Apparatus and monitoring system for measuring the temperature profile of a patient's extremities

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring a temperature profile of a patient's extremity includes a support structure having a plurality of openings therein, a frame defining each opening of the plurality of openings, a sensor received within each frame, and a plurality of rods connecting each sensor to each frame. A system for monitoring a temperature profile of a patient's extremity and a method for monitoring a temperature profile of a patient's extremity are also disclosed.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application relates to a non-invasive sensor device and method for assessing cardiac function in the foot. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 425,792, filed November 16, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. [Background technology]

[0002] A temperature profile or isogram of a patient's extremities (e.g., hands or feet) is an indicator of the patient's cardiac / vascular status. More specifically, the temperature profile indicates blood perfusion through the extremity. For example, the temperature profile can be used to monitor critical limb ischemia (CLI), evaluate angiogenesis or revascularization (e.g., to guide and evaluate the effectiveness of interventional procedures), diagnose the cause of claudication, and measure cardiac hemodynamics such as systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and cardiac output (CO). The temperature profile can be generated by measuring skin temperature at various points on the patient's extremities.

[0003] However, there are several drawbacks associated with traditional methods of monitoring a patient's cardiac / vascular status via skin temperature. Existing techniques for measuring blood perfusion, including skin perfusion pressure (SPP), duplex ultrasound (DUS), and transcutaneous oxygen monitoring (TOM), have one or more drawbacks. SPP only provides blood flow data at the dermal level of the skin and is unreliable in patients with edema. SPP also requires the use of a pressure cuff. DUS can typically only measure blood flow in large vessels (>1.5 mm). TOM requires the patient to be placed in hyperbaric oxygen, which is incompatible with certain settings. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for reliable, non-invasive, real-time measurement of blood perfusion in a patient's limbs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An apparatus for measuring a temperature profile of a patient's extremities according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a support structure having a plurality of openings therein, a frame defining each opening of the plurality of openings, a sensor received within each frame, and a plurality of rods connecting each sensor to each frame.

[0006] In a further embodiment of the foregoing, at least one of the plurality of rods is adjustable in length.

[0007] In further embodiments of any of the foregoing, at least one of the plurality of rods includes a telescoping mechanism.

[0008] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing, the frame is rigid or semi-rigid.

[0009] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing, the frame is at least as rigid as the support structure.

[0010] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing, the support structure is flexible.

[0011] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing, the device includes at least seven sensors.

[0012] A system for monitoring a temperature profile of a patient's extremity according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an apparatus for measuring a temperature profile of a patient's extremity. The apparatus includes a support structure having a plurality of openings therein, a frame defining each opening of the plurality of openings, a sensor received in each frame, and a plurality of rods connecting each sensor to each frame. A controller is operable to receive temperature data from the sensors. A computing device is configured to analyze the temperature data from the sensors.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the foregoing, the controller is configured to send a request to the sensor to perform a temperature measurement.

[0014] In a further example of any of the foregoing, the computing device is configured to identify a cardiac profile of the patient based on an analysis of the temperature data from the sensor.

[0015] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing, the computing device is configured to determine the patient's systemic vascular resistance based on analysis of the temperature data from the sensor.

[0016] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing, the computing device is configured to determine the cardiac output of the patient based on an analysis of the temperature data from the sensor.

[0017] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing, the computing device is configured to compare the patient's cardiac profile with a predetermined normal cardiac profile.

[0018] In a further example of any of the foregoing, the computing device is configured to identify changes in the patient's cardiac profile over time based on an analysis of temperature data from the sensor.

[0019] In further embodiments of any of the foregoing, the system also includes a user interface configured to receive input from a user and communicate the input to the controller.

[0020] A method for monitoring a temperature profile of a patient's extremity according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes, inter alia, adjusting a plurality of temperature sensors on the patient's extremity to correspond to a plurality of anatomical regions of interest, determining a temperature at each of the anatomical regions of interest, and determining a cardiac profile of the patient using the plurality of temperatures.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the foregoing, the anatomical region of interest includes an angiosome of the foot.

[0022] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing, the anatomical region of interest includes points on an artery surface.

[0023] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing, the method also includes comparing the patient's cardiac profile to a predetermined normal cardiac profile.

[0024] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing, the cardiac profile includes at least one of cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary device for measuring skin temperature of a patient's extremities.

[0026] [Figure 2] 2 shows a detailed view of a sensor of the device of FIG. 1;

[0027] [Figure 3] 1 illustrates a schematic of a system for monitoring the temperature profile of a patient's extremities. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Temperature profiles or isograms of a patient's extremities can be used to indicate the patient's cardiac / vascular status. The temperature of a patient's skin at the extremity is related to blood flow (known as perfusion) throughout the extremity, which in turn is related to various important hemodynamic indicators that indicate the patient's overall cardiac / vascular health. Therefore, information about the temperature profile can be used to detect disease, prevent disease by monitoring changes or progression of cardiac / vascular health, and evaluate the results of interventional procedures. For example, temperature profiles can be used to monitor critical limb ischemia (CLI), evaluate angiogenesis or revascularization (e.g., to guide or evaluate the effectiveness of interventional procedures), diagnose the cause of claudication, and measure / monitor cardiac hemodynamics such as systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and cardiac output (CO). The extremity can be, for example, a hand or a foot.

[0029] Figure 1 illustrates generally an apparatus 10 for measuring skin temperature of a patient's extremities. The apparatus 10 generally includes a support structure 12 having a plurality of sensors 14 disposed on the support structure 12. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the support structure is in the shape of a sock, although in other embodiments it may take other forms as discussed above.

[0030] The support structure 12 may be made from a flexible material such as a thermoplastic elastomer, silicone, or nylon. The material may be fabric in some embodiments. For example, the support structure 12 may be in the form of a toe sock that can be worn on the patient's foot or a glove that can be worn on the patient's hand.

[0031] The sensor 14 is operable to measure the temperature of the patient's skin and transmit the temperature data to the controller, as described in more detail below. Any known temperature sensor may be used. If the extremity is a foot, the sensor 14 may be positioned on the dorsal, contralateral, or both sides of the patient's foot. Similarly, the sensor 14 may be positioned on one or both sides of the patient's hand.

[0032] As will be described in more detail below, the sensor 14 may include an integrated transmitter 14t or may have a separate transmitter 14t.

[0033] The sensor 14 is positioned on the support structure 12 such that the sensor 14 contacts the patient's skin when the support structure 12 is attached to the patient's limb. In some embodiments, the sensor 14 includes a pressure-sensitive element 14p configured to sense whether pressure is contacting the patient's skin. The pressure-sensitive element 14b may be any known pressure sensor and may be integrated into the sensor 14 or may be a separate sensing element.

[0034] Additionally, the locations of the sensors 14 on the support structure 12 can correspond to particular anatomical regions of interest. For example, if the limb is a foot, the sensors 14 can be positioned to correspond to the locations of angiosomes or points on the arterial surface of the foot, as known in the art. For example, the sensors 14 can be positioned to correspond to the patient's medial and lateral plantar arteries, posterior tibial arteries, dorsalis pedis arteries, or arcuate arteries, etc. In some particular embodiments, the device 10 includes at least seven sensors. In further embodiments, the device 10 includes up to 20 sensors 14.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the sensors 14. As shown, each sensor 14 is disposed within a frame 16. The frame 16 defines an opening 18 in the support structure 12 that receives the sensor 14. The frame 16, in some embodiments, may be rigid or semi-rigid. In most cases, the frame 16 may be as rigid as or more rigid than the support structure 12. While the frame 16 is shown in FIG. 2 as having a generally rectangular shape, it should be understood that other shapes may be used.

[0036] A plurality of rods 20 connect the sensor 14 to the frame 16. One or more of the rods 20 are adjustable. For example, the rods 20 can have a telescoping mechanism 22 that allows the length L of the rods 20 to be adjusted. The telescoping mechanism 22 includes an inner rod 22a and an outer rod 22b that can extend or compress relative to one another by retracting the inner rod 22a inside the outer rod 22b, as is well known in the field of telescoping mechanisms. However, it should be understood that other known adjustment mechanisms for the rod lengths can be used. In this manner, the frame 16 / rods 20 support the sensor 20 on the support structure 12 in an adjustable manner. The adjustment occurs within the plane of the opening 18, e.g., generally in two dimensions. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, there are six rods 20, although more or fewer rods 20 can be used. The rods 20 can also include a locking mechanism for locking the rods 20 at a desired length L.

[0037] As described above, the sensor 14 is positioned on the support structure 12 to correspond to a particular anatomical region of interest; however, anatomical variations may exist such that the specific location of anatomical features varies slightly from patient to patient. Additionally, the size of a patient's foot / hand may affect the relative location of the anatomical region of interest. Typically, the variations are on the order of millimeters to centimeters. Therefore, the adjustable rod 20 allows a user, such as a healthcare provider, to adjust the precise location of the sensor 14 within the opening 18 of the support structure 12 according to the specific patient's anatomy. This improves the quality of the sensor 14 reading and improves the accuracy of the analysis of the data collected by the sensor. This is described in more detail below.

[0038] 3 schematically illustrates a system 100 for monitoring the temperature profile of a patient's extremities. The system 100 includes the apparatus 10 described above, a controller 102, a computing device 104, and a feedback device 106. In some embodiments, the controller 102 and the computing device 104 are implemented on the same hardware device. The system 100 may also have an optional user interface 108. The controller 102 is operable to receive / collect temperature data from the sensor 14. The sensor 14 may include an integrated transmitter for transmitting the temperature data to the controller 102 or may include a separate transmitter. Any transmission protocol known in the art may be used, including wireless transmission.

[0039] In one embodiment, the controller 102 is operable to send a request to the sensor 14 to take a temperature measurement at a point in time upon receiving input from a user at the user interface 108. In another embodiment, the controller 102 is operable to instruct the sensor 14 to continuously take temperature measurements at predetermined time intervals, such as every second.

[0040] The computing device 104 is configured to analyze the temperature data collected by the controller 102. That is, the computing device 104 is programmed to analyze the temperature data to identify the patient's cardiac / vascular health based on the temperature data from the sensors 14, as described above. The analysis may include machine learning and / or neural network analysis. The analysis may include identifying absolute or relative indicators of blood flow in the patient's extremities, such as the patient's systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and cardiac output (CO). The analysis may also include, for example, identifying changes in the patient's cardiac / vascular profile over time. Results of the analysis may be displayed on the user interface 108.

[0041] The computing device 104 is also programmed to compare the patient's actual cardiac / vascular profile, as determined by the above-described analysis, with the patient's predetermined "normal" cardiac / vascular profile. The "normal" condition can be patient-specific and, in some embodiments, can be adjusted by the user at the user interface 108. The comparison can be in real time or near real time, for example, within a few seconds of the measurement being taken by the sensor 14.

[0042] If a deviation is detected by the computing device 104, the computing device 104 and / or the controller 102 are configured to cause the feedback device 106 to alert a user, such as a healthcare provider, of the deviation. The alert may be real-time or near real-time. The alert may be audible, visual, and / or tactile.

[0043] Although combinations of features are shown in the illustrated examples, not all of them need to be combined to realize the benefits of various embodiments of the present disclosure. In other words, a system designed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure will not necessarily include all of the features shown in any one of the figures, or all of the portions shown schematically in the figures. Also, selected features of one exemplary embodiment may be combined with selected features of other exemplary embodiments.

[0044] The foregoing description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may be apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the present disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for measuring a temperature profile of a patient's extremities, comprising: a support structure having a plurality of openings therein; a plurality of frames defining the plurality of openings; a plurality of temperature sensors received in the plurality of frames; a plurality of rods connecting the plurality of temperature sensors to the plurality of frames; Including, The device, wherein at least one of the plurality of rods is adjustable in length.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of rods includes a telescoping mechanism.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the frame is rigid or semi-rigid.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the frame is at least as rigid as the support structure.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is flexible.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device includes at least seven temperature sensors.

7. 1. A system for monitoring a temperature profile of a patient's extremities, comprising:

1. An apparatus for measuring a temperature profile of a patient's extremities, comprising: a support structure having a plurality of openings therein; a plurality of frames defining the plurality of openings; a plurality of temperature sensors received in the plurality of frames; a plurality of rods connecting the plurality of temperature sensors to the plurality of frames; Including, an apparatus, wherein at least one of the plurality of rods is adjustable in length; a controller operable to receive temperature data from the temperature sensor; a computing device configured to analyze the temperature data from the temperature sensor; and A system including:

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to send a request to the temperature sensor to perform a temperature measurement.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the computing device is configured to identify a cardiac profile of the patient based on an analysis of the temperature data from the temperature sensor.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the computing device is configured to determine the patient's systemic vascular resistance based on an analysis of the temperature data from the temperature sensor.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the computing device is configured to determine a cardiac output of the patient based on an analysis of the temperature data from the temperature sensor.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the computing device is configured to compare the patient's cardiac profile with a predetermined normal cardiac profile.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the computing device is configured to identify changes in the patient's cardiac profile over time based on an analysis of the temperature data from the temperature sensor.

14. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a user interface configured to receive input from a user and communicate the input to the controller.

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