Abstract:
A system is provided which will allow a medical professional to perform electrophysiological testing in a variety of locations without the inconvenience or risk involved with transporting expensive, bulky devices. This system allows the medical professional to perform a multitude of electrophysiological tests with one small, portable, affordable device, and also allow the results to be viewed remotely, if desired. The accompanying connectors, such as wiring, are adapted for use with such a device in an easy and efficient manner. This system also allows for the results of the electrophysiological tests available to medical professionals in a multitude of locations and in real time.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/668,792, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This disclosure is directed to medical testing and, more particularly, to a device that facilitates the performance of one or more electrophysiological tests. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A multitude of electrophysiological tests are currently available for medical professionals to perform on subjects in order to analyze the electrical processes of the body, including, but not limited to, electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies (NCS), evoked potentials (EP), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), Holter monitoring, and electrocardiography (ECG/EKG). Such electrophysiological tests are currently performed via a multitude of expensive, bulky, limited mobility devices. This limited mobility hinders the medical professional&#39;s ability to perform such electrophysiological tests in a multitude of locations and on a variety of subjects, including, but not limited to, non-ambulatory subjects. Medical professionals must either own or otherwise have access to a variety of testing devices, all of which must be maintained. In addition, there are a variety of tests which could provide more comprehensive results if performed over a length of time or at a location that is infeasible for the medical professional to accommodate due to limited availability of exam room space or the physical presence of the medical professional. For example, a subject who may be experiencing intermittent heart palpitations may not manifest said palpitations during a standard test performed in the office of a medical professional, and a lengthy, portable, recorded test would offer higher testing yield. 
         [0004]    A system must be provided which will allow a medical professional to perform electrophysiological testing in a variety of locations without the inconvenience or risk involved with transporting expensive, bulky devices. This system should allow the medical professional to perform a multitude of electrophysiological tests with one small, portable, affordable device, and also allow the results to be viewed remotely, if desired. The accompanying connectors, such as wiring, would also be adapted for use with such a device in an easy and efficient manner. This system should also make the results of the electrophysiological tests available to medical professionals in a multitude of locations and in real time. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    One aspect of the disclosure pertains to an apparatus, comprising a body including a base and a lid having an open condition and a closed condition relative to the base, and a display for holding the lid in the open condition relative to the base. The display (such as a tablet computer) may be connected to the lid, and may be releasably attached to the base. The lid may include a recess for receiving the display, and the base may include a retainer for mating with a portion of the display. The display may further include a removable sleeve including the portion for mating with the retainer. The apparatus may further include a closure for securing the lid to the base in the closed condition. 
         [0006]    The apparatus may be adapted for use in connection with medical testing and, in particular, performing a physiological test. In such case, the base may include a connector for connecting with at least one of a plurality of electrophysiological wires. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the disclosure relates to an apparatus for use in performing an electrophysiological test. The apparatus comprises a bundle comprising a plurality of wires adapted for use in performing the physiological test, said plurality of wires being removably attached to each other, such as by an adhesive. The apparatus may further include a retainer for retaining the wires in the bundle, which may take the form of a ring adapted to move along the bundle in a longitudinal direction. The apparatus may further include a plug at one end of the bundle for interconnecting the plurality of wires. 
         [0008]    A further aspect of the disclosure pertains to an apparatus for use in performing an electrophysiological test. The apparatus comprises an electrode including a recess. A substance is removably positioned in the recess. A removable cover is provided for covering the conductive substance in the recess. A wire may be provided for connecting to the electrode, which wire may comprise a first portion detachably connected to a second portion including the electrode. The first portion may include a connector for connecting with a device for receiving output signals from the wire in the course of the electrophysiological test. 
         [0009]    A further aspect of the disclosure relates to an electrophysiological testing wire comprising a first segment removably attached to a second segment including an electrode. A connector may be provided for removably connecting the first and second segments. Preferably, the second segment is for single-use only. 
