transmitter for detecting and correcting transmission errors;

a plurality of electrodes capable of being attached to a patient, and in wireless connection with said evaluator station, said electrodes comprising;

at least one sensor for detecting an electric, physical, chemical or biological quantity, and converting the detected quantity into an electric signal;

a covering comprising;

at least one converter for converting the electric signal generated by said sensor into a digital value;

at least one transmitter coupled to said at least one converter for transmitting the digital data to the receiver in said evaluator station; and

at least one receiver for receiving data transmitted by the evaluator station transmitter;

an error diagnosis and correction unit disposed within each of said plurality of electrodes and coupled to said at least one receiver, transmitter and sensor for detecting and correcting transmission errors; and

wherein the data transmitted by said evaluator station to said plurality of electrodes can control and manipulate the data transmitted by said electrode to the evaluator station.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluator station (1) contains at least one decoding unit(s) (19) and that at least one electrode (2) is equipped with at least one encoding unit (45).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluator station (1) contains at least one encoding unit(s) (22) and that at least one electrode (2) is equipped with at least one decoding unit (62).

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluator station (1) comprises at least one demultiplexer unit (20), and that at least one electrode (2) is equipped with at least one multiplexer unit (44).

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluator station (1) contains at least one multiplexer (21), and that at least one electrode (2) contains at least one demultiplexer (62).

6. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the evaluator station (1) further comprises at least one storage unit (8c), at least one display unit (8a) and at least one alarm unit (10).

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluator station (1) and at least one electrode (2) has at least one electromagnetic detector (97) and emitter (98), the latter being designed as a semiconductor diode.

8. Device according to claim 1 wherein said evaluator station (1) further comprises a transmission control unit (7a), said transmission control unit having a synchronization unit that synchronizes the reference frequencies, oscillator frequencies, carrier frequencies, the cycle, the phase and the time frame of said at least one electrode.

9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one electrode (2) further comprises a transmission control unit (34).

10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluator station (1) contains a status unit (7c), the latter permitting the selection of the electrode (2) to be addressed and automatically recognizes which electrode(s) is/are connected and correctly connected to the body at the start of the diagnosis or monitoring.

11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluator station (1) contains a control unit (4b), the latter always adjusting the transmitting power of the signals of the electrode (2) and the evaluator station (1) to the minimum value required for still operating the circuit and transmitter (31) of the electrode (2);

and that, if need be, if the transmitting power required by the electrode (2) and the evaluator station (1) is too high, the respective electrode no longer transmits signals to the evaluator station (1) and receives signals transmitted by the evaluator station (1).

12. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluator station (1) and at least one electrode (2) contain(s) a calibration unit (7c).

13. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluator station (1) has an interleaving unit (24) and a deleaving unit (18);

and that at least one electrode (2) has a deleaving (61) and an interleaving unit (47).

14. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one electrode (2) is adapted to be attached to the skin surface (96).

15. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one electrode (2) has at least one electrode pin (76) penetrating the body of the patient.

16. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that an evaluator unit (74) and a storage unit (33a) are arranged in at least one electrode (2).

17. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a sensor control unit (33) is arranged in at least one electrode (2).

18. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a training sequence unit (23, 46) for generating a test code is present in at least one electrode (2), and an equalizer (16, 59) is present in the evaluator station (1), or reversely.

19. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrode (2) is at least partly supplied with energy by a high-frequency field emitted by the evaluator station (1), and said at least one electrode (2) contains at least one accumulators (38) and at least one battery.

20. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrode (2) has at least one antenna (36a), the latter being at least partly arranged in the electrode covering (71).

21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that a reflector (36b) is arranged between the antenna (36a) and the side of the electrode covering (71) facing the skin.

22. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one electrode (2) contains an identification unit (45a) for transmitting an identification code.

23. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a reference element is arranged in the electrodes (2), said element serving for the determination of the own transmitting and high-frequency output(s).

24. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrode (2) for error detection contains at least one control sensor(s).

25. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual electronic components of the electrode (2) are integrated in one single semiconductor chip (electrode chip) (76).

26. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the transmitting and receiving antenna (36a) of the electrodes (2) are arranged in the electrode chip.

27. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one sensor (40a, . . . , 40i) of one electrode (2) is based on the field effect, bipolar transistor, diode, capacitor or AOW principle.

28. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrodes (2) contain ion-sensitive, gas, acceleration, pressure, potential, impedance, current, magnetic field, temperature, position and/or radiation sensors (40a, . . . , 40i).

29. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two electrode pins (76) or tap-off points for measuring the bio-potentials (potentials, currents) are integrated in at least one electrode (2).

30. Device according to claim 1, for measuring the O₂ -content and/or the CO₂ -content in the blood, characterized in that the electrode (2) contains at least one light- or IR-light-emitting diode (85) radiating into tissue with blood circulation, as well as comprises at least one radiation-sensitive detector(s) (86) detecting the radiation transmitted and reflected by the blood.

31. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrode (2) contains at least one impedance sensor(s) and at least one ISFET for measuring the moisture.

32. Device according to claim 1 for controlling the breathing, characterized in that at least two electrodes (2) are equipped with at least one acceleration sensor(s) and spacing sensors, whereby at least one electrode (2b) is arranged in the abdominal region and at least one electrode(s) (2a, 2c . . . 2i) are arranged outside of the abdominal region, said electrode(s) serving as reference electrode(s).

33. Device according to claim 1 for controlling the breathing, characterized in that at least one electrode (2) contains at least one temperature, gas and air humidity sensor(s), and that the electrode (2d) is attached near the nose and the mouth.

34. Device according to claim 1 for controlling the breathing, characterized in that at least one electrode (2d) contains at least one miniaturized microphone(s), and that the electrode (2d) records the respiratory noise and is arranged near the larynx or the bronchial tube.

35. Device according to claim 1, for measuring the temperature, characterized in that the electrodes (2) contain thin-layer resistors, thick-layer resistors, cold conductors, hot conductors, diodes, bipolar transistors and thermistors.

36. Device according to claim 1 for measuring the position, characterized in that at least one electrode (2) contains magnetic field sensors, inclination sensors and micromechanical sensors.