Disposable oximeter device

• US 8,761,852 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nonin Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nonin Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Parthasarathy, Jayant, Prior, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fardanesh, Marjan
• Application Number:
  US12/707,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20100210924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 600309-344
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/029 Measuring or recording blood output from the heart, e.g. minute volume A61B8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6825 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

A device includes a pliable membrane, a sensor module and a communication module. The pliable membrane includes a semi-rigid structural member. The membrane is configured to conform to a tissue surface. The structural member is configured to retain the membrane in a particular shape corresponding to the tissue surface. The sensor module is coupled to the membrane. The sensor module is configured to generate an electrical signal corresponding to a physiological parameter associated with the tissue surface. The communication module is coupled to the membrane. The communication module is configured to receive the electrical signal and wirelessly communicate data corresponding to the electrical signal with a remote device.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a pliable membrane having a semi-rigid structural member, the membrane configured to conform to a tissue surface and the structural member configured to retain a first portion of the membrane in a particular shape corresponding to the tissue surface and the membrane having an elongate second portion, the second portion connected to the first portion having a relief feature configured to allow flexure in a side to side direction, and the membrane including a third portion connected to the second portion, wherein the third portion includes a strap configured to at least encircle a user;

a sensor module coupled to the membrane, the sensor module configured to generate an electrical signal corresponding to a physiological parameter associated with the tissue surface;

a communication module coupled to the membrane, the communication module configured to receive the electrical signal and wirelessly communicate data corresponding to the electrical signal with a remote device.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor module includes at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor, a regional oximetry sensor, photoplethysmography sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an accelerometer, a pulse rate sensor, or a cardiac output sensor, blood pressure sensor, an electrocardiography sensor, an electroencephalogram sensor, an electromyography sensor, an electrooculogram sensor, a heart rate variability sensor, an acoustic respiratory monitoring sensor, or a pulse transit timing sensor.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor module is affixed to a first portion of the membrane and the communication module is affixed to a second portion of the membrane, the sensor module coupled to the communication module by an electrical conductor.

4. The device of claim 1 further including a processor module coupled to the membrane, the processor module configured to receive the electrical signal, execute an algorithm and generate a measure of the physiological parameter, and wherein the data includes the measure of the physiological parameter.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the membrane is configured to be continuously affixed to the tissue surface for a duration exceeding a day.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the structural member includes a malleable material.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the membrane includes at least one relief feature having a triangular shape.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the membrane includes a hook and loop fastener.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the sensor module or the communication module is electrically shielded.

10. A system comprising:

a wearable device having a conformable membrane, the membrane reinforced by a semi-rigid support structure, the support structure configured to retain a first portion of the membrane in a shape that conforms to a tissue surface and the membrane having an elongate second portion connected to the first portion, the elongate second portion having a relief feature configured to allow flexure in a side to side direction and the membrane including a third portion connected to the second portion, wherein the third portion includes a strap configured to at least encircle a user, the wearable device having a sensor module and a first communication module, the sensor module configured to generate an electrical signal based on a physiological parameter, the first communication module configured to wirelessly communicate data based on the electrical signal; and

a remote device having a second communication module, the second communication module configured to wirelessly communicate the data, the remote device configured to store information based on the physiological parameter.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the sensor module includes at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor, a regional oximetry sensor, photoplethysmography sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an accelerometer, a pulse rate sensor, and a cardiac output sensor, blood pressure sensor, an electrocardiography sensor, an electroencephalogram sensor, an electromyography sensor, an electrooculogram sensor, a heart rate variability sensor, an acoustic respiratory monitoring sensor, or a pulse transit timing sensor.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the wearable device includes a display.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the remote device includes at least one of a display, a user interface, a memory, a processor, or a network interface.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the sensor module is coupled to the first communication module by an electrical conductor.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the membrane includes a laminated assembly.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the membrane includes an aperture.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the aperture is configured to provide ventilation to an underlying tissue.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the membrane is configured for single patient use.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein the membrane is configured to at least partially encircle a tissue.

20. A method comprising:

providing a wearable device including a pliable membrane having a structural member, the structural member configured to retain a first portion of the pliable membrane in a shape that conforms to a tissue surface, and the pliable membrane having an elongate second portion connected to the first portion, the second portion having a relief feature configured to allow flexure in a side to side direction and the membrane including a third portion connected to the second portion, wherein the third portion including a strap configured to at least encircle a user, the device including a sensor module and a communication module, the sensor module configured to generate an electrical signal based on a physiological parameter corresponding to the tissue surface, and the communication module configured to wirelessly communicate data based on the electrical signal; and

configuring a remote device to receive the data and to store the data.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein configuring the remote device includes configuring a wireless radio frequency transceiver.

22. The method of claim 20 further including affixing the wearable device to a user.

23. The method of claim 20 further including using the remote device to display the data.