Optical power modulation vital sign detection method and measurement device
First Claim
1. A non-invasive vital sign measurement device comprising:
- a sensor fixation device adapted to be placed against an external skin surface of an anatomical location of a subject, within which is an artery;
a sensor frame held by the sensor fixation device, the sensor frame adapted to be held against the external skin surface by the sensor fixation device,an optical sensing system held by the sensor frame and comprising an optical waveguide, an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting the second end of optical waveguide, the optical sensing system adapted to sense an arterial pulse from the compression or flexing of at least a portion of the optical waveguide resulting in reduction of the amount of optical energy exiting the second end of the optical waveguide; and
an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of light exiting the second end of the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the vital sign based at least in part on the received signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vital sign measurement device includes a sensor fixation device, a sensor frame held by the sensor fixation device, an optical sensing system 104 held by the sensor frame, and an output unit. The sensor fixation device is adapted to be placed against an anatomical location of a subject, within which is an artery. The optical sensing system 104 includes an optical waveguide, an optical source device to supply optical energy to the optical waveguide, and an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide. The optical sensing system 104 is adapted to sense an arterial pulse from the compression or flexing of at least a portion of the optical waveguide resulting in reduction of the amount of light exiting the optical waveguide. The output unit is configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of light exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the vital sign based at least in part on the received signal.
67 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A non-invasive vital sign measurement device comprising:
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a sensor fixation device adapted to be placed against an external skin surface of an anatomical location of a subject, within which is an artery; a sensor frame held by the sensor fixation device, the sensor frame adapted to be held against the external skin surface by the sensor fixation device, an optical sensing system held by the sensor frame and comprising an optical waveguide, an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting the second end of optical waveguide, the optical sensing system adapted to sense an arterial pulse from the compression or flexing of at least a portion of the optical waveguide resulting in reduction of the amount of optical energy exiting the second end of the optical waveguide; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of light exiting the second end of the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the vital sign based at least in part on the received signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 25, 33, 34, 35)
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3. A vital sign measurement device comprising:
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a cuff comprising an inflatable bladder adapted to be placed against the limb, within which is an artery, and adapted to apply pressure to the limb when inflated and thereby compress the artery within the limb; a sensor frame held by the cuff, wherein the sensor frame is attached to the cuff at a location that is not coincident with any part of the inflatable bladder, and further wherein the sensor frame is adapted to be held in opposition to the limb by its attachment to the cuff such that the pressure applied to the limb by the sensor frame is substantially equal to the pressure applied to the limb by the surrounding cuff when the inflatable bladder is inflated, an optical sensing system held by the sensor frame and comprising an optical waveguide, an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting the second end of optical waveguide, the optical sensing system adapted to sense an arterial pulse from the compression or flexing of at least a portion of the optical waveguide resulting in reduction of the amount of optical energy exiting the second end of the optical waveguide; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of light exiting the second end of the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the vital sign based at least in part on the received signal.
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4. A vital sign measurement device comprising:
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a sensor fixation device adapted to be placed against an anatomical location of a subject, within which is an artery; a sensor frame held by the sensor fixation device, an optical sensing system held by the sensor frame and comprising an optical waveguide, an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting the second end of optical waveguide, the optical sensing system adapted to sense an arterial pulse from the compression or flexing of at least a portion of the optical waveguide resulting in reduction of the amount of optical energy exiting the second end of the optical waveguide; a sensor pad within the sensor frame which is positionable adjacent to the anatomical location, wherein movement of the sensor pad results in compression or flexing of the compressible optical waveguide, and modulating movement of the sensor pad results in modulating compression or flexing of the optical waveguide; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of light exiting the second end of the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the vital sign based at least in part on the received signal. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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16. A vital sign measurement device comprising:
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a sensor fixation device adapted to be placed against an anatomical location of a subject, within which is an artery; a sensor frame held by the sensor fixation device, an optical sensing system held by the sensor frame and comprising an optical waveguide, an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting the second end of optical waveguide, the optical sensing system adapted to sense an arterial pulse from the compression or flexing of at least a portion of the optical waveguide resulting in reduction of the amount of optical energy exiting the second end of the optical waveguide; a waveguide support structure comprising a non-compliant surface, the waveguide support structure supporting at least a portion of the optical waveguide, wherein the optical sensing system is further adapted to cause a flexural deformation in an unsupported portion of the optical waveguide in response to an arterial pulse; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of light exiting the second end of the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the vital sign based at least in part on the received signal.
