Apparatus and method for measuring biologic parameters

• US 8,328,420 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brain Tunnelgenix, Brain Tunnelgenix Technologies Corp.
• Original Assignee: Geelux Holdings, Ltd.
• Inventors: Abreu, Marcio Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): VERBITSKY, GAIL KAPLAN
• Application Number:
  US11/585,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20090105605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,240 Days
• Field of Search: 374/100, 374/29, 374/135, 374/137, 374/120, 374/121, 374/124, 374/161, 374/179, 374/163, 374/183, 374/185, 374/208, 702/136, 600/549, 600/474
• US Class Current: 374/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0042 for the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0046 Arrangements of imaging apparatus in a room, e.g. room provided with shielding or for improved access to apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0079 using mirrors, i.e. for self-examination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1176 Recognition of faces
• 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 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1491 Heated applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 : Eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 : Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 : Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 : using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 : Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 : Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 : Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/10 : using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/23 : from thermal infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 : provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 : Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Support structures for positioning sensors on a physiologic tunnel for measuring physical, chemical and biological parameters of the body and to produce an action according to the measured value of the parameters. A sensor fitted on the support structures uses a special geometry for acquiring continuous and undisturbed data on the physiology of the body. Signals are transmitted to a remote station by wireless transmission such as by electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared, sound and the like or by being reported locally by audio or visual transmission. The physical and chemical parameters include brain function, metabolic function, hydrodynamic function, hydration status, levels of chemical compounds in the blood, and the like. The support structure includes patches, clips, eyeglasses, head mounted gear and the like, containing passive or active sensors positioned at the end of the tunnel with sensing systems positioned on and accessing a physiologic tunnel.

Claims

1. A clinical temperature detector comprising:

an elongated probe having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end including a sensing surface,

said sensing surface having insulation and at least one thermal sensor for directly receiving thermal energy from a brain temperature tunnel on a body surface, said brain temperature tunnel on said body surface being located at the supero-medial aspect of the medial canthal area and the medial half of the upper eyelid, and

said at least one thermal sensor having a sensing element surface and said sensing element surface being only partially surrounded by said insulation, said sensing element surface of said at least one thermal sensor directly engaging the brain temperature tunnel on the body surface in an absence of any obstruction for measuring temperature from the brain temperature tunnel of the body surface, said measured body surface temperature from the brain temperature tunnel being conveyed to the proximal end of said probe,

said insulation being compressible and moldable, said insulation being movable with said at least one thermal sensor for maintaining a position of the insulation on the body surface and said insulation adapting to a shape of the body surface while the at least one thermal sensor measures the body surface temperature from the brain temperature tunnel by unobstructed contact of the sensing element surface with the body surface.

2. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 1, wherein a display device is located at said proximal end of said probe.

3. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 1, wherein said insulation completely surrounds said at least one thermal sensor except for said sensing element surface.

4. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 1, wherein said sensing element surface is convex.

5. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 1, wherein said elongated probe is cylindrical.

6. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 1, wherein said insulation extends at least 4 mm radially from said at least one thermal sensor.

7. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 1, wherein said measured body surface temperature is compared to a thermal signature.

8. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 1, wherein a wire interconnects said at least one thermal sensor and an electronic device.

9. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 8, wherein said wire exits said probe at a distance spaced from the distal end and the proximal end of the probe.

10. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is less than 6 mm in a largest dimension.

11. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal sensor projects from the insulation.

12. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 9, wherein the wire exits said probe at a mid-portion of the probe.

13. A clinical temperature detector comprising:

an elongated sensing device having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end including at least one sensor and an insulating surface,

said at least one sensor having a sensing element surface and said sensing element surface being only partially surrounded by said insulating surface for directly receiving energy from a brain temperature tunnel on a body surface, said brain temperature tunnel on said body surface being located at the supero-medial aspect of the medial canthal area and the medial half of the upper eyelid,

said sensing element surface of said at least one sensor, in an absence of any obstruction, generating a signal indicative of a measurement, said signal being conveyed towards the proximal end of said probe,

said insulating surface being compressible and moldable, said insulation being movable with said at least one sensor for maintaining a position of the insulation on the body surface and said insulation adapting to a shape of the body surface while the at least one sensor generates the signal, and

a display device for displaying indicia representative of the signal.

14. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor is at least one of a temperature sensor, electrochemical sensor, enzymatic sensor, fluorescent sensor and infrared sensor.

15. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 13, wherein said display device is part of the sensing device.

16. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 13, wherein said proximal end of said sensing device is a pen.

17. The clinical temperature detector according to claim 13, wherein said signal is conveyed wirelessly.

18. A clinical thermometer comprising:

an elongated probe having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end including an insulating sensing surface,

said insulating sensing surface having insulation and a thermal sensor for directly receiving thermal energy from a brain temperature tunnel on a body surface, said brain temperature tunnel on said body surface being located at the supero-medial aspect of the medial canthal area and the medial half of the upper eyelid, and

said thermal sensor having a sensing element surface and said sensing element surface being only partially surrounded by said insulation, said sensing element surface of said thermal sensor directly engaging the brain temperature tunnel on the body surface in an absence of any obstruction between the sensing element surface and the body surface for directly measuring surface temperature, said measured surface temperature being conveyed to the proximal end of said probe,

said insulation being compressible and moldable and moving with said thermal sensor while maintaining a position of the insulation on the body surface and said insulation being adaptable to a shape of the body surface while the thermal sensor measures surface temperature by unobstructed contact of the sensing element surface with the brain temperature tunnel on the body surface.