Devices and systems for remote physiological monitoring

• US 8,979,755 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Szydlo-Moore, Joanna, Park, Shawn H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): JIAN, SHIRLEY XUEYING
• Application Number:
  US11/608,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20080139894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,021 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301, 3300-301
• US Class Current: 600/301
• 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 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4236 characterised by adhesive patches

Abstract

Devices and systems are provided for the remote monitoring of physiological parameters of a patient. An exemplary wireless physiological monitoring device comprises a substrate formed of a flexible biocompatible material. The substrate has a surface for affixing to the skin of a patient. A wireless data transmission device, a biosensor, and a power source are integrated with the substrate. The biosensor is configured to measure a physiological parameter. Flexible conductors are integrated with the substrate and are configured to electrically couple the biosensor and the power source with the data transmission device.

Claims

1. A wireless physiological monitoring device for monitoring physiological data, comprising:

a substrate formed of a flexible material that is a biocompatible polymer, the substrate further comprising a first surface that is self-adhesive to affix the substrate to skin of a patient;

a wireless data transmission system embedded in the substrate that transmits the physiological data, the wireless data transmission system being a radio-frequency coil system having a coating of a biocompatible polymer material on a first side of the radio frequency coil system and on a second side of the radio frequency coil system and an insulating layer of polymer enclosed between a first and second metal layer, the wireless data transmission system configured to transmit the physiological data to a central monitoring station that is remotely positioned from the wireless physiological monitoring device;

a power source embedded in the substrate that generates power and that powers the wireless data transmission system;

a multi-electrode array embedded within the substrate to sense biopotentials at a site of application of the wireless physiological monitoring device from which to indicate physiological parameters;

a biosensor embedded in the substrate, the biosensor powered by the power source, to measure the physiological parameters;

wherein at least one of the wireless data transmission system, the power source, and the biosensor is microfabricated; and

a plurality of conductors embedded within the substrate to form flexible electrical interconnections among the data transmission system, the power source, and the biosensor;

wherein the wireless physiological monitoring device is non-invasive.

2. The wireless physiological monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible polymer is selected from one of polyimide, polydimethylsiloxane, parylene, silicon, and a combination thereof.

3. The wireless physiological monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the power source is a thermoelectric generator that generates electricity by using a temperature difference between a site of application of the device and outside air.

4. The wireless physiological monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the power source is a piezoelectric transducer.

5. The wireless physiological monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the power source is an electromagnetic generator.

6. The wireless physiological monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the biosensor further comprises:

a multi-electrode array that functions as a biopotential sensor, wherein the multi-electrode array comprises a plurality of metal conductive lines that are encased by the flexible, biocompatible polymer material of the substrate.

7. The physiological monitoring device of claim 6 wherein the plurality of metal conductive lines are flexible chip-level integrated.

8. The wireless physiological monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the device is applied topically to a surface of the skin.

9. The wireless physiological monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a light-emitting diode powered by the power source.

10. The wireless physiological monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the biosensor is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) configured to measure a physiological parameter.

11. The physiological monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a light-emitting diode embedded within the substrate and powered by the power source.

12. The wireless physiological monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the power source is a kinetic energy converter.

13. The physiological monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the substrate, the wireless data transmission system, the power source, the multi-electrode array, and the biosensor is microfabricated with reactive ion etching.

14. The physiological monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the power source is a self-contained power source.

15. A wireless device for the remote monitoring of physiological parameters, the wireless device comprising:

a substrate formed of at least one biocompatible polymer that is flexible, wherein the substrate comprises a first surface that is self-adhesive to affix the substrate to skin of a patient;

a first multi-electrode array comprising electrode areas that are exposed through an exposure means selected from at least one of a photolithography technique and a plasma etching technique, wherein the multi-electrode array is embedded within the substrate;

a self-contained power source embedded within the substrate that generates power and that powers the multi-electrode array;

wherein the first multi-electrode array is powered by the power source and senses biopotentials at a site of application of the wireless device from which to indicate the physiological parameters;

a wireless data transmission system embedded in the substrate that transmits the physiological data, the wireless data transmission system being a radio-frequency coil system having a coating of a biocompatible polymer material on a first side of the radio frequency coil system and on a second side of the radio frequency coil system and an insulating layer of polymer enclosed between a first and second metal layer, the wireless data transmission system configured to transmit the physiological data to a central monitoring station that is remotely positioned from the wireless physiological monitoring device; and

wherein the wireless device is non-invasive.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the multi-electrode array comprises a plurality of metal conductive lines that are encased by the flexible, biocompatible polymer.

