3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

University of Washington

Other

Hatim M Carim

Vivek Bharti

Vinod P Menon

Craig D Oster

Samuel G Netherly

Fred Lynn DeRoos

David W Osten

Thomas E Drummond

William Bedingham

Scott A Burton

Joel R Dufresne

Orlin Bruce Knudson

David P Erickson

James B Callis

William J Kelliher, Jr

Kevin R Katzenmaier

Michael J Rude

Bruce P Ekholm

Matthew T Scholz

Casey L Carlson

Jon A Kirschhoffer

Steven S Kantner

Christopher R Yungers

Brent R Hansen

Bradford L Blan

Michael R Arneson

Fred L Deroos

Patient support systems and methods for transferring patients and controlling patient temperature. The system can include a non-inflatable and self-supporting platform that can include a first surface and a second surface separated by a distance, a plurality of supporting structures that extends at least partially across the distance between the first surface and the second surface, a plenum, and a plurality of apertures formed through at least one of the first surface and the second surface and in fluid communication with the plenum. The system can further include a fluid source configured to move fluid into the plenum and out the plurality of apertures. A method of transferring a patient can include moving fluid into the plenum and out the plurality of apertures to form a fluid pallet. A method of controlling patient temperature can include moving a temperature-controlled fluid into the plenum and out the plurality of apertures.

Patient support systems and methods for transferring patients and controlling patient temperature

A biomedical sensor system. The system can include a sensor adapted to create a signal based on a physiological characteristic from a subject, and a hub adapted to receive the signal from the sensor. The signal can include at least one of an electromagnetic signal, an electrical signal, an acoustic signal, a mechanical signal, a thermal signal, and a chemical signal. The system can further include a connector adapted to couple the sensor and the hub, the connector having a variable length, such that the sensor and the hub can be positioned a variable distance apart by changing the length of the connector. The connector can be adapted to provide a pathway between the sensor and the hub for the signal. A method of applying a biomedical sensor system to a subject can include changing the length of the variable-length connector to provide an appropriate distance between the sensor and the hub, and coupling the sensor to the subject.

Biomedical sensor system

Power management circuitry of a portable electronic biosensor implements conditional power management logic to control biosensor power usage and to discriminate between intended use and nonuse of the biosensor by a clinician. The biosensor is configured to sense a property of the human body, such as a manifestation of acoustic energy produced by matter of biological origin or an action potential of the human body. An output signal is produced that is representative of the sensed property. A sensor of the biosensor produces a signal having a plurality of sensor signal features that are received by a detector of the power management circuitry. The power management circuitry or a processor of the biosensor discriminates between intended use and nonuse of the biosensor by the clinician using the sensor signal features. Power supplied to biosensor components is controlled based on the sensor signal features.

Power management for medical sensing devices employing multiple sensor signal feature detection

A modular electronic biosensor includes a housing configured for hand-held manipulation and a base module comprising a module interface configured to receive one of a multiplicity of disparate detachable modules, such as a transducer module and an output module. A transducer of the transducer module is configured to sense a property of the human body and the output module is configured to output a signal comprising transducer signal information. The module interface includes a module connector for receiving a connector of the detachable module to facilitate signal transmission therebetween, a mechanical retention mechanism configured to retentively engage the detachable module, and a sealing arrangement disposed to provide sealing between the base module and the detachable module when attached to the base module. A processor is coupled to the module connector and configured to communicatively couple with each of the detachable and interchangeable modules when attached to the base module.

Modular electronic biosensor with interface for receiving disparate modules

A stretchable conductive connector. The conductive connector can include a viscoelastic support member having a variable length, and a conductor coupled to the support member. The conductor can include at least one bend to accommodate the variable length of the viscoelastic support member.

Stretchable conductive connector

A sensor for sensing bioacoustic energy includes a housing comprising an interfacing portion configured to establish coupling with a body part during use. The sensor includes a transducer element coupled to the interfacing portion of the housing and configured to sense sounds produced by matter of biological origin. One or more conductors are coupled to the transducer element. A mass element is compliantly coupled to a surface of the transducer element. Intervening material is disposed between the transducer element surface and the mass element, and allows for differential motion between the transducer element surface and the mass element during excitation of the transducer element.

Weighted bioacoustic sensor and method of using same

A sensor for sensing bioacoustic energy includes a housing comprising an interfacing portion configured to establish coupling with a body part during use of the sensor. An anchoring arrangement is defined on the housing. A transducer member has an anchoring end and at least one free end. The anchoring end of the transducer is coupled to the housing such that the transducer member is arranged to be preferentially sensitive to bioacoustic energy transferred to the transducer via the interfacing portion relative to other portions of the housing.

Cantilevered bioacoustic sensor and method using same

A stethoscope is provided, comprising: a sound receiving member () for receiving sounds, the sound receiving member capable of transmitting sound received thereby; a head set coupled to the sound receiving member to receive sound transmitted by the sound receiving member; means for reducing frictional noise, said means associated with the sound receiving member to reduce noise caused by relative movement between a surface and the sound receiving member of the chestpiece in contact with the surface.

Stethoscope with frictional noise reduction

A biomedical electrode is disclosed that distributes current over the entire surface of a conductive polymeric sheet using a current spreading layer located on the upper surface of the conductive polymeric sheet (i.e., the surface facing away from the patient). The conductive polymeric sheet includes a conductive undercoating on its lower surface (i.e., the surface facing the patient). An electrolyte layer (e.g., a hydrogel pressure sensitive adhesive) is located on the bottom of the biomedical electrode, with the conductive undercoating located between the electrolyte layer and the conductive polymeric sheet. The biomedical electrode is in electrical communication with the patient's skin through the electrolyte layer.

Biomedical electrode with current spreading layer

A non-polarizable, silver/silver chloride biomedical electrode that is protected against corrosion during its shelf life by an organic corrosion retarding agent, preferably selected from the group consisting of mercaptans and azoles.

Corrosion prevention in biomedical electrodes

The present invention provides a power source for biomedical electrodes and other electronic devices comprising a galvanic cell in a state of partial construction. The galvanic cell generally comprises an anode conductor, a cathode conductor and electrolyte-containing substance. The anode is in electrical contact with a first quantity of electrically conductive medium and the cathode is in electrical contact with a second quantity of electrically conductive medium. The electrolyte-containing substance is separated from at least one of the anode or cathode until the cell is activated by allowing the electrolyte-containing substance to contact the anode and the cathode. Use of the galvanic cell in a drug delivery device is also disclosed.

Wireless electrode having activatable power cell

A universally functional biomedical electrode is disclosed, where the electrode has a resistive element that reduces edge effect by a redistribution of current within the electrode and in mammalian tissue contacting the electrode. In one embodiment, the electrode has at its perimeter in one layer the resistive element that provides a cross-sectional area to reduce edge effect regardless of the type of biomedical instrumentation connected thereto. With the construction of other layers suitable for multifunctional electrode usage, this electrode can serve as a single item in inventory at health facilities.

Universally functional biomedical electrode

A multi-functional, differing electrochemical potential biomedical electrode is disclosed. Several embodiments are described based on the difference in composition of multiple conductors, the difference in composition of fields of ionically conductive media, or both on a single insulative backing of a tab/pad style electrode. A galvanic circuit can be created from electrodes of the present invention, permitting self-restoration of defibrillation recovery of monitoring electrodes and the powering of iontophoretic delivery of pharmaceuticals, among other uses.

Growing community of inventors

West St. Paul, MN, United States of America

Hatim M Carim