System for measuring and tracking at least one physiological parameter and a measuring device for doing the same

• US 7,782,193 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CADI Scientific Pte Ltd.
• Original Assignee: CADI Scientific Pte Ltd.
• Inventors: Ng, Hon Cheong, Goh, Zenton, Neo, Sian Sheng, Lim, Soh Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunnings; Travis R
• Application Number:
  US11/997,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20080194926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.12, 340/539.11, 340/539.1, 340/573.5, 340/573.7
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• 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 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet

Abstract

A measurement device (26, 28, 800, 900) for measuring at least one physiological parameter comprising an integrated switching device being operable by a non-radio frequency switching activation signal generated by an external switching activation device (1000, 1100), a measurement unit for measuring at least one physiological parameter and a radio frequency signal transmitting device for transmitting a measured value of the at least one physiological parameter wherein the measurement unit and/or radio frequency signal transmitting device are/is activated if the integrated switching device is in a first switching status and deactivated if the integrated switching device is in a second switching status.

Claims

1. A system for measuring at least one physiological parameter of at least one person comprising:

a switching activation device, and

at least one measuring device that measures the at least one physiological parameter,

wherein the switching activation device is designed such that when brought into contact with the at least one measuring device, the at least one measuring device undergoes switching to either one of two sub-statuses of a first switching status or to either one of two sub-statuses of a second switching status,

wherein the two sub-statuses of the first switching status are an initialization sub-status and an “

ON”

sub-status respectively,

wherein the two sub-statuses of the second switching status are a de-initialization sub-status and an “

OFF”

sub-status respectively,

and wherein the at least one measuring device comprises

an integrated switching mechanism, and

a radio frequency signal transmitting device for transmitting a measured value of the at least one physiological parameter,

wherein the radio frequency signal transmitting device is activated if the integrated switching mechanism is in a first switching status and deactivated if the integrated switching mechanism is in a second switching status, said switching status being controlled by the switching activation device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the integrated switching mechanism is operable by a non-radio frequency switching activator provided by the switching activation device.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the non-radio switching activator is selected from mechanical and/or magnetic activators.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the mechanical activator is selected from the group consisting of a pressure switch, a contact switch, a slider switch, a rocker switch, a push-button switch and a rotary switch.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic activator is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic relay switch, a reed switch and a momentary contact switch.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one registration unit adapted to function in unison with the switching activation device, wherein said registration unit is a microprocessor capable of registering or deregistering the measuring device when said measuring device is in either the first or second switching state respectively.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the registration unit is adapted to recognize and record an association between the unique identifier of a measuring device and the particulars of a person during a registration process.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one receiver unit wherein the at least one receiver unit is adapted to receive a data packet transmitted by the at least one measuring device.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising at least one controller unit wherein the at least one controller unit is adapted to receive a data packet from the at least one receiver unit.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one controller unit is adapted to function as the registration unit.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one measuring device, receiver, and controller unit are in communication with each other via a frequency communication network.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one controller unit comprises an internal clock to provide for a date-time stamp (time-code).

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the controller unit comprises:

at least one database storage and retrieval system

at least one server unit wherein said server unit provides for the frequency communication network and

at least one personal monitoring unit wherein said personal monitoring unit includes a graphic interface and audio system to provide visual and audio output signals.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the radio frequency signal transmitting device, receiver and controller unit are compatible with 802.1x wireless standard.

15. The system according to claim 8, wherein the data packet transmitted by the measuring device to the receiver comprises:

the unique identifier of the at least one measuring device,

a signal/data field and

at least one measured physiological parameter value.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the signal/data field comprises registration data, patient information data and/or deregistration data.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the data packet transmitted by the measuring device further includes a battery status of the at least one measuring device.

18. The system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one receiver comprises an internal clock to provide for a date-time stamp (time-code).

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one receiver is adapted to conduct an internal clock self-synchronization step with the internal clock of the control unit, after being reset or upon receiving an instruction to do the same.

20. The system according to claim 8, wherein each of the at least one receiver has stored therein a receiver unique identifier for identifying the at least one receiver unit to the at least one control unit.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one measuring device has stored therein a unique identifier for identifying the at least one measuring device to the at least one registration unit or to the at least one controller unit.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device is adapted to use an anti-collision algorithm to provide, for each measuring device, a pseudo-randomized time-slot to periodically transmit each data packet.

