Physiological monitoring device
Inventors
Bahney, Timothy J. • Ho, Hung H. • Park, Shena H. • Sepulveda, Genaro S. • Day, Mark J. • Tamura, Yuriko
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12245859-B2
Publication Date
2025-03-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a physiological monitoring device. Some embodiments of the invention allow for long-term monitoring of physiological signals. Further embodiments may also allow for the monitoring of secondary signals such as motion.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a physiological monitoring device configured to monitor cardiac rhythm data of a patient using a flexible substrate that has an embedded electrode and an embedded flexible electrode trace. The flexible electrode trace electrically couples the electrode to a circuit board assembly housed within a housing portion, enabling cardiac rhythm data acquisition.
The device architecture includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion that detachably couple to one another, with the circuit board assembly housed within the first housing portion. Electrical coupling is achieved with a first spring contact configured to electrically couple a battery to the circuit board assembly and a second spring contact configured to electrically couple at least a portion of the flexible electrode trace to the circuit board assembly.
A key structural feature is that the flexible substrate comprises a border portion that is thinner than an interior portion of the flexible substrate. The partial content further describes watertight enclosure features with gaskets, hinge regions of reduced thickness for comfort and edge lift reduction, and border/rim thinning to improve skin adherence and prevent debris ingress, while supporting monitoring over an extended period.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim coverage is centered on 5 core inventive elements: detachably coupled housing portions, spring contacts coupling battery and trace to the circuit board assembly, flexible substrate geometry with a thinner border portion, embedded electrode for detecting physiological signals, and embedded flexible electrode trace for electrical coupling to the circuit board assembly.
Detachably coupled first and second housing portions
The physiological monitoring device comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion, wherein the first housing portion detachably couples to the second housing portion.
Spring contact for battery-to-circuit board coupling
The physiological monitoring device includes a first spring contact configured to electrically couple a battery to a circuit board assembly housed within the first housing portion.
Thinner flexible substrate border portion
The physiological monitoring device includes a flexible substrate coupled to the second housing portion, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a border portion that is thinner than an interior portion of the flexible substrate.
Embedded electrode for cardiac rhythm data acquisition
The physiological monitoring device comprises an electrode embedded within a portion of the flexible substrate and configured to detect physiological signals of the patient to obtain the cardiac rhythm data.
Embedded flexible electrode trace with spring-contact electrical coupling
The physiological monitoring device includes a flexible electrode trace embedded in the flexible substrate and configured to electrically couple the electrode to the circuit board assembly, wherein at least a portion of the flexible electrode trace is in electrical contact with a second spring contact, and wherein the second spring contact is further configured to electrically couple the flexible electrode trace to the circuit board assembly.
Across the independently claimed core, the invention focuses on a detachable housing architecture combined with spring-contact electrical coupling between battery, circuit board assembly, and a flexible substrate that carries an embedded electrode and an embedded flexible electrode trace, with the flexible substrate having a border portion that is thinner than an interior portion.
Stated Advantages
Supports long-term cardiac rhythm monitoring over an extended period (about 14–21 days, and optionally >7 days) as described in the partial content.
Watertight enclosure features with gaskets are described for reducing water ingress while the device is worn.
Border/rim thinning and reduced-thickness hinge regions are described to improve comfort and skin adherence and to prevent debris ingress and edge lift reduction.
Modular/removable components are described to allow device reuse over monitoring periods.
Documented Applications
Cardiac rhythm monitoring (cardiac rhythm data acquisition using an electrocardiogram patch) of a patient during long-term wear periods described as about 14–21 days (and optionally >7 days).
Patient event triggering is described as integrated into the rigid housing using a concave patient event trigger/trigger input to minimize motion artifact/inadvertent activation.
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