Systems for detecting fluid changes and sensor devices therefor

Abstract

A sensor device for detecting a change in fluid level within body tissue comprising a housing with bridge segments connecting at intersections arranged to circumscribe an opening. Further, antenna elements are partially seated within the housing at intersections of bridge segments, comprise a generally planar antenna mounted to a substrate material at a base of the planar antenna, and an electrical shield surrounding the substrate. Also, an outer surface of the planar antenna faces away from the substrate. The antenna elements comprise at least first and second antenna element pairs having transmitting and receiving antenna elements and a bridging segment. A high sensitivity zone is formed between the transmitting antenna and receiving antenna. The antenna element pairs are spaced to create an area of reduced sensitivity between the high sensitivity zones, and the space is set so that the sensor is insensitive to fluid changes of a predetermined volume.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A system for wirelessly communicating a change in the level of fluid within tissue of a body, the system comprising:
 a sensor device for detecting a change in the level of fluid within the tissue;   a transmitter in operative connection with the sensor device for receiving therefrom a signal indicative of the change in the level of fluid within the tissue and for transmitting a wireless signal indicative of the change in level of fluid; and   a remote receiver for receiving the wireless signal transmitted by the transmitter.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the remote receiver comprises an indicator to provide an alert of a state determined from the received wireless signal. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the sensor device comprises:
 a housing having a plurality of bridge segments, the bridge segments connecting at intersections and being arranged to circumscribe an opening defined by the housing; and 
 a plurality of antenna elements at least partially seated within the housing at intersections of the bridge segments, each of the plurality of antenna elements comprising a generally planar antenna mounted to a substrate material at a base of the planar antenna, an outer surface of the planar antenna facing away from the substrate, each of the plurality of antenna elements further comprising an electrical shield surrounding the substrate. 
 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the sensor device comprises:
 a first antenna pair comprising a first transmitting antenna element and a first receiving antenna element, the first transmitting antenna element being spaced from and connected to the first receiving antenna element by a first bridging segment; 
 at least a second antenna pair comprising a second transmitting antenna element and a second receiving antenna element, the second transmitting antenna element being spaced from and connected to the second receiving antenna element by a second bridging segment; 
 the first antenna pair and the second antenna pair being placed in spaced connection by a first spacing segment and a second spacing segment so that an open area is defined by the first antenna pair, the second antenna pair, the first spacing segment and the second spacing segment. 
 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the sensor device comprises:
 a first antenna pair comprising a first transmitting antenna element and a first receiving antenna element, the first transmitting antenna element being spaced from and connected to the first receiving antenna element by a first bridging segment; 
 at least a second antenna pair comprising a second transmitting antenna element and a second receiving antenna element, the second transmitting antenna element being spaced from and connected to the second receiving antenna element by a second bridging segment; 
 wherein the first antenna pair is spaced from the second antenna pair by at least one spacing segment so that an area of reduced sensitivity is created in the space between the first antenna pair and the second antenna pair. 
 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the sensor device further comprises an attachment mechanism to operably attach the sensor device to the tissue of the body, the attachment mechanism comprising:
 an adhesive portion defining a cutout region generally coextensive with the open area, the adhesive portion having one side thereof coated with a first adhesive adapted to removably attach to the tissue and an opposite side thereof coated with a second adhesive adapted to attach to the sensor device. 
 
     
     
         32 . The sensor of  claim 31  wherein the attachment mechanism further comprises a release band affixed to a perimeter of the adhesive portion, the release band being generally free of adhesive. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein said first adhesive provides less adhesion than said second adhesive. 
     
     
         34 - 48 . (canceled)