Monitoring platform for wound and ulcer monitoring and detection

• US 20060052678A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PhiloMetron Inc.
• Original Assignee: PhiloMetron Inc.
• Inventors: Drinan, Darrel D., Edman, Carl F.
• Application Number:
  US11/219,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052678A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/447 specially adapted for aiding the prevention of ulcer or pressure sore development, i.e. before the ulcer or sore has developed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/685 Microneedles
• 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

Systems and techniques for monitoring hydration. In one implementation, a method includes measuring an electrical impedance of a region of a subject to generate an impedance measurement result, and wirelessly transmitting the data to a remote apparatus. The probe with which impedance is measured may in the form of a patch adhesively secured to the subject.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a wound, said method comprising measuring electrical impedance of tissue proximate to the wound at two or more times during wound healing.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising connecting two or more electrodes to skin surfaces proximate to said wound.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electrodes are an integral part of a wound dressing.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising comparing electrical impedance measurements obtained at different times.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising performing a therapeutic treatment or action on said wound in response to one or more impedance measurements.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating information related to measured wound status to one or both a patient with said wound and medical personnel.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing skin temperature proximate to said wound.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing heat flux from skin proximate to said wound.

14. The wound dressing of claim 8, wherein said dressing additionally comprises one or more temperature sensors.

9. A wound dressing comprising:

an absorbent material adapted to absorb wound exudate, and

a plurality of electrodes situated to apply an electric current and/or voltage to tissue proximate to said wound.

10. The wound dressing of claim 9, wherein said dressing additionally comprises circuitry configured to supply current through said tissue via at least two of said electrodes.

11. The wound dressing of claim 10, wherein said dressing additionally comprises circuitry configured to measure voltage across at least two of said electrodes.

12. The wound dressing of claim 9, wherein said dressing additionally comprises a wireless transmitter.

13. The wound dressing of claim 9, wherein said dressing additionally comprises a device and/or a pharmaceutical compound or agent to enhance healing or inhibit infection.

15. A method of reducing incidence of pressure wounds in a patient comprising detecting susceptibility to pressure wounds by measuring electrical impedance of a region of the body of said patient.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising initiating treatment in response to said measuring.

17. A method of reducing incidence of cutaneous ulcers in a patient comprising detecting susceptibility to cutaneous ulcers by measuring electrical impedance of a region of the body of said patient.

18. The method of claim 17, additionally comprising initiating treatment in response to said measuring.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said patient is diabetic.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said region comprises one or both lower legs of said patient.