ADHERENT DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSORS
An adherent device to monitor a patient comprises an adhesive patch to adhere to a skin of the patient, and at least four electrodes connected to the patch and capable of electrically coupling to the patient. The adherent device further includes impedance circuitry coupled to the at least four electrodes to measure a hydration signal of the patient and electrocardiogram circuitry coupled to at least two of the at least four electrodes to measure an electrocardiogram signal of the patient.
1 . An adherent device to monitor a patient, the device comprising:
an adhesive patch to adhere to a skin of the patient;
at least four electrodes connected to the patch and capable of electrically coupling to the patient;
impedance circuitry coupled to the at least four electrodes to measure a hydration signal of the patient; and
electrocardiogram circuitry coupled to at least two of the at least four electrodes to measure an electrocardiogram signal of the patient.
2 . The adherent device of claim 1 , wherein the at least four electrodes includes first and fourth outer electrodes located on opposite side of the adhesive patch and second and third inner electrodes.
3 . The adherent device of claim 2 , wherein the impedance circuitry is connected to drive a current between first and fourth outer electrodes and measure a voltage between second and third inner electrodes.
4 . The adherent device of claim 3 , wherein the electrocardiogram circuitry is coupled to the first and fourth outer electrodes.
5 . The adherent device of claim 4 , further including a first switch and second switch connected in series between the impedance circuitry and the first electrode and second electrode, wherein the first and second switch are closed when measuring the hydration signal and opened when measuring the electrocardiogram signal.
6 . The adherent device of claim 1 , further including an accelerometer mechanically coupled to the adhesive patch to generate an accelerometer signal in response to at least one of an activity or a position of the patient.
7 . The adherent device of claim 6 , wherein the adhesive patch is mechanically coupled to the at least four electrodes, the impedance circuitry, the electrocardiogram circuitry and the accelerometer, such that the patch is capable of supporting the at least four electrodes, the impedance circuitry, the electrocardiogram circuitry and the accelerometer when the adherent patch is adhered to the skin of the patient.
8 . The adherent device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a wireless communication circuitry coupled to the impedance circuitry, the electrocardiogram circuitry and the accelerometer to transmit to a remote center with a communication protocol at least one of the hydration signal, the electrocardiogram signal or the accelerometer signal.
9 . The adherent device of claim 8 , wherein wireless communication circuitry is configured to transmit the hydration signal, the electrocardiogram signal and the accelerometer signal to the remote center with a single wireless hop from the wireless communication circuitry to an intermediate device.
10 . The adherent device of claim 1 , wherein a maximum dimension across the at least four electrodes comprising no more than about eight inches, such that the at least four electrodes are capable of adhering to either a left side or a right side of the patient.
11 . The adherent device of claim 10 , wherein the maximum distance across the at least four electrodes comprises no more than about six inches.
12 . The adherent device of claim 10 , wherein the device comprises a maximum dimension across no more than about 8 inches and wherein the patch is capable of measuring the electrocardiogram and the impedance from a left side or a right side of the patient.
13 . A method of monitoring a patient, the method comprising:
adhering an adhesive patch to a skin of the patient to couple at least four electrodes to the skin of the patient;
measuring a hydration signal of the patient with impedance circuitry coupled to the at least four electrodes; and
measuring an electrocardiogram signal of the patient with electrocardiogram circuitry coupled to at least two of the at least four electrodes.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein measuring the hydration signal includes closing first and second switches to connect the impedance circuitry to one or more of the electrodes to drive a current through the one or more electrodes.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein measuring the electrocardiogram signal includes opening the first and second switches to disconnect the impedance circuitry from one or more of the electrodes.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further including:
measuring a signal from an accelerometer in response to at least one of an activity or position of the patient.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the adhesive patch supports the at least four electrodes, the impedance circuitry, the electrocardiogram circuitry and the accelerometer when the adherent patch is adhered to the skin of the patient.