Medical telemetery system, and a sensor device and a receiver for the same

• US 6,267,723 B1
• Filed: 03/02/1999
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Inventors: Ono, Kohei, Matsumura, Fumiyuki, Hosaka, Hidehiro, Sakata, Hiroshi, Sekiguchi, Tetsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/260,612
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/508, 600/520, 600/522, 600/523, 607/60, 128/703
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• 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 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A sensor device a sensor unit which detects a biomedical signal, and a transmitter which converts the biomedical signal into a radio signal and then transmits the radio signal. The transmitter has an electrode detachment detection unit 12 which detects electrode detachment on the basis of an output of the sensor unit, and transmits an electrode detachment signal indicative of the detachment. In a receiver, the biomedical signal transmitted from the transmitter is received, the signal is attenuated by an attenuation unit, and the attenuated signal is supplied to a wired sensor input portion of another device through a switch and a connection unit. In the receiver, when the electrode detachment signal is detected from the signal transmitted from the transmitter, the switch is turned off.

Claims

1. A medical telemetry system comprising:

a sensor device comprising;

a sensor unit detecting a biomedical signal;

first detecting means for detecting a state of said sensor unit in which said sensor unit cannot detect the biomedical signal, and for outputting an undetectable state signal indicative of the state; and

transmitting means for transmitting the undetectable state signal and the biomedical signal in the form of a radio signal;

a receiver adapted to be interchangeable connected to a plurality of various monitoring devices, said receiver comprising;

receiving means for receiving the radio signal transmitted from said sensor device;

second detecting means for detecting the undetectable state signal, and for outputting an alarm signal when the undetectable state signal is detected; and

connecting means for supplying the biomedical signal of the received radio signal and the alarm signal to a signal input portion of one of said plurality of various monitoring devices;

wherein said second detecting means comprises a variable impedance switching device for varying an impedance to an output of said connecting means when the undetectable state signal is detected.

2. A receiver for receiving a radio signal containing a biomedical signal detected by a sensor, and an undetectable state signal indicative of an undetectable state of said sensor, said receiver adapted to be interchangeably connected to a plurality of various monitoring devices, said receiver comprising:

receiving means for receiving the radio signal;

detecting means for detecting the undetectable state signal; and

connecting means for outputting the biomedical signal of the received radio signal and the undetectable state signal of the detecting means to an input portion of one of said plurality of various monitoring devices;

wherein said detecting means comprises a variable impedance switching device for varying an impedance to an output of said connecting means when the undetectable state signal is detected.

3. A method of using a medical telemetry system having a sensor device comprising a sensor unit for detecting a biomedical signal of a patient, and transmitting means for transmitting the biomedical signal from said sensor device, in the form of a radio signal, and a receiver comprising receiving means for receiving the radio signal transmitted form said sensor device and connecting means for outputting the received biomedical signal to an input portion of one of a plurality of devices, comprising the steps of:

maintaining a state where said sensor device is enabled to detect the biomedical signal during movement of the patient to a different place for a next stage treatment; and

changing a connection of said connecting means to output the received biomedical signal to a different one of said plurality of devices when the patient arrives at the different place for the next stage treatment.

4. The method of using a medical telemetry system according to claim 3, wherein said maintaining state step is carried out at a rescue stage of the patient, and said changing connection step is carried out when the patient is moved to a hospital.

5. The method of using a medical telemetry system according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a state where said sensor device is enabled to detect the biological signal when the patient is moved from a first room to a second room in the hospital; and

changing the connection of said connecting means to output the received biological signal to a different one of said plurality of devices when patient arrives at said second room.

6. A medical telemetry system comprising:

a sensor device comprising;

an electrode adapted to be attached to a living body, said electrode outputting a biomedical signal of said living body;

first detecting means for detecting an electrode detachment from said living body, and for outputting an electrode detachment signal indicative of the electrode detachment;

transmitting means for transmitting the electrode detachment signal form said first detecting means and the biomedical signal from said electrode, in the form of a radio signal;

a receiver adapted to be connected to a biomedical signal input portion of a device comprising;

receiving means for receiving the radio signal transmitted from said sensor device;

amplitude adjusting means for attenuating or amplifying the biomedical signal of the radio signal received by said receiving means, said amplitude adjusting means outputting an adjusted biomedical signal;

connecting means for supplying said adjusted biomedical signal to said biomedical signal input portion; and

second detecting means for detecting the electrode detachment signal of the radio signal received by said receiving means and for interrupting a connection between said amplitude adjusting means and said connecting means when said second detecting means detects the electrode detachment signal.

7. The medical telemetry system according to claim 6, wherein said second detecting means interrupts said connection between said amplitude adjusting means and said connecting means by increasing an impedance of the connection, when said second detecting means detects the electrode detachment signal.

