Medical sensor kit for combination with a chair to enable measurement of diagnostic information

• US 8,235,895 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2010
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Commwell Research and Development Limited
• Original Assignee: Commwell Research and Development Limited
• Inventors: David, Daniel, Levy, Irving
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Sam
• Assistant Examiner(s): JIAN, SHIRLEY XUEYING
• Application Number:
  US12/724,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20110034784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/301
• 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 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02241 of small dimensions, e.g. adapted to fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4082 Diagnosing or monitoring movement diseases, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington or Tourette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R

Abstract

A medical examination chair kit includes a group of sensors including electrodes in finger-tip sensors, various other types of sensors incorporated in covers attachable or placeable on a chair and load cells on an adjustable grid supporting the chair, all of which provide data which is partially processed in a transmission pocket mounted on the chair.

Claims

1. A medical examination diagnostic kit for attachment to a chair, comprising:

a chair, including;

a generally horizontal seat, four legs, two arm rests and a back support;

said kit including an independent load sensor device comprising an adjustable sensor support grid having four adjustably spaced load cell sensors for placement respectively of a single load cell under each of said legs, each of said load cell sensors comprising an element for detecting the load independently on each of the load cell sensors to provide a set of four independent data signals for medical diagnosis;

means for collecting and comparing the four signals thereby providing at least one of the following;

a diagnostic ECG;

a diagnostic respiration rate;

neurological disorders;

neuromuscular pathology;

stroke; and

balance.

2. The chair of claim 1 further including at least two arm pads incorporating one or more sensor elements, and one or more of the following supplemental sensor elements located in one of said sensor pads:

blood pressure sensor;

pulse oximetry sensor;

sound sensor;

skin resistance sensor;

manual grip sensor;

fluid flow rate sensor;

glucometer; and

further including a wireless sensor signal collection, storage and transmission device mounted on an attachment strap for attachment to the chair, said wireless sensor signal collection, storage and transmission device for collection of sensor signals from said sensor elements.

3. The kit of claim 1 wherein each load cell is mounted on a plate, said plates connected together to form a quadrilateral configuration, and further including an adjustable linkage between each pair of adjacent plates in said quadrilateral configuration of plates.

4. The kit of claim 3 wherein adjacent plates are connected by a link comprised of a telescoping rod in a tube, said links forming said quadrilateral grid.

5. The kit of claim 3 further including sensor pads for placement on the arm rests and back support, each sensor pad including independent sensor elements and a signal transmission device for transmission of a signal to said means for collecting and comparing.

6. The kit of claim 1 wherein each load cell is mounted on a plate, said plates being connected to form a quadrilateral grid with a load cell mounted on a plate at each corner of said grid, the distance between each plate being adjustable, each load cell being independently connected to said means for collecting and comparing.