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Publication Number
US-8805527-B2
Publication Date
2014-08-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to a wireless physiological monitoring system. The system includes at least one wireless sensor and a monitoring device which are linked to one another of a wireless fashion for measuring physiological signals of a patient. The at least one wireless sensor is located on the patient and may comprise a wireless surface electrode assembly or a wireless needle assembly. The system may also comprise a wireless stimulator synchronized with the wireless sensor for performing certain diagnostic tests, such as nerve conduction velocity tests, for example. The wireless sensor preferably includes active, reference and common conductors. The common conductor can be used to measure the common mode voltage of the patient in the vicinity of the testing, and this voltage can then be subtracted from the measured active and reference voltages.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a wireless physiological monitoring system for measuring physiological signals from a patient. The system includes a monitoring device external to the patient with a first transceiver, at least one wireless sensor disposed on a measurement site on the patient with a second transceiver that transmits a corresponding wireless physiological signal to the first transceiver, and at least one wireless diagnostic stimulator having a third transceiver that provides a stimulation current in response to at least one of a command signal transmitted by the first transceiver and manual actuation.
A core aspect of the system is a wireless adapter within the wireless sensor that includes a second transceiver, a measurement module, and conductor arrangements that support differential measurement and common mode voltage removal. The measurement module includes an active conductor and a reference conductor for receiving voltages used to produce a differential voltage measurement indicative of the physiological signal, and it further includes a common conductor for receiving another voltage for removing common mode voltage from the differential measurement.
The invention also specifies wireless needle assembly embodiments of the measurement module. A wireless needle assembly is described as including the measurement module, with partial content explaining a shaft structure with three concentric conductors and insulators for differential common-mode removal, and further refinements describing releasable attachment between the wireless adapter and the needle measurement module and placement of conductors among a needle shaft and electrode elements.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim contains four principal inventive feature areas: (1) wireless physiological monitoring with an external monitoring device and patient-worn wireless sensor, (2) a wireless diagnostic stimulator controlled by a command signal or manual actuation, (3) a wireless adapter/measurement module architecture using active and reference conductors plus a common conductor for removing common mode voltage, and (4) transmitting the differential measurement as the wireless physiological signal via the sensor transceiver. Dependent claims refine the measurement module architecture for a wireless needle assembly through releasable mechanical/electrical interfaces and conductor placement.
Wireless physiological monitoring system with external monitoring device
A wireless physiological monitoring system for measuring physiological signals from a patient including a monitoring device external to the patient having a first transceiver and at least one wireless sensor disposed on a measurement site on the patient having a second transceiver.
Wireless diagnostic stimulator with command or manual actuation
At least one wireless diagnostic stimulator having a third transceiver adapted to provide a stimulation current to the patient in response to at least one of a command signal transmitted by the first transceiver or manual actuation.
Measurement module with differential voltage and common mode voltage removal
A wireless adapter having a measurement module including an active conductor and a reference conductor for receiving voltages used to produce a differential voltage measurement indicative of the physiological signal, and the measurement module further including a common conductor for receiving another voltage for removing common mode voltage from the differential measurement.
Transmit differential measurement as the wireless physiological signal
The second transceiver transmits the differential measurement as the wireless physiological signal.
Releasably attachable needle measurement module with base electrical interface
A wireless needle assembly measurement module including a base with an electrical interface connected to active, reference, and common conductors, and a complementary shape for releasable attachment to a wireless adapter, with the conductor arrangement carried in the needle shaft.
Needle shaft active/reference conductors and surface electrode common conductor placement
In the measurement module of a wireless needle assembly, the needle shaft carries the active and reference conductors while a surface electrode carries the common conductor, with a base and electrical interface configured for active, reference, and common conductors.
Surface electrode reference and common conductors with needle shaft active conductor
A measurement module for a wireless needle assembly where a base includes an electrical interface for active, reference, and common conductors, the needle shaft includes an active conductor, and surface electrodes include reference and common conductors.
Claim coverage centers on a patient-worn wireless sensor communicating differential physiological measurements to an external monitoring device, together with a wireless diagnostic stimulator that provides stimulation current based on a command signal or manual actuation. The measurement module architecture uses active and reference conductors to form a differential voltage measurement and a common conductor for removing common mode voltage, and dependent claims refine the wireless needle assembly measurement module via releasable adapter/module attachment and conductor placement among a needle shaft and electrode elements.
Stated Advantages
Improves measurement signal quality by removing common mode voltage from the differential measurement.
Enables diagnostic testing by providing stimulation current in response to a command signal transmitted by the monitoring device or manual actuation.
Documented Applications
Diagnostic tests using a wireless stimulator synchronized for diagnostic accuracy, including nerve conduction velocity tests and related signals such as palmar nerve response, evoked potentials, electroencephalographic (EEG) signals, electrocardiographic (ECG) signals, and electromyographic (EMG) signals.
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