8. A receiver for a medical telemetry system and adapted to be connected to a biomedical signal input portion of a device, the receiver comprising:

receiving means for receiving a radio signal containing a biomedical signal and an electrode detachment signal indicative of electrode detachment;

amplitude adjusting means for attenuating or amplifying the biomedical signal of said radio signal received by said receiving means, said amplitude adjusting means outputting an adjusted biomedical signal;

connecting means for supplying said adjusted biomedical signal to said biomedical signal input portion;

first detecting means for detecting the electrode detachment signal of said radio signal received by said receiving means; and

for inhibiting a connection between said amplitude adjusting means and said connecting means when said second detecting means detects the electrode detachment signal.

9. The receiver for a medical telemetry system according to claim 8, wherein the second detecting means inhibits the connection between the amplitude adjusting means and the connecting means by increasing an impedance of the connection when the electrode detachment signal is detected.

10. A medical telemetry system comprising:

a sensor device comprising;

a sensor unit detecting a biomedical signal;

first detecting means for detecting a state of said sensor unit in which said sensor unit cannot detect the biomedical signal, and for outputting an undetectable state signal indicative of the state; and

transmitting means for transmitting the undetectable state signal and the biomedical signal in the form of a radio signal;

a receiver adapted to be interchangeably connected to a plurality of various monitoring devices, said receiver comprising;

receiving means for receiving the radio signal transmitted from said sensor device;

second detecting means for detecting the undetectable state signal, and for outputting an alarm signal when the undetectable state signal is detected; and

connecting means for supplying the biomedical signal of the received radio signal and the alarm signal to a signal input portion of one of said plurality of various monitoring devices;

wherein said receiver further comprises;

radio wave level detection means for detecting a radio wave level of the radio signal from said transmitting means, and for determining a radio wave out-of-reach state based upon the level of radio wave detected; and

control means for maintaining said alarm signal until the radio wave out-of-reach state is determined.

11. A medical telemetry system comprising:

a sensor device comprising;

a sensor unit which detects and outputs a biomedical signal;

first detecting means for detecting a state of said sensor unit in which said sensor unit cannot detect the biomedical signal, and for outputting an undetectable state signal indicative of the state; and

transmitting means for transmitting said undetectable state signal from said first detecting means and said biomedical signal from said sensor unit, in the form of a radio signal;

a receiver comprising;

a receiver means for receiving said radio signal transmitted from said sensor device;

radio wave level detection means for detecting a radio wave level of said radio signal, said radio signal wave level detection means for determining a radio wave out-of-reach state;

second detecting means for detecting said undetectable state signal of the radio signal received by said receiving means;

control means for maintaining said undetectable state signal until the radio wave out-of-reach state is determined.

12. A receiver for receiving a radio signal containing a biomedical signal detected by a sensor, and an undetectable state signal indicative of an undetectable state of said sensor, said receiver adapted to be interchangeably connected to a plurality of various monitoring devices, said receiver comprising;

receiving means for receiving the radio signal;

detecting means for detecting the undetectable state signal;

connecting means for outputting the biomedical signal of the received radio signal and the undetectable state signal of the detecting means to an input portion of one of said plurality of various monitoring devices;

radio wave level detection means for detecting a radio wave level of the radio signal and for determining a radio wave out-of-reach state;

control means for maintaining said undetectable state signal until the radio wave out-of-reach state is determined.

13. The receiver according the claim 12, further comprising, amplitude adjusting means for adjusting an amplitude of the biomedical signal of the received radio signal to a same level as the biomedical signal detected by said sensor, and said amplitude adjusting means outputting an adjusted biomedical signal to said connecting means.

14. A medical telemetry system comprising:

a sensor device comprising,

an electrode adapted to be attached to a living body, said electrode outputting a biomedical signal of said living body;

first detecting means for detecting electrode detachment and for outputting an electrode detachment signal indicative of the electrode detachment; and

transmitting means for transmitting the electrode detachment signal from said first detecting means and said biomedical signal from said electrode, in the form of a radio signal; and

a receiver adapted to be connected to a biomedical signal input portion of a device, the receiver comprising,

receiving means for receiving said radio signal containing said biomedical signal and said electrode detachment signal indicative of electrode detachment;

amplitude adjusting means for attenuating or amplifying the biomedical signal of said radio signal received by said receiving means, said amplitude adjusting means outputting an adjusted biomedical signal;

connecting means for supplying said adjusted biomedical signal to said biomedical signal input portion; and

second detecting means for detecting the electrode detachment signal of said radio signal received by said receiving means; and

for inhibiting a connection between said amplitude adjusting means and said connecting means when said second detecting means detects the electrode detachment signal.

15. A method of using a medical telemetry system having a sensor device comprising a sensor unit for detecting a biomedical signal, and transmitting means for transmitting the biomedical signal from said sensor device, in the form of a radio, and a receiver comprising receiving means for receiving the radio signal transmitted from said sensor device and connecting means for the received biomedical signal to an input portion of one of a plurality of devices, comprising the steps of:

maintaining a state where said sensor device is enabled to detect the biological signal during movement of the patient from a first room to a second room in the hospital; and

changing a connection of said connecting means to output the received biological signal to a different one of said plurality of devices when patient arrives at said second room.