Patent Publication Number: US-2005137464-A1

Title: Wireless sensor and sensor initialization device and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Wireless medial monitoring systems have been proposed in the prior art. One such system can include a sensor, controller, and transceiver electronics all contained within a wireless sensor patch. The wireless sensor patch monitors a predetermined function and transmits data to a receiver. The receiver sends the data to a computer or monitor for viewing.  
      The sensor within a wireless sensor patch can be either a temperature sensor, a heart rate sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a respiratory sensor, an electrocardiogram sensor, an electroencephalogram sensor, an electromyography sensor an electrooculogram sensor, or a polysomnography sensor. Thus each wireless sensor patch is only able to monitor a single function as defined by its sensor which is designed at the factory (i.e., a factory set function).  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      There is a need for a generic (multifunctional) wireless sensor which can be user programmable for a plurality of biological/physiological properties. In such a case, each sensor would have a unique identifier associated with a specific patient such that a receiving unit is able to determine which sensor is associated with which patient.  
      The present invention provides a sensor initialization device for such generic (multifunctional) wireless sensors and/or other sensors. The present invention includes (i) a panel with respective indicia for each of plural wireless sensor functions, such that there are a plurality of sensor function indicia, and (ii) for each sensor function indicia, a respective initialization circuit coupled thereto. Each initialization circuit is coupled to the corresponding sensor function indicia for electronic communication through the panel to a wireless sensor unit upon selection of the sensor function. The sensor functions can include body temperature, heart rate, audio (for auscultation, lung sounds, patient vocalizations, etc.), blood pressure, respiratory, electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, electromyography, electrooculogram, and polysomnography.  
      There is also provided by the present invention a generic biosensor having (i) a plurality of configurable sensors for sensing biological/physiological functions, (ii) a control unit for programming the biosensor to sense at least one biological/physiological function, and (iii) a transceiver for transmitting the at least one sensed biological/physiological function to a base unit and for receiving programming information from an initialization unit.  
      A method is provided for initializing a generic biosensor and includes activating the biosensor, programming the biosensor with patient identification information, determining at least one biological/physiological function to be sensed, programming the biosensor for the determined biological/physiological function using an indicia representing the determined biological/physiological function, determining a body location where the biological/physiological sensor is to be placed on the body, and programming the biosensor for the determined body location using an indicia representing the determined body location. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a patient&#39;s room using the sensor system of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a sensor initialization device of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2B  is a circuit diagram for a sensor type programmer of the device of  FIG. 2A .  
       FIG. 2C  is a circuit diagram for a sensor body location programmer of the device of  FIG. 2A .  
       FIG. 3A  shows an anterior outline of a human body as may be displayed on the panel of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A .  
       FIG. 3B  shows a posterior outline of the human body as may be displayed on the panel of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A .  
       FIG. 4  shows a sensor and a kit of sensors employed in one embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of the sensor of  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram for initializing sensors of  FIG. 4  using the initialization device of  FIG. 2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      A description of preferred embodiments of the invention follows.  
      The present invention addresses the need for multi-purpose wireless sensors that are generic across multiple functions (not factory set function wise) which can be programmed or otherwise initialized and activated at the point of use to a specific desired function(s). The same stock or inventory of multi-purpose wireless sensors thus allows monitoring of a plurality of biological/physiological properties. As mentioned above, the present invention accomplishes this by providing a sensor initialization device, a generic biosensor, and a method of initializing generic sensors. With regard to the sensor initialization device, a panel provides a plurality of sensor function indicia and corresponding initialization circuits for electronic communication through the panel. Further, the panel may have respective indicia for each of plural body placement locations, such that there are a plurality of body placement location indicia. For each body placement location indicia, there is a respective initialization circuit coupled to the body placement location indicia. Upon user selection of a body placement location indicia, the corresponding initialization circuit is electronically communicated through the panel to the wireless sensor unit. The body placement location indicia include at least one of a pictorial image of body parts and a pictorial outline of a human or other body with plural user selectable portions. The pictorial outline of the human or other body parts can be segmented into quadrants defining specific regions of the subject body and can include a detailed anterior and posterior outline of the human or other body. The sensor initialization device can also have anterior indicia and posterior indicia for selecting between a side of the human or other body.  
