SYSTEM FOR COMPARING THE PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF A PATIENT

Abstract

System for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, including: a primary detection device constituted by printed circuits arranged on a flexible support, adapted to be placed at a first skin portion to be diagnosed; the printed circuits including at least a matrix of temperature sensors and a microcontroller; a secondary detection device constituted by printed circuits arranged on a flexible support, adapted to be placed at a second skin portion, healthy, of a patient in order to detect the same data as the first skin portion; the printed circuits including at least a matrix of temperature sensors and microcontroller; a display device in order to allow the display of the data detected by the primary detection devices.

Claims

1. System for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, adapted to acquire, process and compare detected data relative to the parameters of skin vitality in at least a pair of distinct portions of the body of a patient; said system comprising at least: one primary detection device constituted by a first printed circuit and a second printed circuit arranged on a flexible support, adapted to be placed at a first skin portion to be diagnosed, healthy or damaged, of a patient; said first printed circuit comprising at least a matrix of temperature sensors adapted to send the detected temperature data to at least a microcontroller integrated in said second printed circuit; at least a secondary detection device constituted by a first printed circuit and a second printed circuit arranged on a flexible support, adapted to be placed at a second skin portion, healthy, of a patient in order to detect the same data as said first skin portion; said first printed circuit comprising at least a matrix of temperature sensors adapted to send the detected temperature data to at least a microcontroller integrated in said second printed circuit; a display device connected to said microcontrollers, wired or wireless, provided with at least a screen adapted to allow the display of the detected data by said primary detection device and by said at least a secondary detection device.

2. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of secondary detection devices adapted to detect the physiological parameters in a corresponding plurality of skin portions, sending the detected data to said display device.

3. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 1, wherein each detection device comprises at least an acidity sensor or matrix of acidity sensors adapted to detect the corresponding data regarding the pH of the skin portion on which said detection devices are positioned, sending the corresponding data to said display device.

4. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 1, wherein each detection device comprises at least an oxygenation sensor or matrix of oxygenation sensors adapted to detect the corresponding data regarding the skin oxygenation of the skin portion on which said detection devices are positioned, sending the corresponding data to said display device.

5. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 1, wherein at least said primary detection device comprises at least connection cable for each side, adapted to be reversibly engaged with a corresponding cable of an additional detection portion, each of which aggregable at one side of the perimeter of said primary detection device; each additional detection portion comprising a printed circuit with a matrix of sensors adapted to detect the same physiological parameters detected by the matrix of sensors comprised in the first printed circuit of the central portion of said primary detection device; said printed circuit of each additional portion being configured for being connected to the printed circuit of the central portion of the primary detection device by means of said connection cable, sending the detected data to the microcontroller of the aforesaid central portion of the primary detection device.

6. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 6, wherein at least a of said secondary detection devices comprises at least connection cable for each side, adapted to be reversibly engaged with a corresponding cable of an additional detection portion, each of which aggregable at one side of the perimeter of said secondary detection device; each additional detection portion comprising a printed circuit with a matrix of sensors adapted to detect the same physiological parameters detected by the matrix of sensors comprised in the first printed circuit of the central portion of said secondary detection device; said printed circuit of each additional portion being configured for being connected to the printed circuit of the central portion of the secondary detection device by means of said connection cable, sending the detected data to the microcontroller of the aforesaid central portion of the secondary detection device.

7. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 1, wherein said first printed circuit and said second printed circuit of each detection device comprise: a connector in which a flexible connection cable is inserted; a plurality of sensors arranged in a matrix of at least 16 lines by 32 columns; an MCU adapted to select said sensors one at a time, sending on a bus the number of the line and of the column to be selected and adapted to receive the measurement of the sensor by reading the output of a digital analog converter; selection devices adapted to activate the line and the corresponding column; a transistor in series with each sensor adapted to select the corresponding sensor; an NTC resistor adapted to connect the power supply to a resistive divider; said resistive divider adapted to acquire the current from said NTC resistor and generate a voltage; an LNA adapted to scale and translate the possible output voltages from said resistive divider in order to fully exploit the input dynamics of said digital analog converter.

8. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 1, wherein at least said primary detection device comprises USB interface means adapted to transmit the digitized data to other periphery devices.

9. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 1, wherein said flexible supports of said detection devices are made of polyimide so as to be adapted to any curve of the patient's body.

10. A method for diagnosing the state of perfusion of a wound or, on healthy skin, for the diagnosing disturbances of the blood circulation of a patient, the method comprising providing the system of claim 1, and applying the system to perform the diagnosing.

11. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 2, wherein each detection device comprises at least an acidity sensor or matrix of acidity sensors adapted to detect the corresponding data regarding the pH of the skin portion on which said detection devices are positioned, sending the corresponding data to said display device.

12. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 2, wherein each detection device comprises at least an oxygenation sensor or matrix of oxygenation sensors adapted to detect the corresponding data regarding the skin oxygenation of the skin portion on which said detection devices are positioned, sending the corresponding data to said display device.

13. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 3, wherein each detection device comprises at least an oxygenation sensor or matrix of oxygenation sensors adapted to detect the corresponding data regarding the skin oxygenation of the skin portion on which said detection devices are positioned, sending the corresponding data to said display device.

14. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 2, wherein at least said primary detection device comprises at least connection cable for each side, adapted to be reversibly engaged with a corresponding cable of an additional detection portion, each of which aggregable at one side of the perimeter of said primary detection device; each additional detection portion comprising a printed circuit with a matrix of sensors adapted to detect the same physiological parameters detected by the matrix of sensors comprised in the first printed circuit of the central portion of said primary detection device; said printed circuit of each additional portion being configured for being connected to the printed circuit of the central portion of the primary detection device by means of said connection cable, sending the detected data to the microcontroller of the aforesaid central portion of the primary detection device.

15. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 3, wherein at least said primary detection device comprises at least connection cable for each side, adapted to be reversibly engaged with a corresponding cable of an additional detection portion, each of which aggregable at one side of the perimeter of said primary detection device; each additional detection portion comprising a printed circuit with a matrix of sensors adapted to detect the same physiological parameters detected by the matrix of sensors comprised in the first printed circuit of the central portion of said primary detection device; said printed circuit of each additional portion being configured for being connected to the printed circuit of the central portion of the primary detection device by means of said connection cable, sending the detected data to the microcontroller of the aforesaid central portion of the primary detection device.

16. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 4, wherein at least said primary detection device comprises at least connection cable for each side, adapted to be reversibly engaged with a corresponding cable of an additional detection portion, each of which aggregable at one side of the perimeter of said primary detection device; each additional detection portion comprising a printed circuit with a matrix of sensors adapted to detect the same physiological parameters detected by the matrix of sensors comprised in the first printed circuit of the central portion of said primary detection device; said printed circuit of each additional portion being configured for being connected to the printed circuit of the central portion of the primary detection device by means of said connection cable, sending the detected data to the microcontroller of the aforesaid central portion of the primary detection device.

17. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 2, wherein said first printed circuit and said second printed circuit of each detection device comprise: a connector in which a flexible connection cable is inserted; a plurality of sensors arranged in a matrix of at least 16 lines by 32 columns; an MCU adapted to select said sensors one at a time, sending on a bus the number of the line and of the column to be selected and adapted to receive the measurement of the sensor by reading the output of a digital analog converter; selection devices adapted to activate the line and the corresponding column; a transistor in series with each sensor adapted to select the corresponding sensor; an NTC resistor adapted to connect the power supply to a resistive divider; said resistive divider adapted to acquire the current from said NTC resistor and generate a voltage; an LNA adapted to scale and translate the possible output voltages from said resistive divider in order to fully exploit the input dynamics of said digital analog converter.

18. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 3, wherein said first printed circuit and said second printed circuit of each detection device comprise: a connector in which a flexible connection cable is inserted; a plurality of sensors arranged in a matrix of at least 16 lines by 32 columns; an MCU adapted to select said sensors one at a time, sending on a bus the number of the line and of the column to be selected and adapted to receive the measurement of the sensor by reading the output of a digital analog converter; selection devices adapted to activate the line and the corresponding column; a transistor in series with each sensor adapted to select the corresponding sensor; an NTC resistor adapted to connect the power supply to a resistive divider; said resistive divider adapted to acquire the current from said NTC resistor and generate a voltage; an LNA adapted to scale and translate the possible output voltages from said resistive divider in order to fully exploit the input dynamics of said digital analog converter.

19. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 4, wherein said first printed circuit and said second printed circuit of each detection device comprise: a connector in which a flexible connection cable is inserted; a plurality of sensors arranged in a matrix of at least 16 lines by 32 columns; an MCU adapted to select said sensors one at a time, sending on a bus the number of the line and of the column to be selected and adapted to receive the measurement of the sensor by reading the output of a digital analog converter; selection devices adapted to activate the line and the corresponding column; a transistor in series with each sensor adapted to select the corresponding sensor; an NTC resistor adapted to connect the power supply to a resistive divider; said resistive divider adapted to acquire the current from said NTC resistor and generate a voltage; an LNA adapted to scale and translate the possible output voltages from said resistive divider in order to fully exploit the input dynamics of said digital analog converter.

