Diagnostic radio frequency identification sensors and applications thereof

• US 7,969,307 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altivera, LLC
• Original Assignee: Altivera, LLC
• Inventors: Peeters, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/530,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,346 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/573.1, 340/573.2, 340/539.12, 600/306, 600/300, 600309-367
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0285 Apparatus for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14514 using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1491 Heated applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150793 Electrical or magnetic identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150854 long distance, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15087 short range, e.g. between console and disposable using implanted devices A61B5/150877
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150969 Low-profile devices which resemble patches or plasters, e.g. also allowing collection of blood samples for testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150984 : Microneedles or microblades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 : Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 : Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 : combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 : Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/08 : Geometry, shape and general structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 : Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 : Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 : Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 : Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 : Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 : network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/12 : Meat; fish
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/146 : containing alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 : involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5438 : Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/58 : involving labelled substances G01N33/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 : Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 : the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 : the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 : Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 : including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/00 : Adapting or protecting infrastructure or their operation

Abstract

An integrated passive wireless chip diagnostic sensor system is described that can be interrogated remotely with a wireless device such as a modified cell phone incorporating multi-protocol RFID reader capabilities (such as the emerging Gen-2 standard) or Bluetooth, providing universal easy to use, low cost and immediate quantitative analyses, geolocation and sensor networking capabilities to users of the technology. The present invention can be integrated into various diagnostic platforms and is applicable for use with low power sensors such as thin films, MEMS, electrochemical, thermal, resistive, nano or microfluidic sensor technologies. Applications of the present invention include on-the-spot medical and self-diagnostics on smart skin patches, Point of Care (POC) analyses, food diagnostics, pathogen detection, disease-specific wireless biomarker detection, remote structural stresses detection and sensor networks for industrial or Homeland Security using low cost wireless devices such as modified cell phones.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) addressable diagnostic sensor unit comprising:

at least one sensor element;

at least one reference sensor element;

a unique identification ID number;

a sensor interface having an analog to digital converter coupled to the at least one sensor and reference sensor element;

at least one antenna;

a substrate;

an RF power and communication interface coupled to the at least one antenna and sensor interface;

a controller coupled to the RF power and communications interface and the sensor interface; and

a memory coupled to the controller and the sensor interface;

wherein the RF addressable sensor communicates with a remote wireless device, said wireless device having multiple wireless communication means, geolocation means and a unique ID, whereby said wireless device is coupled to at least one communications network linked to t least one remote server; and

wherein the wireless device communicates with the RF addressable sensor interface to obtain the ID and sensor data;

wherein the remote server authenticates said unique sensor ID associated with said unique wireless device ID and communicates to said wireless device processed information relating to said sensor data and software related to the unique sensor ID, thereby allowing said wireless device to interpret said sensor anywhere worldwide.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said wireless device is a cell phone.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said sensor unit is integrated into a disposable wireless skin patch for diagnostic applications.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said sensor is integrated into a disposable immunoassay.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said sensor is a chemical sensor.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein said sensor is a radiation sensor.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein said sensor is a MEMS sensor.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the unit includes a combination of chemical, MEMS and other sensors.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system further includes a GPS means for geolocating said system.

10. The system according to claim 1 further including a non-GPS geolocation means for geolocating said system.

11. A networkable personal wireless medical management system comprising:

a personal wireless reader device with a sensor module and an internal microprocessor, a wireless RF communication means compatible with a public wireless network, at least one additional reader for communicating with an external wireless device and a geolocation means;

a remote data storage system and server accessible via the public wireless network compatible via at least one protocol means included in said personal wireless device;

a disposable minimally invasive wireless diagnostic skin patch with a unique ID, a temperature sensor, a communications interface and at least one additional sensor to be applied on the surface of the skin to measure a condition in an individual, said at least one additional sensor compatible with at least one of the readers of said personal wireless device;

wherein the personal wireless device first checks the unique ID of said wireless skin patch, and if said ID is not recognized then the wireless device retrieves relevant information and software from said remote server via said public wireless network, wherein medical data of said at least one additional sensor are then transferred wirelessly from said diagnostic skin patch to the personal wireless device, and said internal microprocessor of said personal wireless device analyzes said medical condition, then after analization of said medical condition said microprocessor sends said data via an RF transmission via said wireless network.

12. The system in claim 11 wherein one of the readers of said personal wireless reader device is an RFID radio.

13. The system in claim 11 wherein one of the readers of said personal wireless reader device is a Bluetooth radio.

14. The system recited in claim 11 wherein the combination of RFID and Bluetooth are used in said personal wireless device for said medical management system.

15. The system recited in claim 11 wherein the personal wireless reader device is a cell phone.

16. The system recited in claim 11 wherein the personal wireless reader device is a PDA.

17. The system recited in claim 11 wherein the personal wireless reader device is a wireless laptop.

18. An addressable quantitative passive radio frequency addressable skin patch comprising:

a skin patch having one or more sensor elements with a unique sensor tag ID;

a sensor interface having an analog to digital converter coupled to said one or more sensor elements;

at least one antenna;

an RF power and communication interface coupled to the at least one antenna and the sensor interface;

a controller coupled to the RF power and communications interface and the sensor interface, said controller receiving sensor data from said at least one sensor and generating processed information therefrom; and

a memory coupled to the controller and the sensor interface, wherein the memory is configured to store a unique tag identification ID number;

wherein the RF addressable skin patch communicates with a wireless device with a unique wireless device ID that is coupled to a communications network linked to at least one remote server; and

wherein, the wireless device communicates with the RF addressable skin patch to obtain sensor data for transmission over the communications network;

wherein the remote server authenticates remotely said unique sensor tag ID and said unique wireless device ID and communicates to said wireless device said processed information relating to said sensor data;

at least one external printable chemical sensor and one external reference sensor, wherein said patch sensors and said unique sensor tag ID are directly readable with a personal wireless device coupled to a communications network linked to at least one remote server and comprising multiple radios, geolocation means and an interface, and a means to store and relay to said remote server results of said chemical sensors on said patch.

19. The skin patch according to claim 18 further including a MEMS sensor and a battery.

20. The skin patch according to claim 18 further including at least one radiation sensor.

21. The skin patch in claim 18 whereby multiple chemical sensors are used to warn a user of said patch of an impending medical condition.