Apparatus and method for measuring biologic parameters

• US 7,187,960 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brain Tunnelgenix
• Original Assignee: Marcio Marc Abreu
• Inventors: Abreu, Marcio Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US10/420,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20040059212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/322, 600/340, 600/344, 600/474, 600/549
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0026 characterised by the transmission medium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0042 for the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14517 for sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14553 specially adapted for cerebral tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 : Eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/72 : Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes character recognition, recognising digital ink, document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00; recognition or understanding of postal images G06V30/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7271 : Specific aspects of physiological measurement analysis A61B5/316, A61B5/349 and A61B5/374 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 : Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 : Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 : Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources

Abstract

Support structures for positioning sensors on a physiologic tunnel for measuring physical, chemical and biological parameters of the body and to produce an action according to the measured value of the parameters. The support structure includes a sensor fitted on the support structures using a special geometry for acquiring continuous and undisturbed data on the physiology of the body. Signals are transmitted to a remote station by wireless transmission such as by electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared, sound and the like or by being reported locally by audio or visual transmission. The physical and chemical parameters include brain function, metabolic function, hydrodynamic function, hydration status, levels of chemical compounds in the blood, and the like. The support structure includes patches, clips, eyeglasses, head mounted gear and the like, containing passive or active sensors positioned at the end of the tunnel with sensing systems positioned on and accessing a physiologic tunnel.

Claims

1. A support structure for placement on the skin at an end of a brain tunnel, said support structure comprising

a housing including a portion for placement between an eyebrow and an eye of a subject on the skin at the end of the brain tunnel, and

a sensor eccentrically positioned in the housing for measuring signals produced on said skin at the end of the brain tunnel,

said sensor being located adjacent to an edge of said housing.

2. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a distance from an outer edge of said housing to an outer edge of said sensor is equal to or less than 11 mm.

3. The support structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the distance is equal to or less than 6 mm.

4. The support structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the distance is equal to or less than 3 mm.

5. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes of at least one of a patch, a clip, a medial canthal pad of eyeglasses, a modified nose pad of eyeglasses and head mounted gear.

6. The support structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein said patch measures less than 11 mm at its greatest dimension.

7. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a power source.

8. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a microprocessor.

9. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a wireless transmitter.

10. The support structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said wireless transmitter transmits a signal by at least one of a radio frequency, light, sound and electromagnetic energy.

11. The support structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said local reporting device reports the signal by at least one of a visual, audio and tactile transmission.

12. The support structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein a receiver for said wireless transmitter includes at least one of a watch, a cellular phone, a computer, an internet appliance and a pager.

13. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a local reporting device for local reporting of the signal.

14. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor is active.

15. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor measures brain temperature.

16. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor measures glucose levels.

17. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor measures oxygen levels.

18. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor measures electrolyte levels.

19. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor measures pulse.

20. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor measures blood pressure.

21. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a transmitter for controlling an article of manufacture.

22. The support structure as claimed in claim 21, wherein said article of manufacture includes at least one of a medical device, exercise equipment, a bicycle, clothing, footwear, a climate control system, an electric blanket, a vehicle seat, furniture, sports equipment and military gear.

23. The support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support structure includes a wired transmitter.

24. The support structure as claimed in claim 23, wherein said wired transmitter is connected by a wire to a display unit.

25. A support structure for placement on the skin at an end of a brain tunnel, said support structure comprising

a housing including a portion for placement between an eyebrow and an eye of a subject on the skin at the end of the brain tunnel, and

a passive sensor contained in the housing for measuring signals produced on said skin at the end of the brain tunnel,

said passive sensor being located adjacent to an edge of said housing.

26. The support structure as claimed in claim 25, wherein said passive sensor is powered by an antenna.

27. A support structure for placement adjacent to the skin at an end of a brain tunnel, said support structure comprising

a housing for placement adjacent to the skin at the end of the brain tunnel, and

a sensor contained in the housing being spaced by said housing from the brain tunnel and said sensor having a field of view of 3 mm or less for viewing the brain tunnel.

28. The support structure as claimed in claim 27, wherein said sensor detects infrared radiation.

29. The support structure as claimed in claim 27, wherein said sensor measures at least one of brain temperature and concentration of substances in blood.

30. A support structure for placement adjacent to the skin at an end of a brain tunnel, said support structure comprising

a housing for placement adjacent to the skin at the end of the brain tunnel, and

a sensor contained in the housing being spaced by said housing so as to project a field of view of said sensor on the brain tunnel,

said housing including at least one of a patch, a clip, a medial canthal pad, a modified nose pad, head mounted gear and a contact structure.

31. The support structure as claimed in claim 30, wherein said medial canthal pad is releasably secured to eyeglasses.

32. A support structure for placement on the skin at an end of a brain tunnel, said support structure comprising

a housing including a portion for placement between an eyebrow and an eye of a subject on the skin at the end of the brain tunnel,

a sensor eccentrically positioned in the housing for measuring signals produced on said skin at the end of the brain tunnel,

said sensor being located adjacent to an edge of said housing, and

an electrical device for connecting said sensor to a processing device and a reporting device.

33. A support structure for measuring biological parameters in a brain tunnel, said support structure comprising

a detecting device having a field of view of 3 mm or less for receiving infrared energy from the brain tunnel and for measuring infrared absorption of at least one substance present in said brain tunnel based upon infrared energy generated in the brain tunnel and a processing device for determining a concentration of at least one substance based upon the measured infrared absorption.

34. A support structure for placement on the skin at an end of a brain tunnel, said support structure comprising

a thermoelectric device having dissimilar wires for converting thermal energy from the brain tunnel into electric power,

a medial canthal pad positioned on the brain tunnel containing a hot junction of the thermoelectric device,

a nose pad containing a cold junction of the thermoelectric device,

a sensor powered by the thermoelectric device, and

a capacitor to store energy generated by thermoelectric device.

35. A method for measuring biological parameters, said method comprising the steps of

positioning a sensor in a portion of a housing between an eyebrow and an eye of a subject on the skin at an end of a brain tunnel,

producing a signal corresponding to a biological parameter measured by the sensor, and

reporting a value of said signal to a display device.

36. A method for measuring biological parameters in a brain tunnel, said method comprising the steps of

positioning a housing adjacent to the skin of a subject at the end of the brain tunnel, said housing including a sensor spaced by said housing so as to project a field of view of said sensor on the brain tunnel,

receiving infrared energy from the brain tunnel,

producing a signal representative of an amount of infrared energy received from said brain tunnel,

processing said signal for determining a value of a biological parameter, and reporting said value.

37. The method as claimed in claim 36, further comprising measuring infrared absorption of at least one substance in said tunnel for determining a concentration of said substance.

38. The method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the biological parameter measured includes at least one of brain temperature, metabolic function and blood concentration of substances.

39. A method for measuring biological parameters in a brain tunnel, said method comprising the steps of

directing infrared energy to the brain tunnel,

producing a signal representative of an amount of infrared energy received from said brain tunnel,

processing said signal for determining a value of a biological parameter, and

reporting said value.