Measurement and treatment system and method

• US 7,376,451 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hershey, John Erik, Tomlinson, Harold Woodruff Jr., Mahony, Michael Joseph, Powell, William Eugene III, Forman, Glenn Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US10/973,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20060089546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/322, 600/323, 600/344
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0064 Body surface scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1464 specially adapted for foetal tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0621 Hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice treatment

Abstract

A non-intrusive physiological data measurement system and method, as well as an optically induced treatment system, are described. The measurement system includes a monitoring mechanism that includes light emitter modules capable of emitting light at at least two wavelengths. The light emitted from the light emitter modules is transmitted through a subject and to a light receiving mechanism, such as an optical sensor. Physiological data is taken from the received light. The system also can ascertain movement of the subject by obtaining an initial outline of the subject and comparing that outline with a subsequently obtained outline. A therapeutic optic system includes a non-adhering light emitting mechanism for providing light at therapeutic wavelengths.

Claims

1. A physiological data measurement system adapted to monitor a subject, comprising:

a non-intrusive signal emitting mechanism, comprising;

a monitoring mechanism configured to monitor physiological data of and provide support to the subject while the subject is being monitored; and

at least one signal emitter module within the monitoring mechanism;

a signal receiving mechanism configured to receive signals emitted from said at least one signal emitter module; and

a controller configured to control said at least one signal emitter module based at least in part on a determined position of the subject being monitored on the monitoring mechanism.

2. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein the physiological data is oximetric data.

3. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein said signal receiving mechanism comprises a plurality of electromagnetic sensors.

4. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein said at least one signal emitter module comprises one or more light emitter modules.

5. The measurement system of claim 4, wherein said one or more light emitter modules comprises a plurality of optical emitters, each configured to emit light at a different wavelength from the others.

6. The measurement system of claim 5, wherein each said optical emitter comprises a VCSEL.

7. The measurement system of claim 5, wherein each said optical emitter comprises a LED.

8. The measurement system of claim 4, wherein said signal receiving mechanism comprises an optical sensor.

9. The measurement system of claim 8, wherein said optical sensor comprises a CCD camera.

10. The measurement system of claim 8, further comprising a light distributor positioned between a single one of said one or more light emitter modules and said optical sensor.

11. The measurement system of claim 10, wherein said single one of said one or more light emitter modules comprises an optical emitter configured to emit light at a plurality of wavelengths.

12. The measurement system of claim 11, wherein said optical emitter comprises a broadband light source.

13. The measurement system of claim 12, further comprising:

a lens;

a rotating filter wheel;

a plurality of band pass filters; and

a detector.

14. The measurement system of claim 8, wherein said optical sensor comprises:

a lens;

a beam splitter;

first and second band pass filters, said first band pass filter having a band pass centered on a first wavelength and said second band pass filter having a band pass centered on a second wavelength; and

first and second detectors, said first detector configured to receive light of the first wavelength from said first band pass filter and said second detector configured to receive light of the second wavelength from said second band pass filter.

15. The measurement system of claim 8, wherein said optical sensor is positioned such that light emitted from the one or more light emitter modules is transmitted into a subject and diffused forward prior to being received at said optical sensor.

16. The measurement system of claim 8, wherein said optical sensor is positioned such that light emitted from the one or more light emitting modules is transmitted into a subject and diffused back to be received at said optical sensor.

17. The measurement system of claim 8, further comprising a second optical sensor.

18. The measurement system of claim 8, wherein said optical sensor comprises a two-dimensional light sensor.

19. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring mechanism comprises a pad incorporating said at least one signal emitter module.

20. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring mechanism comprises a fabric incorporating said at least one signal emitter module.