Wearable smart medical devices

Abstract

The present disclosure is generally related to wearable smart medical devices with specific discussions on wearable smart medical devices with improved detections.

Description

[0001] WEARABLE SMART MEDICAL DEVICES

[0002] Background of the Invention

[0003] The present disclosure is generally related to wearable smart medical devices with specific discussions on wearable smart medical devices with improved detections. Examples of smart medical devices in the prior art are disclosed in US20130181048A1 and US10452875B2.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an RFID reader with an integrated antenna sized, shaped and configured for reading an RFID tag, said RFID reader comprising a body having a top side facing away from a wearer, a bottom side facing or contacting the wearer, and a sidewall located between the top side and the bottom side; wherein the antenna of the RFID reader is configured to radiate RF energy out of the sidewall, or in the direction that emanates out of the sidewall. In one embodiment of the RFID reader, the RFID reader further includes one or more of communications module to upload data to an informational or computer network. In one embodiment of the RFID reader, the communications module comprises a router or a gateway, or a combination thereof.

[0006] Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a sensor patch comprising a sensor and an RFID tag, wherein said sensor patch is configured to be used on a patient or placed on a patient to collect data about said patient.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, said data comprises the patient’s body temperature.

[0008] In an embodiment of the sensor patch, the RFID tag is configured to be read by an RFID reader, such that the RFID reader radiates RF energy to the tag and the tag uses the energy to power up and return data from said sensor patch.

[0009] In an embodiment of the sensor patch, said RFID tag comprises an antenna, wherein said antenna is encased in a capsule or is encapsulated. In a preferred embodiment of the sensor patch, said sensor patch is configured to be placed on the patient’s body at or over an insertion site, said insertion site being a location on the patient’s body where a medical device is inserted into the patient’s body.

[0010] In an embodiment of the sensor patch, the sensor and the RFID tag are separated by a distance on said sensor patch. Preferably, the distance is sufficient such that when the sensor patch is placed at or over the insertion site, the RFID tag will not block access to the insertion site and will not obscure visibility of the insertion site.

[0011] In an embodiment of the sensor patch, the sensor and the RFID tag are connected by a conductive wire.

[0012] In an embodiment of the sensor patch, the sensor patch is transparent or translucent.

[0013] In one embodiment, the sensor patch comprises a plurality of antennae for sending signals to a reader. Said plurality of antennae may be stacked on top of one another. In a preferred embodiment, said plurality of antennae are stacked such that each antenna in the plurality of antennae has a different orientation. Each antenna in the plurality of antennae may be oriented proximally, distally, medially or laterally.

[0014] It is preferred that the medical device is a peripheral intravenous catheter, a midline intravenous catheter, a peripherally inserted central catheter, or a central venous catheter.

[0015] Detailed description of the invention

[0016] A first embodiment in accordance with aspects of the invention include an RFID reader with an integrated antenna sized, shaped and configured for reading an RFID tag (Fig. 2). The RFID reader comprises a body having a top side facing away from the wearer, a bottom side facing or contacting the wearer, and a sidewall located between the top side and the bottom side. The antenna of the RFID reader is configured to radiate RF energy out of the sidewall, or in the direction that emanates out of the sidewall.

[0017] An RFID tag can be read by the RFID reader by radiating RF energy to the tag and the tag using the energy to power up and return data from the embedded chip. The RFID reader can further include one or more of communications module, such as a router or a gateway or combination thereof, to upload the read data to network.

[0018] In a particular example, the RFID tag can be integrated into a patch, called a sensor patch (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). The sensor patch can be used on a patient to collect data about the patient, such as the temperature of the patient.

[0019] In a second embodiment (Fig. 3) in accordance with aspects of the invention, the RFID tag can be configured to better absorb energy from the RFID reader, e.g., from the radiation emitted by the antenna of the RFID reader. This gives the designer the ability to form a smaller sensor patch and allows the RFID reader to read the RFID tag from a greater distance, as examples.

