Adherent device with multiple physiological sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-RE46926-E
Application number	US-201615247458-A
Country	US
Kind code	E1
Filing date	Aug 25, 2016
Priority date	Sep 14, 2007
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

An adherent device to monitor a patient for an extended period comprises a breathable tape. The breathable tape comprises a porous material with an adhesive coating to adhere the breathable tape to a skin of the patient. At least one electrode is affixed to the breathable tape and capable of electrically coupling to a skin of the patient. A printed circuit board is connected to the breathable tape to support the printed circuit board with the breathable tape when the tape is adhered to the patient. Electronic components electrically are connected to the printed circuit board and coupled to the at least one electrode to measure physiologic signals of the patient. A breathable cover and/or an electronics housing is disposed over the circuit board and electronic components and connected to at least one of the electronics components, the printed circuit board or the breathable tape.

First claim

What claimed is:

1. An adherent device to monitor a patient for an extended period, the device comprising:
a first adherent patch comprising a breathable tape with an adhesive coating to adhere the breathable tape to a skin of the patient, the adherent patch also comprising a plurality of electrodes affixed to the breathable tape and capable of electrically coupling to the skin of the patient; and
an electronics module comprising electrocardiogram circuitry coupled to at least two of the plurality of electrodes and impedance circuitry coupled to at least two of the plurality of electrodes, the electronics module also comprising wireless communications circuitry coupled to the electrocardiogram circuitry and to the impedance circuitry to transmit to a remote server another device an electrocardiogram signal derived from an output of the electrocardiogram circuitry and a hydration signal derived from an output of the impedance circuitry;
wherein the electronics module is coupled to the breathable tape to support the electronics module when the tape is adhered to the patient;
and wherein the electronics module is separable from the adherent patch such that the electronics module can be reused with a second adherent patch to provide monitoring for an extended period;
wherein the adherent patch further comprises a respective gel disposed over a contact surface of each of the plurality of electrodes to electrically connect the respective electrode to the skin of the patient; and
wherein the adherent patch further comprises a gel cover positioned over the breathable tape to inhibit a flow of the gel through the breathable tape, and wherein the electronics module is located over the gel cover such that the gel cover is disposed between the breathable tape and the electronics module, wherein the gel cover is configured to inhibit transmission of liquid water and permit transmission of moisture vapor.

2. The adherent device of claim 1 , wherein the electronics module further comprises an accelerometer, and wherein the wireless communications circuitry is coupled to the accelerometer to transmit to the remote server other device an inclination signal derived from an output of the accelerometer.

3. The adherent device of claim 1 , wherein the adherent patch is disposable.

4. The adherent device of claim 1 , wherein the adherent patch further comprises a respective gel disposed over a contact surface of each of the plurality of electrodes to electrically connect the respective electrode to the skin of the patient.

5. The adherent device of claim 4 , wherein the adherent patch further comprises a gel cover positioned over the breathable tape to inhibit a flow of the gel through the breathable tape and wherein the electronics module is located over the gel cover such that the gel cover is disposed between the breathable tape and the electronics module.

6. The adherent device of claim 1 , further comprising a breathable cover disposed over the electronics module.

7. The adherent device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises at least four electrodes arranged linearly, the four electrodes comprising two end electrodes and two inner electrodes, and wherein the distance between the inner electrodes is larger than the distance between either end electrode and its adjacent inner electrode.

8. An adherent device to monitor a patient for an extended period, the device comprising:
a first adherent patch comprising a breathable tape with an adhesive coating to adhere the breathable tape to a skin of the patient, the adherent patch also comprising a plurality of electrodes affixed to the breathable tape and capable of electrically coupling to the skin of the patient; and
an electronics module comprising impedance circuitry coupled to at least two of the plurality of electrodes and electrocardiogram circuitry coupled to at least two of the plurality of electrodes, the electronics module also comprising wireless communications circuitry coupled to the impedance circuitry and to the electrocardiogram circuitry to transmit to a remote server another device a hydration signal derived from an output of the impedance circuitry and an electrocardiogram signal derived from an output of the electrocardiogram circuitry;
wherein the electronics module is coupled to the breathable tape to support the electronics module when the tape is adhered to the patient;
and wherein the electronics module is separable from the adherent patch such that the electronics module can be reused with a second adherent patch to provide monitoring for an extended period; and
wherein the electronics module is coupled to the plurality of electrodes using a flexible connection;
wherein the adherent patch further comprises a respective gel disposed over a contact surface of each of the plurality of electrodes to electrically connect the respective electrode to the skin of the patient; and
wherein the adherent patch further comprises a gel cover positioned over the breathable tape to inhibit a flow of the gel through the breathable tape, and wherein the electronics module is located over the gel cover such that the gel cover is disposed between the breathable tape and the electronics module, wherein the gel cover is configured to inhibit transmission of liquid water and permit transmission of moisture vapor.

9. The adherent device of claim 8 , wherein the electronics module further comprises an accelerometer, and wherein the wireless communications circuitry is coupled to the accelerometer to transmit to the remote server other device an inclination signal derived from an output of the accelerometer.

10. The adherent device of claim 8 , wherein the adherent patch is disposable.

11. The adherent device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises at least four electrodes arranged linearly, the four electrodes comprising two end electrodes and two inner electrodes, and wherein the distance between the inner electrodes is larger than the distance between either end electrode and its adjacent inner electrode.

12. A system for monitoring a patient, the system comprising:
an adherent device comprising an adherent patch and an electronics module; and
an intermediate device;
wherein the adherent patch comprises a breathable tape with an adhesive coating to adhere the breathable tape to a skin of the patient, and a plurality of electrodes affixed to the breathable tape and capable of electrically coupling to the skin of the patient;
wherein the electronics module is coupled to the breathable tape to support the electronics module when the tape is adhered to the patient;
wherein the electronics module is separable from the adherent patch such that the electronics module can be reused with a second adherent patch to provide monitoring for an extended period;
wherein the electronics module comprises electrocardiogram circuitry coupled to at least two of the plurality of electrodes and impedance circuitry coupled to at least two of the plurality of electrodes, and also comprises wireless communications circuitry coupled to the electrocardiogram circuitry and to the impedance circuitry to transmit to the intermediate device an electrocardiogram signal derived from an output of the electrocardiogram circuitry and a hydration signal derived from an output of the impedance circuitry;
wherein the adherent patch further comprises a respective gel disposed over a contact surface of each of the plurality of electrodes to electrically connect the respective electrode to the skin of the patient;
wherein the adherent patch further comprises a gel cover positioned over the breathable tape to inhibit a flow of the gel through

Assignees

• Medtronic Monitoring Inc

Inventors

• Bly Mark J
• Amurthur Badri
• James Kristofer J
• Libbus Imad
• Manicka Yatheendhar D
• Mazar Scott T
• Wang Jerry S

Classifications

• A61N1/046

  Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation · CPC title

• A61N1/36542

  controlled by body motion, e.g. acceleration · CPC title

• A61B5/0535

  Impedance plethysmography (for measuring blood flow A61B5/0295) · CPC title

• A61B5/021

  Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels · CPC title

• A61B5/1118

  Determining activity level · CPC title