17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the at least one biocompatible polymer is selected from a group consisting of polyimide, polydimethylsiloxane, parylene, silicon and a combination thereof.

18. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the at least one biocompatible polymer comprises parylene C.

19. The wireless device of claim 15, further comprising a light-emitting diode embedded within the substrate and powered by the power source.

20. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein the first multi-electrode array is a biosensor that is configured to sense biopotentials and measure at least one or more physiological parameters selected from a group consisting of blood oxygen levels, blood chemistry, heart rate, body temperature, hydration levels, sweat electrolyte information, electrocardiogram data, and any combination thereof.

21. The wireless device of claim 15, further comprising a second multi-electrode array that is separated from the first multi-electrode array by a distance to enable proper functioning.

22. A wireless physiological monitoring system for sustained monitoring of human military subjects moving under human power or vehicle transport, in a sustained movement condition, in a non-hospital environment, comprising:

a wireless physiological monitoring device comprising;

a substrate formed of a flexible material that is a biocompatible polymer, the substrate further comprising a first surface that is self-adhesive to affix the substrate to skin of a patient;

a wireless data transmission system embedded in the substrate that transmits physiological parameters, the wireless data transmission system being a radio-frequency coil system having a coating of a biocompatible polymer material on a first side of the radio frequency coil system and on a second side of the radio frequency coil and an insulating layer of polymer enclosed between a first and second metal layer;

a multi-electrode array embedded within the substrate to sense biopotentials at a site of application of the wireless physiological monitoring device from which to indicate physiological parameters;

a self-contained power source embedded in the substrate that powers the wireless data transmission system;

a biosensor embedded in the substrate, the biosensor powered by the power source to measure the physiological parameters;

wherein at least one of the wireless data transmission system, the power source, and the biosensor is microfabricated; and

a plurality of flexible conductors embedded within the substrate to form flexible electrical interconnections among the data transmission system, the power source, and the biosensor; and

a central monitoring station comprising a transceiver that receives physiological parameters transmitted wirelessly by the wireless physiological monitoring device, wherein the central monitoring station is remotely positioned from the wireless data transmission system;

wherein the wireless physiological monitoring device is non-invasive.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the wireless physiological monitoring device is configured to be worn by the human wearer as a soldier in a battlefield environment.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the wireless physiological monitoring device is configured to be worn by the human wearer as a pilot in an aircraft environment.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the wireless physiological monitoring device is configured to be worn by the human wearer as a machine operator.

26. A wireless physiological monitoring device comprising:

a substrate formed of a flexible biocompatible material, the substrate comprising a surface to affix the substrate to skin of a patient;

a multi-electrode array embedded within the substrate to sense biopotentials at a site of application of the wireless physiological monitoring device from which to indicate physiological parameters, the multi-electrode array comprising electrode areas that are exposed through an exposure means selected from at least one of a photolithography technique and a plasma etching technique;

a wireless data transmission device integrated with the substrate to transmit the physiological parameters, the wireless data transmission device being a radio-frequency coil system having a coating of a biocompatible polymer material on a first side of the radio frequency coil system and on a second side of the radio frequency coil system and an insulating layer of polymer enclosed between a first and second metal layer;

a power source integrated with the substrate to power one or more of the multi-electrode array and the wireless data transmission device; and

flexible conductors embedded within the substrate and configured to electrically couple the multi-electrode array and the power source with the data transmission device;

wherein at least one of the wireless data transmission device and the power source is microfabricated.