Medical device automatic start-up upon contact to patient tissue
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for at least one of monitoring or treating a patient, the patient having a tissue, the device comprising:
- a battery;
circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient, the circuitry comprising a processor;
at least two electrodes configured to couple to the tissue of the patient;
a first switch coupled to the at least two electrodes, the battery and the circuitry, the first switch configured to detect tissue coupling to the at least two electrodes and connect the battery to the circuitry to turn on the processor in response to tissue coupling to the at least two electrodes; and
sustain circuitry comprising a second switch to connect the battery to the processor in response to a signal from the processor, such that power is sustained to the processor after the tissue is uncoupled from the at least two electrodes and the first switch opens.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices for monitoring and/or treating patients comprise a switch to automatically start-up the device when the device contacts tissue. By automatically starting up the device, the device may be installed without the clinician and/or user turning on the device, such that the device can be easy to use. In many embodiments, the device comprises startup circuitry with very low current and/or power consumption, for example less than 100 pA. The startup circuitry can detect tissue contact and turn on circuitry that is used to monitor or treat the patient.
-
Citations
55 Claims
-
1. A device for at least one of monitoring or treating a patient, the patient having a tissue, the device comprising:
-
a battery; circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient, the circuitry comprising a processor; at least two electrodes configured to couple to the tissue of the patient; a first switch coupled to the at least two electrodes, the battery and the circuitry, the first switch configured to detect tissue coupling to the at least two electrodes and connect the battery to the circuitry to turn on the processor in response to tissue coupling to the at least two electrodes; and sustain circuitry comprising a second switch to connect the battery to the processor in response to a signal from the processor, such that power is sustained to the processor after the tissue is uncoupled from the at least two electrodes and the first switch opens. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
-
-
47. A device for monitoring and/or treating a patient, the patient having a tissue, the device comprising:
-
a battery; sensor circuitry configured to measure and/or treat the patient; processor circuitry coupled to the sensor circuitry and configured to at least one of monitor or treat the patient; at least two electrodes configured to couple to the tissue of the patient; start-up circuitry comprising a first switch coupled to the at least two electrodes, the battery, the sensor circuitry and the processor circuitry, the first switch configured to detect tissue contact with the at least two electrodes and connect the battery to the sensor circuitry and the processor circuitry in response to tissue contact with the at least two electrodes; and sustain circuitry comprising a second switch to connect the battery to the processor circuitry and the sensor circuitry in response to a signal from the processor, such that power is sustained from the battery to the processor circuitry after the tissue is removed from the at least two electrodes and the first switch opens. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
-
-
53. A method of monitoring and/or treating a patient having a tissue, the method comprising:
-
providing a device comprising circuitry to at least one of monitor or treat the patient, the device comprising a battery and electrodes; and contacting the electrodes with the tissue to deliver power from the battery to the circuitry; wherein a first switch closes to connect the battery to the circuitry and a processor when the electrodes contact the tissue; and wherein a second switch subsequently closes in response to a signal from the processor to also connect the battery to the processor; and wherein the second switch remains closed such that power is sustained to the processor after the tissue is removed from the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (54)
-
-
55. A method of monitoring a patient, the method comprising:
- providing a device comprising a support, batteries, sensor circuitry, start-up circuitry, a processor, sustain circuitry, at least two electrodes and at least two gel pads in contact with the at least two electrodes, the batteries coupled to the startup circuitry, the electrodes coupled to the start-up circuitry and sensor circuitry, the start-up circuitry comprising at least one switch and configured to detect tissue coupling to the at least two electrodes, wherein the sustain circuitry comprises a second switch configured to redundantly connect the batteries to the processor in response to a signal from the processor after startup of the device, wherein the support comprises an adhesive and is configured to support the batteries, the sensor circuitry, the at least two electrodes and the at least two gel pads with the skin of the patient and wherein the removable liner covers the adhesive and the at least two gel pads;
separating a removable liner from the adhesive and the at least two gel pads to expose the adhesive and the at least two gel pads; and
placing the adhesive and the at least two gel pads against the skin of the patient to adhere the device to the patient and couple the electrodes to the skin, wherein the start-up circuitry closes an electrical switch to start the sensor circuitry with power from the battery when the at least two gel pads contact the skin of the patient.
- providing a device comprising a support, batteries, sensor circuitry, start-up circuitry, a processor, sustain circuitry, at least two electrodes and at least two gel pads in contact with the at least two electrodes, the batteries coupled to the startup circuitry, the electrodes coupled to the start-up circuitry and sensor circuitry, the start-up circuitry comprising at least one switch and configured to detect tissue coupling to the at least two electrodes, wherein the sustain circuitry comprises a second switch configured to redundantly connect the batteries to the processor in response to a signal from the processor after startup of the device, wherein the support comprises an adhesive and is configured to support the batteries, the sensor circuitry, the at least two electrodes and the at least two gel pads with the skin of the patient and wherein the removable liner covers the adhesive and the at least two gel pads;
Specification