FR2832817A1 - Wristwatch with medical function has additional module for detecting health parameters or applying medication through skin - Google Patents

Abstract

Wristwatch consists of two modules - a first module (12) with a normal time-keeping function, and an additional module (3) designed to monitor the health of the wearer or apply medication. Wristwatch consists of two modules - a first module (12) with a normal time-keeping function, and an additional module (3) designed to monitor the health of the wearer or apply medication. The two modules can occupy two different positions: one in which the second module is covered by the first to give the appearance of a normal watch, and a second in which the two modules are separate and the second module is exposed for access. The two modules can be interlinked, so that medication is applied through an applicator (G) at times transmitted by the watch.

Description

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The present invention relates to a watch for medical personnel designed so as to add to the conventional functions of a usual watch, a medical assistance function.

In general, we know that many solutions have already been proposed for adding, to the specific function of a watch, one or more additional functions.

Usually, each of these additional functions involves the creation of a watch case specific to this function.

By patent application FR No 00 17142, filed on December 26, 2000, the Applicant has already proposed a modular watch comprising at least: - a first module specific to the watch function, which includes all the means enabling all the usual time measurement and ancillary functions, and - an interchangeable additional module removably mounted on the first module, - means allowing the two modules to take at least two relative positions, namely:

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 - a first position in which the first module covers the additional module, giving the whole the appearance of a classic watch, - a second position in which the two modules are angularly offset and / or in translation with respect to one another to the other, in particular to allow the use of the function of the additional module.

The invention more particularly relates to the application of a watch of the type described in the aforementioned patent application to medical assistance.

To this end, it starts from the observation that a wristwatch is usually worn permanently by its owner. It occupies a particularly privileged location, easily accessible, and visible while not causing any discomfort. It is in permanent contact with the skin and surrounds a region of the body, namely the wrist, through which pass veins, arteries and nerves.

In addition, the watch provides hourly data which can be used both for the periodic control and the collection of information relating to the state of health of its owner as for the administration of medicines.

Given these two types of consideration (presence and location of the watch on the body of its wearer / intrinsic function of the watch), the invention proposes incorporating into the watch a medical assistance module, this module comprising means for detecting information and / or storing products, an interface coming into contact with the skin of the watch wearer, as well as means capable of transferring said information and / or said product between the skin and the assistance module.

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Advantageously, the above transfer will be made in relation to the hourly data provided by the watch. This can then be equipped with means making it possible to trigger the transfer automatically or semi-automatically at predetermined times, possibly programmed on the watch.

Likewise, the aforementioned module may be equipped with means making it possible to carry out a transfer of material as a function of the information transferred from the skin, intended for the assistance module. This information may consist of data relating to temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, etc.

This assistance module may include a reserve of medicinal products as well as means making it possible to deliver predetermined doses of these products. The interface may include an applicator allowing the doses of products thus prepared to be applied to the skin. The transfer of doses to the applicator may be triggered either by a mechanical action carried out by the wearer of the watch (for example a pressure) or automatically by the watch itself.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIGS. 1 and 2 represent respectively, in exploded perspective and in axial section, a modular watch comprising a removable module allowing topical administration of predetermined doses of drug products; Figure 3 is an axial section of a variant of the watch shown in Figures 1 and 2 but comprising a removable electronic module

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for reading temperature, pulse rate and blood pressure;
FIG. 4 is a schematic axial section illustrating the principle of another variant of the watch shown in FIG. 1.

In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the modular watch comprises a body made of two parts 1,2 hinged to one another.

The first part 1 consists of a base 3 of annular shape comprising, at two diametrically opposite locations, fastening devices 4,5 of a conventional watch strap 6. At the level of the fastening device, the base 3 comprises two protrusions 7,8 parallel constituting an articulation yoke which extends in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the base 3. At the level of the fixing device 4, the base also comprises two parallel protrusions 9,10 which are each provided with a retractable lug 11 against the action of elastic means.

The second part 2 of the body comprises a circular flat watch with a flat bottom 12 which is entirely autonomous. This watch 12 includes, at two diametrically opposite locations, two protrusions, namely: - an extension 13 provided with pins which engage in corresponding bores of the protrusions 7,8 so as to ensure the articulation of the watch 12 on the base 3, - an extension 14 similar to the extension 13 provided with two coaxial cavities 15, intended to come to engage between the two protrusions 9,10 by retracting the lugs 11, the blocking of the two parts then being ensured by the engagement of the pins 11 in the cavities 15.

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 The cavities 15 are shaped so that the unlocking of the two parts can be ensured by exerting a tilting force on the extension 14 to bring the lugs 11a the retracted state.