[0020] In an example, the RFID tag has an antenna that can be encased in a capsule or can be encapsulated. The capsule form of the RFID tag antenna can be integrated into the sensor patch. The incorporation of the capsule RFID tag antenna allows the sensor patch to be made in a smaller size compared to using a conventional RFID antenna. The capsule RFID tag antenna can also help to improve the signal strength.

[0021] In a third embodiment in accordance with aspects of the invention, the sensor patch is modified for improved visibility. Preferably, the sensor patch is transparent at the point of the insertion site. However, having one or more sensors at the insertion site can block visibility at the insertion site, which can interfere with clinical inspection.

[0022] In an example, the temperature sensor can be located further away or remotely from the insertion site but still able to properly detect temperature at the insertion site. For example (Fig. 4), conductive wires can be placed at the insertion site and conducts heat to the temperature sensor, which is located remotely from the insertion site. This allows areas around the insertion site to be less cluttered and therefore improve visibility at the insertion site. This also allows for more than one sensors to be incorporated with the sensor patch. In a fourth embodiment in accordance with aspects of the invention, the sensor patch can be modified to improve RF energy absorption. This allows the tags to more readily power up and return data from the embedded chip to the reader.

[0023] In an example, the sensor patch can have more than one antenna. For example, two antennae can be stacked up in two different orientations to improve energy absorption and emit return data to the RFID reader. This is illustrated in Fig. 5. The layers of antennae when stacked in this way can create a stronger RFID signal radiation, thereby improving signal strength.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An RFID reader with an integrated antenna sized, shaped and configured for reading an RFID tag, said RFID reader comprising a body having a top side facing away from a wearer, a bottom side facing or contacting the wearer, and a sidewall located between the top side and the bottom side; wherein the antenna of the RFID reader is configured to radiate RF energy out of the sidewall, or in the direction that emanates out of the sidewall.

2. An RFID reader according to Claim 1, wherein the RFID reader further includes one or more of communications module to upload data to an informational or computer network.

3. An RFID reader according to Claim 2, wherein the communications module comprises a router or a gateway, or a combination thereof.

4. A sensor patch comprising a sensor and an RFID tag, wherein said sensor patch is configured to be used on a patient or placed on a patient to collect data about said patient.

5. A sensor patch according to Claim 4, wherein said data comprises the patient’s body temperature.

6. A sensor patch according to Claim 4, wherein the RFID tag is configured to be read by an RFID reader, such that the RFID reader radiates RF energy to the tag and the tag uses the energy to power up and return data from said sensor patch.

7. A sensor patch according to Claim 4, wherein said RFID tag comprises an antenna, wherein said antenna is encased in a capsule or is encapsulated.

8. A sensor patch according to Claim 4, wherein said sensor patch is configured to be placed on the patient’s body at or over an insertion site, said insertion site being a location on the patient’s body where a medical device is inserted into the patient’s body.

9. A sensor patch according to Claim 8, wherein the sensor and the RFID tag are separated by a distance on said sensor patch.

10. A sensor patch according to Claim 9, wherein the distance is sufficient such that when the sensor patch is placed at or over the insertion site, the RFID tag will not block access to the insertion site and will not obscure visibility of the insertion site.

11. A sensor patch according to Claim 8, wherein the sensor and the RFID tag are connected by a conductive wire.

12. A sensor patch according to Claim 8, wherein the sensor patch is transparent or translucent.

13. A sensor patch according to Claim 4, wherein said sensor patch comprises a plurality of antennae for sending signals to a reader.

14. A sensor patch according to Claim 13, wherein said plurality of antennae are stacked on top of one another.

15. A sensor patch according to Claim 14, wherein said plurality of antennae are stacked such that each antenna in the plurality of antennae has a different orientation.

16. A sensor patch according to Claim 15, wherein each antenna in the plurality of antennae is oriented proximally, distally, medially or laterally.

17. A sensor patch according to Claim 8, wherein the medical device is a peripheral intravenous catheter, a midline intravenous catheter, a peripherally inserted central catheter, or a central venous catheter.

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