Apparatus and methods for non-invasively measuring physiologic parameters of one or more subjects
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A physiologic parameter sensing apparatus, comprising:
- a conformal frame configured to couple to a patient'"'"'s forearm comprising an alignment element comprising an optical alignment guide and a sensor barrier, said frame comprising an aperture, said sensor barrier configured to traverse said aperture;
a host assembly comprising an actuator device configured to mate with a sensor, said host assembly being removably coupled to said frame, and said sensor being placed in communication with said sensor barrier via said host assembly coupled to said frame; and
one or more releasable attachment features configured to facilitate removal of said host assembly from said conformal frame, whereby said removal results in a removal of said actuator and said sensor from contact with said frame and said sensor barrier;
wherein said sensor barrier is configured to permit one or more physiologic parameters to be sensed through said sensor barrier;
wherein said optical alignment guide is configured to facilitate placement of said frame and said sensor relative to a blood vessel of a living subject;
wherein said sensor comprises a removal apparatus configured to configured to enable removal of said sensor from said host assembly, said removal apparatus comprising;
a main body retained within a removal apparatus retainer of a sensor housing; and
a user-graspable projection extended outwardly from said sensor housing configured to be pulled by a user.
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Abstract
Improved apparatus and methods for non-invasively assessing one or more physiologic (e.g., hemodynamic) parameters associated with a living organism. In one embodiment, the invention comprises an apparatus adapted to automatically and accurately place and maintain a sensor (e.g., tonometric pressure sensor) with respect to the anatomy of the subject. The apparatus is comprised of a sensor device removably coupled to a host device which is used to position the sensor during measurements. Methods for positioning the alignment apparatus and sensor, and operating the apparatus, are also disclosed.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A physiologic parameter sensing apparatus, comprising:
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a conformal frame configured to couple to a patient'"'"'s forearm comprising an alignment element comprising an optical alignment guide and a sensor barrier, said frame comprising an aperture, said sensor barrier configured to traverse said aperture; a host assembly comprising an actuator device configured to mate with a sensor, said host assembly being removably coupled to said frame, and said sensor being placed in communication with said sensor barrier via said host assembly coupled to said frame; and one or more releasable attachment features configured to facilitate removal of said host assembly from said conformal frame, whereby said removal results in a removal of said actuator and said sensor from contact with said frame and said sensor barrier; wherein said sensor barrier is configured to permit one or more physiologic parameters to be sensed through said sensor barrier; wherein said optical alignment guide is configured to facilitate placement of said frame and said sensor relative to a blood vessel of a living subject; wherein said sensor comprises a removal apparatus configured to configured to enable removal of said sensor from said host assembly, said removal apparatus comprising; a main body retained within a removal apparatus retainer of a sensor housing; and a user-graspable projection extended outwardly from said sensor housing configured to be pulled by a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 18, 19, 20)
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7. Apparatus configured to sense one or more physiologic parameters from a living subject, said apparatus comprising:
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a conformal frame configured to be disposed of after use on a single patient, and comprising an alignment element having a sensor barrier, said sensor barrier comprising a film configured to permit said one or more physiologic parameters to be sensed from a surface of skin of said living subject through said sensor barrier, said sensor barrier being coupled to said conformal frame via, at least, two regions adjacent to an aperture of said conformal frame; a multi-use sensor configured for use on more than one patient; and a host device configured to house said multi-use sensor, said host device being removably coupled to said conformal frame via one or more releasable attachment mechanisms of said host device, said host device configured to place said multi-use sensor in relative proximity to said sensor barrier; wherein removal of said host device from said conformal frame comprises a separation of said multi-use sensor from said conformal frame via said one or more releasable attachment mechanisms of said host device, said multi-use sensor comprising continued engagement to said host device throughout said removal; and wherein said sensor comprises a removal apparatus configured to configured to enable removal of said sensor from said host assembly, said removal apparatus comprising; a main body retained within a removal apparatus retainer of a sensor housing; and a user-graspable projection extended outwardly from said sensor housing configured to be pulled by a user. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 21, 22, 23)
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13. A method of measuring one or more physiologic parameters of a living subject, said method comprising:
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disposing at least one frame element on said living subject, said at least one frame element comprising an aperture and a membrane, said membrane extending across said aperture, and said at least one frame element configured to be disposed of after a single use; mating a host device to said at least one frame element, said host device comprising an actuator device configured to mate with a sensor element, said sensor element configured to be used sequentially on multiple patients, said host device configured to be removably coupled to said at least one frame element via releasable coupling of a first securing feature of said host device to second securing feature of said at least one frame element, said act of mating comprising enabling at least an active surface of said sensor element to be disposed within said aperture of said at least one frame element, said sensor element without being indirectly coupled to said at least one frame element via said host device, while said host device is directly coupled to said at least one frame element; using said host device to automatically position said sensor element at a prescribed monitoring location, and calibrate said sensor element; measuring said one or more physiologic parameters of said living subject using said sensor element; and upon completion of said act of measuring, removing said host device with said sensor element coupled thereto from mating to said at least one frame element via uncoupling of said first securing feature from said second securing feature; wherein said act of measuring is performed through said membrane which inhibits said sensor element from contact with a surface of said living subject'"'"'s skin. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification