Patent US5865733A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5865733A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wireless optical patient monitoring apparatus
Assignee: Bank of America NA
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Filing: 1997-02-28
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Granted: 1999-02-02
•
Expires: 2017-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A wireless patient monitoring apparatus uses an optical signal to transmit information from a transducer to a photodetector of an optical receiver. The photodetector converts the optical signal to an electrical signal which is then provided to monitoring and analysis instrumentation. Signals which are indicative of physiological functions are modulated onto a carrier, and the resulting modulated signal is provided, in turn, to the optical source, which may be a light-emitting diode (LED) which emits in the infrared band. A self-contained portable transducer assembly which is strapped or otherwise secured to the patient may house the transducer, modulator and optical source, and is adapted for underwater use. Optionally, the optical source can be positioned remote from the assembly. In a fetal monitor implementation, both wireless ultrasound and tocodynamometer transducers are provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Malinouskas
- 👤 George Hojaiban
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/02; A61B5/00; A61B5/0002; A61B5/0004; A61B5/0011; A61B5/0015; A61B5/0017; A61B5/02; A61B5/024; A61B5/02411; A61B5/43; A61B5/4306; A61B5/4343; A61B5/4362; A61B8/08; A61B8/0866; A61B8/42; A61B8/4209; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/4472; A61B8/4227; A61B8/4236; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An optical patient monitoring apparatus, comprising: a transducer for detecting a physiological function, said transducer being designed for placement on a patient to be monitored, and said transducer providing an output signal indicative of said physiological function; a modulator for modulating a carrier by said output signal; a waterproof optical source associated with said modulator for emitting an optical signal which corresponds to said modulated carrier; a photodetector for receiving said optical signal, said photodetector being adapted to receive said optical signal after said optical signal passes through a water-air boundary; and a monitoring circuit coupled to receive the modulated carrier from said photodetector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An optical patient monitoring apparatus, comprising: a transducer for detecting a physiological function, said transducer being designed for placement on a patient to be monitored, and said transducer providing an output signal indicative of said physiological function; a modulator for modulating a carrier by said output signal; a waterproof optical source associated with said modulator for emitting an optical signal which corresponds to said modulated carrier; a photodetector for receiving said optical signal, said photodetector being adapted to receive said optical signal after said optical signal passes through a water-air boundary; and a monitoring circuit coupled to receive the modulated carrier from said photodetector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said optical source is a light-emitting diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said optical source emits in an infrared band.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: an optical filter associated with said photodetector for filtering out interfering radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said transducer and said optical source are adapted for use underwater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said photodetector is adapted to be positioned above the patient to receive said optical signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said transducer, modulator and optical source are all situated in a common transducer housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising: a power supply in said housing for powering said transducer, said modulator, and associated circuitry situated in the housing; and a motion sensor situated in said housing for detecting movement of the housing; wherein said power supply is responsive to said motion sensor for providing power when the housing is moved.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, further comprising: a keep-alive circuit for actuating said power supply to continue to provide power when said physiological function is being detected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said transducer and modulator are situated in a common transducer housing; said optical source is adapted to be positioned remotely from said housing; and means are provided for coupling said transducer housing and said optical source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said transducer comprises a tocodynamometer (TOCO) transducer adapted to be placed on a mother's abdomen and said physiological function comprises uterine activity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said transducer comprises an ultrasound transducer adapted to be placed on a mother's abdomen and said physiological function comprises fetal heart rate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a tocodynamometer (TOCO) transducer adapted to be placed on said abdomen for providing a TOCO output signal indicative of uterine activity, said TOCO transducer comprising a TOCO modulator for modulating a TOCO carrier by said TOCO output signal; an optical source associated with said TOCO modulator for emitting a TOCO optical signal which corresponds to said TOCO modulated carrier; a TOCO photodetector for receiving said TOCO optical signal; and a monitoring circuit coupled to receive the TOCO modulated carrier from said TOCO photodetector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein: the output signals from said ultrasound and tocodynamometer transducers are modulated on separate non-interfering subcarriers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said transducer, modulator and optical source are all situated in a common transducer housing, said apparatus further comprising: a battery-operated power supply in said housing for powering said transducer, said modulator, and associated circuitry situated in the housing; and a first charging coil in said housing for use in inductively charging said batteries.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15, further comprising: a console containing said monitoring circuit; a receptacle in said console for removably receiving said transducer housing; and a second charging coil, located adjacent to said receptacle, for inductively providing a charging current to the first charging coil when the transducer housing is placed in said receptacle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15, further comprising: means for communicating a low battery signal to an external indicator via said optical source and said photodetector when said battery-operated power supply is in a low charge state.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