The annular base 3 defines a cylindrical space E open in the bottom and intended to receive a removable module M of corresponding cylindrical shape.

The blocking of this removable module M in the base 3 can be ensured, on the one hand, by means of an elastic ring partially engaging in a circular groove made in the cylindrical wall of the module. This ring is intended to come to engage in a corresponding groove provided in the internal cylindrical surface of the base. The shapes of the rod and the grooves are provided so as to allow the removable module M to be extracted by a simple pressure on the bottom of the module. Thanks to these provisions, the removable module is axially locked in the base while being able to freely pivot about its axis.

In this example, the module M consists of a cylindrical outer casing which has a stepped cylindrical central sleeve 16 delimiting with the cylindrical wall 17 of the casing an annular volume divided into several compartments CI to Cg by means of radial partitions 18.

Each of these compartments C1 to Cg contains a dose of liquid medicinal products to be administered to the wearer of the watch.

The underside of the module M is coated with a lining G of porous material which constitutes an applicator of the product contained in the compartments CI to Cg.

The module M is designed so as to come to engage in the cylindrical space in such a way that the lining G comes slightly projecting with respect to

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 the underside of the annular base 3. A slight detachment of the cylindrical surface of the base 3, associated with a shape complementary to the cylindrical surface of the module M, makes it possible to maintain the module in this position.

The back of watch 2 is equipped, in its central part, with a perforation device, here a tongue L intended to come to engage, when the watch is folded over the base, in the orifice 0 delimited by the sleeve 16 and to perforate, at the end of the stroke, the stage E of the central cylindrical sleeve so as to release the liquid contained in a compartment corresponding Ci to Cg at the location where the perforation was carried out.

Once this liquid is released, it is absorbed by the lining G which is permanently in contact with the skin. The product is therefore administered to the wearer of the watch intradermally.

To administer a new dose, it is necessary to open the watch, rotate the module so as to present the next compartment (not used) in the axis of the perforator and then close the watch.

Advantageously, the perforator can be retracted so as not to risk accidentally perforating a compartment. To this end, the tongue L may be articulated on the bottom of the watch so as to be able to assume an erased position, folded against the bottom and a projecting position relative to the bottom, capable of carrying out the perforation.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Thus, the removable module could comprise, as shown in FIG. 3, a temperature detector T and a pressure detector P arranged in orifices on the underside of the module M ', these two detectors being intended to come into contact with the skin of the watch wearer. The module M 'can then contain a connected microcontroller M

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 to the sensors T, P as well as a display A arranged at the upper face of the module M. Thus, the microcontroller will then be programmed so as to display the information detected by the sensors T, P on the display A.

Of course, to be able to read this information, it will be necessary to discover the upper face of the module by moving the watch relative to its support. In this example, this movement is obtained by rotating the body of the watch relative to the support 3, about an axis 20 parallel to the axis of the support 3 and to that of the watch.

Of course, the different functions performed by the watch and by those of the removable module M can be combined.

Thus, the watch can be designed so as to cause the administration of a product contained in module M at a date, an hour, or even a predetermined periodicity. Likewise, this product can be administered following the occurrence of a predetermined situation revealed by the information delivered by the sensors T, P equipping the module M.

For example, the product administered may consist of corticosteroids, in particular for the treatment of asthma, nitroglycerin for people suffering from angina pectoris, antibiotics for patients prone to infections. It may consist of an anti-tobacco or an anti-allergic product.

Advantageously, the module according to the invention may include a means for transmitting an alarm signal, for example an audio signal, in the case where the parameters detected by the detectors T, P reveal an abnormal situation.

Likewise, it may include means of applying a stimulus, for example a slight electrical pulse (or radiation, for example

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 laser) to trigger a physiological function, in the event that the above parameters reveal a predetermined situation.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the base 30 of the watch, of rectangular section, is connected to the watch module 31 by means of a connecting piece 32, in the form of a frame, coming to articulate at the level of its transverse edges 32 ′, 32 ", on the one hand, at a transverse edge 31 ′ of the watch module 31 and, on the other hand, at a transverse edge 30 ′ of the base 30 located opposite the edge 31 'of the module shows 31.

fermée, la pièce de liaison 32 se trouvant alors disposée entre le module montre 31 et l'embase 30. The two longitudinal edges of the base include two parallel flanges 33 which extend in projection and between which the watch module 31 can engage in the closed position of the watch. Latching means are provided on these flanges 33 to ensure a disconnectable attachment of the watch module 31 on the base 30 in this position

closed, the connecting piece 32 then being placed between the module shows 31 and the base 30.

