Patch sensor for measuring blood pressure without a cuff

Abstract

A monitoring device, method and system for monitoring vital signs of a patient over a wireless network are disclosed herein. The monitoring device includes an adhesive patch sensor, typically mounted on a patient's head, and a processing component. The adhesive patch sensor typically includes an optical system that generates an optical waveform, and an electrode that generates an electrical waveform. The processing component processes the optical and electrical waveforms, along with a calibration table, to determine the patient's vital signs.

1 . A system for monitoring blood pressure, the system comprising: 
 a monitoring device comprising an adhesive patch sensor component that generates an optical signal and a processing component for processing the optical signal with calibration information to obtain blood pressure information; and a computer system configured to receive and display the blood-pressure information.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical system comprises at least one LED and a photodiode.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing component comprises a microprocessor that processes the optical waveform along with the calibration information to determine the blood-pressure information.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive patch sensor component further comprises an electrode that measures an electrical waveform.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the processing component further comprises a microprocessor that processes both the optical and electrical waveforms to determine the blood-pressure information.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive patch sensor further comprises a short-range wireless transmitter.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the short-range wireless transmitter is a transmitter that operates a protocol based on Bluetooth™, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.1g, or 802.15.4.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device further comprises a short-range wireless component that operates a wireless protocol based on Bluetooth™, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.1g, or 802.15.4.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing component further comprises a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits the blood pressure information over a terrestrial wireless network.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing component further analyzes the optical signal to determine pulse oximetry and heart rate.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , where in adhesive patch sensor component comprises and adhesive component configured to attach to a patient's head.  
     
     
         12 . A monitoring device for monitoring a patient's blood pressure, the monitoring device comprising: a head-mounted component comprising a body and an optical device positioned within the body for measuring blood pressure from the patient's artery, the body having an adhesive on an exterior surface for adhesively securing the body to the patient's head; and, means for wirelessly transmitting a signal representative of the patient's blood pressure.  
     
     
         13 . The monitoring device according to  claim 12 , further comprising means for transmitting the signal to a network.  
     
     
         14 . The monitoring device according to  claim 12 , wherein the optical device comprises a first LED capable of radiating light at a wavelength of approximately 600-800 nanometers, a second LED capable of radiating light at a wavelength of approximately 900-1200 nanometers, and a photodetector capable of detecting reflected light originating from the first LED and the second LED.  
     
     
         15 . A method for measuring blood pressure from a patient, the method comprising: attaching a head-mounted component of a monitoring device to the head of a patient; generating light from a light source within the head-mounted component, the light directed at an artery of the patient; absorbing reflected light originating from the light source with a photodetector positioned within the head-mounted component; sending a signal representative of the absorption rate of the reflected light, the signal sent from the photodetector to a processing component; and processing the signal with the processing component to determine a blood pressure value for the patient.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein sending the signal comprises transmitting a wireless signal from the head-mounted component to a wireless transceiver within the processing component.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising wirelessly sending blood pressure information over a wireless network.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the head-mounted monitoring component comprises a polymer body with adhesive on an exterior surface for adhesively attaching the head-mounted monitoring component to the patient's head, the light source and the photodetector positioned within the polymer body.