101 words
A receiver for use with an optical patient monitoring system, said system including a transducer which is designed for placement on a patient to be monitored, said receiver comprising; a photodetector for receiving an optical signal which corresponds to a modulated signal carrying physiological information from said transducer, said photodetector being adapted to receive the optical signal after the optical signal passes through a water-air boundary, said modulated signal being transmitted from an optical source which is associated with said transducer; and circuitry coupled to said photodetector for providing said modulated signal to a monitoring circuit of said patient monitoring apparatus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
101 words
A receiver for use with an optical patient monitoring system, said system including a transducer which is designed for placement on a patient to be monitored, said receiver comprising; a photodetector for receiving an optical signal which corresponds to a modulated signal carrying physiological information from said transducer, said photodetector being adapted to receive the optical signal after the optical signal passes through a water-air boundary, said modulated signal being transmitted from an optical source which is associated with said transducer; and circuitry coupled to said photodetector for providing said modulated signal to a monitoring circuit of said patient monitoring apparatus.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A receiver in accordance with claim 18, further comprising: an optical filter associated with said photodetector for filtering out interfering radiation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A receiver in accordance with claim 18, wherein: said photodetector is adapted to be positioned above the patient to receive said optical signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
An optical source holder for use with a patient monitoring system, said system including a housing which provides a modulated signal carrying physiological information from a patient, wherein: coupling means are provided for coupling said housing and said optical source; said optical source is adapted to receive said modulated signal via said coupling means to provide a corresponding optical signal, and is adapted for underwater use; and said holder is adapted to be positioned on the patient at a location which is remote from said housing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
86 words
An optical source holder for use with a patient monitoring system, said system including a housing which provides a modulated signal carrying physiological information from a patient, wherein: coupling means are provided for coupling said housing and said optical source; said optical source is adapted to receive said modulated signal via said coupling means to provide a corresponding optical signal, and is adapted for underwater use; and said holder is adapted to be positioned on the patient at a location which is remote from said housing.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for performing underwater monitoring on a patient, comprising the steps of: placing a transducer housing under water adjacent to a region of a patient to be monitored while the patient is giving birth under water; detecting a physiological function of the patient using the transducer; providing from the transducer an output signal indicative of the physiological function; modulating a carrier using the output signal; providing the output signal modulated carrier to an optical signal source; transmitting an optical signal from the optical signal source that corresponds to the output signal modulated carrier; receiving the optical signal; and recovering the output signal from the optical signal to monitor the physiological function.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for performing underwater monitoring on a patient, comprising the steps of: placing a transducer housing under water adjacent to a region of a patient to be monitored while the patient is giving birth under water; detecting a physiological function of the patient using the transducer; providing from the transducer an output signal indicative of the physiological function; modulating a carrier using the output signal; providing the output signal modulated carrier to an optical signal source; transmitting an optical signal from the optical signal source that corresponds to the output signal modulated carrier; receiving the optical signal; and recovering the output signal from the optical signal to monitor the physiological function.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of transmitting the optical signal in an infrared band.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of filtering out radiation interfering with the optical signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of detecting motion of the transducer housing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of providing power to the transducer housing based on the transducer housing motion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the transducer housing comprises an ultrasound transducer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the waterproof transducer housing comprises a tocodynamometer transducer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the physiological function is fetal heart rate.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the physiological function is uterine activity.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the optical signal source is located under water such that the optical signal passes through a water-air boundary.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the optical signal source is located above the water.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-01 | 2002-08-03 | 2003-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-01 | 2006-08-03 | 2007-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-01 | 2010-08-03 | 2011-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |