Apparatus and method for monitoring physiological parameters using electrical measurements

1. A system for monitoring a physiological parameter comprising:

a substrate arranged to be removably securable to a biological organism;

a first drive electrode, a second drive electrode, a first detection electrode, a second detection electrode, and an RFID device having a chip with a unique identifier, each disposed on the substrate;

an RFID transceiver; and

wherein the RFID device is in electrical communication with each of the first drive electrode, the second drive electrode, the first detection electrode, and the second detection electrode,

wherein the RFID device is configured to provide an electrical signal to each of the first and second drive electrodes and the RFID device is configured to detect a voltage at each of the first and second detection electrodes,

wherein the RFID device is configured to determine a voltage profile based at least in part on the voltages detected at the first and second detection electrodes, and

wherein the RFID device is configured to determine the physiological parameter, which is a wound depth, by applying AC currents of varying frequency, and wherein the RFID transceiver is arranged to transmit radio signals to, and receive radio signals from, the RFID device.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the RFID device further comprises:

logic configured to determine an additional physiological parameter from the voltage profile; and

the additional physiological parameter includes at least one of: heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature, perspiration rate, the presence or level of bacteria, body hydration, blood oxygen levels or combinations thereof.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the RFID device further includes a memory device.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the RFID device includes an on-board power supply.

5. A system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the on-board power supply is a battery.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the RFID device is configured to determine the voltage profile at various wound depths.

7. A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal provided to the first drive electrode comprises a first voltage and the electrical signal provided to the second drive electrode comprises a second voltage.

8. A system for monitoring a physiological parameter, comprising a patch, a first drive electrode, a second drive electrode, a first detection electrode, a second detection electrode, a passive RFID apparatus, and an RFID transceiver; wherein:

the patch is arranged to be removably securable to a biological organism;

the first drive electrode and the first detection electrode are each coupled to the patch;

the second drive electrode is coupled to the patch and located proximate to the first drive electrode;

the second detection electrode is coupled to the patch and located proximate to the first detection electrode;

the first drive electrode, the second drive electrode, the first detection electrode, and the second detection electrode are coupled to the patch in a non-linear arrangement;

the RFID apparatus is coupled to the patch;

wherein the RFID apparatus is arranged to be in electrical communication with each of the first drive electrode, the second drive electrode, the first detection electrode, and the second detection electrode,

wherein the RFID apparatus is configured to provide an electrical signal to each of the first and second drive electrodes and the RFID apparatus is configured to detect a voltage at each of the first and second detection electrodes;

the RFID transceiver is arranged to transmit radio signals to, and receive radio signals from, the RFID apparatus and the RFID transceiver determines the physiological parameter from the received radio signals; and

wherein the RFID apparatus is configured to determine a wound depth by applying AC currents of varying frequency.

9. The system as provided in claim 8 , wherein the electrical signal provided to the first drive electrode comprises a first voltage and the electrical signal provided to the second drive electrode comprises second voltage.

10. The system as provided in claim 9 , wherein the first and second voltages are configured to create a voltage profile configured for monitoring of the physiological parameter.

11. The system as provided in claim 8 , wherein the RFID transceiver includes instructions to provide an additional electrical signal to evaluate the physiological parameter and the physiological parameter includes at least one of: heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature, perspiration rate, the presence or level of bacteria, body hydration, blood oxygen levels or combinations thereof.