Wireless patient monitoring apparatus using inductive coupling
AssigneeSpaceLabs Medical, Inc.
InventorsDonald Malinouskas, George Hojaiban
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wireless patient monitoring apparatus uses low frequency inductive coupling to couple signals from a transducer to monitoring and analysis instrumentation. Signals indicative of physiological functions are modulated onto a low frequency carrier and output from a self-contained portable transducer assembly via a transducer coil. A corresponding receiver coil receives the signals by electromagnetic induction. The received signals are demodulated and processed by instrumentation coupled to the receiver coil. A mattress pad containing the receiver coil is also disclosed. In a fetal monitor implementation, both wireless ultrasound and tocodynamometer transducers are provided.
Claims27
Wireless patient monitoring apparatus comprising:
- a transducer configured to detect a physiological function and to provide an output signal indicative of the physiological function;
- a modulator configured to modulate a carrier having a frequency at or below 10 kHz by the output signal;
- a transducer coil associated with said modulator for coupling the modulated carrier to a corresponding receiver coil by electromagnetic induction;
- and
- a monitoring circuit coupled to receive the modulated carrier from the receiver coil;
- wherein said transducer is designed for placement adjacent to a region of a patient to be monitored and provides the output signal to said monitoring circuit when the patient is in proximity to the receiver coil.
A method for monitoring on a patient, comprising:
- detecting a physiological function of a patient;
- generating an output signal indicative of the physiological function;
- radiating the output signal via a magnetic field oscillating at a frequency at or below 10 kHz;
- detecting the magnetic field indicative of the physiological function;
- and
- recovering the output signal from the magnetic field to monitor the physiological function.
An inductive patient monitoring device, comprising:
- means for detecting a physiological function;
- means for providing an output signal indicative of the physiological function;
- means for radiating the output signal via a magnetic field oscillating at a frequency at or below 10 kHz;
- means for receiving the output signal via the magnetic field;
- and
- means for recovering the output signal from the magnetic field to monitor the physiological function.
A monitoring apparatus adapted to monitor a physiological function of a patient positioned on a bed, the apparatus comprising;
- a mattress pad positioned on a mattress, the mattress pad having a receiver loop;
- a transducer configured to detect a physiological function of a patient, the transducer being operable to provide an output signal indicative of the physiological function;
- a modulator coupled to the transducer and being configured to modulate a carrier having a frequency at or below 10 kHz by the output signal;
- a transducer coil coupled to the modulator configured to radiate the modulated carrier by a magnetic field, the transducer coil being positioned within the periphery of the receiver loop;
- and
- a monitoring circuit coupled to receive the modulated carrier from the receiver loop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.