Abstract:
A system for monitoring the health of an individual by providing biometric sensors attached to or inside the skin of a patient, along with a transmitter connected to the sensors for transmitting data from the sensors to a central monitoring station via a receiver located near the sensors. The sensor system is connected to an RFID tag, which communicates with an RFID reader in a remote location. The RFID tag transmits data from the sensors to the reader through the antenna, and the data is then analyzed by a microprocessor and an alert is communicated to a central monitoring station if the data from the sensors exceeds a preset threshold limit.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/826,364, filed on Aug. 14, 2015, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/087,036 filed Dec. 3, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a biometric sensor system that utilizes biosensors that are inserted into the skin of a patient. In particular the invention relates to a biometric sensor device can sense a wearer&#39;s health status and communicate the status to a central monitoring station. 
         [0004]    2. The Prior Art 
         [0005]    It is known to attach a sensor to a patient to monitor the patient&#39;s health and communicate the data collected by the monitor to a central station. U.S. Pat. No. 8,823,512 to Spector describes a patient monitoring system where the biometric sensor communicates with a receiver which transmits the information along with an alarm code to a central monitoring center. The receiver is often the user&#39;s cell phone, which communicates with a sensor worn by the user. While this is a convenient way to monitor the health of a person, it would be useful if the sensor was attached to the patient so that it cannot be removed. In addition, it would be useful if the device was programmable via external communications so that the device can change the physiological characteristics that are being measured by directing different sensors to be activated. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention provides a system for monitoring the health of an individual by providing biometric sensors attached to or inside the skin of a patient, along with a transmitter connected to the sensors for transmitting data from the sensors to a central monitoring station via a receiver located near the sensors. 
         [0007]    The sensor system is connected to an RFID tag, which communicates with an RFID reader in a remote location. The RFID tag is a transmitter comprised of a microchip connected to an antenna, that is interrogated by the reader or transmits directly to the reader when in range of the tag. The RFID tag has an independent power source to transmit data from the sensors to the RFID reader. The RFID tag transmits data from the sensors to the reader through the antenna, and the data is then analyzed and communicated to a central monitoring station. Alternatively, other types of transmitters and receivers could be used with the sensor system according to the invention. 
         [0008]    The RFID reader is typically disposed in a portable monitoring unit such as a smartphone that has a microprocessor and data storage capability. The microprocessor receives data from the sensors and compares the data to stored reference data. If the received data exceeds a predetermined threshold of the reference data, the microprocessor then communicates an alarm status to the central monitoring station, via a transmitter using cellular data, Wifi or any other suitable means. The smartphone itself can also issue a visual or audible alarm. One or more central monitoring stations can be programmed to receive signals from the transmitter, and the microprocessor is programmed to cause the transmitter in the smartphone continuously transmit the emergency alert signal until it is picked up by one of the monitoring stations. The monitoring stations can be a server of a health care system, a mobile phone of a relative or friend, or any suitable computer having the capability of receiving a remote signal. The monitoring stations each have a receiver, a processor and a display. 
         [0009]    Along with the alert, the mobile monitoring unit sends the sensor data to the monitoring stations, so that healthcare professionals can see the patient&#39;s status at the stations. The sensor data is not sent until an alert level has been reached, so that the monitoring stations are not bombarded with excess data from various sources during non-alert periods. The alert and sensor data are displayed on a display connected to the receiver and processor of the monitoring station. The alert could also be communicated audibly. The processor at the monitoring station is configured to encrypt data received from the transmitter and store the data in a database connected to the processor for future use. The alert is sent continuously from the smartphone to the monitoring station until the alert is acknowledges by the monitoring station. 
         [0010]    Once the alert is sent, the monitoring station activates the camera on the mobile telephone to allow visualization of the patient and communication between the patient and the monitoring station. Software in the monitoring station is programmed to transmit audible commands and questions to the patient based on the alert received. 
         [0011]    The microprocessor connected to the RFID reader can be programmed to receive data from all sensors simultaneously, or can turn on or off different sensors at different times. The sensors can be any type of sensor, including blood glucose, heart rate, blood pressure, eeg, GPS or any other type of sensor. 
         [0012]    The sensor system can be in the form of a tattoo-like device that is applied to the user&#39;s skin within the epidermis, so that the sensors can sense the desired biological functions. The tattoo can be configured of graphene or any other suitable material. The sensor module is not implanted underneath the skin, but within the layers of the epidermis. Some of the sensors can penetrate below the epidermis if necessary to obtain the required data. 
