Biomedical interface pressure transducer for medical tourniquets
First Claim
1. A biomedical interface pressure transducer apparatus for estimating an interface pressure applied to living tissue by a medical tourniquet, medical device or other tissue comprising:
- a MEMS pressure sensor mounted to a substrate and surrounded by a port that projects from the substrate to define an internal volume within the port, the port having an external surface that is opposite the substrate and that defines a sensing plane;
wherein the internal volume includes a first layer of gel adjacent to the sensor, and a second layer of gel material that is selected from a group consisting of RTV Silicone, polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), Silicone Rubber, and Rubison premixed white silicone, and that is harder than the first layer and that fills the internal volume with the first layer being between the substrate and the second layer and such that a surface of the second layer is coplanar with the plane defined by the port surface;
a conformable semisolid body that surrounds the MEMS pressure sensor;
a membrane extending in the sensing plane and covering the port external surface, and covering the internal volume, the membrane being movable in the sensing plane;
wherein the MEMS pressure sensor produces a pressure signal indicative of the interface pressure applied to living tissue by the medical tourniquet, medical device or other tissue as transmitted by the membrane to the second and first layers;
a controller in communication with the MEMS pressure sensor for receiving the pressure signal, the controller providing power, signal conditioning, interfacing and display functions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A biomedical interface pressure transducer which is useful for interposing between a limb or tissue and an occlusive band, tourniquet cuff or other biomedical apparatus in order to estimate the pressure and pressure gradient applied to a selected area of the limb or tissue is disclosed. The pressure transducer comprises a modified MEMS pressure sensor and a conformable semisolid body enclosed in a shear relief membrane which translates the pressure applied by the occlusive band to the modified MEMS pressure sensor mounted on a flexible substrate with patterned electrical interconnect tracks allowing the connection of the pressure sensor to digital communication and control circuitry.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A biomedical interface pressure transducer apparatus for estimating an interface pressure applied to living tissue by a medical tourniquet, medical device or other tissue comprising:
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a MEMS pressure sensor mounted to a substrate and surrounded by a port that projects from the substrate to define an internal volume within the port, the port having an external surface that is opposite the substrate and that defines a sensing plane; wherein the internal volume includes a first layer of gel adjacent to the sensor, and a second layer of gel material that is selected from a group consisting of RTV Silicone, polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), Silicone Rubber, and Rubison premixed white silicone, and that is harder than the first layer and that fills the internal volume with the first layer being between the substrate and the second layer and such that a surface of the second layer is coplanar with the plane defined by the port surface; a conformable semisolid body that surrounds the MEMS pressure sensor; a membrane extending in the sensing plane and covering the port external surface, and covering the internal volume, the membrane being movable in the sensing plane; wherein the MEMS pressure sensor produces a pressure signal indicative of the interface pressure applied to living tissue by the medical tourniquet, medical device or other tissue as transmitted by the membrane to the second and first layers; a controller in communication with the MEMS pressure sensor for receiving the pressure signal, the controller providing power, signal conditioning, interfacing and display functions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of making a biomedical interface pressure transducer apparatus for estimating an interface pressure applied to living tissue by a medical tourniquet, medical device or other tissue comprising the steps of:
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mounting to a substrate a MEMS pressure sensor that is surrounded by a port that projects from the substrate to define an internal volume within the port, wherein the port has an external surface that is opposite the substrate and that defines a sensing plane; disposing in the internal volume a first layer of gel adjacent to the sensor and a second layer of gel material that is selected from a group consisting of RTV Silicone, polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), Silicone Rubber, and Rubison premixed white silicone, and that is harder than the first layer and that fills the volume so that the first layer is between the substrate and the second layer and such that a surface of the second layer is coplanar with the sensing plane; incorporating the MEMS pressure sensor into a conformable semisolid body that surrounds the MEMS pressure sensor with the second layer of material arranged to allow direct contact to continuum materials, wherein the MEMS pressure sensor produces a pressure signal indicative of the interface pressure applied to living tissue by the medical tourniquet, medical device or other tissue as transmitted by the continuum materials through the internal volume to the sensor; providing a controller in communication with the MEMS pressure sensor for receiving the pressure signal, the controller providing power, signal conditioning, interfacing and display functions; and enclosing the conformable semisolid body and the MEMS pressure sensor within a shear relief membrane that has an inner surface and an outer surface in a manner such that the membrane has freedom to move relative to said conformable semisolid body and said MEMS pressure sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification