Sensor for monitoring a condition of a patient

Abstract

A sensor may include a substrate having a sensing portion defining a sensor thereon and a circuit mounting portion defining at least one electrically conductive pad that is electrically connected to the sensor. The sensor may be configured to produce a signal indicative of a condition of the patient. An anisotropic medium may be disposed on the circuit mounting portion and may be electrically conductive in a direction through the medium and electrically insulating in directions along the medium. An electrical circuit may be mechanically mounted to the circuit mounting portion of the first substrate via the anisotropic medium with at least one electrically conductive terminal juxtaposed over the at least one electrically conductive pad. The anisotropic medium may establish local electrical contact between the at least one electrically conductive terminal and the at least one electrically conductive pad.

1 . A sensor comprising:
 a first substrate having a sensing portion configured to be percutaneously inserted into a patient and an extracorporeal circuit mounting portion, the sensing portion defining a sensor thereon and the circuit mounting portion having at least one electrically conductive pad formed thereon that is electrically connected to the sensor, the sensor configured to produce a signal indicative of a condition of the patient,   an anisotropic medium disposed on the circuit mounting portion, the medium configured to be electrically conductive in a direction through the medium and electrically insulating in directions along the medium,   an electrical circuit having at least one electrically conductive terminal, the circuit being mechanically mounted to the circuit mounting portion of the first substrate via the anisotropic medium with the at least one electrically conductive terminal juxtaposed over the at least one electrically conductive pad, the anisotropic medium establishing local electrical contact between the at least one electrically conductive terminal and the at least one electrically conductive pad.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the first substrate is one of a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the anisotropic medium is an anisotropic adhesive tape, the tape being configured to mechanically bond the electrical circuit to the circuit mounting portion of the first substrate, the tape further being electrically insulating along a plane of the tape and electrically conductive through the tape in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the tape. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the anisotropic medium is an anisotropic elastomer configured to mechanically bond the circuit to the circuit mounting portion of the first substrate, the anisotropic elastomer being electrically insulating along a plane generally parallel to opposing surfaces of the electrical circuit and the circuit mounting portion of the first substrate, and electrically conductive through the elastomer in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the first substrate defines a first number of electrically conductive pads on the circuit mounting portion thereof, and the electrical circuit has a second number of electrical terminals,
 and wherein at least some of the second number of electrical terminals align with at least some of the number of electrically conductive pads when the electrical circuit is mounted to the circuit mounting portion of the first substrate.   
     
     
         6 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the electrical circuit comprises:
 a second substrate defining the at least one electrical terminal, and   a number of electrical components mounted to the second substrate and electrically interconnected to form a sensor control circuit, the sensor control circuit being electrically connected to the at least one electrical terminal.   
     
     
         7 . The sensor of  claim 6  wherein the sensor control circuit includes a sensor operating circuit configured to operate the sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor of  claim 6  wherein the sensor control circuit includes a telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive communication signals to or from a remote electronic device. 
     
     
         9 . The sensor of  claim 6  wherein the sensor control circuit includes a notification circuit configured to produce any of a visual, audible and tactile indication of a predefined event. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor of  claim 9  wherein the sensor control circuit includes an acknowledgement circuit responsive to user activation thereof to acknowledge production of the visual, audible or tactile indication of the predefined event. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor of  claim 9  wherein the sensor control circuit is configured to determine the predefined event from the signal produced by the sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor of  claim 11  wherein the sensor control circuit further includes a telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive wireless communication signals to or from a first remote electronic device,
 and wherein the first remote electronic device includes a first telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive wireless communication signals to or from the telemetry system of the sensor control circuit.   
     
     
         13 . The sensor of  claim 12  wherein the telemetry circuit of the sensor control circuit is configured to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the predefined event to the first telemetry circuit of the first remote electronic device,
 and wherein the first remote electronic device includes means for providing any of a visual, audible and tactile indication of the predefined event.   
     
     
         14 . The sensor of  claim 12  wherein the first remote electronic device further includes a second telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive wireless communication signals to or from a second remote electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor of  claim 12  further including:
 a second remote electronic device, and   means for establishing communications between the first and second remote electronic devices.   
     
     
         16 . The sensor of  claim 6  wherein the second substrate is one of a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the electrical circuit defines an outer periphery that is contained within an outer periphery of the circuit mounting portion of the first substrate when the electrical circuit is mounted thereto. 
     
