Two-part patch sensor for monitoring vital signs

Abstract

A two-component monitoring device and system for monitoring blood pressure from a patient is disclosed herein. The two-component monitoring device includes a disposable component and a main component. The disposable component features: i) a backing structure having a first aperture; and ii) first and second electrodes, each electrode connected to the backing structure and including an electrical lead and a conductive electrode material, and configured to generate an electrical signal that passes through the electrical lead when the conductive electrode material contacts the patient. The main component includes: i) first and second connectors configured to connect to the first and second electrical leads to receive the first and second electrical signals; and ii) an optical component comprising a light source that generates optical radiation and a photodetector that detects the optical radiation. The optical component inserts into the first aperture of the disposable component. The main component optionally includes an acoustic sensor. The system utilizes a processing device, connected to the monitoring device by a cable which receives and processes a plurality of signals to determine real-time blood-pressure values for the patient.

1 . A system for monitoring a left ventricular ejection time from a patient, the system comprising:
 a monitoring device comprising:
 a patch sensor component comprising:
 i) a backing structure, 
 ii) a first electrode and a second electrode, each of the first and second electrodes connected to the backing structure and comprising an electrical lead in contact with a conductive electrode material, the first electrode configured to measure a first signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the first electrode, and the second electrode configured to measure a second signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the second electrode, 
 iii) an acoustic sensor comprised by the backing structure and configured to measure a physiological property from the patient to generate a third signal, 
 iv) an optical component comprising a light source that generates optical radiation and a photodectector that detects the optical radiation and generates a fourth signal, and, 
 
   a processing device configured to receive and collectively process the first signal or a processed version thereof, the second signal or a processed version thereof, and the third signal or a processed version thereof, and the fourth signal or a processed version thereof to determine the left ventricular ejection time for the patient, and   a cable for transmitting signals between the monitoring device and the processing device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is disposed at a first end of the backing structure, and the second electrode is disposed at on opposing second end of the backing structure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical lead of each of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a metal component. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the metal component is substantially cylindrical and configured to removably connect with the first connector or second connector of the main component. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the metal component further comprises and Ag/AgCl coating. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the conductive electrode material is a conductive solid gel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the conductive electrode material is a conductive liquid gel. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the backing structure is a flexible foam material. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the backing structure further comprises an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the backing structure has an aperture, and the acoustic sensor is configured to insert into the aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the backing structure further comprises an impedance-matching gel disposed over the aperature. 
     
     
         12 . A monitoring device comprising:
 i) a backing structure;   ii) a first electrode and a second electrode, each of the first and second electrodes disposed on the backing structure and comprising an electrical lead in contact with a conductive electrode material, the first electrode configured to generate a first signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the first electrode, and the second electrode configured to generate a second signal from the patient that passes through the conductive electrode material and the electrical lead of the second electrode;   iii) an acoustic sensor comprised by the backing structure and configured to measure a physiological property from the patient to generate a third signal;   iv) a first connector and a second connector, the first connector configured to removably connect to the first electrode to receive the first signal and the second connector configured to removably connect to the second electrode to receive the second signal, and   v) an optical component comprising a light source that generates optical radiation and a photodector that detects the optical radiation and generates a fourth signal; and   
       a processing device configured to receive and collectively process the first signal or a processed version thereof, the second electrode connects to a second portion of the backing material. 
     
     
         13 . The monitoring device of  claim 12 , wherein the first electrode connects to a first portion of the backing structure, and the second electrode connects to a second portion of the backing material. 
     
     
         14 . The monitoring device of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second electrical leads comprises a metal component. 
     
     
         15 . The monitoring device of  claim 14 , wherein the metal component comprises a substantially cylindrical component configured to snap into a connector comprised by the circuit board component. 
     
     
         16 . The monitoring device of  claim 14 , wherein the metal component comprises an Ag/AgCl coating. 
     
     
         17 . The monitoring device of  claim 12 , wherein the conductive electrode comprises a conductive gel. 
     
     
         18 . The monitoring device of  claim 12 , wherein the backing structure comprises a flexible foam material. 
     
     
         19 . The monitoring device of  claim 12 , wherein the backing structure further comprises an adhesive layer.