Integrated physiologic sensor system

• US 6,934,571 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bioasyst
• Original Assignee: Bioasyst
• Inventors: Pranger, Loland Alexander, Wiesmann, William Paul, Bogucki, Mary Sandra
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US10/222,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20030062046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/322, 600/323, 600/326, 600/340, 600/344, 600/353, 600/355, 600/364, 340/573.1, 356/3, 356/5.01
• US Class Current: 600/326
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/006 Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) mask that incorporates a series of physiologic sensors. These physiologic sensors are mounted on the interior of the SCBA mask in such a way as to contact the facial skin of an individual wearing the mask. The physiologic sensors monitor, among other things, heart rate and carbon monoxide and oxygen saturation levels. The physiologic sensors are connected to a transmitting apparatus attached to the SCBA. The SCBA transmitter sends output data from the physiologic sensors to a remote processor. The SCBA transmitter also sends location information of the individual wearing the SCBA mask to the remote processor. The remote processor compiles the physiologic and location data for the wearer of the SCBA and transmits a signal back to the SCBA receiver which, in turn, sends a signal to a display integrated into a SCBA mask. The display indicates to the individual his physiologic status. The display incorporates indicator lights are integrated into the mask of the SCBA to indicate, for example, when bottled air must be switched on, to indicate the emergency situation of the wearer and/or to indicate the direction that the wearer of the SCBA is going. The processor associated with the transmitter also monitors groups of individuals wearing the SCBA masks. In this way, the particular status of several individuals in hazardous environment can be monitored at once and their situation known over a period of time in the hazardous conditions. Specifically, the physiologic condition of the group can be monitored to track the changes in the group condition over the time that the group is exposed to the hazardous environment.

Claims

1. A sensor system, comprising

headgear comprising a headband;

a first sensor attached to said headband wherein said first sensor detects an amount of carbon monoxide in a user'"'"'s blood when wearing said headband and produces a first data signal indicative thereof;

a second sensor attached to said headband wherein said second sensor detects an amount of oxygen in the user'"'"'s blood when wearing said headband and produces a second data signal indicative thereof;

a processor connected to said first and second sensors and attached to said headband wherein said processor receives the first and second data signals from said first and second sensors, respectively, and creates at least one condition signal indicating a hazard condition, wherein the condition signal is derived from at least one of the first and second data signals,

a position sensor system connected to said headband, said position sensor system comprising;

a light source that emits a beam of light upon receiving a source signal from said processor; and

a light detector that detects the light emitted from said light source after the light reflects off an object, said light detector producing a detector signal for said processor, said processor calculating the distance between said object and said headband.

2. A sensor system, as in claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter/receiver connected to said processor and attached to said headband wherein said transmitter/receiver receives data from said processor and transmits said data to a base unit, wherein said base unit is located apart from said headband, said base unit having a base processor and storage unit for processing and storing data from a plurality of transmitter/receiver units, and said base unit transmits data to each of said transmitter/receiver units.