Bio-mask with integral sensors

• US 20040163648A1
• Filed: 02/11/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Burton
• Original Assignee: David Burton
• Inventors: Burton, David
• Application Number:
  US10/777,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20040163648A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0878 using temperature sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/386 Accessories or supplementary instruments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0605 Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0238 the material being a coating or protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/08 Other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 : Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/62 : Posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity

Abstract

A gas mask for use with associated monitoring and controlling apparatus is provided. A device for monitoring of patients with sleep disorders, breathing disorders or for anesthesia is provided. Different types of sensors on or in the mask and straps or caps connected to the mask include but are not limited to oximetery sensors, patient position sensors, eye movement sensors, leak detection sensors, EEG, EMG, EOG, ECG, PTT, microphones, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, movement sensors, position sensors, light sensors, leak detection sensors and gas delivery sensors. Another application provides for gas delivery to a bio-mask controlled, in part, via communication from a pacemaker to a bio-mask controller.

Claims

1. A mask assembly comprising:

a body having an internal surface, an external surface, and a perimeter surface; and

a forehead support connected to the body, the forehead support having an EEG sensor located thereon.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the perimeter surface includes a padding material having a thermosensitive coating.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the forehead support includes a forehead support bar extending in a generally lateral direction from the forehead support bar.

4. The assembly of claim 3, and wherein an SPO2 sensor is located on the forehead support bar.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the EEG sensor includes a pad comprised of a conductive carbonized rubber material.

6. The assembly of claim 1, and further comprising a strap extending from the mask, and wherein a physiological sensor is located on the strap.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the conductive padding is adapted to measure EOG.

8. A gas delivery system comprising:

a mask having at least one physiological sensor connected thereto;

a gas delivery device having an adjustable gas delivery setting; and

a processor in communication with the gas delivery device and the sensor, the processor adapted to determine the existence of a sleep disorder and to adjust the gas delivery setting based thereon.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is an EMG sensor.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is an ECG sensor.

11. The system of claim 10, and further comprising a SPO2 sensor connected to the mask.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is an EEG sensor.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is also adapted to determine patient arousal.

14. A gas delivery system comprising:

a mask having at least one EEG sensor connected thereto;

a gas delivery device having an adjustable gas delivery setting; and

a processor in communication with the gas delivery device and the EEG sensor, the processor adapted to determine arousal and to adjust the gas delivery setting based thereon.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein an SPO2 sensor and an ECG sensor are connected to the mask, and wherein the processor is in communication with both sensors and is adapted to derive a PTT value from an output of each sensor.

16. The system of claim 14, and further comprising a strap extending from the mask and a plurality of EMG sensors located on the mask and strap, the EMG sensors positioned to detect muscle activity related to sleep state.

17. A method of delivering gas comprising:

providing a mask adapted to detect physiological signals and to deliver a gas;

providing a gas delivery device in fluid communication with the mask and having an adjustable gas output;

determining a sleep state from physiological signals detected by the mask; and

adjusting the output from the gas delivery device based on the sleep state.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining a sleep state includes determining arousal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining arousal includes calculating PTT values from an SPO2 and ECG readings.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein determining arousal includes analyzing cortical and subcortical EEG signals.

21. A method of obtaining SPO2 reading from a mask comprising:

attaching a light source and a light sensor on a mask so that the light source and light sensor are positioned to contact a person'"'"'s forehead;

illuminating the light source;

detecting light from the light source as it deflects from the person'"'"'s skull; and

converting the detected light into an analog signal.

22. The method of claim 21, and further comprising the additional step of high pass filtering the analog signal.

22-1. A method of detecting oral or nasal breathing during nasal ventilation, the method comprising:

providing a mask adapted to form a seal between a patient'"'"'s nose and mouth, the mask having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the mask also having a first thermal sensor on the interior surface and a second thermal sensor located on the exterior surface to be adjacent the patient'"'"'s mouth;

detecting a temperature change in the first or second thermal sensor.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a mask having a body position sensor attached thereto;

a processor in communication with the sensor and adapted to a determine body position from the body position sensor'"'"'s output.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, and further comprising movement sensor attached to the mask and in communication with the processor, and wherein the processor is also adapted to determine movement from an output of the movement sensor.

25. A method of detecting a leak in a breathing mask:

providing a mask having a perimeter surface with a plurality of thermally conductive surfaces distributed throughout the perimeter surface; and

detecting a temperature change in any of the plurality of thermally conductive surfaces.

26. A mask assembly comprising:

a body having an internal surface, an external surface, and a perimeter surface; and

a forehead support extending from the body and adapted to contact a forehead surface of a patient during use, the forehead support having a plurality of sensors located thereon for detecting electrophysiological signals of the patient.

27. The mask assembly of claim 26 wherein the forehead support includes a support pad in contact with the forehead surface.

28. The mask assembly of claim 26 further comprising:

a movement sensor for detecting movement of the patient during use.

29. The mask assembly of claim 26 further comprising:

a mask seal leakage detector.

30. A gas delivery system comprising:

a gas mask adapted to fit on a patient;

a gas delivery device having an adjustable gas delivery; and

a processor in communication with the gas delivery device and a cardiac pacemaker, the processor adapted to adjust the gas delivery based on a signal from the cardiac pacemaker.

31. The gas delivery system of claim 30 wherein the processor receives an additional electrophysiological signal from the patient, and said processor determines the existence of a sleep disorder based upon the signals.