System and method for monitoring conditions of a subject based on wireless sensor data
Inventors
Acquista, Angelo Joseph • Bertolero, Arthur • Ma, Leung-Hang • Shambroom, John • MUGHAL, Benjamin • BOUTHILLIER, Robert Joseph • FUSARO, Michael Peter • Goodrich, Elizabeth • SPROAT, Keith • GEYSTER, Steven
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11622722-B2
Publication Date
2023-04-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for wirelessly obtaining physiological data from a subject includes a sensor patch and a separate electronics package. The sensor patch is disposed on and adheres to the subject, and includes a first part of a releasable electrical connector. An electronics package includes a second part of the first releasable electrical connector, which is used to physically and electrically connect the electronics package to the sensor patch. The electronics package includes a flexible substrate, with shells set on this substrate. The shells enclose the electronics. The shells are connected by a flexible circuit board. Analog front end circuitry is placed in one shell, while the wireless transceiver is placed in the other shell.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a wireless physiological sensor system that uses an adhesive electrode sensor patch releasably connected to a separate electronics package. The electrode patch includes a plurality of signal electrodes configured to contact a subject, where each signal electrode has a first releasable electrical connector configured to releasably connect to a second releasable electrical connector in electrical communication with the electronics package.
The electrode patch includes a hydrocolloid adhesive layer having an opening, with the electrode disposed within the opening and the hydrocolloid adhesive layer configured to adhere a bottom surface to the subject. A protective layer is disposed over and surrounding each signal electrode, with an opening corresponding to each signal electrode receiving the first releasable electrical connector therethrough, and a second adhesive layer forms a water-resistant seal around the electrode patch.
The electronics package includes a substrate with shells disposed on the substrate and spaced apart, and includes electronics configured to monitor the plurality of signal electrodes to generate corresponding physiological data and wirelessly transmit the corresponding physiological data to another device. The system further includes active traces connecting releasable connectors on the sensor patch to the analog front end circuitry, including at least a first open lead routed along and spaced at a minimal distance from a different active trace, with the open lead having a free end terminating proximal to each different releasable connector.
Claims Coverage
The provided material includes three independent claims directed to an electrode patch with layered adhesive/protective structure and connector/trace topology, a method for obtaining physiological data using releasable connectors and active-trace/open-lead routing, and an electronics package architecture with shells and separate sub-systems. Across these independent claims, the inventive subject matter includes connector-releasable coupling between sensor patch and electronics package, layered water-resistant electrode patch sealing, modular compartmentalized electronics, and specific routing to address electrical noise.
Layered electrode patch forming water-resistant seal
An electrode patch comprising a hydrocolloid adhesive layer having an opening with the electrode disposed within the opening, a protective layer disposed over and surrounding each signal electrode with a corresponding opening receiving the first releasable electrical connector, and a second adhesive layer binding the signal electrodes to the protective layer and binding to the subject to form a water-resistant seal around the electrode patch.
Releasable electrical connectors through protective layer openings
Each signal electrode comprises a first releasable electrical connector electrically coupled to an electrode and configured to releasably connect to a second releasable electrical connector in electrical communication with the electronics package, where the protective layer includes an opening corresponding to each signal electrode configured to receive the first releasable electrical connector therethrough.
Active traces and open lead routing spaced from different active traces
A plurality of active traces, including at least a first active trace, each connecting a respective second releasable electrical connector with the electronics package, and a first open lead in connection with the first active trace proximal to the electronics package, the first open lead routed along and spaced at a minimal distance from a different active trace with a free end terminating proximal to each different second releasable connector from that connecting to the first active trace.
Cooperative releasable coupling between sensor patch and electronics package
A method comprising disposing a sensor patch on the subject where the sensor patch adheres to the subject and comprises a first releasable electrical connector configured to releasably connect to a second releasable electrical connector, and electrically and physically coupling an electronics package to the sensor patch by cooperative engagement of the first releasable electrical connector and the second releasable electrical connector.
Wirelessly transmitted physiological data generated from monitored signal electrodes
The method wherein the electronics package comprises an analog front end circuitry configured to monitor a plurality of signal electrodes, the electronics package generating corresponding physiological data and wirelessly transmitting the corresponding physiological data to another device.
Equalizing electronic noise using open lead routing with similar length and minimal separation
Equalizing an electronic noise between an active trace connecting a respective one of the plurality of signal electrodes with the analog front end circuitry and an open lead in electrical connection with said active trace at a confluence of each active trace with the analog front end circuitry, wherein the open lead is routed along and spaced at a minimal separation from a different active trace, the open lead has a length similar to a length of the different active trace, and a free end is electrically isolated from each of the plurality of signal electrodes different from the respective one of the plurality of signal electrodes.
Electronics package with spaced shells supporting wireless transceiver and analog front end
An electronics package for a wireless physiological sensor system comprising a substrate, a plurality of first releasable electrical connectors connected to the substrate in a spaced apart relation and configured to releasably connect to corresponding second releasable electrical connectors disposed on a sensor patch, a first shell disposed on the substrate, a second shell disposed on the substrate spaced apart from the first shell, and electronics configured to monitor the plurality of signal electrodes to generate corresponding physiological data and to wirelessly transmit the corresponding physiological data.
First and second electronics sub-systems disposed in separate shells
The electronics comprising a first electronics sub-system disposed in the first shell comprising a wireless transceiver to wirelessly transmit the corresponding physiological data, and a second electronics sub-system disposed in the second shell comprising an analog front end circuitry configured to receive a physiologic signal from each of the plurality of signal electrodes to generate the corresponding physiological data.
Circuit carrying active traces and open lead terminating proximal to a releasable connector
A first circuit carrying electrical connections between the first electronics sub-system and the second electronics sub-system, a plurality of active traces connecting respective ones of each of the plurality of first releasable electrical connectors with the analog front end circuitry, and an open lead terminating proximal to a first of the plurality of first releasable electrical connectors and electrically connected with the second active trace connecting a second one of the plurality of first releasable electrical connectors with the analog front end circuitry.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on an electrode patch that uses releasable electrical connectors and layered hydrocolloid, protective, and adhesive construction to create a water-resistant seal, together with active traces and an open-lead routing topology that spaces and matches lengths relative to different active traces to address electrical noise. The electronics package claim further requires a modular, shell-separated architecture with a wireless transceiver in one sub-system and analog front end circuitry in another, including circuit routing using active traces and open leads connecting the releasable connectors to the analog front end.
Stated Advantages
Provides a water-resistant seal around the electrode patch such that the second adhesive layer protects the hydrocolloid adhesive layer and the electrode.
Documented Applications
Wireless monitoring using an adhesive electrode sensor patch releasably connected to an electronics package.
Synchronized wireless operation for composite multi-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) data.
Derived blood pressure estimation using synchronized ECG and plethysmographic signals.
A garment system platform with embedded sensors/traces and tensioning to maintain contact using the electronics package in consumer and clinical modes via removable electrodes.
Interested in licensing this patent?