In this case, the bracelet 34, which consists of a continuous band, is fixed by its ends on the transverse edge 31 "of the watch module 31 located opposite the edge 31 ′ and on the transverse edge 30 ″ of the base 30 opposite edge 30 '.

This assembly can take two positions, namely: on the one hand, the previously mentioned closed position in which the bracelet 34 and the watch form a reduced-size loop (corresponding to the dimensions of the wrist) and, on the other hand, a position deployed in which the bracelet 34 and the watch form a large-sized loop in which the hand can pass in order to arrange the entire bracelet / watch around the wrist.

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In a manner analogous to the examples described above, the base 30 delimits a space, here parallelepipedal, open in the bottom and intended to receive a removable module 35 of parallelepipedic shape serving to assist in medicalization.

Of course, the invention is not limited to a curative or preventive application. It could also be used for contraceptive use, a particularly advantageous application because of the periodicity of the treatment.

Claims (14)

claims 1. Watch for medical personnel comprising two modules, namely: a first module (2) specific to the watch function which includes all the means making it possible to ensure all the usual functions necessary for measuring time and its ancillary functions, and a second additional module (3), at least partially interchangeable, which is mounted on the first module, means being provided to allow the two modules to take at least two relative positions, namely: - a first position in which the first module (2) covers the second module (3) giving the whole the appearance of a classic watch, - a second position in which the two modules (2,3) are angularly offset and / or in translation l relative to each other, in particular to allow full use of the function of the additional module, characterized in that the additional module comprises a medical assistance module (M), this module e comprising means for detecting and / or storing products as well as an interface (G, T, P) coming into contact with the skin of the wearer of the watch and means suitable for transferring information and / or of material between the skin and the assistance module (M).  2. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the above transfer is carried out in relation to the time data provided by the first module (2).  3. Watch according to claim 2, characterized in that the first module (2) comprises means making it possible to automatically or semi-automatically initiate the transfer at predetermined times possibly programmed on the watch. <Desc / Clms Page number 11>  4. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the assistance module (M) is equipped with means making it possible to automatically or semi-automatically initiate the transfer of material according to the information transferred from the skin, to destination assistance module (M).  5. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid assistance module (M) comprises a reserve of medicinal products as well as means making it possible to deliver predetermined doses of these products.  6. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the above interface comprises an applicator (G) making it possible to apply the above doses of product to the skin.  7. Watch according to claim 6, characterized in that the transfer of doses to the applicator (G) is triggered either by a mechanical action on the watch, or automatically by the watch itself.  8. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second module comprises an annular base (3) provided with means for fixing the strap (6) of the watch and on which the first module is articulated, and in that that the base (3) delimits an open cylindrical space in the bottom and intended to receive the aforesaid assistance module (4).  9. Watch according to claim 8, characterized in that the assistance module comprises a casing, of cylindrical external shape, which has a stepped cylindrical central sleeve (16) <Desc / Clms Page number 12>  delimiting with the cylindrical wall of the container, an annular volume divided into several compartments (CI to Cg) by means of radial partitions (18), each of these compartments (CI to Cg) containing a dose of liquid product to be administered to the carrier of the shows, in that the underside of the assistance module (M) is coated with a lining (G) made of porous material which constitutes an applicator of the product contained in the compartments (Ci to Cs), and in that the bottom of the first module is equipped in its central part with a perforation device (L) capable of perforating a compartment (Ci to Cg) when the first module is folded over the base (3).  10. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for transmitting an alarm signal in the event that the parameters detected by the above-mentioned detection means (T, P) reveal a abnormal situation.  11. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for applying a stimulus to trigger a physiological function in the case where the parameters detected by the above-mentioned detection means reveal a predetermined situation.  12. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (30) of the watch is connected to a watch module (31) via a connecting piece in the form of a frame of which two opposite edges are articulate respectively on an edge (31 ') of the watch module and on an edge of the base located opposite the edge (31') of said watch module (31), and in that the watch strap (34) which consists of a continuous strip is fixed by its ends to opposite edges (31 ", 30") of the watch module and of the base. <Desc / Clms Page number 13>  13. Watch according to claim 12, characterized in that the base comprises two parallel longitudinal edges (33) extended by two flanges between which the watch module can come to engage in the closed position of the watch, latching means being provided on the flanges (33) to ensure a disconnectable attachment of the watch module on the base.  14. Watch according to one of claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the base (30) defines an open space in the bottom intended to receive a removable medical assistance module.