Flexible biomonitor with EMI shielding and module expansion

• US 8,287,451 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Ke, Ting-Chen, Chang, Wen-Ying, Chu, Chun-Hsun, Hu, Ying-Chiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Szmal, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUONG Q
• Application Number:
  US12/138,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20080259577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: 600/301, 600/306, 600/549, 340/573.1, 361/749
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• 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 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence

Abstract

A flexible biomonitor comprises: a flexible substrate having a circuit apparatus, a hybrid sensor, a plurality of IC devices, a central processing module, a RF transmitter circuit, an antenna, and a power supply. Thereupon the flexible biomonitor can be plastered on the skin where the human body needs to be monitored to achieve the purposes of reducing occupied area, providing comfortable wear and achieve compactness, module expansion and EMI shielding. Besides, it is capable of remote real-time monitoring this signal to achieve the purpose of home care.

Claims

1. A flexible biomonitor configured for sensing and monitoring temperature and a plurality of physiological phenomenon signals, comprising:

a flexible substrate having a circuit apparatus, formed on the flexible substrate, the circuit apparatus having a circuit layout mounted thereon and further comprising;

a bottom circuit layer, connected with one side of the flexible substrate;

a top circuit layer connected with the other side of the flexible substrate, and being electrically connected with the bottom circuit layer;

a plurality of through holes, wherein each through hole passes through the flexible substrate and is filled with a conducting material for enabling electric current to pass between components on the top circuit layer and components on the lower circuit board;

a hybrid sensor being disposed on the bottom circuit layer configured for sensing at least a temperature signal and a physiological phenomenon to generate a signal indicative of the sensed temperature and physiological phenomenon;

a plurality of IC devices disposed on the top circuit layer configured for performing signal processing on the signal to generate a processed signal indicative of at least the sensed temperature and physiological phenomenon;

a central processing module disposed on the top circuit layer configured for performing signal processing on the processed signal to generate a hybrid signal for wireless transmission of said hybrid signal;

at least a pair of flexible wing circuit boards, each pair of flexible wing circuit boards having at least a RF transmitter circuit or an antenna disposed thereon, wherein each pair of flexible wing circuit boards are disposed separated from the circuit apparatus while being discretely coupled to the circuit apparatus through a pair of pads attached to the circuit apparatus using conductive adhesive, to transmit the hybrid signal to a remote receiver by said wireless transmission, wherein a first pad of each pair of pads is coupled to the top circuit layer and a second pad of each pair of pads is coupled to the bottom circuit layer; and

a power supply electrically connected with the circuit apparatus for supplying electric power to the circuit apparatus, the hybrid sensor, the IC devices, the central processing module, the RF transmitter circuit and the antenna.

2. The flexible biomonitor of claim 1, further comprising a package, covering the flexible substrate, the circuit apparatus, the hybrid sensor, the IC devices, the central processing module, and the power supply.

3. The flexible biomonitor of claim 2, wherein the package is made of a material selected from a group consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyurethane (PU), and epoxy.

4. The flexible biomonitor of claim 1, wherein the bottom circuit layer is electrically connected with the top circuit layer via the through holes.

5. The flexible biomonitor of claim 1, wherein the IC devices are active IC devices.

6. The flexible biomonitor of claim 1, wherein the IC devices are passive IC devices.

7. The flexible biomonitor of claim 1, wherein the hybrid sensor comprises sensing electrodes.

8. The flexible biomonitor of claim 1, wherein the physiological phenomenon is heartbeat frequency.

9. The flexible biomonitor of claim 1, wherein the signal processing performed by the plurality of IC devices and the central processing module includes at least a procedure selected from the group consisting of signal amplifying, signal filtering, analog/digital signal converting, signal encoding, and signal decoding.

10. The flexible biomonitor of claim 1, wherein the power supply is a flexible battery.

11. The flexible biomonitor of claim 1, wherein the power supply is a rechargeable battery.

12. The flexible biomonitor of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is made of a material selected from a group consisting of polyimide (PI), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

13. The flexible biomonitor of claim 1, wherein the signal is received by a wireless reader.

14. The flexible biomonitor of claim 1, further comprising at least an additional flexible wing circuit board having at least an additional hybrid sensor disposed thereon, the additional hybrid sensor being capable of sensing at least a temperature signal and a physiological phenomenon to generate a signal.