Sensors

• US 8,332,009 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelesens Limited (UltraLinq Healthcare Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intelesens Limited (UltraLinq Healthcare Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: McLaughlin, James Andrew, Anderson, John McCune, Skillen, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Application Number:
  US12/600,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20100160762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/393, 600/391, 600/394, 600/595
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/273 Connection of cords, cables or leads to electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]

Abstract

A two-part sensor (1) comprising a first part comprising a sensing device (3) which senses information, a second part comprising a receiving device (5) which receives a measure of the information, and a connector (7) comprising at least one first portion (21) which is magnetic and is attached to one of the sensing device and the receiving device, and at least one second portion (23) which is magnetizable and is attached to an other of the sensing device and the receiving device, wherein the first portion and the second portion are connectable and disconnectable to connect and disconnect the sensing device and the receiving device.

Claims

1. A two-part sensor comprising a first part comprising a sensing device which senses information, a second part comprising a receiving device which receives a measure of the information, and a connector comprising at least one first portion which is magnetic and is attached to one of the sensing device and the receiving device, and at least one second portion which is magnetic and is attached to an other of the sensing device and the receiving device, wherein the first portion and the second portion are connectable and disconnectable to connect and disconnect the sensing device and the receiving device;

and

in which the connector first portion and the connector second portion are connectable by magnetic forces exerted by the first portion on the second portion and magnetic forces exerted by the second portion on the first portion and in which the magnetic forces are configured more readily to release the receiving device from the sensing device than to release the sensing device from connection with a user of the sensor;

in which the connector further comprises a plurality of connector first portions and a plurality of connector second portions, each connector first portion being connectable and disconnectable to a connector second portion; and

in which the connector first portions and the connector second portions are attached to the sensing and receiving devices in a polarised arrangement, such as to dictate orientation of the receiving device with respect to the sensing device.

2. A two-part sensor according to claim 1, in which the connector first portion and the connector second portion are connectable by magnetic forces which are in a range of approximately 7 N to approximately 10 N.

3. A two-part sensor according to claim 1, in which the connector comprises three connector first portions and three connector second portions, attached to the sensing and receiving devices in a polarised arrangement comprising a triangular arrangement.

4. A two-part sensor according to claim 1, in which the connector first portion and the connector second portion transmit the measure of the information from the sensing device to the receiving device.

5. A two-part sensor according to claim 1, which senses information comprising movement.

6. A two-part sensor according to claim 1, which senses information comprising electrical signals.

7. A two-part sensor according to claim 1, in which the sensing device comprises at least one electrode, capable of sensing information in the form of electrical signals and producing a measure of the electrical signals.

8. A two-part sensor according to claim 6, in which the sensing device comprises a stud to connect the or each electrode to a connector first portion or a connector second portion attached to the sensing device.

9. A two-part sensor according to claim 7, in which the or each electrode is provided on a first surface of the sensing device, and the or each stud forms a throughhole connection to a connector first portion or a connector second portion attached to a second, opposite, surface of the sensing device.

10. A two-part sensor according to claim 7, in which the sensing device comprises a track to connect the or each electrode to the or each stud.

11. A two-part sensor according to claim 1, in which the sensing device is a disposable sensing device, and the receiving device is a reusable receiving device.