Bandage including data acquisition components

• US 5,879,292 A
• Filed: 10/09/1997
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward A. Sternberg
• Original Assignee: Edward A. Sternberg
• Inventors: Sternberg, Edward A., de Faber, Jan-Tjeerd H. N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GILBERT, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US08/948,123
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 600/382-394, 600/300, 602/41-47, 602/74, 604/361, 604/318, 128/885, 128/886, 128/897-898
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/124 specially adapted for the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 5/00 Exercisers for the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory

Abstract

A bandage including a self-contained microcontroller that can sense, record, process and/or report information concerning the use of the bandage. The bandage includes a microcontroller contained within the padded portion of the bandage. A sensor is connected to the microcontroller and generates a signal based on whether the bandage is attached to a patient. The signal generated by the sensor is received by the microcontroller and analyzed and/or recorded by the microcontroller. The microcontroller operates to analyze the information from the sensor, thereby generating and reporting clinically useful information as to the status of the bandage. The bandage of the invention includes a data transfer port such that the bandage can be attached to an external computer and information transferred to or from the bandage.

Claims

1. A bandage comprising:

a pad positionable in contact with a patient;

a microcontroller contained within the pad; and

a sensor coupled to the microcontroller to provide a signal to the microcontroller, the signal being related to the status of the pad, wherein the microcontroller records information related to the signal from the sensor.

2. The bandage of claim 1 wherein the sensor generates a signal having an upper limit and a lower limit.

3. The bandage of claim 1 wherein the sensor generates a first signal when the pad is in a first state, and the sensor generates a second signal when the pad is in a second state.

4. The bandage of claim 3 further comprising a timer coupled to the microcontroller for generating a time signal.

5. The bandage of claim 4 wherein the microcontroller records the time at which the signal from the sensor switches between the first signal and the second signal.

6. The bandage of claim 3 wherein the sensor is a contact-sensitive sensor adapted to be positioned between an adhesive strip and the patient.

7. The bandage of claim 1 further comprising an indicator coupled to the microcontroller such that the microcontroller can activate the indicator based on the signal from the sensor.

8. The bandage of claim 1 further comprising a data transfer port formed in the pad, the data transfer port allowing for an external connection to the microcontroller contained within the pad.

9. The bandage of claim 1 wherein the pad is substantially opaque.

10. The bandage of claim 1 further comprising a power supply connected to the microcontroller, the power supply being contained in the pad.

11. An eye patch for use in occlusion therapy, the eye patch comprising:

a pad;

a microcontroller contained within the pad, the microcontroller having a memory capable of storing information;

means for attaching the eye patch to an eye area of a patient; and

a sensor coupled to the microcontroller, the sensor providing a signal to the microcontroller, the signal from the sensor indicating whether the eye patch is attached to the patient, wherein the microcontroller records information related to the signal from the sensor in the memory.

12. The eye patch of claim 11 further comprising a power supply connected to the microcontroller, the power supply being contained within the pad.

13. The eye patch of claim 11 further comprising a data transfer port formed in the pad, the data transfer port allowing for an external connection to the microcontroller, wherein information can be transferred into and out of the microcontroller through the data transfer port.

14. The eye patch of claim 11 wherein the means for attaching the pad to a patient is at least one adhesive strip.

15. The eye patch of claim 11 wherein the sensor is a contact-sensitive sensor positioned between the means for attaching and the patient, such that the sensor generates a first signal when the eye patch is in contact with the patient, and the sensor generates a second signal when the eye patch is out of contact with the patient.

16. The eye patch of claim 15 further comprising a timer coupled to the microcontroller wherein the microcontroller records the time at which the signal from the sensor switches between the first signal and the second signal such that the microcontroller records when the eye patch is in contact with the patient.

17. The eye patch of claim 16 wherein the timer an oscillator which is contained within the pad and external to the microcontroller.

18. The eye patch of claim 11 further comprising:

a protective shield having a front and a back, the pad being attached to the front of the shield; and

a cushion member attached to the back of the shield such that the cushion member is adapted to contact the patient.

19. An eye patch for use in occlusion therapy, the eye patch comprising:

a pad;

a programmable microcontroller contained within the pad, the microcontroller having a memory capable of storing information;

means for attaching the pad to a patient over an eye area of the patient;

a power supply connected to the microcontroller and contained within the pad;

a sensor coupled to the microcontroller, the sensor generating a first signal when the eye patch is in contact with the patient, and a second signal when the eye patch is out of contact with the patient;

a data transfer port formed in the pad, the data transfer port allowing for an external connection to the microcontroller such that information can be transferred into and out of the microcontroller through the data transfer port; and

a timer contained within the pad and coupled to the microcontroller, the timer generating a time-dependent signal, wherein the microcontroller records the time at which the signal from the sensor switches between the first signal and the second signal, such that the microcontroller records when the eye patch is in contact with the patient relative to the time signal generated by the timer.

20. The eye patch of claim 19 further comprising:

a protective shield having a front and a back, the pad being attached to the front of the shield; and

a cushioned member attached to the back of the shield such that the cushioned member is adapted to contact the patient.

21. A method of monitoring a patient wearing a bandage, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a microcontroller within the bandage;

securing the bandage to the patient at a desired location;

attaching a sensor to the microcontroller;

positioning the sensor such that the sensor generates a signal based on the status of the patient and the bandage;

monitoring the signal generated by the sensor; and

recording in memory in the microcontroller information desired from the signal generated by the sensor.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of activating a timer upon initially securing the bandage to the patient such that the timer forms a basis for determining when the bandage is secured to the patient.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of downloading the recorded information from the memory of the microcontroller to an external computer such that the recorded information stored within the microcontroller can be read.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of positioning a power supply within the bandage, the power supply providing power to the microcontroller.

25. A method of determining patient compliance in wearing an eye patch, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a microcontroller within the eye patch;

securing the eye patch to the patient at the desired location;

attaching a sensor to the microcontroller;

positioning the sensor between the bandage and the patient such that the sensor generates a first signal when the bandage is in contact with the patient and generates a second signal when the bandage is not in contact with the patient;

monitoring the signal generated by the sensor;

determining when the signal from the sensor changes between the first signal and the second signal; and

recording in a memory in the microcontroller the time at which the signal from the sensor changes.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of activating a timer upon initially securing the eye patch to the patient, such that the timer forms a basis for determining when the eye patch is in contact with the patient.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of downloading the recorded information from the memory of the microcontroller to an external computer, such that the recorded information stored within the microcontroller can be read.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of positioning a power supply within the eye patch the power supply providing power to the microcontroller and the sensor.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of attaching the sensor comprises attaching a contact-sensitive sensor.