SUPPORT DEVICE FOR SENSORS AND/OR ACTUATORS THAT CAN BE PART OF A WIRELESS NETWORK OF SENSORS/ACTUATORS

• US 20110021930A1
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ab medica SpA
• Original Assignee: W.I.N. -Wireless Integrated Network S.R.L.
• Inventors: Valdastri, Pietro, Scapellato, Sergio, Misuri, Alessio, Vatteroni, Monica, Pensabene, Virginia, Mazzeo, Antonio
• Granted Patent: US 9,612,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• 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 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments

Abstract

A support device for sensors and/or actuators, of a node element or End Device (10) of a wireless network of sensors/actuators which support device comprises a base body or base module (1) with a plurality of faces (2), to which a sensor and/or actuator module or block (3) is mounted, and an electrical supply block/module (4). The main feature of the base body (1) is the possibility of adding to the node element (10) further sensors and/or actuators (3) as well as adapter elements, bridge interface element) meats (60) or expansion modules (50). The base body (1) can have a plurality of connection faces (2) with positive engagement means (54), which allow to assemble the above described modules. The positive engagement means (54) ensures an electromechanical connection between the many modules and, furthermore, assists an easy and intuitive accessibility for a user.

Claims

1. A wearable support device (10) for sensors and/or actuators of a node element of a network of sensing and/or actuating nodes (20), comprising:

a base body (1) having a plurality of faces (2), to said base body (1) at least one sensor and/or actuator (3) and an electrical supply block (4) being applicable;

a fixing means (80,100) for fixing said base body (1) to a support surface;

a control unit (5) in said base body (1) comprising a microprocessor or microcontroller;

a storage unit (6) in said base body (1), said storage unit (6) communicating with said control unit (5) and being adapted to store a plurality of configuration parameters, firmware and data;

a wireless communication means (7) that is adapted to make a Wireless Sensor Network (20) bringing in communication said microprocessor with remote units, said remote units comprising other base bodies (1) with respective sensors and/or actuators (3) and at least one data control unit (30) suitable to exchange signals with said base body (1),

wherein

at least two faces (2) of said base body (1) are connection faces (2) of respective sensors and/or actuators (3),

and wherein

said base body (1) comprises;

positive engagement means (54) for making up a positive engagement between said sensors and/or actuators (3) with said connection faces (2) of said base body (1);

interface means (2,11) at said positive engagement means (54), for making up an interface between said sensors and/or actuators (3) and said control unit (5);

identification means (45,85) for identifying a predetermined sensor and/or actuator (3) connected to said base body (1) by said positive engagement means (54) and interface means (2,11).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication means (7) is arranged within said base body (1).

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said base body (1) has a flat shape, in particular, parallelepiped shape, with four substantially rectangular elongated connection faces (2), wherein at least one of said positive engagement means (54) for making up a positive engagement between said sensors and/or actuators (3) is provided at one of said rectangular connection faces (2).

4. A device according to claim 1, where it an adapter element or “

Front End”

element (40) is provided, which can be fixed on said connection faces (2) by said positive engagement means (54), said Front End element (40) providing a positive engagement connection with at least one corresponding sensor and/or actuator (3), wherein said adapter element (40) comprises one among the following elements or a combination thereof;

a control unit comprising a microprocessor or microcontroller (41);

an signal conditioning apparatus (42);

a analog/digital and/or digital/analog converter (43);

an interface (44) with said base body (1);

an identification device (45);

an interface (46) with said sensor and/or actuator (3).

5. A device according to claim 1, where it a bridge interface element (60) is provided that connects respectively at least two base bodies (1) with each other, in order to increase the number of said connection faces (2) and therefore of said sensors and/or actuators (3) that can be connected, wherein said bridge interface element (60) comprises one among the following elements or a combination thereof:

a control unit comprising a microprocessor or microcontroller (81);

a first interface (84) with a first base body (1);

an identification device (85);

a second interface (84) with a second base body (1).

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said base body (1) comprises at least one hardware input port (11), which is adapted to connect to said base body (1) auxiliary external devices, in particular such as a display for displaying the parameters that have been measured by said sensors or memory expansion devices, in particular said hardware input port (11) being provided at an upper face and/or a lower face of said base body (1).

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein on said base body (1) at least one battery element (4) is provided that is engageable with one of said connection faces (2), in particular said battery element (4) adapted to provide electrical supply to said base body (1) with the respective sensors and/or actuators (3), to any Front End elements (40), to any bridge interface elements (60) and, to any auxiliary external devices, in particular a means (16) is provided for engaging said battery element (4) on said upper face and/or on said lower face of said base body (1).

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said positive engagement means (54) have a specific geometric shape in order to impede a wrong engagement by the user.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said identification means (45),(85) is selected from the group comprised of:

analog identification means capable of measuring physical quantities;

digital identification means.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said identification means (45),(85) provides start up means in said control unit (5) to identify if a device has been plugged in said base body (1) selected from the group comprised of:

said sensor and/or actuator (3), said Front End element (40), said bridge interface element (60), an auxiliary external device, and to start a predetermined analog and/or digital dialog process.

11. A device according to claim 9, wherein said analog identification means measures a predetermined capacity of a condenser (65), or other physical feature of a passive circuit element, in order to identify univocally said sensor and/or actuator (3), or said adapter element (40) or said bridge interface element (60) connected to said base body (1), comparing said capacity or said other physical parameter with predetermined values.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said fixing means (80,100) for fixing said base body (1) to a support surface are integrated in a position selected from the group comprised of:

on said base body (1), in said sensors and/or actuators (3), in said adapter element (40), in said bridge interface element (60).

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein said fixing means (80,100), in the medical field are selected from the group comprised of:

a bracelet (80), which in particular can be fixed to an arm of a patient (21) at the wrist (90);

a belt (100), which in particular can be fixed to the torso of a patient (21);

wherein a portion of said bracelet (80) and/or of said belt (100) is connected to said base body (1) at one or more connection faces (2) by said positive engagement means (54).

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein said bracelet (80) has function of sensor and comprises a connection portion (81) with a shape that positively engages with one of the connection faces (2) of said base body (1), in particular said bracelet (80) comprising a tonometric sensor, adapted to detect the “

heart beat”

of a patient (21) or more in general the blood pressure.

15. A device according to claim 13, wherein said belt (100) has function of sensor and comprises a connection portion (105) with said base body (1), in particular said belt (100) comprises at least one couple of detection electrodes (102,104) that extend starting from said connection portion (105) for measuring the impedance of the patient'"'"'s body.