Systems and methods for ambient energy powered physiological parameter monitoring

Inventors

Apperson, Ryan W. • Sharif, Reza • Bielstein, Matthew Lawrence • Lounsbery, Arthur T.

Assignees

Stryker Corp

Abstract

A system for treating and/or monitoring a patient includes a patient physiological parameter monitoring patch and a companion device. The patient physiological parameter monitoring patch including an energy harvesting module, an energy storage module, a sensor module and a communication module. The energy harvesting module harvesting energy from one or more ambient sources, the energy being storable in the energy storage module and usable by one or more components of the patient physiological parameter monitoring patch. The sensor module senses one or more physiological parameters of the patient and the communication module can transmit the sensed data. The companion device can receive the sensed physiological parameters and can send the same to a remote device or store the same.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an ambient-energy powered physiological parameter monitoring system that includes a wearable patch and a companion device. The wearable patch includes an energy harvesting module that harvests ambient energy and generates first electrical energy, an energy storage module, a sensor module configured to sense a physiological parameter associated with a wearer, and a communication module configured to wirelessly transmit information associated with the physiological parameter.

The system addresses power availability by allocating power between harvested energy and stored energy. Power for sensing and communication is controlled based on energy amounts, such that the sensor module or the communication module is powered by harvested electrical energy when the harvested energy is greater than the energy needed, and is powered by stored energy when the harvested energy is less. In this way, the patch maintains physiological parameter monitoring even as ambient energy availability varies.

The companion device receives and processes the wirelessly transmitted physiological parameter data. The companion device aggregates and analyzes data to identify trends or abnormalities, and is configured to transmit alerts or notifications. The companion device can further route data to remote devices, and energy transmission from the companion can be used to enable or trigger sensing on-demand or on a schedule.

Claims Coverage

The document provides three independent claims: a wearable sensor claim, a system claim with an external display device, and a method claim. Across these independent claims, the core inventive features are thermal-energy harvesting to generate first electrical energy, battery storage for second electrical energy, physiological sensing and communication powered by either harvested energy or stored battery energy based on energy comparisons, and output or display of information associated with the physiological parameter.

Across the independent claims, the inventive scope centers on a wearable sensor that harvests thermal energy to generate first electrical energy, uses a battery to store second electrical energy, and powers physiological sensing and physiological-parameter information output or transmission by switching between harvested and stored electrical energy based on energy comparisons; in the system claim, received parameter data is displayed on an external display device.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications