Medical telemetry system

• US 20020161308A1
• Filed: 04/16/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Inventors: Nakayama, Tadashi, Takahashi, Iwao, Matsumura, Fumiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,177,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0809 by impedance pneumography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A medical telemetry system includes a first detection section for detecting a first vital sign signal using a first sensor, a transmitter 10 which modulates a signal detected by the first detection section and transmits the modulated signal by radio wave transmission, a receiver 30 which receives the detection signal that has been transmitted by radio wave transmission and demodulates the received signal, having a connector 32 for transmitting the demodulated signal to a vital sign signal input section of the vital sign signal monitor 20, wherein the connector 32 of the receiver is connectable with a commonly used vital sign signal input section of each of various types of vital sign signal monitors 20.

Claims

1. A medical telemetry system comprising:

a transmitter having a first detection section for detecting a first vital sign signal from a first sensor and a modulation circuit for modulating a signal detected by the first detection section to transmit the modulated signal by radio wave transmission;

a receiver having demodulation means for receiving the detection signal transmitted by radio wave transmission and for demodulating the received signal and a connector for transmitting the demodulated signal output by the demodulation means to a vital sign signal input section of the vital sign signal monitor,

wherein the connector of the receiver is connectable with a commonly used vital sign signal input section of each of various types of vital sign signal monitors.

2. The medical telemetry system according to claim 1, wherein the connector is provided on an adapter which can be detachably connected with the receiver.

3. The medical telemetry system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second detection section for detecting a second vital sign signal using the first sensor,

wherein the transmitter is provided with a control section for multiplexing a signal detected by the first detection section and a signal detected by the second detection section and transmits a multiplexed signal output from the control section.

4. The medical telemetry system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second detection section for detecting a second vital sign signal using other than the first sensor, and

wherein the transmitter is provided with a control section for multiplexing a signal detected by the first detection section and a signal detected by the second detection section and transmits a multiplexed signal output from the control section.

5. The medical telemetry system according to claim 3, wherein the receiver includes:

a control section for receiving the multiplexed signal that has been transmitted from the transmitter and separating the received signal; and

superimposing means for superimposing the first vital sign signal and the second vital sign signal on a signal line from the control section to the connector.

6. The medical telemetry system according to claim 4, wherein the receiver includes:

a control section for receiving the multiplexed signal that has been transmitted from the transmitter and separating the received signal; and

superimposing means for superimposing the first vital sign signal and the second vital sign signal on a signal line from the control section to the connector.

7. The medical telemetry system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver includes:

second detection means for detecting the second vital sign signal; and

superimposing means for superimposing the second vital sign signal detected by the second detection section and the first vital sign signal, and

wherein the second detection means and the superimposing means are provided on a signal line for transmitting the first vital sign signal to the connector.

8. The medical telemetry system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor detachment detection section for detecting detachment of the first sensor, and

wherein the transmitter is provided with a control section for multiplexing a signal detected by the first detection section and a signal output from the sensor detachment detection section and transmits a multiplexed signal output from the control section; and

wherein the receiver includes;

a control section for receiving the multiplexed signal and separating the received signal;

a switch provided on a signal line from the control section to the connector; and

a switch control section for performing a control operation so as to turn off the switch in order to reproduce detachment of the sensor when the sensor has been detached, in accordance with a signal from among the separated signals output from the sensor detachment detection section.

9. The medical telemetry system according to claim 8, wherein the first sensor has a plurality of electrodes for detecting an electrocardiographic waveform, the sensor detachment detection section detects detachment of any of the plurality of electrodes, and the receiver is provided with switches provided on signal lines from the control section to terminals of the connector and are assigned to the plurality of electrodes, and

wherein the switch control section performs a control operation for turning off a switch of a signal line extending to the terminal corresponding to an electrode which is determined as having been detached by the sensor detachment detection section.

10. The medical telemetry system according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises an electrocardiographic waveform detection electrode having a terminal, which terminals is to be connected with a commonly used hook or clip for use with an electrocardiographic waveform detection electrode and intended for leading an electric potential of the heart, and

wherein the first detection section comprises an electrocardiographic waveform detection section for detecting an electrocardiographic waveform as a first vital sign signal, the commonly used vital sign signal input section has the commonly used hook or clip for use with an electrocardiographic waveform detection electrode, and the connector has a terminal which is connectable by the commonly used hook or clip.

11. The medical telemetry system according to claim 7, wherein the superimposing means superimposes a second vital sign signal detected by the second detection section or the second detection means on a signal line which transmits the first vital sign signal and extends to the connector, in the form of impedance changes.

12. The medical telemetry system according to claim 3, wherein the second detection section or the second detection means is constituted of a respiratory status detector which detects respiratory action as a second vital sign signal.

14. The electric circuit according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined electric current value is a current threshold value at which the vital sign signal monitor recognizes detachment of a sensor.

13. An electric circuit for reproducing detachment of a sensor for detecting a vital sign signal comprising:

a signal line for transmitting a vital sign signal;

a switch provided on the signal line for reproducing detachment of the sensor by deactivation;

a switch control section for deactivating the switch on the basis of detection of sensor detachment; and

a power supply section for supplying, to the switch, power to be used for activating the switch,

wherein the switch has a characteristic of leakage current flowing from the switch being lower than a predetermined current value when the power supplied from the power supply section has become consumed.

15. An electric circuit for reproducing detachment of a sensor for detecting a vital sign signal comprising:

a signal line for transmitting a vital sign signal;

a switch provided on the signal line and reproduces detachment of the sensor by deactivation;

a switch control section for deactivating the switch on the basis of detection of sensor detachment; and

a power supply section for supplying, to the switch, power to be used for activating the switch, wherein the switch becomes completely deactivated when the power supplied from the power supply section has become consumed.

16. An electric circuit for reproducing detachment of a sensor for detecting a vital sign signal comprising:

a signal line for transmitting a vital sign signal;

a switch provided on the signal line and reproduces detachment of the sensor by deactivation; and

a switch control section for deactivating the switch on the basis of detection of sensor detachment,

wherein the switch is a photo-MOS relay.