Biomedical apparatus

A biomedical apparatus for monitoring and evaluating pressure at any interface between two abutting surfaces, comprising:

• a sensor pad including at least one sensor that is adapted to be disposed between the two surfaces to measure pressures exerted on one surface by the other surface, and generate data representative of measured pressures;
• said pad having a sensor end and a connection end
• at least one transducer, said at least one transducer being in communication with each sensor for generating output signals representative of pressures measured by the sensor;
• data processing circuitry electrically connected to said at least one transducer for processing output signals generated by the transducer and generating pressure data based upon pressures measured by the sensor;
• a display electrically connected to the data processing circuitry for visually displaying information representative of pressure data generated by the data processing circuitry;
• a hand-held housing removably attached to said sensor pad at the connection end thereof, said hand-held housing containing said at least one transducer, said data processing circuitry and said display;
• tubing extending between the sensor pad and the housing for connecting each sensor to one transducer and being operatively connected to the sensor pad along the connection end thereof;
• and
• a power source disposed inside said housing for supplying power to said apparatus.

A portable biomedical apparatus for monitoring and evaluating pressures exerted on an individual by a surface against which at least a portion of the individual's body rests, comprising:

• one or more sensor pads with each sensor pad having at least three pressure sensors, and being adapted to be disposed between he individual's body and the surface to measure pressures exerted on the individual's body by the surface, and generating data representative of measured pressures;
• a plurality of transducers in communication with said sensors for generating output signals representative of pressures measured by the sensors;
• electronic circuitry electrically connected to said transducers including a microprocessor operatively connected to said transducers for performing a plurality of functions on the output signals generated by the one or more sensor pads;
• a hand-held housing in which said transducers and said electronic circuitry are disposed;
• a display assembly electrically connected to said microprocessor for displaying pressure information based upon output data generated by said microprocessor, said display being visible on said housing;
• tubing extending between the sensor pad and the housing for connecting the sensors to the transducers;
• a power switch mounted on said housing and electrically connected to said electronic circuitry for selectively turning said apparatus off and on by interrupting the supply of power from a power supply to the electronic circuitry;
• a power source disposed inside said housing for supplying power to the electronic circuitry, said microprocessor executing a self-calibration function when the power switch is pressed for a predetermined time interval to calibrate the sensor properly prior to measuring pressures exerted by the surface on the individual's body.

A biomedical apparatus for monitoring and evaluating pressure at any interface between two abutting surfaces, comprising:

• one or more sensor pads with each sensor pad including one or more hydraulic pressure sensors and a hydraulic reference sensor, each sensor pad being adapted to be disposed between the two surfaces to measure pressures exerted on one surface by the other surface, and generate data representative of measured pressures;
• at least two transducers with one transducer being in communication with each pressure sensor and the reference sensor for generating output signals representative of pressures measured by the sensors;
• data processing circuitry electrically connected to said transducers for processing output signals generated by the transducers and generating pressure data based upon pressures measured by the sensors;
• a display assembly electrically connected to the data processing circuitry for visually displaying representative of pressure data generated by the data processing circuitry;
• a hand-held housing in which said transducers and data processing circuitry are disposed, and on which said display is disposed;
• a power source disposed inside said housing for supplying power to said apparatus;
• and
• at least two fluid filled tubes extending between the sensor pad and the housing for connecting each sensor to one transducer, said reference sensor measuring hydrostatic forces that may exist in the fluids contained inside its tube, said transducer connected to said reference sensor generating output signals representative of hydrostatic forces measured by said reference sensor that are processed by said data processing circuitry, said data processing circuitry generating pressure data that is adjusted to compensate for hydrostatic forces.

A biomedical apparatus for monitoring and evaluating physical properties associated with a biologic system, comprising:

• a main module including a housing having a cavity formed therein, data processing circuitry disposed in the cavity of the main module housing, and a display assembly electrically connected to said data processing circuitry;
• a sensor module removably secured to said main module including a housing having a cavity formed therein, at least one transducer disposed in the sensor module housing, and a memory device disposed in the sensor module housing, said transducer being electrically connected to said data processing circuitry when said sensor module is secured to said main module;
• and
• at least one sensor for measuring physical variables associated with the biologic system and generating data representative of measured variables, said sensor being in communication with said transducer,
• whereby said transducer generates output signals representative of physical variables measured by the sensor, said data processing circuitry processes output signals generated by the transducer and generates data based upon based upon physical properties measured by the sensor, and said display assembly displaying information based upon data generated by said data processing means.

A biomedical apparatus for monitoring and evaluating pressure at an interface between two surfaces, comprising:

• at least one sensor adapted to be disposed between the two surfaces to measure pressures exerted on one surface by the other surface, and generate data representative of measure pressures;
• a hand-held housing having a sensor module removably mounted to it, said sensor module including at least one transducer in communication with said sensor for generating output signals representative of pressures measured by the sensor;
• and
• a main module in said housing, said main module being removably secured to said sensor module, said main module including data processing circuitry electrically connected to said transducer for processing output signals generated by the transducer and generating data based upon pressures measure by the sensor, and a display electrically connected to said data processing circuitry for visually displaying information representative of pressure data generated by the data processing circuitry.

A method for evaluating pressure exerted on a first surface by a second surface comprising the steps of:

• measuring pressures exerted on the first surface by the second surface at two or more different locations;
• comparing pressures measured at the different locations to determine a maximum measured pressure;
• comparing pressures measured at the different locations to determine an average measured pressure;
• and
• determining a pressure index based upon the difference between the maximum measured pressure and the average measured pressure.

A method of detecting likely development of body sores on a patient comprising:

• positioning a plurality of sensors at locations likely to develop body sores at an interface between two surfaces;
• generating data from the sensors;
• correlating the data generated;
• and
• determining a patient movement strategy based on the correlated data;
• wherein said sensors measure one or more physical variables selected from the group comprising:
• pressure, temperature, partial pressure oxygen, carbon dioxide, humidity, friction, force, displacement, radiant energy and blood flow.