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18. A vital sign measurement device comprising:
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a sensor fixation device adapted to be placed against an anatomical location of a subject, within which is an artery; a sensor frame held by the sensor fixation device, an optical sensing system held by the sensor frame and comprising an optical waveguide, an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting the second end of optical waveguide, the optical sensing system adapted to sense an arterial pulse from the compression or flexing of at least a portion of the optical waveguide resulting in reduction of the amount of optical energy exiting the second end of the optical waveguide; a flexible and incompressible support surface that supports the optical waveguide over substantially all of its length, wherein the waveguide support surface is a flexible electronic circuit board, to which the waveguide is bonded with a flexible elastomer adhesive; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of light exiting the second end of the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the vital sign based at least in part on the received signal.
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20. A vital sign measurement device comprising:
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a sensor fixation device adapted to be placed against an anatomical location of a subject, within which is an artery; a sensor frame held by the sensor fixation device, an optical sensing system held by the sensor frame and comprising an optical waveguide, an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting the second end of optical waveguide, the optical sensing system adapted to sense an arterial pulse from the compression or flexing of at least a portion of the optical waveguide resulting in reduction of the amount of optical energy exiting the second end of the optical waveguide; a flexible and incompressible support surface that supports the optical waveguide over substantially all of its length; a support return element which is configured within the support surface and adapted to oppose the flexing of the support surface; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of light exiting the second end of the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the vital sign based at least in part on the received signal. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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23. A vital sign measurement device comprising:
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a sensor fixation device adapted to be placed against an anatomical location of a subject, within which is an artery; a sensor frame held by the sensor fixation device, an optical sensing system held by the sensor frame and comprising an optical waveguide, an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting the second end of optical waveguide, the optical sensing system adapted to sense an arterial pulse from the compression or flexing of at least a portion of the optical waveguide resulting in reduction of the amount of optical energy exiting the second end of the optical waveguide; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of light exiting the second end of the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the vital sign based at least in part on the received signal, wherein the optical sensing system is adapted to sense the pulsatile opening of the artery by the compression and flexing of the compressible optical waveguide resulting in a pulsatile decrease in an amount of detected light.
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26. A method of non-invasively measuring a vital sign in a subject, the method comprising:
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transmitting optical energy into a first end of an optical waveguide, the optical waveguide positioned with a sensor frame, the sensor frame positioned against an external skin surface of an anatomical location of a subject, within which is an artery, the optical waveguide positioned to compress or flex in response to an arterial pulse; detecting, using an optical detector held by the sensor frame, an amount of optical energy exiting a second end of the optical waveguide and generating therefrom a signal indicative of optical energy received, the amount of optical energy exiting the second end of the optical waveguide changing in response to an arterial pulse; and generating a measure of the vital sign using the generated signal indicative of the optical energy exiting the second end of the optical waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of non-invasively measuring a subject'"'"'s blood pressure, the method comprising:
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positioning an optical power modulation sensor a against an external skin surface of an anatomical location of a subject, the anatomical location comprising an artery, the optical power modulation sensor comprising an optical waveguide adapted to be compressed or flexed in response to an arterial pulse detected from the external skin surface, the compression or flexing of the optical waveguide resulting in a reduction in the amount of light transmitted to an end of the optical waveguide; transmitting a light through the optical waveguide; applying a varying pressure to an anatomical location of a subject; detecting at least one arterial pulse waveform with the optical power modulation sensor as a function of the applied and varied pressure, the at least one arterial pulse waveform being detected from the amount of light exiting the end of the optical waveguide; and determining a systolic blood pressure and a diastolic blood pressure based on the at least one detected arterial pulse waveform as a function of the applied and varied pressure.
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Specification