Wireless pressure-sensitive dressing assemblies and wireless monitoring systems equipped therewith
Inventors
Walgreen, Charles R. • Haq, Sakeena I.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12114995-B2
Publication Date
2024-10-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A dressing assembly adapted to be applied on a surface of a patient's body that is susceptible to damage from soft tissue pressure. The dressing assembly includes a carrier having a skin-adhesive film, an outer cover layer overlying and adhered to the skin-adhesive film, an annular-shaped foam member between the skin-adhesive film and the outer cover layer, a cavity defined within the annular-shaped foam member, a lower foam member located within the cavity adjacent a portion of the skin-adhesive film, and a closure assembly overlying the outer cover layer. The closure assembly includes an adhesive element that releasably adheres the closure assembly to the outer cover layer to enable the closure assembly to selectively close and expose the cavity. The closure assembly has an upper form member disposed in the cavity when the closure assembly closes the cavity. A sensor unit is compressed between the lower and upper foam members.
Core Innovation
A wireless pressure-sensitive dressing assembly is adapted to be applied to a surface of a patient's body that is susceptible to damage from soft tissue pressure. The assembly includes a carrier having a skin-adhesive film and an outer cover layer overlying and adhered to the skin-adhesive film, with a central aperture therethrough. An annular-shaped foam member is located between the skin-adhesive film and the outer cover layer, with a cavity defined within the annular-shaped foam member, and a lower foam member is located within the cavity adjacent a portion of the skin-adhesive film.
A closure assembly overlies the central aperture of the outer cover layer and includes a nonpermanent adhesive element that releasably adheres the closure assembly to the outer cover layer to selectively close and selectively expose the cavity. The closure assembly includes an upper foam member that extends through the central aperture of the outer cover layer and is disposed in the cavity when the closure assembly releasably closes the cavity. A sensor unit is removably secured within the cavity and compressed between the lower and upper foam members.
The sensor unit generates electrical outputs corresponding to soft tissue pressure sensed by the wireless pressure-sensitive dressing assembly at the surface of the patient's body. A method is provided for monitoring electrical outputs generated by the sensor unit and for generating an alert if the electrical outputs exceeds a threshold level. The wireless pressure-sensitive dressing assembly and monitoring method are directed to providing a warning to a patient or caregiver that the patient needs attention when soft tissue pressure indicates risk.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover two core inventive aspects: a wireless pressure-sensitive dressing assembly with a releasably closed cavity that compresses a removably secured sensor unit to generate electrical outputs corresponding to soft tissue pressure, and a monitoring method that watches multiple sensed output signals and generates an alert when monitored outputs exceed a threshold level. Across these, the independent claims emphasize a carrier with an aperture, an annular cavity, a closure assembly with a nonpermanent adhesive element, and pressure-to-electrical-output sensing with threshold-based warning.
Wireless pressure-sensitive dressing assembly with releasably closable cavity and compressed sensor
A wireless pressure-sensitive dressing assembly adapted to be applied to a surface of a patient's body susceptible to damage from soft tissue pressure, comprising a carrier with a skin-adhesive film; an outer cover layer adhered to the skin-adhesive film with a central aperture; an annular-shaped foam member defining a cavity; a lower foam member adjacent the skin-adhesive film within the cavity; and a closure assembly with a nonpermanent adhesive element that releasably closes and selectively exposes the cavity, the closure assembly including an upper foam member extending through the central aperture and disposed in the cavity when closed; and a sensor unit removably secured within the cavity and compressed between the lower and upper foam members, generating electrical outputs corresponding to soft tissue pressure sensed at the body surface.
Monitoring method with threshold-based alert from monitored sensed output signals
A method of monitoring a plurality of sensed output signals and providing a warning to a patient or caregiver that the patient needs attention, comprising applying the wireless pressure-sensitive dressing assembly; exposing the cavity with the closure assembly; placing a sensor unit within the cavity and closing the cavity to compress the sensor unit between the lower and upper foam members; generating electrical outputs corresponding to soft tissue pressure; monitoring the electrical outputs; and generating an alert if the electrical outputs exceeds a threshold level.
Together, the independent claims require a wireless pressure-sensitive dressing assembly that creates and controls access to an annular cavity holding a compressed sensor unit, and a monitoring method that translates sensor electrical outputs into a threshold-based alert for patient/caregiver warning.
Stated Advantages
Provides a warning to a patient or caregiver that the patient needs attention.
Enables generation of an alert if electrical outputs exceeds a threshold level.
Documented Applications
Monitoring soft tissue pressure at the surface of a patient's body susceptible to damage from soft tissue pressure, with warning to a patient or caregiver that the patient needs attention.
Warns a patient or caregiver when monitored electrical outputs exceed a threshold level.
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