Healthcare monitoring system

• US 20040100376A1
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaylor, Rosann, Lye, Jason, Lindsay, Jeff, Everhart, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US10/305,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100376A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A wireless healthcare monitoring system and method are provided. At least one UWB biosensor transmitter is assigned to at least one individual to be remotely monitored. The biosensor transmitter includes a biosensor disposed to detect a health condition of a user and generate a corresponding biosensor reading. The reading is converted by the biosensor transmitter to an ultra wideband (UWB) biosensor signal transmitted by the biosensor transmitter. A UWB receiver disposed remote from and within range of the transmitter receives and converts the UWB biosensor signal to a signal containing information from the biosensor reading. A processor in communication with the UWB receiver processes and displays the converted signal as a readable output indicating a health condition of the user detected by the biosensor.

Claims

1. A wireless healthcare monitoring system, comprising:

at least one UWB biosensor transmitter, said biosensor transmitter associated with a biosensor disposed to detect a health condition of a user and generate a corresponding biosensor reading, said reading converted by said biosensor transmitter to a UWB biosensor signal transmitted by said transmitter;

a UWB receiver disposed remote from and within range of said transmitter, said receiver receiving and converting said UWB biosensor signal to a signal containing information from said biosensor reading; and

a processor in communication with said UWB receiver to process said 10 converted signal and provide a readable output indicating a health condition of the user detected by said biosensor.

2. The system as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said biosensor transmitters configured for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of users, each biosensor transmitter generating a respective biosensor signal.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein said biosensor transmitter is configured to be carried on or against the body of the user and generates a biosensor reading from a biological sample from the user'"'"'s body.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein said biosensor transmitter is placeable in an article worn by the user.

5. The system as in claim 4, wherein said biosensor transmitter is placeable in an absorbent article worn by the user and detects an analyte in bodily waste absorbed by the absorbent article.

6. The system as in claim 5, wherein said absorbent article is one of a diaper, training pant, bed pad, sanitary napkin, panty liner, tampon, interlabial device, colostomy bag, breast pad, incontinence pad, brief, and undergarment.

7. The system as in claim 3, wherein said biosensor transmitter is placeable against the user'"'"'s skin.

8. The system as in claim 1, wherein said biosensor transmitter detects an analyte in a medium from the user'"'"'s body, the analyte indicative of a health condition of the user.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein said biosensor transmitter is placeable in a device for collection of bodily wastes or fluids.

10. The system as in claim 1, wherein said biosensor transmitter is placeable remote from the user and detects a health condition from a biological sample expelled by the user.

11. The system as in claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a visual display means.

12. The system as in claim 1, wherein said processor comprises an alarm in the event of a detected abnormal biosensor reading.

13. The system as in claim 1, wherein the biosensor signal contains a code to identify the user.

14. The system as in claim 1, wherein the biosensor signal contains a code to identify the biosensor.

15. The system as in claim 1, wherein the biosensor signal contains a code to identify the location of the user.

16. The system as in claim 1, wherein the biosensor signal comprises data from a plurality of sensors.

17. A wireless healthcare monitoring system for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of users for a plurality of healthcare conditions, comprising:

a plurality of UWB biosensor transmitters, each of the monitored users being assigned at least one respective said biosensor transmitter;

each said biosensor transmitter comprising a biosensor element that detects an analyte in a biological sample from the respective user and generates a corresponding biosensor reading therefrom;

each said biosensor transmitter comprising a power supply, a self-powered UWB signal generator device that converts said biosensor reading to a UWB biosensor signal, and a transmitter with associated antenna to transmit said UWB biosensor signal;

a UWB receiver in communication with said biosensor transmitters for simultaneous receipt of said biosensor signals; and

a processor and display system configured to process and display information contained in said initial biosensor readings to a monitoring healthcare professional.

18. The system as in claim 17, wherein said biosensor transmitters are configured to detect an analyte in a biological sample from the users, the analyte being indicative of a particular health condition.

19. The system as in claim 18, wherein said biosensor transmitters are carried against the users'"'"' bodies.

20. The system as in claim 18, wherein said biosensor transmitters are placed in absorbent articles worn by the users.

21. The system as in claim 18, wherein said biosensor transmitters are placed in collection devices of bodily wastes from the users.

22. A method for wireless monitoring of individuals for health conditions, said method comprising:

assigning a biosensor transmitter to each individual to be monitored, the biosensor transmitter including a biosensor element that detects a health condition of the individual and a UWB transmitter operatively configured with the biosensor element;

detecting a health condition of the monitored individuals with the biosensor transmitter and transmitting a UWB biosensor signal from the biosensor transmitters to a UWB receiver;

receiving and converting the UWB biosensor signals to readable outputs indicating the health conditions monitored by the biosensor transmitters.

23. The method as in claim 22, wherein a plurality of individuals are monitored.

24. The method as in claim 23, wherein the plurality of individuals are in a common structure.

25. The method as in claim 23, wherein the plurality of individuals are infants in a nursery.

26. The method as in claim 22, further comprising transmitting the biosensor signal directly to emergency medical personnel in the event the biosensor signal indicates a health condition requiring immediate attention.

27. The method as in claim 22, wherein the health conditions are monitored by the biosensor transmitters by detection of analytes in a biological sample from the individuals.

28. The method as in claim 27, wherein the biological samples are withdraw or collected from the user'"'"'s body prior to detection of the analyte by the biosensor element.

29. The method as in claim 28, wherein the medium is invasively withdrawn from the user.

30. The method as in claim 27, wherein the biosensor detects the analyte in the body of the user.

31. The method as in claim 27, wherein the biosensor is placed on or adjacent to the user'"'"'s body.

32. The method as in claim 31, wherein the biosensor is implanted in the user'"'"'s body.

33. The method as in claim 27, wherein the biosensor is placed in an article worn by the user.

34. The method as in claim 33, wherein the biosensor is placed in an absorbent article worn by the user.

35. The method as in claim 27, wherein the biosensor is placed in a collection device for bodily fluids or waste.

36. The method as in claim 22, comprising monitoring for a health condition with the biosensor transmitters on a generally continuous basis.

37. The method as in claim 22, comprising monitoring for a health condition with the biosensor transmitters on an intermittent basis.

38. The method as in claim 22, wherein the biosensor transmitters are a single use disposable item.

39. The method as in claim 22, wherein the biosensor signal provides a qualitative measurement.

40. The method as in claim 22, wherein the biosensor signal provides a quantitative measurement.

41. The method as in claim 22, wherein the biosensor signal is a time-averaged signal derived from a plurality of measurements taken over a period of time.