LEAK SENSOR

• US 20130231620A1
• Filed: 02/18/2013
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Original Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Inventors: Thirstrup, Carsten, Nilsson, Daniel, Lading, Lars, Pranov, Henrik
• Granted Patent: US 9,216,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/344
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00051 Accessories for dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/02 Adhesive bandages or dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0246 characterised by the skin-adhering layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/4404 Details or parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/443 having adhesive seals for securing to the body, e.g. of hydrocolloid type, e.g. gels, starches, karaya gums adhesives or sealing pads therefor A61L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/445 Colostomy, ileostomy or urethrostomy devices A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence

Abstract

A dressing is provided for application to an object that is, at least partly, electrically conductive. The dressing includes an adhesive for attaching the dressing to the object, and at least two electrodes. The electrodes are adapted to be arranged at a distance from the partly electrically conductive object so that a first capacitor is formed between a first electrode and the partly electrically conductive object, and a second capacitor is formed between a second electrode and the partly electrically conductive object.

Claims

1. A dressing adapted to be applied to a surface of an at least partly electrically conductive object, the dressing comprising

a first adhesive for attaching the dressing to the at least partly electrically conductive object, and

at least two electrodes adapted to be arranged in a distance from the at least partly electrically conductive object so that a first capacitor is adapted to be formed between a first electrode and the at least partly electrically conductive object, and a second capacitor is adapted to be formed between a second electrode and the at least partly electrically conductive object.

2. The dressing according to claim 1, further comprising an electrically conducting shield for reducing ambient disturbances of the first and second capacitors.

3. The dressing according to claim 2, wherein the electrically conducting shield forms a pocket containing the first and second electrodes.

4. The dressing according to claim 2, wherein the electrically conducting shield comprises an electrically conductive film.

5. The dressing according to claim 4, wherein the electrically conductive film comprises materials selected from the group consisting of:

aluminium, conductive polymers, amorphous conducting carbon, conducting carbon fibers and polymer conducting carbon black.

6. The dressing according to claim 2, wherein the electrically conducting shield is provided on an outer side of an associated pouch adapted to hold a substance.

7. The dressing according to claim 6, wherein a dielectric material is provided between the first and second electrodes, and the electrically conducting shield.

8. The dressing according to claim 7, wherein at least part of the dielectric material is provided on the electrically conducting shield of the associated pouch adapted to hold a substance.

9. The dressing according to claim 2, wherein the electrically conducting shield is laminated with an associated pouch adapted to hold a substance.

10. The dressing according to claim 9, wherein isolation means is laminated with the electrically conducting shield of the associated pouch adapted to hold a substance.

11. The dressing according to claim 10, wherein at least part of the laminated isolation means is provided between the first and second electrodes, and the electrically conducting shield.

12. The dressing according to claim 2, further comprising a second adhesive at least partly encapsulating the first and second electrodes so as to form a distance between the first and second electrodes and the electrically conducting shield.

13. The dressing according to claim 12, further comprising a foil at least partly secured to the second adhesive.

14. The dressing according to claim 2, further comprising a dielectric material at least partly encapsulating the first and second electrodes so as to form a distance between the first and second electrodes and the electrically conducting shield.

15. The dressing according to claim 14, further comprising a foil at least partly secured to the dielectric material.

16. The dressing according to claim 13, wherein the electrically conducting shield is at least partly secured to the foil.

17. The dressing according to claim 16, wherein the electrically conducting shield comprises materials selected from the group consisting of:

metals, conductive polymers, amorphous conducting carbon, conducting carbon fibers, polymer conducting carbon black and doped semiconductors.

18. An ostomy collection bag attached to the dressing according to claim 1.

23. A sensor assembly comprising a reader for detecting detachment of the dressing according to claim 1, wherein the reader comprises means of receiving electrical signals from the dressing.

24. The sensor assembly according to claim 23, wherein the reader further comprises means of transmitting electrical modulation signals to the dressing.

25. The sensor assembly according to claim 23, wherein the reader is capacitively coupled to the first and second electrode.

26. The sensor assembly according to claim 23, wherein the reader is galvanically coupled to the first and second electrode.

27. The sensor assembly according to claim 23, wherein the reader is inductively coupled to an inductor connected in series or parallel with the first and second electrode.

28. The sensor assembly according to claim 23, wherein the reader further comprises means for transmitting information representing the electrical signals from the dressing to a data processing unit.

19. An ostomy collection bag comprising a dressing and a pouch attached thereto, the dressing being adapted to be applied to a surface of an at least partly electrically conductive object, the dressing comprising

a first adhesive for attaching the dressing to the at least partly electrically conductive object,

at least two electrodes adapted to be arranged in a distance from the at least partly electrically conductive object so that a first capacitor is adapted to be formed between a first electrode and the at least partly electrically conductive object, and a second capacitor is adapted to be formed between a second electrode and the at least partly electrically conductive object,

means for applying a voltage to the first and second electrodes,

means for detecting changes in a capacitance between at least one of the first and the second electrode and the at least partly electrically conductive object, and

an alarm to be activated when the changes of the capacitance reach a predetermined value,

wherein an electrically conducting shield for reducing ambient disturbances of the first and second capacitors is laminated with the pouch.

20. The ostomy collection bag according to claim 19, wherein isolation means is laminated with the electrically conducting shield of the pouch.

21. The ostomy collection bag according to claim 20, wherein at least part of the laminated isolation means is provided between the first and second electrodes, and the electrically conducting shield.

22. The ostomy collection bag according to claim 21, wherein the electrically conductive film comprises materials selected from the group consisting of:

aluminium, conductive polymers, amorphous conducting carbon, conducting carbon fibers and polymer conducting carbon black.