Wireless nanotechnology based system for diagnosis of neurological and physiological disorders
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Publication Number
US-8348841-B2
Publication Date
2013-01-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A wireless system for neurological and physiological monitoring of a patient. The system includes a patient monitoring unit having a headcap and a belt. The headcap includes a wireless communication module, an antenna, and an amplifier. The headcap further includes at least one of a biopotential electrode, a temperature sensor, a rotation sensor, an accelerometer, and an airflow sensor. The belt includes a respiration sensor comprising a carbon nanotube-based strain sensor. The system also includes a base receiver-server unit including a wireless receiving unit, a data storage unit, and a network communications unit. The system also includes a client monitoring unit which includes a processor, a network communications unit operably coupled to the processor, and a storage medium operably coupled to the processor, wherein the storage medium includes program instructions executable by the processor for receiving and processing data from the patient monitoring unit.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a wireless system and a patient monitoring unit for neurological and physiological monitoring of a patient. The patient monitoring unit includes a headcap and a belt, where the headcap includes a wireless communication module, an antenna, an amplifier, and multiple sensors comprising a biopotential electrode, a temperature sensor, a rotation sensor, an accelerometer, and an airflow sensor. The belt includes a respiration sensor that comprises a flexible and printable nanotechnology-based strain sensor.
The wireless system further includes a base receiver-server unit with a wireless receiving unit, a data storage unit, and network communications unit. A client monitoring unit includes a processor, a network communications unit operably coupled to the processor, and a storage medium with program instructions executable by the processor for receiving and processing data from the patient monitoring unit. This data path is used for receiving and processing patient data for neurological and physiological monitoring.
In particular implementations, the biopotential electrode is configured to measure electroencephalogram (EEG) and/or electrooculogram (EOG), and the respiration sensor is realized using flexible and printable nanotechnology-based strain sensors such as carbon nanotube-based strain sensors and textile-based strain sensors, including a pentacene-carbon nanotube composite organic semiconductor. The temperature sensor can be implemented as a thin film transistor-based temperature sensor, and the system can include additional sensing such as accelerometer-based leg motion monitoring.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies two independent claims. Across these independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on a headcap-and-belt wireless monitoring unit with a respiration sensor implemented as a flexible and printable nanotechnology-based strain sensor, together with a receiver-server unit and a client monitoring unit for receiving and processing data. The independent claims include eight main inventive features.
Wireless system for neurological and physiological monitoring
A wireless system for neurological and physiological monitoring of a patient comprising a patient monitoring unit comprising a headcap and a belt.
Headcap wireless communication and amplification
The headcap including a wireless communication module, an antenna, and an amplifier.
Headcap sensor suite including a biopotential electrode
The headcap further including a biopotential electrode, a temperature sensor, a rotation sensor, an accelerometer, and an airflow sensor.
Belt respiration sensor using flexible and printable nanotechnology-based strain sensor
The belt including a respiration sensor comprising a flexible and printable nanotechnology-based strain sensor.
Base receiver-server unit for wireless receiving, storage, and communications
A base receiver-server unit including a wireless receiving unit, a data storage unit, and a network communications unit.
Client monitoring unit with processor, communications, and executable instructions
A client monitoring unit including a processor, a network communications unit operably coupled to the processor, and a storage medium operably coupled to the processor, wherein the storage medium includes program instructions executable by the processor for receiving and processing data from the patient monitoring unit.
Patient monitoring unit with headcap and belt respiration sensor
A patient monitoring unit for neurological and physiological monitoring of a patient comprising: a headcap including a wireless communication module, an antenna, an amplifier, a biopotential electrode, a temperature sensor, a rotation sensor, an accelerometer, and an airflow sensor, the patient monitoring unit further comprising a respiration sensor including a flexible and printable nanotechnology-based strain sensor.
Wireless headcap sensor configuration with respiration sensing
The patient monitoring unit includes the headcap sensor configuration and the respiration sensor comprising the flexible and printable nanotechnology-based strain sensor.
Overall, the independent claim set is directed to a wearable patient monitoring unit combining a sensor-rich headcap with a belt respiration sensor formed as a flexible and printable nanotechnology-based strain sensor, and to a system architecture that includes a base receiver-server unit and a client monitoring unit having program instructions for receiving and processing data from the patient monitoring unit.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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