BODY WORN PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSOR DEVICE HAVING A DISPOSABLE ELECTRODE MODULE

• US 20160029918A1
• Filed: 10/12/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Granted Patent: US 9,433,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• 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 2562/0214 Capacitive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/301 providing electrical separation, e.g. by using isolating transformers or optocouplers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/303 Patient cord assembly, e.g. cable harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68335 including release sheets or liners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A body worn patient monitoring device includes a flexible substrate having a plurality of electrical connections adapted to be coupled to a skin surface to measure physiological signals. The flexible substrate is adapted to be directly and non-permanently affixed to a skin surface of a patient and configured for single patient use. A communication-computation module, removably attached to an upper surface of the flexible substrate, is configured to receive physiological signals from the flexible substrate and includes a microprocessor that is configured to process and analyze the physiological signals. A series of resistive traces screened onto the flexible substrate are configured as at least one series current-limiting resistor to protect the communication-computation module.

Claims

1. A body worn patient monitoring device comprising:

a flexible substrate including a plurality of electrical connections, the electrical connections adapted to be coupled to a skin surface to measure physiological signals, the flexible substrate being adapted to be directly and non-permanently affixed to a skin surface of a patient and configured for single patient use;

a communication-computation module removably attached to an upper surface of the flexible substrate, the computation-computation module being configured to receive physiological signals from the flexible substrate and having a microprocessor that is configured to process and analyze the physiological signals; and

a series of resistive traces screened onto the flexible substrate, the at least one resistive trace being configured as at least one series current-limiting resistor to protect the communication-computation module.

2. The device of claim 1, including a power source to power the patient monitoring device.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the communication-computation module is reusable.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the flexible substrate and the communication-computation module each include a connector, the connectors enabling the communication-computation module to be releasably connected to the flexible substrate and to receive the physiological signals.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein at least two of the plurality of electrical connections are ECG electrodes.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the series of resistive traces protects the communication-computation module during a patient defibrillation event.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein a mechanical interface from the series of resistive traces includes a filleted edge.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical connections comprise at least one of direct electrical connections to the skin surface of the patient and indirect electrical connections to the skin surface of the patient.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the indirect electrical connections comprise capacitive connections to the skin surface.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein the communication-computation module includes a pacer detection circuit.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the pacer detection circuit generates a microprocessor interrupt to inform the microprocessor that a pacer event occurred.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the microprocessor interrupt is used to mark a corresponding physiological signal in time as related to a pacer event.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the device automatically determines if a patient has a pacemaker and only enables the pacer detect circuit when a pacemaker is present.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the series of resistive traces are at least partially covered by a non-removable insulating covering.

15. The device of claim 5, wherein the flexible substrate includes at least two openings sized to receive electrode gels.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive covering at least a portion of the flexible substrate and a protective covering that protects the adhesive.

17. The device of claim 2, further comprising a hard-wired communication cable between the reusable communication-computation module and a remote device.

18. The device of claim 2, further comprising a radio circuit that communicates a result of an analysis of the physiological signals by the microprocessor.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the radio circuit is configured to communicate the result only upon occurrence of a predetermined physiological event as determined by the microprocessor.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is made from an insulating material.