20. The system for comparing the physiological parameters of a patient, according to claim 5, wherein said first printed circuit and said second printed circuit of each detection device comprise: a connector in which a flexible connection cable is inserted; a plurality of sensors arranged in a matrix of at least 16 lines by 32 columns; an MCU adapted to select said sensors one at a time, sending on a bus the number of the line and of the column to be selected and adapted to receive the measurement of the sensor by reading the output of a digital analog converter; selection devices adapted to activate the line and the corresponding column; a transistor in series with each sensor adapted to select the corresponding sensor; an NTC resistor adapted to connect the power supply to a resistive divider; said resistive divider adapted to acquire the current from said NTC resistor and generate a voltage; an LNA adapted to scale and translate the possible output voltages from said resistive divider in order to fully exploit the input dynamics of said digital analog converter.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] The invention will be described hereinbelow in at least a preferred embodiment by way of a non-limiting example with the aid of the enclosed figures, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 schematically shows all the components of the system, object of the present invention, in the embodiment in which the communication of the data to the display device occurs in wireless form.

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates in more detail the various electronic and sensor components of the primary detection device 10 (FIG. 2a) and of the secondary detection devices 20-20′ (FIG. 2b).

[0033] FIG. 3 shows in more detail one of the possible embodiments of the printed circuits 11-15 of the detection devices 10-20-20′.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The present invention will now be illustrated as a merely exemplifying but non-limiting or non-constraining embodiment, with reference to the figures which illustrate several embodiments relative to the present inventive concept.

[0035] With reference to FIG. 1, the essential components of the present invention are shown, i.e.: [0036] a primary detection device 10 constituted by a first printed circuit 11 and a second printed circuit 15 arranged on a flexible support made of polyimide so as to be adapted to any curve of the patient's body. Such primary detection device 10 is adapted to be placed at a first skin portion to be diagnosed, healthy or damaged, of a patient. [0037] a first secondary detection device 20 constituted by a first printed circuit 21 and a second printed circuit 25 arranged on a flexible support made of polyimide so as to be adapted to any curve of the body of the patient. Such secondary detection device 20 is adapted to be placed at a second skin portion to be compared, said second portion being healthy; [0038] a display device 50 connected in a wireless manner to the microcontrollers 16-26 26′ integrated in the detection devices 10-20-20′. The display device 50 is provided with at least a screen in order to allow the display of the data detected by the connected detection devices 10-20-20′, executing a comparison of the data detected on a healthy portion and that detected on the damaged portion or in any case on the portion to be diagnosed.

[0039] The present system can also comprise at least a second secondary detection device 20′ configured like the first secondary detection device 20 described above. From FIG. 1, one also infers the possibility to extend the area detected by each detection device 10-20-20′ by means of additional portions 35-35′-35″′-35″′; 45-45′-45″ -45″′ connected to the respective central portion by means of a connection cable 37-47 for each side of the perimeter of said detection devices 10-20-20′. Each additional detection portion 35-35′-35″-35″′; 45-45′-45″′-45″′ comprises a printed circuit with a matrix of sensors adapted to detect the same physiological parameters detected by the matrix of sensors comprised in the first printed circuit 11-21 of the central portion of said detection device 10-20-20′. The printed circuit of each additional portion 35-35′-35″-35″′; 45-45′-45″-45″′ is configured for being connected to the printed circuit of the central portion of the detection device 10-20-20′- . . . by means of said connection cable 37-47, sending the detected data to the respective microcontroller 16-26 and, finally, to the display device 50.

[0040] Entering into more detail in the technical operation of the printed circuits 11-15-21-25 of the detection devices 10-20-20′, these are preferably configured as follows.

[0041] A first printed circuit 11-21 comprises at least a matrix of temperature sensors 12-22, of acidity sensors (pH) 13-23 and of skin oxygenation sensors 14-24, as these are the physiological parameters which indicate the vitality of the skin. Said matrix comprising, preferably, 16 lines by 32 columns.

[0042] A connector 61, in which a flexible connection cable 60 is inserted, connects the first printed circuit 11-21 to the second printed circuit 15-25.

[0043] The second printed circuit 15-25 comprises: [0044] a MCU 63 adapted to select said sensors 12-22-13-23-14-24 one at a time, sending on a bus the number of the line and of the column to be selected and adapted to receive the measurement of the sensor by reading the output of a digital analog converter 64; [0045] selection devices 65 adapted to activate the line and the corresponding column; [0046] a transistor in series with each sensor 12-22-13-23-14-24 adapted to select the corresponding sensor 12-22-13-23-14-24; [0047] a NTC resistor in order to connect the power supply to a resistive divider 66; [0048] said resistive divider 66 adapted to acquire the current from said NTC resistor and generate a voltage; [0049] a LNA 67 adapted to scale and translate the possible output voltages from said resistive divider 66 in order to fully exploit the input dynamics of said digital analog converter 64. [0050] USB interface means 62 adapted to transmit the digitized information to other peripheral devices.

[0051] Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variations that are obvious to the man skilled in the art can be made to the invention, without departing from the protective scope that is provided by the enclosed claims.