     
         18 . A sensor comprising:
 a first substrate having a sensing portion configured to be percutaneously inserted into a patient and an extracorporeal circuit mounting portion, the sensing portion defining a sensor thereon and the circuit mounting portion having at least one electrically conductive pad defined thereon that is electrically connected to the sensor, the sensor configured to produce a signal indicative of a condition of the patient,   a second substrate mounted to the first substrate and defining therethrough at least one passageway that is aligned with the at least one electrically conductive pad defined on the first substrate,   a third substrate mounted to the second substrate and defining thereon at least one electrical terminal, the at least one electrical terminal being aligned with at least one passageway defined on the second substrate and with the at least one electrically conductive pad defined on the first substrate,   a first number of electrical components mounted to the third substrate and electrically interconnected to form a sensor control circuit, the sensor control circuit being electrically connected to the at least one electrical terminal defined on the third substrate, and   means for establishing electrical contact through the at least one passageway between the at least one electrically conductive pad defined on the first substrate and the at least one electrical terminal defined on the third substrate, the sensor being thereby electrically connected to the sensor control circuit.   
     
     
         19 . The sensor of  claim 18  wherein the sensor control circuit includes a telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive communication signals to or from a remote electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The sensor of  claim 18  wherein the sensor control circuit includes a notification circuit configured to produce any of a visual, audible and tactile indication of a predefined event. 
     
     
         21 . The sensor of  claim 20  wherein the sensor control circuit includes an acknowledgement circuit responsive to user activation thereof to acknowledge production of the visual, audible or tactile indication of the predefined event. 
     
     
         22 . The sensor of  claim 20  wherein the sensor control circuit is configured to determine the predefined event from the signal produced by the sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The sensor of  claim 22  wherein the sensor control circuit further includes a telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive communication signals to or from a first remote electronic device,
 and wherein the first remote electronic device includes a first telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive communication signals to or from the telemetry system of the sensor control circuit.   
     
     
         24 . The sensor of  claim 23  wherein the telemetry circuit of the sensor control circuit is configured to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the predefined event to the first telemetry circuit of the remote electronic device,
 and wherein the first remote electronic device includes means for providing any of a visual, audible and tactile indication of the predefined event.   
     
     
         25 . The sensor of  claim 23  wherein the first remote electronic device further includes a second telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive wireless communication signals to or from a second remote electronic device. 
     
     
         26 . The sensor of  claim 23  further including:
 a second remote electronic device, and   means for establishing communications between the first and second remote electronic devices.   
     
     
         27 . The sensor of  claim 18  wherein the first substrate is one of a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. 
     
     
         28 . The sensor of  claim 18  wherein the second substrate is one of a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. 
     
     
         29 . The sensor of  claim 18  wherein the third substrate is one of a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. 
     
     
         30 . The sensor of  claim 18  further including:
 a second number of electrical components mounted to the second substrate, the second number of electrical components and the first number of electrical components together forming the sensor control circuit, and   means for electrically connecting the second number of electrical components to the first number of electrical components.   
     
     
         31 . The sensor of  claim 30  wherein the second number of electrical components includes a sensor operating circuit configured to operate the sensor. 
     
     
         32 . The sensor of  claim 30  wherein the second number of electrical components includes a telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive communication signals to or from a remote electronic device. 
     
     
         33 . The sensor of  claim 30  wherein the second number of electrical components includes a notification circuit configured to produce any of a visual, audible and tactile indication of a predefined event. 
     
     
         34 . The sensor of  claim 30  wherein the second number of electrical components includes an acknowledgement circuit responsive to user activation thereof to acknowledge production of the visual, audible or tactile indication of the predefined event. 
     
     
         35 . The sensor of  claim 30  wherein the second number of electrical components includes a sensor operating circuit configured to operate the sensor,
 and wherein the first number of electrical components includes a telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive communication signals to or from a remote electronic device.   
     
     
         36 . The sensor of  claim 35  wherein the second number of electrical components includes a notification circuit configured to produce any of a visual, audible and tactile indication of a predefined event. 
     
     
         37 . The sensor of  claim 35  wherein the second number of electrical components includes an acknowledgement circuit responsive to user activation thereof to acknowledge production of the visual, audible or tactile indication of the predefined event. 
     
     
         38 . The sensor of  claim 18  wherein the first substrate defines a first number of electrically conductive pads on the circuit mounting portion thereof, the third substrate defines a second number of electrical terminals thereon and the second substrate defines a corresponding second number of passageways therethrough,
 and wherein at least some of the second number of electrical terminals align with at least some of the first number of electrically conductive pads through corresponding ones of the second number of passageways defined through the second substrate when the second substrate is mounted to the first substrate and the third substrate is mounted to the second substrate.   
     
