# US 12,178,597 B2 · Device, apparatus and method of determining skin perfusion pressure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,597 B2 - Document ID: US12178597B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/492,531 - Filed: 2018-03-09 - Published: 2021-05-13 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-09 - Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc. - Applicants: Smith & Nephew PLC - Inventors: Varuni Rachindra Brownhill; Scott Grubb; Allan Kenneth Frazer Grugeon Hunt; Reece Knight; Peter Laitenberger; Lee Partington; Marcus Damian Phillips - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178597B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/445: {Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore} - A61B 5/02007: {Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance} - A61B 5/022: by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers - A61B 5/02255: {the pressure being controlled by plethysmographic signals, e.g. derived from optical sensors} - A61B 5/0261: {using optical means, e.g. infrared light} - A61B 5/683: {Means for maintaining contact with the body (A61B5/6802 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/6843: {Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure} - A61B 5/7282: {Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition (cough events A61B5/0823; seizures A61B5/4094; sleep apnoea A61B5/4818)} - A61B 5/7405: {using sound} - A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)} - A61B 5/7455: {characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation} - A61F 13/00051: {Accessories for dressings} - A61B 5/02422: {within occluders} - A61B 5/0255: Recording instruments specially adapted therefor - A61F 2013/00089: {Wound bandages (A61F2013/00361 takes precedence;)} - A61F 2013/8473: {for diagnostic purposes} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract Disclosed embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for a skin perfusion pressure determination device. In some embodiments, a skin perfusion pressure determination device can include a sensor module having a first sensor for sensing a first parameter associated with a pressure exerted on a target area by the sensor module and a second sensor for sensing a second parameter associated with an amount of blood perfusion at the target area. In some embodiments, the first sensor and the second sensor can be arranged such that, when the sensor module is pressed against the target area the first sensor produces an output corresponding to the sensed first parameter and the second sensor produces an output corresponding to the sensed second parameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A skin perfusion pressure determination device comprising: an elongate probe comprising a distal end, a grip portion, and a sensor module comprising a first sensor for sensing a first parameter associated with a pressure exerted on a target area by the sensor module and a second sensor for sensing a second parameter associated with an amount of blood perfusion at the target area, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are arranged such that, when the distal end is pressed against the target area the first sensor produces an output corresponding to the sensed first parameter and the second sensor produces an output corresponding to the sensed second parameter; wherein the first sensor comprises a force sensor arranged to determine the force exerted by the sensor module on the target area, such that when the distal end is pressed against the target area, the second sensor is disposed between the target area and the force sensor, and wherein the grip portion is configured to be held by a user to press the distal end against the target area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The skin perfusion pressure determination device of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises a light source and an optical detector arranged to receive light emitted by the light source which has been reflected by the target area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The skin perfusion pressure determination device of claim 2, wherein the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode and the optical detector comprises at least one photodetector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The skin perfusion pressure determination device of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is a pulse sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The skin perfusion pressure determination device of claim 1, wherein the device is a portable device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The skin perfusion pressure determination device of claim 1, wherein the distal end further comprises a pad comprising a lower surface configured to be pressed against the target area. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The skin perfusion pressure determination device of claim 1, further comprising a processor for processing an output of the first sensor and an output of the second sensor, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the output of the second sensor satisfies a predetermined condition associated with a predetermined amount of blood perfusion at the target area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The skin perfusion pressure determination device of claim 7, wherein the predetermined condition is a condition which corresponds to an amount of blood perfusion at the target area which exceeds a predetermine threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The skin perfusion pressure determination device of claim 7, wherein the predetermined condition is a condition that corresponds to the presence of a pulsatile component of blood flow at the target area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The skin perfusion pressure determination device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to produce an output which represents a pressure exerted on the target area by the sensor module when the second parameter satisfies the predetermined condition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The skin perfusion pressure determination device of claim 7, further comprising a memory for storing at least one of the predetermined condition and the output of the processor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Apparatus comprising the skin perfusion pressure determination device of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a display for displaying information representing at least one output of the first sensor and the second sensor. ### Claim 13 An apparatus comprising: a wound dressing; a skin perfusion pressure determination device comprising an elongate probe portion comprising a distal tip, a hand grip portion, and a sensor module, the sensor module comprising a sensor configured to sense at least one characteristic associated with a wound or a region of tissue proximate to a wound and a force sensor arranged to determine the force exerted by the sensor module on the wound or the region of tissue, wherein the sensor is disposed between the distal tip and the force sensor; and a display configured to indicate at least one condition relating to the at least one characteristic associated with the wound or the region of tissue proximate to the wound sensed by the sensor module. ### Claim 14 An apparatus comprising: a wound dressing; a skin perfusion pressure determination device comprising an elongate probe portion comprising a hand grip, a distal end, a contact section at the distal end, and a sensor module, the sensor module comprising a sensor configured to sense at least one characteristic associated with a wound or a region of tissue proximate to a wound and a force sensor arranged to determine the force exerted by the sensor module on the wound or the region of tissue, wherein the sensor is disposed between the wound or the region of tissue and the force sensor; and an audible and/or tactile indicator configured to indicate at least one condition relating to the at least one characteristic associated with a wound or a region of tissue proximate to a wound sensed by the sensor module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the contact section further comprises a pad comprising a lower surface configured to be pressed against a portion of the wound dressing. ### Claim 16 A method of determining at least one characteristic associated with a wound or a region of tissue proximate to a wound comprising: locating a wound dressing comprising a wound protecting portion over a wound whereby the wound protecting portion overlies the wound; gripping a skin perfusion pressure determination device comprising an elongate probe portion comprising a hand grip portion and a sensor module; positioning the skin perfusion pressure determination device at a target area on or adjacent to the wound dressing, wherein the sensor module comprises a sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic associated with a wound or a region of tissue proximate to a wound and a force sensor arranged to determine the force exerted by the sensor module on the target area, wherein the sensor is disposed between the target area and the force sensor; and receiving a visual, audible, or tactile indicator relating to the at least one characteristic associated with a wound or a region of tissue proximate to a wound detected with the sensor of the skin perfusion pressure determination device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising processing an output of the sensor and an output of the force sensor and determining that the output of the force sensor satisfies a predetermined condition associated with a predetermined amount of blood perfusion at the target area. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined condition is a condition which corresponds to an amount of blood perfusion at the target area which exceeds a predetermine threshold. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined condition is a condition that corresponds to the presence of a pulsatile component of blood flow at the target area. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising producing an output which represents a pressure exerted on the target area by the sensor module when the second parameter satisfies the predetermined condition.