         [0013]    The microprocessor can also be programmed to trigger an alert if the RFID reader goes out of range of the RFID tag, or if the sensor component of the system is removed from the patient. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
           [0015]    In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a diagram of a patient and the monitoring system according to the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the layers of an epidermis with the sensor component embedded therein; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of the system according to the invention in use; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a flow diagram of the monitoring steps according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    Referring now in detail to the drawings and, in particular,  FIG. 1  shows a diagram of the system according to the invention. Sensor module  10  comprises an RFID tag  12  connected to a plurality of sensors  11  disposed on a substrate  14 . Each of sensors  11  senses a different biological function, such as blood sugar, blood pressure, respiration rate, or any other biological function that is desired to be monitored. One of sensors  11  could also be a GPS sensor, which can determine the wearer&#39;s location at any time. A power source  13 , which can be a battery, a temperature gradient power source or any other suitable power source, is connected to RFID tag  12  and allows tag  12  to transmit data directly to an RFID reader  25  disposed in a portable monitoring unit  20  located in a nearby location. Reader  25  is connected to a microprocessor  23 , a power source  24  and a data storage  22 . Data storage  22  stores data regarding the various biological functions that are being monitored, and stores a threshold level for each function. Data from sensors  11  is transmitted via RFID tag  12  to RFID reader  25 . This data is then compared via microprocessor  23  with the threshold data stored in data storage  22 , and if the sensed data exceeds the threshold, an alarm is transmitted via transmitter  21  to a remote receiver  31  in a central monitoring station  30 . The alarm is then displayed on display  32 . A display could also be connected to microprocessor  23  so that the alarm is directly displayed there too. The alarm could also be an audible alarm emanating directly from microprocessor  23  or via receiver  31 . Transmitter  21  transmits via any suitable means, such as by Wifi, cellular transmission or any other suitable method for transmitting data over large distances. Portable monitoring unit  20  can be embodied as a mobile telephone or as any other small, portable unit that can be kept near the patient at all times. 
         [0021]    Once central monitoring station  30  notes an alarm status, a signal is sent from central monitoring station  30  to portable monitoring unit  20 , to turn on camera  28  in portable monitoring unit  20 . Camera  28  then transmits images of the patient back to central monitoring station  30  via transmitter  21 . Software at central monitoring station  30  analyzes the sensor data and sends audible questions and instructions to portable monitoring unit  20 , which are broadcast to the patient through a speaker. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows sensor module  10  implanted within layers of a patient&#39;s epidermis  40 . Sensors  11  extend through substrate  14  so that various biological functions can be sensed. Unlike traditional implants, sensor module  10  is not implanted deep within the body, but instead rests within the layers of the epidermis, so that it can be inserted and removed without large effort. To insert sensor module  10 , a large needle can be used to inject the module within the layers of the epidermis. The module could be held in the needle in a rolled-up state and then unrolled after injection so that it rests flat in its place within the layers of the skin. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows the system according to the invention in use on a patient  50 . Sensor module  10  is implanted within the layers of the epidermis of patient  50 . Sensor module  10  communicates with portable monitoring unit  20 , which is the form of a mobile telephone. Portable monitoring unit  20  is kept within a short range of sensor module  10  so that data from sensor module  10  can be communicated via RF to monitoring unit  20 . If monitoring unit  20  goes out of range of sensor module  10 , monitoring unit  20  sends an alert signal to central monitoring station  30 , which comprises a remote computer where the status of sensor module  10  and the patient can be monitored. Alerts from portable monitoring unit  20  are communicated to central monitoring station  30  via Wifi, cellular data or any other suitable wireless communication means. The alerts could also be communicated to several stations at the same time, or to a server that maintains a website that can be accessed by any number of monitoring stations at once. Once an alert status is indicated, the central monitoring station turns on the camera in portable monitoring unit  20 , so that images of the patient are transmitted back to central monitoring station  30 . In addition, audible commands and questions are transmitted to the patient via a speaker and microphone in portable monitoring unit  20 . These commands and questions are automatically generated by software at central monitoring station  30 , so that human intervention at central monitoring station  30  is not required. The patient can then transmit answers to the questions back to central monitoring station  30  by speaking into the microphone  29 . These answers are then transmitted by transmitter  21  back to central monitoring station  30 , where they are then recorded in a database. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows a block diagram of the method steps according to the invention. In the method, with reference to the elements shown in  FIGS. 1-3  as well, a plurality of biosensors  11 , an RFID tag  12  connected to the biosensors  11 , and a power source  24  for providing power to the RFID tag to transmit data from the sensors are all supplied on a substrate in step  100 . In step  200 , a portable monitor containing an RFID reader  25  for receiving signals from the RFID tag, a microprocessor  23 , a power source  24  and a data storage device  22  containing reference data regarding biological functions sensed by the sensors  11  is supplied. Step  300  comprises implanting the substrate  14  within layers of the epidermis  40  of a patient so that the biometric sensors  11  sense physiological conditions of the patient. Step  400  comprises transmitting by the RFID tag  12  data regarding biological functions sensed by the sensor  11  to the RFID reader  25 . Step  500  comprises analyzing the data with the microprocessor  23  to compare the received data with the reference data, and step  600  includes transmitting an alert by the transmitter  21  whenever a threshold level of each sensor  11  is exceeded. Step  700  comprises receiving the alert with a receiver  31 , the receiver being located remote from the transmitter  21  and step  800  includes displaying or broadcasting the alert using audio or visual equipment such as a display  32 . In step  900 , the remote monitoring station  300 , upon receiving an alert, sends a signal to the portable monitoring unit  20  to turn on camera  28  to capture images of the patient, either by video or still photos. Central monitoring station  30  also sends out audio signals to portable monitoring unit  20  with instructions and questions for the patient. Answers to these questions are then transmitted by the patient through microphone  29  back to central monitoring station  30  for storage in a database and further action. The instructions and questions are formulated by software at central monitoring station and transmitted automatically based on the type of alert that is received there. Once the answers and photographic data are received, personnel at the central monitoring station  30  can then decide how to proceed. 
         [0025]    Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.