      The device can include patient identification indicia for programming the sensor with patient identification information. The patient identification indicia can be numerical indicia.  
      With respect to the invention generic biosensor, each configurable sensor can serve as a temperature sensor, a heart rate sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a respiratory sensor, an electrocardiogram sensor, an electroencephalogram sensor, an electromyography sensor, an electrooculogram sensor, and a polysomnography sensor.  
      The biosensor can further include unique sensor identification information. The sensor identification information can be a sensor serial number.  
      The control unit programs the biosensor with patient identification information. The patient identification information can be a patient&#39;s social security number, hospital identification number, or any other information which uniquely identifies the patient.  
      With respect to the invention method of initializing generic sensors, such as biosensors, programming the biosensor with patient identification information includes depressing the biosensor on patient identification indicia representing the patient identification information. The patient identification indicia are any combination of alphabetical, numeral, and other indicia.  
      Programming the biosensor for the determined biological/physiological function includes depressing the biosensor on biological/physiological function indicia representing the determined biological/physiological function. The biological/physiological function include body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory, electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, electromyography, electrooculogram, and polysomnography.  
      Programming the biosensor for the determined body location includes depressing the sensor on body location indicia representing the determined body location. Depressing the biosensor on a body location indicia further includes depressing the biosensor on multiple body location indicia until the biosensor is fully programmed with the determined body location. The body location indicia include at least one of a pictorial image of body parts and a pictorial outline of a human or other body with plural user selectable portions. The pictorial outline of the human or other body parts can be segmented into quadrants defining specific regions of the subject body and can include a detailed anterior outline of the human or other body and a detailed posterior outline of the human or other body.  
      Referring now to the Figs.,  FIG. 1  shows a sensor system  100  according to the principals of the present invention in use on a patient  110  in a hospital bed  120 . In general, a care provider, obtains a generic wireless sensor  140  from a supply (box)  130  of sensors. At this stage the sensor  140  has the ability to monitor any number and variety of functions (biological/physiological properties) and is not a specific/single function sensor as in the prior art. After deciding how he wants to use the sensor  140 , the care provider uses initialization unit  150  and initializes the generic wireless sensor  140  for a specific biological/physiological property to be sensed. The care provider than places the initialized sensor  140  on the patient&#39;s body  110 . The sensor  140  wirelessly transmits data  170  to a base unit  160  which collects information related to the biological/physiological property being sensed. The base unit  160  can be remotely accessed to retrieve the sensed information or the base unit can automatically forward the sensed information to a host computer (not shown). More than one sensor may be used depending upon the physiological property to be sensed.  
       FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of the initialization unit  150 . The initialization unit  150  includes a sensor function panel  210 , a body location panel  230 , and a power switch  202 . The sensor function panel  210  includes a plurality of sensor function indicia  220   a  . . .  220   n . Each indicia  220   a  . . .  220   n  represents a different type of sensor function. For example, the illustrated indicia “T”, “M”, “P”, “R”, and “A” represent temperature, motion, pulse (heart rate), respiration, and audio respectively. Although “T”, “M”, “P”, “R”, and “A” are shown on the panel  210  of the  FIG. 2  embodiment, numerous other types of biological/physiological functions are suitable, such as blood pressure, electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, electromyography, electrooculogram, and polysomnography. It should be understood that the principals of the present invention apply to any type of biological and physiological functions associated with the human or other body. Behind each sensor function indicia  220   a  . . .  220   n  is an associated respective initialization circuit which electronically communicates the sensor function to a wireless sensor  140  ( FIG. 1 ) through the sensor function panel  210 .  
       FIG. 2B  shows a sample of an initialization circuit for temperature sensory function corresponding to indicia “T”  220   a  on sensor function panel  210 . An actuator  221  and RF transmitter  222  are located under the panel  210  and in close proximity to indicia “T”  220   a . The actuator  221  and RF transmitter  222  are in electrical or optical communication with the sensor function programming sequence  223  associated with indicia “T”  220   a . In response to caregiver selection of indicia “T”  220   a  (e.g. touching of subject sensor  140  to indicia “T”), actuator  221  enables RF transmitter  222  to transmit programming sequence  223  through panel  210  to the wireless sensor  140 . Upon receipt of this transmission, wireless sensor  140  processes the received programming sequence  223  which results in initialization (enabling, etc.) of the sensor  140  according to the corresponding function (temperature sensing in this example) of user selected indicia “T”  220   a.    
      Actuator  221  may be pressure induced, heat activated, light sensitive, or of other activation technology. The caregiver may press sensor  140  against indicia of panel  210  to generate corresponding actuators  221 , or may otherwise depress desired function panel indicia (to operate corresponding actuators  221 ) and then hold sensor  140  poised over (near) the indicia for generation of the initialization circuit.  
      The activation and programming sequence for the sensor function may be, for example in the simple case of applying a thermometer to a patient&#39;s forehead. After an initial sequence to input patient ID, the caregiver simply depresses indicia  220   a , then  260   a  before applying to the patient. A more complex sensor application may be required to enable more than one function in the sensor such as may be done to monitor respiration as well as lung sounds by depressing “R”  220   d , then “A”  220   e  in sequence.  
      The body placement panel  230  includes a plurality of body placement indicia representing a different location on the human body. These indicia include but are not limited to a human body outline  240 , a head  260 , a hand  270 , and a foot  280 . The outline of the human body  240  can be divided into quadrants representing different areas and locations of the human body for a more precise measurement. For example, the body is divided into left and right regions represented by L and R respectively including head region  242 , arm regions  244 , upper torso region  246 , lower torso region  248 , upper leg regions  250 , and lower leg regions  252 . Although 12 quadrants are shown, it should be understood that the quadrant regions can vary depending upon the precision to be obtained. The body placement panel  230  also includes indicia for enabling user selection or specification of the anterior (front)  234  and posterior (back)  236  regions of the body. Upon such user selection, the body outline  240  may be replaced by a detailed representation of the human body&#39;s anterior and posterior regions  240   a ,  240   b  as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Behind each of the body placement indicia  240 ,  260 ,  270 , and  280  is an associated respective initialization circuit which electronically communicates the body placement location to a wireless sensor  140  ( FIG. 1 ) through the body placement panel  230 .  
       FIG. 2C  is an example initialization circuit for body placement of the forehead  260   a  for use with the temperature sensing function example of  FIG. 2B . A plurality of actuators  261   a  . . . .  261   n  and RF transmitters  262   a  . . .  262   n  are precisely located under and in close proximity with head indicia  260  representing the precise location the sensor  140  is to be placed on the patient&#39;s body, for example the forehead  260   a  for sensing temperature. The actuators  261   a  . . .  261   n  and RF transmitters  262   a  . . .  262   n  are in electrical or optical communication with the body location programming sequence  263  associated with head indicia  260 . In response to caregiver selection of (e.g. holding sensor  140  against) the forehead area  260   a  of head indicia  260  on body placement panel  230 , corresponding actuator  261  enables its RF transmitter  262  to transmit pertinent location programming sequence  263 . RF transmitter  262  transmits the forehead location programming sequence  263  (in this example) through panel  230  to the subject wireless sensor  140 . In response to this transmission, wireless sensor  140  (as previously programmed to sense temperature in  FIG. 2B ) processes the received forehead location programming sequence  263  which results in initialization (calibration, parameter setting, etc.) of now temperature sensor  140  for use on the patient&#39;s forehead. This is in accordance with the sequence of caregiver selections from sensor function panel  210  and body placement panel  230 .  
      Actuators  261  may be pressure induced, heat activated, light sensitive, or of other activation technology. Like in  FIG. 2B , the caregiver may press sensor  140  against the indicia of body placement panel  230  to generate corresponding actuators  261 , or may otherwise operate actuators  261  of desired body placement indicia and then hold sensor  140  near or adjacent to the indicia for operation of the corresponding initialization circuit.  
      The activation and programming sequence for the body placement location may be, for example the case of placing the sensor on the chest of a patient to monitor respiration. In this case, “R”  220   d  (on sensor function panel  210 ) is depressed by the caregiver, before both  246 L and  246 R on body placement panel  230  are depressed by the caregiver. Depressing “R”  220   d  may activate in this case the sensor&#39;s strain gauge function, and the two location indicia  246 L,  246 R would indicate that the sensor is to be programmed for use/placement across the chest of the patient. In another example, a patient with a badly sprained right leg may be monitored for motion by the caregiver pressing sensor  140  on function indicia “M”  220   b  and then subsequently depressing Anterior indicia  234  and holding sensor  140  against upper left leg indicia  250 L on body placement panel  230 . This sequence programs the sensor  140  to monitor right leg motion for a patient who may be undergoing therapy, for example.  
