Packages of apparatus for non-invasive detection of pulse rate and blood flow anomalies

• US 8,246,547 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nanyang Polytechnic
• Original Assignee: Nanyang Polytechnic
• Inventors: Phua, Chee Teck, Lim, Chin Leng Peter, Gooi, Boon Chong
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reddy, Sunita
• Application Number:
  US12/440,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20100042006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: 600/500, 600/504, 600505-509, 600/407, 600/409, 600/419
• US Class Current: 600/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0265 using electromagnetic means, e.g. electromagnetic flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/09 Magnetoresistive devices

Abstract

The present invention provides a package for an apparatus for non-invasively monitoring of blood flow of an object, a magnetic field sensing device, and a magnetic source positioning device.

Claims

1. A package for an apparatus that non-invasively monitors blood flow of an object, comprising:

a magnetic source that produces a localized, uni-directional, and constant magnetic field;

a signal acquisition module with a magnetic sensor, wherein the magnetic sensor is disposed within the localized, uni-directional, and constant magnetic field and detects the modulations of the localized, uni-directional, and constant magnetic field caused by the blood flow in a blood vessel near the skin surface of the object; and

a gaseous damping cushion, wherein the magnetic source is disposed within or onto the gaseous damping cushion;

such that the gaseous damping cushion enables the modulations of the localized, uni-directional, and constant magnetic field of the magnetic source caused by the blood flow to be amplified and/or propagated, and isolated from external noises.

2. The package of claim 1, further comprising:

a signal conditioning module for converting the output of the signal acquisition module with appropriate amplifications; and

a digital signal processing module for processing the output signal from the signal conditioning module;

thereby pulse rate and blood flow anomaly can be monitored.

3. The package of claim 1, further comprising a display/user interface/alarm module for providing visual or acoustic notification to a user.

4. The package of claim 1, wherein the magnetic source is a permanent magnet.

5. The package of claim 1, wherein the magnetic source is an electromagnet.

6. The package of claim 1, wherein the magnetic source comprises a plurality of electromagnets.

7. The package of claim 6, wherein the strength of the localized, uni-directional, and constant magnetic field produced by the plurality of electromagnets is controlled electronically.

8. The package of claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor is any magnetic sensor with appropriate sensitivity of detecting the modulation of the magnetic field from the magnetic source.

9. The package of claim 8, wherein the magnetic sensor is a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) based magnetic sensor.

10. The package of claim 8, wherein the magnetic sensor is a tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) magnetic sensor.

11. The package of claim 8, wherein the magnetic sensor is an anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensor.

12. The package of claim 1, wherein the signal acquisition module comprises a printed circuit board and two magnetic sensors;

wherein the printed circuit board is sandwiched by the two magnetic sensors; and

wherein the two magnetic sensors have an orthogonal formation.

13. The package of claim 1, wherein the gaseous damping cushion has a doughnut configuration with a circular chamber;

wherein the circular chamber is disposed with means for allowing the embedded magnetic source to move and holding the embedded magnetic source in place.

14. The package of claim 13, wherein the means within the circular chamber comprises a plurality of semi-flexible flaps.

15. The package of claim 1, wherein the gaseous damping cushion comprises air or non-magnetic gas.