Method, devices and systems for sensor with removable nodes

Abstract

An integrated adhesive sensor array includes an adhesive a patch, a sensor hub, and a detachable sensor pod packaged as a unit. The detachable sensor pod comprises means for sensing a first physical or physiological parameter of a body and means for establishing a first wireless communication link with athe integrated adhesive sensor array in response to the detachable sensor pod being detached from the integrated adhesive sensor array. The sensor hub comprises means for communicating, via a second wireless communication link, with a wireless receiver; means for communicating, via the second wireless communication link, with the detachable sensor pod; means for sensing a second physical or physiological parameter of the body; and means for transmitting, via the second wireless communication link, data indicative of the second physical or physiological parameter of the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An integrated adhesive sensor array for measuring a physical or physiological parameter of a body, comprising:
 a detachable sensor pod comprising:
 means for sensing a first physical or physiological parameter of a body; and 
 means for establishing a first wireless communication link with athe integrated adhesive sensor array in response to the detachable sensor pod being detached from the integrated adhesive sensor array; 
   a sensor hub, the sensor hub comprising:
 means for communicating, via a second wireless communication link, with a wireless receiver; 
 means for detachably coupling the detachable sensor pod with the sensor hub; 
 means for attaching at least the sensor hub directly to the body; 
 means for communicating, via the first wireless communication link, with the detachable sensor pod; 
 means for sensing a second physical or physiological parameter of the body; and 
 means for transmitting, via the second wireless communication link, data indicative of the second physical or physiological parameter of the body. 
   
     
     
         2 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 1 , further comprising means for generating a first indication of establishing of the second wireless communication link between the sensor hub and the wireless receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the detachable sensor pod comprises means for transmitting, via second wireless communication link, the data indicative of the first physical or physiological parameter of the body; and   the sensor hub comprises means for means for receiving, via the second wireless communication link, the data indicative of the first physical or physiological parameter of the body.   
     
     
         4 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor hub further comprises:
 means for establishing a third communication link with the detachable sensor pod in response to the detachable sensor pod being attached to the integrated adhesive sensor array.   
     
     
         6 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 4 , wherein the third communication link is a wired communication link. 
     
     
         7 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the detachable sensor pod comprises means for transmitting, via the wired communication link, the data indicative of the first physical or physiological parameter of the body to the sensor hub; and   the sensor hub comprises means for means for receiving, via the wired communication link, the data indicative of the first physical or physiological parameter of the body from the detachable sensor pod.   
     
     
         8 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for determining whether a position of the detachable sensor pod on the body, when not mechanically coupled to the sensor hub, is proper for measuring the first physical or physiological parameter; and   means for generating a second indication in response to determining whether the position of the detachable sensor pod on the body is proper for measuring the first physical or physiological parameter.   
     
     
         9 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 8 , wherein means for determining whether a position of the detachable sensor pod on the body is proper for measuring the first physical or physiological parameter comprises:
 means for comparing a signal from a sensor associated with the detachable sensor pod to a threshold value of an acceptable sensor signal; and   means for determining that the position of the detachable sensor pod on the body is proper in response to the signal from the sensor associated with the detachable sensor pod satisfying the threshold value of an acceptable sensor signal.   
     
     
         10 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 8 , wherein means for determining whether a position of the detachable sensor pod on the body is proper for measuring the first physical or physiological parameter comprises:
 means for determining a current location of the detachable sensor pod with respect to the body;   means for comparing the current location of the detachable sensor pod with respect to the body to a proper placement location for the detachable sensor pod; and   means for determining that the position of the detachable sensor pod on the body is proper based on a result of the comparing indicating that the current location of the detachable sensor pod comparing favorably to the proper placement location for the detachable sensor pod.   
     
     
         11 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 10 , wherein means for generating a second indication regarding whether the position of the detachable sensor pod on the body is proper for measuring the first physical or physiological parameter comprises:
 means for generating one of the second indication or a third indication based on whether the result of the comparing indicating that the current location of the detachable sensor pod compares favorably to the proper placement location.   
     
     
         12 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 8 , wherein means for generating a second indication regarding whether the position of the detachable sensor pod on the body is proper for measuring the first physical or physiological parameter comprises:
 means for comparing signals from a sensor on the detachable sensor pod to reference pattern associated with the physical or physiological parameter; and   means for determining that the position is proper based on a result of the comparing.   
     
     
         13 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor hub comprises means for determining a geographic location of the sensor hub. 
     
     
         14 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor hub comprises means for sensing movement of the sensor hub. 
     
     
         15 . The integrated adhesive sensor array of  claim 1 , wherein the second physical or physiological parameter comprises a measurement of a movement of the body.