         [0010]    Still a further aspect of the disclosure, a method for performing a medical test comprises performing the medical test at a patient location, displaying the results of the test at the patient location, and transmitting the results of the test to a remote location. The displaying and transmitting steps occur simultaneously. The transmitting step may comprise providing an input to a display device for performing the displaying step. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a device forming one aspect of the disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a partially cutaway, expanded front view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a partially cutaway front view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a possible environment of use of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a device forming a further aspect of the disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is an end view of the device of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a view of a device forming a further aspect of this disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 11 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a schematic view of a device forming a further aspect of this disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]      FIGS. 1-5  illustrate one embodiment of a portable device  10  that may be used in performing medical testing, such as is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/038,940, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0024]    In the illustrated embodiment, the device  10  comprises a case  12  including a base  14  connected to a lid  16 . The connection between the base  14  and lid  16  may allow the lid  16  to move relative to the base  14  between an open condition, as shown, and a closed condition (for which a closure may be provided). This may be accomplished, for example, by using a hinged connection of any known type, but is it also possible to make the connection such that the lid  16  simply detaches from the base  14 . 
         [0025]    In the open condition, a display  18  that is normally retained within the case  12  when closed may be used to retain the lid  16  in the open condition. Specifically, the display  18 , which may comprise a tablet computer (such as for example an IPAD device), may be hingedly connected to the case  12 , such as along the lid  16 . Consequently, the display  18  may thus pivot from a recessed condition in the case  12  (and, in particular, from a recess R formed in the lid  16 ) to a position for holding the lid  16  in the open condition, with the display  18  remaining viewable to a user (that is, the display  18  faces opposite the lid  16  and the base  14 ). 
         [0026]    The free end  18   a  of the display  18  may be arranged to engage the base  14  in order to assume the position desired for holding the lid  16  in the open condition. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a projection  22  may be provided on the display  18  for engaging a retainer, such as a slot  24 , on the base  14 . The projection  22  may be arranged to snap-fit in this slot  24  in order to ensure that a secure, but removable, connection is established. To facilitate adding the projection  22  to the display  18 , it may be associated with a sleeve  18   a  for receiving the display  18 , which sleeve may also form the connection with the lid  16  of the case  12 . 
         [0027]    Turning back to  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the device  10  may be adapted to connect with one or more wires used for performing a medical test, which may include a connector  30  (which may be secured to the lid  16 , base  14 , or both). The output signals from these wires may be delivered through circuitry in the device  10 , such as in the base  14  or lid  16 , and may be processed for display on display  18  (either by direct connection via wires, or wirelessly). With reference to  FIG. 6 , the device may also include an indicator, such as one or more lights  26 , which serves to indicate that a signal is being received through the wires via the connection to the device  10 . In the illustrated example, a first light is shown as being green in color to indicate the receipt of the signals, and lights that are different colors (yellow, red, etc.) to indicate that the connection is not established (such as if a connector associated with a wire is not present) or the connection is established, but has been interrupted (such as by a lack of a physical connection to the subject undergoing to medical testing). 
         [0028]    Turning to  FIG. 1 , it can be understood that the display  18  may serve to display one or more aspects of the medical test being performed, such as in a graphical format. The device will normally be present at the site of the testing and connected directly to the subject, but it should be appreciated that a professional for observing and interpreting the signals being displayed may be located at a remote location. To facilitate the review by this person, the signals may be transmitted remotely to the location of the professional, such as by wireless transmission. 
         [0029]    In one particular embodiment, and with reference to  FIG. 7 , the transmission is achieved by uploading the data representative of the signals to a network  50 , such as the Internet, and then transmitting the signals to the remote location. It is also possible to upload the signals to a virtual location, such as a “cloud”  60 , in order to be accessed by the professional on a device  70  at a remote location, either in real time or after the testing is completed. The transmission of the signals may be effected by the use of a controller associated with the device  10 , which may be activated using the display  18  (which may have a touch screen input). The connection may also allow for communication between the patient location and the remote location, such as by audio or visual means. 
