Wireless patient monitoring apparatus using inductive coupling
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Wireless patient monitoring apparatus comprising:
- a transducer configured to detect a physiological function and to provide an output signal indicative of the physiological function;
a modulator configured to modulate a carrier having a frequency at or below 10 kHz by the output signal;
a transducer coil associated with said modulator for coupling the modulated carrier to a corresponding receiver coil by electromagnetic induction; and
a monitoring circuit coupled to receive the modulated carrier from the receiver coil;
wherein said transducer is designed for placement adjacent to a region of a patient to be monitored and provides the output signal to said monitoring circuit when the patient is in proximity to the receiver coil.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless patient monitoring apparatus uses low frequency inductive coupling to couple signals from a transducer to monitoring and analysis instrumentation. Signals indicative of physiological functions are modulated onto a low frequency carrier and output from a self-contained portable transducer assembly via a transducer coil. A corresponding receiver coil receives the signals by electromagnetic induction. The received signals are demodulated and processed by instrumentation coupled to the receiver coil. A mattress pad containing the receiver coil is also disclosed. In a fetal monitor implementation, both wireless ultrasound and tocodynamometer transducers are provided.
200 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. Wireless patient monitoring apparatus comprising:
-
a transducer configured to detect a physiological function and to provide an output signal indicative of the physiological function; a modulator configured to modulate a carrier having a frequency at or below 10 kHz by the output signal; a transducer coil associated with said modulator for coupling the modulated carrier to a corresponding receiver coil by electromagnetic induction; and a monitoring circuit coupled to receive the modulated carrier from the receiver coil; wherein said transducer is designed for placement adjacent to a region of a patient to be monitored and provides the output signal to said monitoring circuit when the patient is in proximity to the receiver coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 26)
-
-
19. A method for monitoring on a patient, comprising:
-
detecting a physiological function of a patient; generating an output signal indicative of the physiological function; radiating the output signal via a magnetic field oscillating at a frequency at or below 10 kHz; detecting the magnetic field indicative of the physiological function; and recovering the output signal from the magnetic field to monitor the physiological function. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. An inductive patient monitoring device, comprising:
-
means for detecting a physiological function; means for providing an output signal indicative of the physiological function; means for radiating the output signal via a magnetic field oscillating at a frequency at or below 10 kHz; means for receiving the output signal via the magnetic field; and means for recovering the output signal from the magnetic field to monitor the physiological function. - View Dependent Claims (25)
-
-
27. A monitoring apparatus adapted to monitor a physiological function of a patient positioned on a bed, the apparatus comprising;
-
a mattress pad positioned on a mattress, the mattress pad having a receiver loop; a transducer configured to detect a physiological function of a patient, the transducer being operable to provide an output signal indicative of the physiological function; a modulator coupled to the transducer and being configured to modulate a carrier having a frequency at or below 10 kHz by the output signal; a transducer coil coupled to the modulator configured to radiate the modulated carrier by a magnetic field, the transducer coil being positioned within the periphery of the receiver loop; and a monitoring circuit coupled to receive the modulated carrier from the receiver loop.
-
Specification