US 2022/0101992 A1 · SENSOR PATCH AND RELATED SMART DEVICE, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS

Abstract

In an embodiment, an apparatus, such as a sensor package, includes a sensor, an antenna, and a power circuit. The package is configured for attachment to an object or a subject, for example a patient in need of clinical monitoring. The sensor package is configured to sense a condition or conditions related to the object or subject, and configured to generate a sense signal according to the sensed condition. The sensor patch may include a dual power source and means for switching between power sources, such as NFC and battery. The sensor patch may also include dual radios. As practiced, an NFC radio can be supplemented with a Bluetooth or other LAN radio for data logging. Systems for monitoring sensor patches may include methods for monitoring or tracking location of the patches. In one instance, patches worn by patients are used to triage patients and remotely monitor one or more clinical signs and radio proximity; the system notifies caregivers in real time if the clinical data is indicative of a worsening condition and guides the caregivers to the patient by the shortest possible path, even in a busy facility such as an emergency room.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method for patient triage using a dual-radio/dual-power radiotag with sensor package applied to a patient, which comprises:

(a) attaching the radiotag to the patient, the radiotag having a tracking signal;
(b) associating the radiotag with a network,
(c) reading sensor data from the radiotag;
and,
(d) dispatching a caregiver to the location of the tracking signal in response to sensor data indicative of a clinical condition that requires an intervention.

2 more elements

A system for wireless patient triage, which comprises:

(a) a sensor patch formed of a flexible substrate having an adhesive side and a device side, the adhesive side for adherence to the skin of a patient, the device side including a processor, an NFC radio and antenna, a Bluetooth radio and antenna, a battery, a switching regulator configured to supply power to the device from the battery or from an external NFC radio field if the battery is inactive or depleted, and a sensor or sensors configured to measure a clinical condition or conditions when adhered to a patient, wherein the sensor patch is configured:
(i) to transmit sensor data indicative of the clinical condition or conditions on the NFC radio if the switching regulator selects the NFC radio as a power source;
(ii) to transmit the sensor data and a tracking signal on the Bluetooth radio if the switching regulator selects the battery as a power source;
(b) a local area network receiver (“hub”) configured to receive a Bluetooth radio transmission that includes the sensor data and the tracking signal from the sensor patch and to output a location data of the device in real time from the tracking signal;
and,
(c) an administrative host configured to monitor the location and the sensor data, to dispatch a caregiver to the location in response to sensor data indicative of a clinical condition that requires an intervention, and to maintain an administrative database for logging patient data, sensor data, and location data.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sensor patch and related smart device, systems, and methods

Life of this patent

Sensor patch and related smart device, systems, and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25