Body temperature logging patch
Inventors
Gannon, John • Ream, Matt • Casadonte, Salvatore Joseph • Tucholski, Gary R.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10617306-B2
Publication Date
2020-04-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
An actively-powered medical system for monitoring a body temperature of a patient includes a temperature data logger patch with wireless data communication includes a sealed, flexible battery comprising a printed electrochemical cell with an anode and a cathode, and a flexible circuit including a microprocessor, a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a target subject, a wireless communication transceiver and an antenna. In one example, the patch is configured to conform to a curved surface of the target subject. In another example, the patch is used in an actively-powered medical system for monitoring a body temperature of a patient, and includes an adhesive configured to be removably applied to skin of the patient. An external computing device is capable of communication with the wireless communication transceiver of the patch via an electromagnetic field.
Core Innovation
The invention describes an actively-powered medical system for monitoring a body temperature of a patient using a flexible, actively-powered temperature data logging patch. The patch includes a first substrate layer, a sealed, flexible battery, and a flexible circuit that are configured to work together as the temperature data logger. The battery provides continuous electrical power to the patch electronics and includes a printed electrochemical cell with an anode and a cathode, wherein at least one of the anode and cathode is formed of a cured or dried ink, and wherein first and second battery electrode contacts are electrically coupled to the anode and cathode.
The flexible circuit comprises a microprocessor, a temperature sensor configured to sense the patient’s temperature, and a wireless communication transceiver and antenna. The circuit further includes first and second battery contact pads, each electrically coupled to one of the battery electrode contacts to electrically power the microprocessor and the temperature sensor. The microprocessor and the temperature sensor actively receive continuous electrical power from the flexible battery irrespective of whether the communication transceiver is powered.
The patch is sufficiently flexible so that the temperature data logger patch is configured to conform to a curved or variable surface of the patient, able to flex and move with movement of the patient without inadvertent removal. The microprocessor includes a timer to continuously obtain a plurality of temperature samples from the temperature sensor at a periodic time interval, and the microprocessor transmits the plurality of temperature samples to an external computing device for graphical display with an associated time-stamp for each temperature sample.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is clm-00001. It contains six inventive features focused on a continuous, actively-powered flexible temperature data logging patch with a sealed printed electrochemical battery and wireless transmission of time-stamped temperature samples to an external computing device for graphical display.
Continuous actively-powered flexible temperature data logging patch
A flexible, actively-powered temperature data logging patch for an actively-powered medical system monitoring body temperature, including a first substrate layer and a configuration sufficiently flexible to conform to a curved or variable surface of the patient and flex and move with the patient without inadvertent removal.
Sealed flexible printed electrochemical battery with cured or dried ink electrodes
A sealed, flexible battery configured to provide continuous electrical power and comprising a printed electrochemical cell with an anode and a cathode, where at least one of the anode and cathode is formed of a cured or dried ink, and with first and second battery electrode contacts electrically coupled to the anode and cathode.
Flexible circuit with microprocessor, temperature sensor, and wireless transceiver powered via battery contacts
A flexible circuit comprising a microprocessor, a temperature sensor configured to sense patient temperature, a wireless communication transceiver and an antenna, and first and second battery contact pads electrically coupled to the first and second battery electrode contacts to power the microprocessor and temperature sensor.
Continuous power to microprocessor and temperature sensor irrespective of transceiver power
The microprocessor and the temperature sensor actively receive continuous electrical power from the flexible battery irrespective of whether the communication transceiver is powered.
Timer-enabled periodic continuous temperature sampling
The microprocessor comprises a timer that actively receives electrical power from the flexible battery and is configured to continuously obtain a plurality of temperature samples from the temperature sensor at a periodic time interval.
Patch-to-external communication via electromagnetic field and graphical display with time-stamps
An external computing device with a programmable microprocessor, active power supply, display, and a transceiver powered by the active power supply communicates with the patch via an electromagnetic field; the patch transmits the plurality of temperature samples, and the external computing device displays the plurality of temperature samples and an associated time-stamp for each temperature sample in a graphical manner.
Overall, clm-00001 centers on an actively-powered flexible medical patch using a sealed printed electrochemical battery with cured or dried ink electrodes, a flexible microprocessor-based circuit that continuously samples at a periodic interval, and wireless transmission of time-stamped temperature samples to an external computing device for graphical display, with the microprocessor and temperature sensor continuously powered independently of whether the transceiver is powered.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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