         [0030]    Another aspect of this disclosure pertains to particular arrangements of connections for use in performing testing, whether with the device  10  or otherwise. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the connector  100  may comprise a bundle  102  including a plurality of wires  102   a  . . .  102   n  for transmitting signals from one end, such as from an electrode or pad connected to the body, to another end, such as a jack for connecting to an apparatus for processing the signals, such as device  10 . As can be appreciated, when multiple wires are present, they can quickly become tangled and unwieldy, which leads to increased time and effort to perform the test. 
         [0031]    To help prevent this, and with reference to  FIG. 9 , at least two of the individual wires, such as wires  102   a,    102   b  may be initially connected using an adhesive A or other form of releasable connection (such as by forming a frangible bond between two or more of the individual wires that may be separated prior to use; spacing in  FIG. 9  is exaggerated to illustrate the bond formation). The connection may be established between each individual wire and all adjacent wires that contact it (which may be one or more wires), and may extend in the longitudinal direction along a majority of the wires (but may be continuous or intermittent). The individual wires  102   a  . . .  102   n  may then be peeled apart from the bundle  102  prior to or during use, such as in the course of performing a medical test involving the wires. The adhesive should be sufficiently tacky to hold the wires together when proximate each other, but releasable with the application of a relatively light manual pulling force. The adhesive may also be capable of repeated use in terms of bonding the adjacent wires  102   a  . . .  102   n  together. 
         [0032]    The wire bundle  102  may also be associated with a retainer. The retainer may take the form of a flexible ring or band  104 . This band  104  may be moved along the wires  102   a  . . .  102   n  of the bundle, such as by sliding, rolling, or a combination of the two. This may be done to bring the wires together up to a point along their longitudinal axis, and help reform the bundled condition (including when the testing operation is complete). Another form of retainer may also be provided in the nature of a plug  106  for associating the wires with a particular connector on a testing apparatus, such as device  10 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , another aspect of the invention relates to the electrodes  200  used in connection with the wires  202  for performing certain tests and, in particular, those that require the use of a viscous liquid substance (typically collodion in gel or paste form) in order to help form an electrical connection with the particular portion of the body involved in the testing. Usually, this substance is applied to the body and then the electrodes (which as shown may be disc-shaped) connected to it, which is a relatively messy and involved undertaking. 
         [0034]    To avoid this, and with reference to  FIG. 11 , the substance may be pre-disposed in the electrode  200  prior to use, such as within a cavity  200   a.  The cavity  200   a  including the substance S may also be covered by a removable cover  204 , such as a thin flexible substrate, that helps retain the substance in place prior to use. The cover  204  may be attached to the electrode  200 , such as by an adhesive. 
         [0035]    When use of the electrode  200  is desired, the cover  204  may simply be removed, and the electrode placed at the desired location for performing the test. As should be appreciated, this greatly enhances the efficiency of the process, including by eliminating the need to provide a separate source of the substance, and reducing the clean-up time once the testing is completed. The electrodes  200  may also be recycled for use, such as by being sterilized, refilled, and recovered. 
         [0036]    Additionally or alternatively, each wire  202  may be segmented, as shown in  FIG. 12 , such that the electrode  200  and the associated lead  202   a  may be removed from a corresponding segment  202   b  of the complete wire (including the connector for connecting to a device for receiving and interpreting the output signals, such as device  10 ). The electrode  200  and lead  202   a  may then be disposed of after a single use and replaced with a new one, or else cleaned and reused. The connection may be made by any suitable arrangement (such as a male plug and a female receptacle) that is capable of transmitting the signals during the performance of the electrophysiological test. 
         [0037]    The foregoing descriptions of several embodiments made according to the disclosure of certain inventive principles herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. The embodiments described are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed and, in fact, any combination of the components of the disclosed embodiments is contemplated. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments described were chosen to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which it is fairly, legally, and equitably entitled. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 8,255,238 is incorporated herein by reference.