Method And Device For Measuring Physiological Parameters At The Hand

• US 20080051667A1
• Filed: 05/16/2004
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medic4all AG
• Original Assignee: Medic4all AG
• Inventors: GOLDREICH, Rami
• Application Number:
  US11/571,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20080051667A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/481
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A wrist-mounted device (100) for measuring at least one physiological parameter of the user. The present invention enables such a measurement to preferably be transformed into clinically useful information about the user. Such information may then optionally be sent to medical personnel, for example at a contact and/or monitoring center. The measuring parameters may include blood pressure, ECG, location. The present invention can perform a Holter process over more than one physiological parameter.

Claims

1. A device for measuring at least one physiological parameter of a subject in addition to blood pressure, comprising:

(a) a band for being fastened to a hand of the user;

(b) a blood pressure cuff for being associated with said band;

(c) at least one additional sensor for measuring at least one additional physiological parameter of the user; and

(d) a monitor and control unit (MACU) for controlling said blood pressure measurement and said measurement of said at least one additional physiological parameter of the user and for receiving a signal from said sensor and a signal from said blood pressure cuff and for converting said signals to form medical information.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said physiological parameter includes breathing rate.

3. The device of claim 2, comprising a movement sensor for measuring the breathing rate.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional sensor includes an electro cardiogram (ECG) sensor and wherein the ECG sensor includes at least one electrode associated with said band.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said band features at least a rigid portion and said at least one electrode is associated with said rigid portion.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one electrode is organized into a set of two or more electrodes, such that only one electrode is required to be in contact with said wrist at any particular time.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said MACU further comprises a sensor port for communicating with an external monitoring device for monitoring a physiological parameter.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said physiological parameter is oxygen saturation in the blood (SpO₂).

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said at least one sensor comprises an SpO₂ sensor.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said physiological parameter includes body temperature.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display mounted on said device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said display shows at least one of a measurement from said sensor or from said blood pressure cuff (or a combination), or a medical diary management information, or a user interface.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a non-volatile memory for storing at least one physiological measurement result.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit for at least transmitting data.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said communication unit also transmits a device identifier for uniquely identifying the device.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein said communication unit also receives data.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said data includes information for synchronizing a medical diary management function.

19. The device of any of claims 1-18, further comprising a locator unit for locating the device.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said locator unit comprises a GPS unit.

24. A method for performing extended physiological monitoring for a Holter task on a subject for collecting results from a plurality of measuring events, with the device or system of any of claims 1-23, comprising:

initiating an extended physiological monitoring task with the device;

determining the Holter period by determining a time interval between each pair of measuring events;

determining at least one type of measuring event for said monitoring task;

performing at least one measuring event;

storing a result of said at least one measuring cycle; and

providing said result.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one measuring event is performed for two or more physiological parameters.

26. The method of claims 24 or 25, wherein said result is transmitted to a remote server and/or call center.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the results of the different physiological parameters are determined by reference to the same time base along the Holter period.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the different physiological parameter includes one or more physiological parameters s elected from the group consisting of ECG, blood pressure, SpO2, temperature, and breathing rate.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said initiating further comprises communicating with the subject.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said initiating is determined according to at least one of an external signal from an external source or an internal timing signal.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said internal timing signal is determined according to a medical diary management function.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said initiating is determined according to a manual command from the subject.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the subject enters at least one note about at least one activity of the subject during the Holter period.

34. The method of any of claims 30-33, implemented as a Holter monitoring process.

35. A method for measuring breathing rate of a subject with the device of any of claims 2-23, comprising:

placing the device against the stomach or chest of the subject;

measuring the movement of the device; and

determining the breathing rate of the subject.

21. A system for measuring at least one physiological parameter of a subject and also blood pressure, comprising:

(a) a device for measuring the at least one physiological parameter and blood pressure, comprising;

(i) a blood pressure cuff for being fastened to a wrist of the user;

(ii) at least one additional sensor for measuring at least one additional physiological parameter of the user;

(iii) a processor for receiving a signal from said sensor and a signal from said blood pressure cuff and for converting said signals to form data;

(iv) a communication unit for at least transmitting data; and

(b) a gateway device for receiving said transmitted data for being monitored.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

(c) a remote server in communication with said gateway device, said remote server optionally being part of a call center for monitoring.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said measurement of said at least one additional sensor is combined with blood pressure measurement to determine if said measurements are outside of an acceptable range, and if so, alerting said remote server.