Patient transceiver system which uses conductors within leads of leadset to provide phased antenna array
First Claim
1. A patient transceiver system, comprising:
- a lead set comprising multiple leads that attach to a patient to sense physiologic data of the patient, at least some of the leads including respective antenna conductors extending therein to provide a plurality of antenna conductors; and
a transceiver unit that receives the physiologic data from the lead set, and uses the plurality of antenna conductors of the lead set as elements of an antenna array to transmit the physiologic data by radio frequency communications to a receiving station, the transceiver unit comprising phase shifters coupled to each of the plurality of antenna conductors, and comprising a controller that adjusts the phase shifters to steer an antenna beam formed by the antenna array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various designs and features of an ambulatory transceiver and ECG lead set are disclosed for use in remote patient monitoring. One feature involves the use of unshielded, dual-conductor lead wires in which one conductor carries the patient'"'"'s ECG signal and the other conductor provides an RF antenna element for the transceiver. The lead wires used in one embodiment provide improved flexibility, durability, and antenna performance over conventional lead sets with shielded wires. Another feature involves an antenna diversity scheme in which the transceiver switches between two or more ECG-lead antennas, each of which is formed from one or more ECG leads of the lead set. Another feature involves the use of a circuit within the transceiver to monitor, and dynamically compensate for changes in, the impedance of an ECG-lead antenna or a conductor thereof. Another feature is an improved circuit for protecting the transceiver from damage caused by defibrillation pulses.
211 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A patient transceiver system, comprising:
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a lead set comprising multiple leads that attach to a patient to sense physiologic data of the patient, at least some of the leads including respective antenna conductors extending therein to provide a plurality of antenna conductors; and
a transceiver unit that receives the physiologic data from the lead set, and uses the plurality of antenna conductors of the lead set as elements of an antenna array to transmit the physiologic data by radio frequency communications to a receiving station, the transceiver unit comprising phase shifters coupled to each of the plurality of antenna conductors, and comprising a controller that adjusts the phase shifters to steer an antenna beam formed by the antenna array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A remote transceiver system, comprising:
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a lead set comprising a plurality of antenna conductors that are electrically isolated from one another, each antenna conductor extending within a respective electrocardiograph (ECG) lead of the lead set; and
a transceiver unit that attaches to the lead set and receives ECG signals of a patient from the lead set, the remote transceiver unit configured to use the plurality of antenna conductors as elements of a phased antenna array to at least transmit the ECG data of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of conveying physiologic data of a patient to a remote location for monitoring, comprising:
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sensing physiologic data of the patient with a lead set comprising leads that attached to the patient, wherein the lead set comprises a plurality of antenna conductors formed within a plurality of the leads, said antenna conductors forming elements of a phased antenna array for communicating with a base station;
receiving signals from the base station with the phased antenna array, and using said signals to steer an antenna beam of the phased antenna array in a direction of the base station; and
transmitting the physiologic data of the patient from the phased antenna array to the base station. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification