ACTIVE ON-PATIENT SENSOR, METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20080278336A1
• Filed: 11/01/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orthocare Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Orthocare Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Ortega, Giovani M., Sciarra, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,111,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• 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 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• 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 5/6808 Diapers
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence

Abstract

A sensor (which could be detachable) to sense a condition (including pressure from body weight or moisture from incontinence; applied by adhering to skin of a human body or by putting a diaper on the human body, for example), a signal processing circuit, a periodic or continuous transmitter, and a power supply (typically including a battery) are associated with a flexible substrate in low profile enabling disposition adjacent the human body. A transmitter antenna is on the substrate. Insulator film between battery contacts and a switch-and-transistor combination are two power-on techniques. A bedside monitor, a transceiver configured to receive signals from and transmit signals to the bedside monitor, and a computer connected with the transceiver can be included. Other features include: notification signaling; differently responsive antennas; unique identification; low battery detection; anti-collision transmission; patient protocol scheduling; local data transfer from the bedside monitor; and out-of-range transmission detection.

Claims

1. Apparatus to sense a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:

a sensor to sense a condition adjacent a human body;

a signal processing circuit to which the sensor connects;

a transmitter connected to the signal processing circuit;

a power supply connected to provide electricity for operation of the sensor, the signal processing circuit, and the transmitter; and

a flexible printed circuit substrate having at least the signal processing circuit, the transmitter, and the power supply mounted thereon in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein low profile of the apparatus is within a height of about 2 mm.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the condition is at least one from the group consisting of a pressure occurring in response to weight of the human body against a support and moisture occurring from incontinence.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the sensor is detachable from the signal processing circuit.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the condition is at least one from the group consisting of a pressure occurring in response to weight of the human body against a support and moisture occurring from incontinence including enuresis.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor is detachable from the rest of the apparatus.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the power supply includes biased contacts and an insulator disposed between the contacts to maintain the apparatus in a powered off state until the insulator is removed to allow the biased contacts to connect such that electricity is provided therethrough to operate the sensor, signal processing circuit and transmitter.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the power supply includes a switch and transistors connected for maintaining a powered on state upon a one-time closure actuation of the switch.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a low power supply detector.

10. Apparatus to sense a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:

a sensor to sense a condition adjacent a human body;

a transmitter configured to operatively associate with the sensor to transmit a signal digitally encoded with a unique identifier responsive to the sensor, the transmitter including an antenna; and

a flexible substrate having the antenna disposed thereon and connected with the sensor and transmitter in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a battery mounted on the flexible substrate for providing electricity to operate the sensor and the transmitter.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein low profile of the apparatus is within a height of about 2 mm.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the condition is at least one from the group consisting of a pressure occurring in response to weight of the human body against a support and moisture occurring from incontinence.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising a battery mounted on the flexible substrate for providing electricity to operate the sensor and the transmitter.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the sensor is detachable.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the condition is at least one from the group consisting of a pressure occurring in response to weight of the human body against a support and moisture occurring from incontinence including enuresis.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the sensor is detachable.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a battery circuit including biased contacts and an insulator disposed between the contacts to maintain the apparatus in a powered off state until the insulator is removed to allow the biased contacts to connect such that electricity is provided therethrough to operate the sensor and transmitter.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a battery circuit that includes a switch and transistors connected for maintaining a powered on state upon a one-time closure actuation of the switch.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a low battery detector.

21. Apparatus to sense a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:

a sensor to sense a condition adjacent a human body;

a transmitter configured to operatively cooperate with the sensor to transmit a signal responsive to the sensor;

a power supply for providing electricity to operate to the sensor and the transmitter, wherein the power supply includes a removable insulator film and a battery having a terminal initially electrically isolated from the sensor and transmitter by the insulator film such that the apparatus is energized by the battery upon pulling the insulator film out; and

a flexible printed circuit substrate having at least the transmitter and the power supply mounted thereon in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein low profile of the apparatus is within a height of about 2 mm.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein the condition is at least one from the group consisting of a pressure occurring in response to weight of the human body against a support and moisture occurring from enuresis.

24. Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein the sensor is detachable.

25. Apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the condition is at least one from the group consisting of a pressure occurring in response to weight of the human body against a support and moisture occurring from incontinence including enuresis.

26. Apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the sensor is detachable from the rest of the apparatus.

27. A method of sensing a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:

disposing in low profile adjacent a human body, by adhering to skin of the human body or by putting a diaper on the human body, apparatus to sense a condition adjacent the human body, the apparatus including a sensor, a transmitter, a power supply, and a flexible substrate having at least the transmitter and the power supply connected thereto in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body;

energizing the apparatus solely with the battery;

sensing a condition using the sensor; and

transmitting a wireless link signal from the transmitter in response to the sensed condition.

28. A method as defined in claim 27, further comprising storing unique identification data in the apparatus and transmitting a signal in response to the stored unique identification data.

29. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the condition is at least one from the group consisting of a pressure occurring in response to weight of the human body against a support and moisture occurring from incontinence.

30. A method as defined in claim 27, further comprising replacing the sensor without replacing the transmitter or the battery.

31. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the sensor is disposable and wherein the method further comprises disconnecting the sensor from the transmitter and disposing of the sensor after sensing the condition, and connecting another disposable sensor to the transmitter to sense a subsequent condition.

32. A method as defined in claim 27, further comprising sensing a condition of the battery and transmitting in the wireless link signal data in response to the sensed condition of the battery.

33. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein transmitting is performed periodically.

34. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein transmitting is performed continuously.

35. A patient monitoring system, comprising

a sensing apparatus including a sensor, a transmitter responsive to the sensor, a power supply, and a low profile flexible substrate having at least the transmitter and the power supply connected thereto;

a bedside monitor configured to receive signals transmitted from the transmitter such that the sensing apparatus and the bedside monitor are in wireless communication, the bedside monitor including a first transceiver;

a second transceiver configured to receive signals from and transmit signals to the first transceiver such that the first transceiver and the second transceiver are in wireless communication with each other; and

a computer connected in communication with the second transceiver.

36. A patient monitoring system as defined in claim 35, further comprising a paging system responsive to control from the computer.

37. A patient monitoring system as defined in claim 35, wherein the bedside monitor includes a plurality of differently responsive antennas.

38. A patient monitoring system as defined in claim 35, wherein the bedside monitor includes encoded signals defining an identification code for the bedside monitor.

39. A patient monitoring system as defined in claim 35, wherein the bedside monitor includes means for receiving and storing identification data from the sensing apparatus.

40. A method of monitoring a patient, comprising:

connecting a condition sensing apparatus to a patient, including performing at least one from the group consisting of adhering a flexible substrate of the condition sensing apparatus to skin of the patient and putting diapers having the flexible substrate on the patient, the flexible substrate having a sensor, a transmitter and a battery connected thereto;

collecting data transmitted from the condition sensing apparatus when the condition sensing apparatus senses a pressure or incontinence condition adjacent the patient; and

replacing the sensor of the condition sensing apparatus, including disconnecting the sensor from the condition sensing apparatus and connecting a replacement sensor thereto such that the flexible substrate, the transmitter and the battery are reused.

41. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein collecting data includes transmitting from the condition sensing apparatus such that signal collision with transmissions from other condition sensing apparatus on the patient is avoided.

42. A method as defined in claim 40, further comprising using the collected data to generate care protocol scheduling for the patient.

43. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein collecting data includes maintaining and updating remote from the condition sensing apparatus data identifying the condition sensing apparatus.

44. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein collecting data includes transmitting data from the condition sensing apparatus to a bedside monitor and locally transferring data from the bedside monitor to a data collection unit

45. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein collecting data includes receiving through any of a plurality of diversity antennas a transmission from the condition sensing apparatus.

46. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein collecting data includes detecting in-range and out-of-range transmission conditions relative to the condition sensing apparatus.

47. A method as defined in claim 40, further comprising, in response to the collected data, sending a control signal through the operation of which the patient is notified of the pressure or incontinence condition.

48. Apparatus to sense a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:

a sensor to sense a condition adjacent a human body;

a transmitter configured to operatively cooperate with the sensor to transmit a signal responsive to the sensor;

a power supply for providing electricity to operate to the sensor and the transmitter, wherein the power supply includes a battery, a switch and transistors connected for maintaining a powered on state upon a one-time closure actuation of the switch such that the apparatus is energized by the battery upon the one-time closure actuation; and

a flexible printed circuit substrate having at least the transmitter and the power supply mounted thereon in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body.

49. Apparatus to sense a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:

a dual-mode sensor to sense both pressure and moisture adjacent a human body;

a signal processing circuit to which the sensor connects;

a transmitter connected to the signal processing circuit;

a power supply connected to provide electricity for operation of the sensor, the signal processing circuit, and the transmitter; and

a flexible printed circuit substrate having at least the signal processing circuit, the transmitter, and the power supply mounted thereon in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body.