Patent abstracts

Citation

(2005), "Patent abstracts", Sensor Review, Vol. 25 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2005.08725dad.008

Patent abstracts

Keywords: Sensors, Acoustics, Medical equipment, Patents

Title: Acoustic medical sensor for ultrasound imagingApplicants: Dudik Evan M (US);Schutz Ron (US); Beck William A JR (US); Reinisch Dana (US); Daane Laurence A (US); Corbett Scott S III (US); Hoyt Joshua K (US); Park Eric (US); and Cooke Doug (US)Patent number: US2005096554Publication date: 5 May 2005

A finger mounted acoustic sensor. Various embodiments of the finger mounted acoustic sensors include sensors mounted within a casing designed to fit between fingers. The sensor may be rotated with respect to the casing. Other embodiments include mounting tubes for wearing on a finger. Sensors are embedded in the tube and on the rings such that they are easily positioned using technician's fingers. Other embodiments include rings for mounting sensors on and for steadying the sensors. The hand and finger mounted sensors may be used to provide necessary pressure to the sensor and yet provide a sensor that may be manipulated using hand and finger motion. In other embodiments sensors having a local disconnect are disclosed. Such disconnects may be attached to the clothing of a medical professional, attached via a wrist or armband or the like. Various sensor packages may be accompanied by the use of a flat or flex cable to minimize the torque necessary to manipulate the sensor. Such sensors can be used with a ultrasound platform for generating, processing and displaying ultrasound images.

Keywords: Medical equipment, Patents

Title: Health surveillance system comprising a medical diagnosisApplicant: Bleines Bruno (FR)Patent number: WO2005048160Publication date: 26 May 2005

The invention relates to a health surveillance system comprising a medical diagnosis which is made by a medically-qualified person in relation to a patient who is being monitored remotely, e.g. at home, via a communication network. The invention is characterised in that the medically-qualified person links medical data to health actions in a server using surveillance rules. The invention is further characterised in that the server programmes a remote terminal which is located close to the patient, such that the remote terminal uses an automatism which applies the surveillance rules to the medical data supplied to the terminal by at least one sensor which is associated with the patient and/or by a man/machine interface of the remote terminal and/or by a man/machine interface of a network station and/or by the network.

Keywords: Sensors, Patents

Title: Saliva-monitoring biosensor electrical toothbrushApplicant: Kuo Youti (US)Patent number: US2002127143Publication date: 12 September 2002

A biosensor electrical toothbrush having a brush head with a test channel and a renewable biosensor system within the test channel for performing routine saliva tests. The brush head stimulates saliva production and collection in the test channel where measurement signals are produced by sensors. The signals are transmitted for storage and analysis to a microprocessor that provides readable data signals reflective of the presence or quantitative level of a specific component of saliva. The brush handle contains the micro- processor, a display means, a battery, a motor and a reservoir for storing a reagent which is supplied in controlled quantities to the channel during saliva testing. The toothbrush is used to detect fertility periods, pregnancy, labor onset, alcohol concentration, blood glucose concentration and indicators that signal a need for comprehensive HIV testing. A test head without bristles may be used in place of a brush head to provide a saliva-monitoring oral device, which performs the same saliva tests as the electrical toothbrush. The bristles are replaced by an oral thermometer, a gum massage element or other element used for medical or dental functions.

Keywords: Sensors, Patents

Title: Afinity biosensor for monitoring biological processApplicant: Beaudoin Stephen P (US); Booksh Karl S (US); Khairallah Philip A (US); Loutfi Hassan (US); Panitch Alyssa (US)Patent number: US2004186359Publication date: 23 September 2004

An optical biosensor carries one or more affinity legends or binding members that bind specifically to a marker being monitored. Light directed along optic fibers illuminates a surface plasmon resonance (SPRN) probe surface on which is immobilized the binding member. A spectrophotometer receives light reflected back along the fiber optic path and provides wavelength information indicative of the absence or presence of surface plasmon resonance indicative of the bound marker in known SPR manner. The probe is used in vitro or in vivo. When used in vivo the fiberoptic light path comprises a catheter that directs the probe to an implant site. For in vivo implantation a housing houses the probe at the implant site and is adapted to filter out larger particles that would adversely affect with the spectral analysis. In one embodiment the probe has two regions on its surface. The first region has no immobilized binding member. The second region does have the binding member immobilized on it. Light returned from the first and second regions can be compared. The presence or absence of a marker bound by the binding member on the second surface is apparent in the similarity or dissimilarity of the spectral information returned from the two regions. The probe can monitor blood, spinal fluid, mucus membrane, wound tissue, implanted organs, urine and other substances for the presence of a marker which may be indicative of a medical condition in an animal or human subject.