      Numerical indicia  290  may also be included to program the sensor with patient information. The patient identification information can be a patient&#39;s social security number, hospital identification number, or any other unique numerical value. Behind each of numerical indicia  290  is an associated initialization circuit which electronically communicates the numerical number associated with the indicia to the wireless sensor  140  ( FIG. 1 ) through the initialization unit  150 .  
      Optional programming display lights  298   a ,  298   b  and a speaker  296  may be used either separately or collectively to aid the user in initializing or otherwise programming the wireless sensor  140  ( FIG. 1 ). Further, an optional slot  294  may be provided for programming the wireless sensor  140  ( FIG. 1 ) where the initialization circuitry is located within the slot for communicating to the sensor  140  information represented by indicia as selected by the user/care provider. Slot  294  may be used as an alternative to or in combination with the present holding of sensor  140  against panels  210 ,  230  described above.  
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a box  130  or kit  400  of generic wireless sensors  140 . The sensor  140  has an adhesive backing strip or substrate (similar to that of a band-aid) and houses electronics  500  as shown in detail in  FIG. 5 . The electronics  500  include a power supply  514 , a plurality of body contacts  502  for interfacing with the subject patient. Signals generated by the body contacts  502  are transmitted through a plurality of transducer elements  504  to an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter  506 . The digitized output from A/D converter  506  is input to a programmable control unit  508  which is controlled by control logic  510 . A radio frequency (RF) transceiver  512 , transmits sensor output data to a base unit  160  ( FIG. 1 ). The programmable control unit  508  is initialized (i.e., programmed) by sensor initialization device unit  150  ( FIG. 2 ) to perform the user selected functions (e.g. sense temperature of the head, sense blood pressure from the hand, sense pulse or heart rate from the client area, etc.) as communicated: (a) from the user through the sensor function panel  210  and the body placement panel  230  (discussed above); and (b) from the initialization device  150  to the sensor electronics  500  via RF transceiver  512 . That is, at the factory, the programmable control unit  508  is printed with all circuits for monitoring the full range of available functions (biological/physiological properties). At the time of use, through invention initialization unit  150 , the programmable control unit  508  circuits corresponding to user selected/specified function(s) are initialized. After initialization/activation, the sensor electronics  500  serve the user selected functions only.  
      The control logic  510  supports operation of programmable control unit  508  and controls the flow of sensor data to and from the RF transceiver  512 . Techniques common in the art for controlling data flow are employed.  
      Continuing with the lower portion of  FIG. 5 , the base unit  160  ( FIG. 1 ) has similar electronics  516  for collecting and aggregating information (data) received from the wireless sensors  140  and sending the data to an access point  530 . The base unit electronics  516  include an RF transceiver  518  and a data packetizer  520 . The collecting and aggregating of data can be sent to the access point  530  over a 802.11or similar type protocol. Access point  530  may be a server in a network, a host computer, and the like, local and/or remote the patient location.  
      For example, a care giver can monitor, from a remote location, the sensed function for a given body placement location. Further, the care giver can remotely change the sensed function for the given body placement location by knowing the patient identification information and the body placement location. The caregiver communicates desired change in sensor function by transmitting a corresponding program sequence (similar to program sequences  223 ,  263  of  FIGS. 2B and 2C ) from the remote location to access point  530 . In turn, access point  530  transmits the subject program sequence(s) to the base unit  160 . In response to program sequences received at the base unit  160 , RF transceiver  518  transmits the program sequences to sensor  140 &#39;s RF transceiver  512 . RF transceiver  512  processes the received program sequences similar to original initialization previously described. This results in changed or added sensor function of sensor  140  (and operates at the previously programmed body placement on the patient).  
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of sensor  140  initialization. The initialization of a wireless sensor  140  will be described using the flow diagram of  FIG. 6  in conjunction with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 .  
