Communicative glove containing embedded microchip

• US 6,850,162 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ansell Healthcare Products LLC (Ansell Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ansell Healthcare Products Incorporated (Ansell Healthcare)
• Inventors: Cacioli, Paul, Catracchia, Romeo, Taylor, Patricia, Gromelski, Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/833,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20020011934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/575, 340/576, 340/604, 340/540, 215/9, 216/16, 216/17, 216/8, 216/7
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/30 Devices for detecting perforations, leaks or tears
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/027 Details with respect to the testing of elastic elements, e.g. gloves, condoms
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/186 for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/32 for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/40 by using electric means, e.g. by observing electric discharges

Abstract

The present invention provides a communicative glove which includes means for monitoring the glove'"'"'s integrity such that a breach of the glove'"'"'s barrier may be detected, or in some cases anticipated, and thus a warning may be provided to the wearer of the breach.

Claims

1. A breach-detecting glove comprising:

a glove, the glove made of a material;

a fluid-filled inter-layer space between two nominally separated but sealed layers of the glove

a microchip embedded in the material, the microchip adapted to receive a first signal, process the signal and output a second signal indicative of a barrier making capability of the glove;

a breach-detecting sensor embedded in the material, the sensor adapted to measure a physical characteristic of the material, the physical characteristic indicative of a barrier making capability of the material, and generate the first signal, the first signal representative of the characteristic, the sensor further adapted to communicate with the microchip;

a power supply adapted to provide power to the glove and to the sensor and

a monitor communicatively linked with the microchip, the monitor adapted to monitor the second signal, the second signal indicative of the barrier making capability of the glove.

2. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 1 wherein the power supply is a battery.

3. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 1 wherein the power supply is a capacitance device which is charged by the action of a wearer donning the glove.

4. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a capacitor.

5. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a pressure transducer.

6. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 1 wherein the sensor senses the pressure of the fluid-filled inter-layer space.

7. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 6 wherein the sensor is a piezo-electric device.

8. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 1 wherein the sensor forms a layer of the glove.

9. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 8 wherein the sensor is a capacitor.

10. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 8 wherein the sensor is a moisture sensor.

11. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 1 wherein the monitor further includes an alarm.

12. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 1 wherein the monitor is adapted to communicate with an external remote communication device.

13. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 12 wherein the external remote communication device comprises an alarm.

14. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 1 wherein the microchip includes an embedded algorithm or control logic.

15. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 14 wherein the microchip is a real-time monitor.

16. The breach-detecting communicative glove of claim 1 wherein the monitor is integral to the chip.

17. A system for detecting breach of a glove, the system comprising:

a remote communication device adapted to send and receive wireless communication, the remote communication device adapted to act as an electromagnetic induction source;

a glove the glove made of a material;

a fluid-filled inter-layer space between two nominally separated but sealed layers of the glove

microchip embedded in the glove, the microchip including a power supply adapted to generate power from an externally applied electromagnetic induction field, the microchip adapted to receive a first signal, process the signal and output a second signal indicative of a barrier making capability of the glove;

a breach-detecting sensor embedded in the material, the sensor adapted to measure a physical characteristic of the material and generate the first signal, the first signal representative of a physical characteristic of the glove, the physical characteristic indicative of the barrier making capability of the glove, the sensor further adapted to communicate with the microchip;

a power supply adapted to provide power to the glove and to the sensor;

a monitor communicatively linked with the microchip, the monitor adapted to monitor the second signal, the signal indicative of the barrier making capability of the glove; and

a wire antenna embedded in the glove, the wire antenna electronically linked to the sensor and the microchip, the wire antenna adapted to receive an externally applied electromagnetic induction field, the wire antenna further adapted to transmit and receive a signal between the microchip and the remote communication device.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the sensor is a capacitor.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the sensor is a pressure transducer.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the sensor senses the pressure of the fluid-filled inter-layer space.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the sensor is a piezo-electric device.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the sensor forms a layer of the glove.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the sensor is a capacitor.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the sensor is a moisture sensor.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the remote communication device includes alarm.

26. The system of claim 17 wherein the remote communication device includes a data display.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the data display indicates the status of the integrity of the glove.

28. A system for detecting breach of a glove, the system comprising:

a remote communication device adapted to send and receive wireless communication, the remote communication device adapted to act as an electromagnetic induction source;

a glove, the glove made of a material;

a fluid-filled inter-layer space between two nominally separated but sealed layers of the glove;

a breach-detecting sensor embedded in the material, the sensor adapted to measure a physical characteristic of the material, the physical characteristic indicative of a barrier making capability of the glove, the sensor adapted to generate power from an externally applied electromagnetic induction field, the sensor further adapted to be monitored by the remote communication device; and

a wire antenna embedded in the glove, the wire antenna electronically linked to the sensor, the wire antenna adapted to receive an externally applied electromagnetic induction field, the wire antenna further adapted to transmit and receive a signal between the sensor and the remote communication device.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the sensor is a capacitor.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the remote communication device includes a data display.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the data display indicates the status of the integrity of the glove.