Cable management feature for wearable medical monitor

• US 10,226,215 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cohrs, Kristine M., Besko, David P., Miller, Ryan M., Dancy, Jenna, Lohrman, Loren L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liu, Chu Chuan (JJ)
• Application Number:
  US15/247,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20170055905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses

Abstract

A coupling portion of a wearable medical monitor may include an attachment member configured to reversibly couple the coupling portion to a body portion of the wearable medical monitor. The wearable medical monitor may be coupled to a sensor via a cable. The coupling portion may also include a cable retention feature including a channel configured to receive the cable. The cable retention feature may be configured to apply a retaining force to the cable when the cable is disposed in the channel.

Claims

1. A wearable medical monitor, comprising:

a sensor attachable to a finger of a patient;

a housing comprising a processor configured to receive a physiological signal from the sensor and to determine a physiological parameter of the patient based on the physiological signal;

a cable comprising a connector that couples the sensor to the housing; and

a mount removably attachable to the housing to secure the housing about a wrist of the patient, wherein the mount comprises a channel positioned on the mount to receive the cable into the channel and a cable fastener positioned about the channel to retain the cable in the channel.

2. The wearable medical monitor of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a pulse oximetry sensor, and the physiological parameter comprises oxygen saturation.

3. The wearable medical monitor of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a base support and first and second side supports extending vertically from the base support, wherein the first and second side supports are spaced to contact the housing between them.

4. The wearable medical monitor of claim 3, wherein the first side support comprises the channel and the cable fastener.

5. The wearable medical monitor of claim 4, wherein the cable fastener comprises first and second tabs extending from the first side support, wherein the channel is defined by at least the first and second tabs.

6. The wearable medical monitor of claim 5, wherein the first tab comprises a protrusion that extends into the channel.

7. The wearable medical monitor of claim 5, wherein the first tab comprises a first length and the first side support comprises a second length, and the first length is less than the second length.

8. The wearable medical monitor of claim 4, wherein the first side support comprises a curved groove, and the channel is defined by the curved groove.

9. The wearable medical monitor of claim 4, wherein the cable fastener comprises at least two prongs protruding from the first side support, and wherein the channel is defined by at least a space between the at least two prongs.

10. The wearable medical monitor of claim 4, wherein the cable fastener comprises a tab extending from the first side support, and wherein the tab comprises a cut-out sized to fit about a portion of an outer circumference of the cable and the channel is defined by at least the cut-out.

11. The wearable medical monitor of claim 4, wherein the cable fastener comprises a tab extending from the first side support, and wherein the tab comprises an arcuate portion sized to fit about a portion of an outer circumference of the cable and the channel is defined by at least the arcuate portion.

12. The wearable medical monitor of claim 4, wherein the cable fastener comprises a tab extending from the first side support, and wherein the tab comprises a projecting edge disposed at an end of the tab distal to the first side support and the channel is defined by at least the tab and the projecting edge.

13. The wearable medical monitor of claim 4, wherein the first and second side supports are configured to be generally parallel with the patient'"'"'s wrist when the mount is disposed about the patient'"'"'s wrist.

14. The wearable medical monitor of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a bracelet or a strap sized to encircle a wrist.

15. The wearable medical monitor of claim 3, wherein the mount comprises a second channel positioned on the mount to receive the cable into the second channel and a second cable fastener positioned about the second channel to retain the cable in the second channel, and wherein the first side support comprises the cable fastener and the channel and the second side support comprises the second cable fastener and the second channel.

16. A wearable medical monitor, comprising:

a photoplethysmography sensor configured to be disposed about a finger of a patient;

an enclosure comprising a processor configured to receive a photoplethysmograph signal from the photoplethysmography sensor and to determine a physiological parameter of the patient based on the photoplethysmograph signal;

a cable comprising a connector that couples the photoplethysmograph sensor to the enclosure; and

a wrist strap comprising;

a base support configured to contact at least a portion of a base surface of the enclosure when the enclosure is coupled to the wrist strap;

a first side support extending from a first end of the base support, wherein the first side support is configured to contact at least a portion of a first side surface of the enclosure when the enclosure is coupled to the wrist strap, and wherein the first side support comprises a first channel sized to receive and retain the cable; and

a second side support extending from a second end of the base support, wherein the second side support is configured to contact at least a portion of a second side surface of the enclosure when the enclosure is coupled to the wrist strap, and wherein the second side support comprises a second channel sized to receive and retain the cable.

17. The wearable medical monitor of claim 16, wherein the first side support comprises a first cable fastener positioned about the first channel and configured to apply a first retaining force to the cable when the cable is disposed in the first channel.

18. The wearable medical monitor of claim 16, wherein the first side support comprises first and second tabs that extend from the first side support and are positioned about the first channel to retain the cable in the first channel, and wherein the second side support comprises third and fourth tabs that extend from the second side support and are positioned about the second channel to retain the cable in the second channel.

19. The wearable medical monitor of claim 18, wherein the first tab comprises a first protrusion extending into the first channel and the third tab comprises a second protrusion extending into the second channel.

20. A wearable medical monitor, comprising;

a strap configured to be disposed about a wrist of a patient;

a pulse oximeter comprising a processor programmed to receive and process physiological signals from a patient;

a cradle coupled to the strap, wherein the cradle is configured to reversibly couple to the pulse oximeter, wherein the cradle comprises;

a base support configured to contact at least a portion of a base surface of the pulse oximeter when the pulse oximeter is coupled to the cradle;

a first side support extending from a first end of the base support, wherein the first side support is configured to contact at least a portion of a first side surface of the pulse oximeter when the pulse oximeter is coupled to the cradle, and wherein the first side support comprises a first cable fastener comprising a first channel sized to receive a cable, wherein the first cable fastener is configured to apply a first retaining force to the cable when the cable is disposed in the first channel; and

a second side support extending from a second end of the base support, wherein the second side support is configured to contact at least a portion of a second side surface of the pulse oximeter when the pulse oximeter is coupled to the cradle.

21. The wearable medical monitor of claim 20, wherein the first cable fastener comprises first and second tabs extending from the first side support, and the first channel is defined by at least the first and second tabs, and wherein the first tab comprises a protrusion extending into the first channel.

22. The wearable medical monitor of claim 20, wherein the second side support comprises a second cable fastener comprising a second channel configured to receive the cable, wherein the second cable fastener is configured to apply a second retaining force to the cable when the cable is disposed in the second channel.

23. The wearable medical monitor of claim 20, comprising:

a photoplethysmography sensor comprising an emitter and a detector to acquire the physiological signals; and

a patient cable comprising a connector that couples the photoplethysmography sensor to the pulse oximeter;

wherein the first channel is sized to receive the patient cable and the first cable fastener is configured to apply the first retaining force to the patient cable when the patient cable is disposed in the first channel.