US2011019824A1PendingUtilityA1

Low power radiofrequency (rf) communication systems for secure wireless patch initialization and methods of use

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Assignee: HMICRO INCPriority: Oct 24, 2007Filed: Oct 22, 2008Published: Jan 27, 2011
Est. expiryOct 24, 2027(~1.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Venkateswara Rao SattirajuAli NiknejadLouis Yun
H04W 12/33H04Q 9/00H04Q 2209/47A61M 2205/3592H04W 12/033H04L 63/061H04L 63/0428H04Q 2209/40H04W 12/02H04W 52/50
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Claims

Abstract

Provided herein is a wireless healthcare system comprising at least one sensor and a base unit adaptable to be in communication with the sensor. The sensor can be is adaptable to communicate with the base unit at a first power during formation of a communication link and is further adaptable to communicate with the base unit at a second power after the communication link has been formed, and wherein the sensor and base unit are components of a wireless healthcare system. The sensor can be a patch adaptable to be positioned on the surface of a patient. Further provided herein is a method of using the wireless healthcare system and kit.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A wireless healthcare system comprising:
 at least one sensor; and   a base unit adaptable to be in communication with the sensor,   wherein the sensor is adaptable to communicate with the base unit at a first power during formation of a communication link and is further adaptable to communicate with the base unit at a second power after the communication link has been formed, and wherein the sensor and base unit are components of a wireless healthcare system.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is a patch adaptable to be positioned on the surface of a patient. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 1  wherein the first power is a low power mode. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is adaptable to detect at least one physiological parameter from a patient. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 1  wherein the base unit is further adaptable to be in external communication with a network server. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 1  wherein the base unit is adaptable to be in wireless communication with the sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 1  further comprising more than one sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 1  wherein the base unit further comprises a power-amplifier. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 1  wherein the base unit is adaptable to select a first power level output level of −25 dBm for the power amplifier and is further adaptable to attenuate the output signal by another 60 dB. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 1  wherein the base unit further comprises an antenna. 
     
     
         11 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 10  wherein the antenna is adaptable to transmit power during the initialization phase of about −85 dBm. 
     
     
         12 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor further comprises a power-amplifier. 
     
     
         13 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is adaptable to select a first power level output level of −25 dBm for the power amplifier and is further adaptable to attenuate the output signal by another 60 dB. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor further comprises an antenna. 
     
     
         15 . The wireless healthcare system of  claim 14  wherein the antenna is adaptable to transmit power during the initialization phase of about −85 dBm. 
     
     
         16 . A method for encrypting data sent between a base unit and at least one sensor of a wireless healthcare system comprising:
 (a) bringing the at least one sensor of the wireless healthcare system proximate to the base unit of the wireless healthcare system when the communication link is in lower power mode;   (b) establishing an encrypted link between the sensor and the base unit; and   (c) increasing the power level to a higher power after the link has been formed between the sensor and base unit.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the healthcare systems further comprises more than one sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of establishing an encrypted link between the base and the more than one sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of transmitting patient information from the sensor to the base unit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the establishing step comprises selecting an initial low power level and attenuating the output level. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the establishing step further comprises the steps of:
 (a) sending a beacon from the base unit to the at least one sensor to establish a communication channel; 
 (b) receiving the beacon with the at least one sensor; 
 (c) sending a key continuously from the at least one sensor; 
 (d) receiving the key with the base unit; 
 (e) sending the key from the base unit to the at least one sensor; 
 (f) receiving the key with the at least one sensor and notifying the base unit to encrypt the communication channel; and 
 (g) receiving the notification from the base unit and switching the base unit to the at least one sensor communication link to the encrypted link. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the key is selected from at least one of a phone number, retinal scan, fingerprint, or biometric information. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of transmitting patient information to a network server. 
     
     
         24 . A kit for transmitting sensitive physiological data from a patient to a host device comprising:
 (h) at least on sensor adaptable to be positioned on a patient; and   (i) a base unit in communication with the at least one sensor,   wherein the sensor is adaptable to communicate with the base unit at a first power during formation of a communication link and is further adaptable to communicate with the base unit at a second power after the communication link has been formed, and wherein the sensor and base unit are components of a wireless healthcare system.   
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 24  further comprising more than one sensor.

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