Wireless biopotential sensing device and method with capability of short-range radio frequency transmission and reception

• US 6,470,893 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2000
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Martha Trout
• Original Assignee: Peter V Boesen
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Veniaminov, Nikita R
• Application Number:
  US09/570,758
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/317, 600/382, 600/411, 600/454, 600/546, 600/595, 340/870.12, 340/128, 340/375
• US Class Current: 128/899
• 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: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

Devices and methods which sense a biopotential are disclosed. The sensed biopotential is used to modulate an output signal. The power of the output signal is limited so that the signal will attenuate within a predetermined distance. In one embodiment, a wireless ECG electrode has a transmitter in communication with the electrode. The transmitter outputs a signal which is modulated by the output of the electrode. The power of the signal is limited so that the signal will attenuate within a predetermined distance from a transmission point.

Claims

1. A wireless biopotential monitoring device which has the advantages of limiting electromagnetic interference and consuming low power, comprising:

a housing;

a biopotential sensor for positioning externally on a body, the biopotential sensor operatively attached to the housing;

a first transmitter in operative communication with the sensor and operatively attached to the housing, the transmitter adapted to broadcast a first signal which is modulated by the sensed biopotential;

wherein the first transmitter is further adapted to limit the power of the first signal so that the first signal will attenuate to at most a negligible value within a predetermined distance from the transmitter;

the transmitter is further adapted to place information on the broadcast signal which identifies a location where the biopotential sensor is attached; and

a display operatively connected to the biopotential sensor and secured to the housing.

2. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is fifteen feet.

3. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is ten feet.

4. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first receiver which is adapted to receive the first signal.

5. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 4, further comprising:

a computer in operative communication with the first receiver.

6. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 5, further comprising:

a second transmitter in operative communication with the computer, wherein the second transmitter is adapted to broadcast a second signal which contains instructions from the computer;

and a second receiver in operative communication with the biopotential sensor, the second receiver adapted to receive the second signal and adapted to instruct the sensor to perform a function based on the instructions.

7. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the function is turning the power off.

8. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the function is transmitting the first signal.

9. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 4, further comprising:

a second transmitter in operative communication with the first receiver, wherein the second transmitter is adapted to broadcast a second signal which contains instructions;

and a second receiver in operative communication with the biopotential sensor, the second receiver adapted to receive the second signal and adapted to instruct the sensor to perform a function based on the instructions.

10. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the biopotential sensor is an electrocardiogram sensor.

11. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the biopotential sensor is an electroencephalogram sensor.

12. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the biopotential sensor is an electromyogram sensor.

13. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the biopotential sensor is a thermistor.

14. The biopotential monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the biopotential sensor is a pulse oximeter.

15. A new method of monitoring a biopotential signal which has the advantages of limiting electromagnetic interference and consuming low power, comprising:

sensing a biopotential with an external biopotential sensor operatively attached to a housing;

displaying a location of the biopotential being sensed on a display operatively connected to the biopotential sensor and secured to the housing;

broadcasting a first signal from a first transmitter, the first signal being modulated by the sensed biopotential; and

limiting the power of the first signal so that the first signal attenuates to at most a negligible value within a predetermined distance from a transmission point.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined distance is fifteen feet.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined distance is ten feet.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

utilizing a first receiver to receive the first signal.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

communicating a signal from the first receiver to a computer, the signal from the receiver to the computer being dependent upon the received first signal.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensed biopotential is a heart biopotential.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensed biopotential is a muscle biopotential.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensed biopotential is a brain biopotential.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensed biopotential is oxygen saturation of blood.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting a second signal from a second transmitter;

receiving the second signal at a second receiver;

performing a function with either the biopotential sensor or the first transmitter based on the second signal.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the function is turning the power off.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the function is starting or stopping transmitting the first signal.