Bandage including data acquisition components

An eye patch for use in occlusion therapy, the eye patch comprising:

• a pad;
• a microcontroller contained within the pad, the microcontroller having a memory capable of storing information;
• means for attaching the eye patch to an eye area of a patient;
• and
• a sensor coupled to the microcontroller, the sensor providing a signal to the microcontroller, the signal from the sensor indicating whether the eye patch is attached to the patient, wherein the microcontroller records information related to the signal from the sensor in the memory.

An eye patch for use in occlusion therapy, the eye patch comprising:

• a pad;
• a programmable microcontroller contained within the pad, the microcontroller having a memory capable of storing information;
• means for attaching the pad to a patient over an eye area of the patient;
• a power supply connected to the microcontroller and contained within the pad;
• a sensor coupled to the microcontroller, the sensor generating a first signal when the eye patch is in contact with the patient, and a second signal when the eye patch is out of contact with the patient;
• a data transfer port formed in the pad, the data transfer port allowing for an external connection to the microcontroller such that information can be transferred into and out of the microcontroller through the data transfer port;
• and
• a timer contained within the pad and coupled to the microcontroller, the timer generating a time-dependent signal, wherein the microcontroller records the time at which the signal from the sensor switches between the first signal and the second signal, such that the microcontroller records when the eye patch is in contact with the patient relative to the time signal generated by the timer.

A method of monitoring a patient wearing a bandage, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a microcontroller within the bandage;
• securing the bandage to the patient at a desired location;
• attaching a sensor to the microcontroller;
• positioning the sensor such that the sensor generates a signal based on the status of the patient and the bandage;
• monitoring the signal generated by the sensor;
• and
• recording in memory in the microcontroller information desired from the signal generated by the sensor.

A method of determining patient compliance in wearing an eye patch, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a microcontroller within the eye patch;
• securing the eye patch to the patient at the desired location;
• attaching a sensor to the microcontroller;
• positioning the sensor between the bandage and the patient such that the sensor generates a first signal when the bandage is in contact with the patient and generates a second signal when the bandage is not in contact with the patient;
• monitoring the signal generated by the sensor;
• determining when the signal from the sensor changes between the first signal and the second signal;
• and
• recording in a memory in the microcontroller the time at which the signal from the sensor changes.