      The initialization method starts with Step  602 . In Step  602 , the initialization unit  150  is energized (powered on). A care giver can simply energize the initialization panel by using power switch  202 .  
      In Step  606 , a wireless sensor  140  is activated. In one embodiment, the wireless sensor  140  is activated by removal of a non-conductive strip located between the power supply  514  and the power supply connector (to electronics  500 ).  
      In Step  610 , patient identification information is input into activated sensor  140 . The wireless sensor  140  is placed over and depressed on a numerical indicia  290  representing the first numeral of the patient&#39;s identification information. This step is repeated until the remaining numerals of the patient&#39;s identification information are programmed into the sensor  140 . At each repetition an optional light  298  or audible signal (through speaker  296 ) can give an indication if the sensor  140  was programmed with or without error. Specifically, with each pressing of the sensor  140  against panel  230  indicia. Corresponding circuits coupled to the panel indicia transmit data signals to the sensor transceiver  512 . Sensor control logic  510  and programmable control unit  508  coupled to transceiver  512  receive the data and store the patient&#39;s identification information. The patient identification information can be a patient&#39;s social security number, hospital identification number, or any other unique numerical value.  
      In Step  614 , the user selected biological/physiological function is input (communicated) to the sensor  140 . The wireless sensor  140  is placed over and depressed on biological/physiological function indicia  220   a  . . .  220   n  representing the user desired biological/physiological function to be sensed. Corresponding circuits coupled to panel  210  indicia transmit programming signals to the sensor transceiver  512 . Sensor control logic  510  and programmable control unit  508  receive the programming signals from transceiver  512 . In turn, the received programming signals initialize the sensor circuits that correspond to the user selected functions. An optional light  298  or audible signal (through speaker  296 ) can give an indication if the sensor  140  was programmed with or without error.  
      In Step  618 , body placement information is input into the sensor  140 . The wireless sensor  140  is placed over and depressed on body placement indicia  234 ,  236 ,  240 ,  260 ,  270 , and  280  representing the area of the patient&#39;s body to be sensed. Corresponding panel  230  indicia circuits transmit data signals to the sensor transceiver  512 . Sensor control logic  510  and programmable control unit  508  receive the data signals from transceiver  512  and determine therefrom body location where the sensor is to be used. In turn, sensor circuits  500  may calibrate and set certain variables accordingly. An optional light  298  or audible signal (through speaker  296 ) can give an indication if the sensor  140  was programmed with or without error. This step may be repeated until a precise location is programmed.  
      For example, a pulse located in the front of a patient&#39;s right foot is desired. The sensor  140  is placed and depressed on the following indicia in the following sequence: body function indicia “P”  220   c , anterior indicia  234 , lower right leg  252 R, and foot  280 . It should be understood that a variety of sequences can accomplish the same end result.  
      Continuing with  FIG. 6 , next (Step  622 ) the sensor  140  is removably affixed to the patient&#39;s body  110 . A care giver places the sensor  140  on the patient&#39;s body  110  in the programmed location.  
      In Step  626 , additional sensors  140  may be initialized/programmed by the user. If the desired sensed function requires additional sensors, such as for an electrocardiogram, steps  606  through  622  are repeated with another wireless sensor  140  from box  130  or kit  400 .  
      The method ends at Step  630 .  
      While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.  
      For example, human animal, or other subjects may benefit from the wireless sensors and systems of the present invention. As such, panel  230  indicia may be outlines and regions appropriate to such use. The illustrations in  FIG. 2  are by way of example for human patients and are not limitations of the present invention. The panels may be replaced by a graphical user interface (GUI) for use with slot  294 . The GUI may include a pressure or light sensitive touch screen similar to a PDA screen.  
      Alphabetic, other characters, and symbols common in the industry of use (medical, veterinarian, etc.) may be used in panel indicia  290  instead of or in addition to numerals. The numeric illustration and discussion in  FIGS. 2 and 6  above are for purposes of illustrating, and not limiting, the principals of the present invention.  
      The initialization device  150  panel may employ a “smart” panel used in conjunction with a patient/hospital data base system for downloading to the panel patient information, such as gender, age, height, weight, etc. A “smart” panel may also include a bar code reader which may allow the caregiver to scan the patient&#39;s hospital wrist band for direct input of patient information to the sensor  140  rather than through the keypad  290 .