     
         39 . A sensor comprising:
 a first substrate having a sensing portion configured to be percutaneously inserted into a patient and an extracorporeal circuit mounting portion, the sensing portion defining a sensor thereon and the circuit mounting portion having at least one electrically conductive pad defined thereon that is electrically connected to the sensor, the sensor configured to produce a signal indicative of a condition of the patient,   a second substrate mounted to the first substrate and defining thereon a first number of electrically conductive pads, at least one of the first number of electrically conductive pads being aligned with the at least one electrically conductive pad defined on the first substrate and at least another of the first number of electrically conductive pads defined on the second substrate being electrically connected to the at least one of the first number of electrically conductive pads defined on the second substrate   means for establishing electrical contact between the at least one electrically conductive pad defined on the first substrate and the at least one of the first number of electrically conductive pads defined on the second substrate,   a third substrate mounted to the second substrate and defining thereon the at least one electrical terminal,   a first number of electrical components mounted to the third substrate and electrically interconnected to form a sensor control circuit, the sensor control circuit being electrically connected to the at least one electrical terminal defined on the third substrate, and   means for establishing electrical contact between the at least another of the first number of electrically conductive pads defined on the second substrate and the at least one electrical terminal defined on the third substrate, the sensor being thereby electrically connected to the sensor control circuit.   
     
     
         40 . The sensor of  claim 39  wherein the sensor control circuit includes a telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive communication signals to or from a remote electronic device. 
     
     
         41 . The sensor of  claim 39  wherein the sensor control circuit includes a notification circuit configured to produce any of a visual, audible and tactile indication of a predefined event. 
     
     
         42 . The sensor of  claim 41  wherein the sensor control circuit includes an acknowledgement circuit responsive to user activation thereof to acknowledge production of the visual, audible or tactile indication of the predefined event. 
     
     
         43 . The sensor of  claim 41  wherein the sensor control circuit is configured to determine the predefined event from the signal produced by the sensor. 
     
     
         44 . The sensor of  claim 43  wherein the sensor control circuit further includes a telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive communication signals to or from a first remote electronic device,
 and wherein the first remote electronic device includes a first telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive communication signals to or from the telemetry system of the sensor control circuit.   
     
     
         45 . The sensor of  claim 44  wherein the telemetry circuit of the sensor control circuit is configured to transmit a signal indicative of the predefined event to the first telemetry circuit of the remote electronic device,
 and wherein the first remote electronic device includes means for providing any of a visual, audible and tactile indication of the predefined event.   
     
     
         46 . The sensor of  claim 44  wherein the first remote electronic device further includes a second telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive wireless communication signals to or from a second remote electronic device. 
     
     
         47 . The sensor of  claim 44  further including:
 a second remote electronic device, and   means for establishing communications between the first and second remote electronic devices.   
     
     
         48 . The sensor of  claim 39  wherein the first substrate is one of a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. 
     
     
         49 . The sensor of  claim 39  wherein the second substrate is one of a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. 
     
     
         50 . The sensor of  claim 39  wherein the third substrate is one of a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. 
     
     
         51 . The sensor of  claim 39  further including:
 a second number of electrical components mounted to the second substrate, the second number of electrical components and the first number of electrical components together forming the sensor control circuit, and   means for electrically connecting the second number of electrical components to the first number of electrical components.   
     
     
         52 . The sensor of  claim 51  wherein the second number of electrical components includes a sensor operating circuit configured to operate the sensor. 
     
     
         53 . The sensor of  claim 51  wherein the second number of electrical components includes a telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive communication signals to or from a remote electronic device. 
     
     
         54 . The sensor of  claim 51  wherein the second number of electrical components includes a notification circuit configured to produce any of a visual, audible and tactile indication of a predefined event. 
     
     
         55 . The sensor of  claim 51  wherein the second number of electrical components includes an acknowledgement circuit responsive to user activation thereof to acknowledge production of the visual, audible or tactile indication of the predefined event. 
     
     
         56 . The sensor of  claim 51  wherein the second number of electrical components includes a sensor operating circuit configured to operate the sensor,
 and wherein the first number of electrical components includes a telemetry circuit configured to transmit or receive communication signals to or from a remote electronic device.   
     
     
         57 . The sensor of  claim 56  wherein the second number of electrical components includes a notification circuit configured to produce any of a visual, audible and tactile indication of a predefined event. 
     
     
         58 . The sensor of  claim 56  wherein the second number of electrical components includes an acknowledgement circuit responsive to user activation thereof to acknowledge production of the visual, audible or tactile indication of the predefined event. 
     
     
         59 . The sensor of  claim 39  wherein the first substrate defines a second number of electrically conductive pads on the circuit mounting portion thereof,
 and wherein at least some of the first number of electrically conductive pads defined on the second substrate align with corresponding ones of the second number of electrically conductive pads defined on the circuit mounting portion of the first substrate when the second substrate is mounted to the first substrate.   
     
     
         60 . The sensor of  claim 59  wherein the third substrate defines a third number of electrical terminals thereon,
 and wherein at least others of the first number of electrically conductive pads defined on the second substrate align with corresponding ones of the third number of electrical terminals defined on the third substrate.   
     
     
         61 . The sensor of  claim 59  wherein the third substrate defines a third number of electrical terminals thereon,
 and further including means for electrically connecting at least others of the first number of electrically conductive pads defined on the second substrate to corresponding ones of the third number of electrical terminals defined on the third substrate.