Integrated wireless patch for physiological monitoring

Abstract

A sensor system in accordance with the present invention comprises a plane member a plurality of electrodes within the plane member adapted to contact a human body to detect and monitor human generated voltages. The sensor can be applied to monitor a variety of applications relating to health disease progression fitness and wellness. Some of the specific applications include the monitoring of ECG EEG EMG glucose electrolytes body hydration dehydration tissue state and wounds. Various aspects of the invent aspects of the invention are shown by illustrating certain embodiments. Many other embodiments can be used to implement the invented schemes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor comprising:
 a plane member; and   a plurality of electrodes within the plane member and adapted to contact a human body to detect and monitor human generated voltages.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a contact electrode for a common connection and plurality electrodes for detecting and monitoring the human generated voltages. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the electrodes are arranged in an array. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor of  claim 3  wherein the array is any of a circular array, a linear array, a hex pattern, a radial array, and a rectangular array. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the sensor includes adhesive areas and non-adhesive areas. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein adhesive areas surround the plurality of electrodes and the non-adhesive areas separate at least a portion of the electrodes. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the sensor comprises an application specific integrated circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the total area of the sensor is less than 200 cm 2 . 
     
     
         9 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein each electrode has an area that is less than 10 cm 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the electrodes are measuring ECG signal. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the electrodes are measuring one physiological signal. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the electrodes are measuring multiple physiological signals. 
     
     
         13 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the sensor wirelessly communicates with a stationary patient monitoring device. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the sensor communicates with a mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the sensor processes on board clinical analysis algorithms. 
     
     
         16 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the sensor has a warning/output device. 
     
     
         17 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is integrated into a catheter, fluid bag, or container for a biological sample. 
     
     
         18 . A patch comprising:
 a plane member;   an electrode adapted to contact a human body for providing a common connection; and   at least one pair of electrodes arranged in an array which are adapted to contact a human body to detect and monitor human generated voltages.   
     
     
         19 . The sensor of  claim 17  wherein the at least one pair of electrodes are located on non-adhesive areas and are separated by adhesive areas. 
     
     
         20 . The sensor of  claim 17  wherein the at least one pair electrodes are located in adhesive areas and are separated by non-adhesive areas. 
     
     
         21 . The sensor of  claim 18  wherein the array is any of a circular array, a linear array, a hex pattern, a radial array, and a rectangular array. 
     
     
         22 . A sensor system comprising:
 a plane member;   a plurality of electrodes within the plane member and adapted to contact a human body to detect and monitor human generated voltages; and   a circuit for providing signals over a wireless link, wherein the circuit comprises: an amplifier for amplifying signals received from the electrodes; a filter for the signals; an analog to digital converter (ADC) for converting the signals to digital signals; a digital signal processor for processing the digital signals; and a radio for wirelessly transmitting the digital signals.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the amplifier detects differential signals from opposite pairs of electrodes. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the amplifier comprises a plurality of amplifiers and the filter wherein comprises a plurality of filters, wherein each of plurality of amplifiers detects differential signals from opposite pairs of electrodes. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22  which includes a multiplexer for receiving the signals from the plurality of filters and providing the signals to the analog to digital converter. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22  wherein a portion of the sensor system is disposable. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22  wherein a multiplexer is inserted between the plurality of electrodes and plurality of amplifiers