23. A method of measuring at least one physiological parameter of a person using the system as defined in claim 1, said method comprising:

activating at least one measuring device by bringing the measuring device into contact with a switching activation device thereby causing the integrated switching mechanism of the at least one measuring device to undergo switching to a first switching status,

registering the at least one measuring device, measuring at least one physiological parameter of the person using the measuring device, and

monitoring, by comparing the at least one measured physiological parameter of the person with a predetermined value.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein activating the at least one measuring device comprises

placing the at least one measuring device in contact with a switching activation device,

transmitting a unique identifier of the at least one measuring device to a registration unit after the measuring device receives the non-radio frequency activation signal and undergoes switching to a first switching status.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein registering the at least one measuring device comprises

transmitting the unique identifier of each of the at least one measuring devices to a registration unit serially, and

registering the unique identifier of each of the at least one measuring devices serially.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein de-registering the at least one measuring device comprises

transmitting the unique identifier of each of the at least one measuring devices to the registration unit serially, and

de-registering the unique identifier of the at least one measuring device serially after monitoring the at least one physiological parameter of the person by bringing the measuring device into contact with the switching activation device thereby causing the integrated switching mechanism of the at least one measuring device to undergo switching to a second switching status.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein measuring at least one physiological parameter of the person comprises:

attaching the measuring unit is to the body of a person by at least one adhesive membrane, and

transmitting a measured physiological value in a data packet to a controller unit during the registration process and periodically thereafter.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein transmitting a measured physiological value from a measuring device to a receiver unit comprises:

utilizing an anti-collision algorithm when transmitting the data packet from the measuring device to a receiver unit to minimize the occurrence of data packet collisions when at least two measuring devices transmit said data packet simultaneously,

using the receiver unit to receive the data packets from the measuring device,

appending said receiver unique identifier to each data packet received by the receiver unit,

appending a time and date of receipt information as a time-code to each data packet received by the receiver unit, and

forwarding the time-coded data packet to the control unit for recording and monitoring.

29. The method according to claim 23, wherein monitoring the at least measured one physiological parameter of the person comprises

using the control unit to compare the measured value of at least one physiological parameter with a predetermined threshold value, and

using a graphic user interface, including an audio and visual alert, to determine if the measured value of the at least one physiological parameter deviates by a fixed percentage from the predetermined threshold values.

30. A measuring device for measuring at least one physiological parameter comprising:

a measurement unit for measuring at least one physiological parameter;

an integrated switching mechanism operable by a non-radio frequency switching activator provided by a switch activation device, wherein the switching activation device is designed such that when brought into contact with the at least one measuring device, the at least one measuring device undergoes switching to either one of two sub-statuses of a first switching status or to either one of two sub-statuses of a second switching status,

wherein the two sub-statuses of the first switching status are an initialization sub-status and an “

ON”

sub-status respectively,

wherein the two sub-statuses of the second switching status are a de-initialization sub-status and an “

OFF”

sub-status respectively,

a radio frequency signal transmitting device for transmitting a measured value of the at least one physiological parameter,

wherein the radio frequency signal transmitting device is activated if the integrated switching mechanism is in the first switching status and deactivated if the integrated switching mechanism is in the second switching status, said switching status being determined by the switch activation device.

31. The measuring device according to claim 30, wherein the integrated switching mechanism is operable by magnetic and/or mechanical activator.

32. The measuring device according to claim 31, wherein the integrated switching mechanism operable by magnetic activator is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic relay switch, a reed switch and a momentary contact switch.

33. The measuring device according to claim 31, wherein the integrated switching mechanism operable by mechanical activator is selected from the group consisting of a pressure switch, a contact switch, a slider switch, a rocker switch, a push-button switch and a rotary switch.

34. The measuring device according to claim 30, wherein the radio frequency signal-transmitting device is adapted to a one-way radio frequency communication.

35. The measuring device according to claim 30, wherein the measurement unit is a thermometer unit, a blood-pressure monitoring unit, an electrocardiogram (ECG) unit, a pulse rate measurement unit, a blood oxygen measurement unit, a blood gas measurement unit, a respiration monitoring unit or any combination thereof.

36. A switching activation device for switching the at least one measuring device that measures the at least one physiological parameter to either one of two sub-statuses of a first switching status or to either one of two sub-statuses of a second switching status, said switching activation device comprising:

at least one activation portion,

wherein said activation portion,

is complementary to at least one surface of the measuring device in shape and size such that the at least one measuring device undergoes switching to either one of two sub-statuses of the first switching status or to either one of two sub-statuses of the second switching status when the activation portion of the switching activation device is brought into contact with the at least one surface of the measuring device

wherein the two sub-statuses of the first switching status are an initialization sub-status and an “

ON”

sub-status respectively,

wherein the two sub-statuses of the second switching status are a de-initialization sub-status and an “

OFF”

sub-status respectively.

37. The switching activation device according to claim 36, wherein said activation portion is a two-tiered recessed portion that has a mechanical actuator situated within said recessed portion for switching the integrated switching mechanism of the measuring device into either the first or second switching status.

38. The switching activation device according to claim 36, wherein said activation portion generates a magnetic field sufficient for switching the measuring device into either the first or second switching status.

39. The switching activation device according to claim 36, wherein said activation portion is a two-tiered recessed portion that is complementary to at least one surface of the measuring device in shape and size such that the at least one measuring device undergoes switching to either a first switching status or to a second switching status when the activation portion of the switching activation device is proximate to the at least one surface of the measuring device.