IL209211A - Sensing device for acquiring signals and computing measurements - Google Patents

Description

OPTICAL SENSOR APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING SAME CLAIM OF PRIORITY This claims priority from entitled OPTICAL SENSOR APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING entitled MOTION SENSOR APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING entitled HEART MONITORING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING entitled AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A HEALTH all filed on May and entitled MOTION SENSOR APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING filed on September all by the same inventor and all applications incorporated herein by reference in their FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to sensing devices more to sensing devices for locating measuring BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION For medical in vivo parameters of a patient may need to be monitored over a period of Heart arrhythmias are changes in the normal sequence of electrical impulses that cause the heart to pump blood through the Continuous monitoring may be required to detect arrhythmias because abnormal heart impulse changes might only occur With continuous medical personnel can characterize cardiac conditions and establish a proper course of One prior art device that measures heart rate is the monitor by Medtronic This device comprises an implantable heart monitor for in determining if syncope in a patient is related to a heart rhythm The Reveal monitor continuously monitors the rate and rhythm of the heart for up to 14 After waking from a fainting the patient places a recording device external to the skin over the implanted Reveal monitor and presses a button to transfer data from the monitor to the recording The recording device is provided to a physician who analyzes the information stored therein to determine whether abnormal heart rhythm has been 2 The use of the recording device is neither automatic nor and therefore requires either the patient to be conscious or another intervention to transfer the information from the monitor to the recording Another known type of implantable monitoring device is a in which a transponder is implanted in a patient and is subsequently accessed with a electromagnetic reader in a An example of the latter type of device is described in A sensing device a method of acquiring signals and computing measurements according to one embodiment of the invention are disclosed The sensing device comprises a sensor assembly a computing The sensor assembly includes a plurality of emitters and a plural ity of detectors for generating a plurality of The emitters and detectors face one side of a A computing device operates the plurality of emitters and detectors and processes the plurality of signals to obtain measurement The sensor assembly and computing device are enclosed in a One embodiment of a method according to the invention includes the steps of providing a sensor device such as the one described in the paragraph operating the plurality of emitters and detectors to obtain a plurality of processing the signals to obtain measurement and analyzing the measurement values to obtain parameter values indicative of a characteristic of least one of the vessel and the Another embodiment according tc the invention discloses a device for optically measuring a characteristic of at least of a blood vessel and blood flowing through the blood The device a a sensor and a computing The sensor assembly is to the and includes a plurality of emitlers for emitting photons through a first side the housing and a plurality of detectors for receiving at least a portion of the emitted photons through the first side of the Each emitter is operationally paired with a separate detector and oriented such that a beam of photons emitted from the emitter that impinges upon a vessel adjacent the sensor assembly will partially reflect toward the paired each detector being configured to produce a signal representing the emitted photons received by the The computing device is configured to activate the plurality of emitters and interpret the signals from the detectors to determine the The features of this and the manner of attaining will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE Figures A is a schematic side view of a sensing device according to one embodiment of the Figures 1 B is an view of the sensing device of Figure 1 Figures 1 C is a perspective view of the sensing device of Figure 1 Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the sensing device of Figure 1 and a Figure 3 is a schematic p rspective view of a sensor assembly according to one embodiment of the invention and a Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a sensor assembly according to embodiment of the a emitted and reflected Figures 5B and 50 are schematic side views of a sensor assembly according to one embodiment of the a large a small emitted and reflected Figures 6A and 6B are schematic front and side of a system adapted to communicate with the sensing device of Figure 1 Figure 7 is a of a method according to the Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the several forms and such exempl ification is not to be construed as the scope or the invention in any DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The embodiments discussed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed the are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their A illustrates a sensing device 1 according to one embodiment of the Sensing device 1 generally includes a plurality of components including a sensor assembly a computing device a communication device and an energy storage device each of the components mounted on a board 80 and being in electronic communication with computing device The components enclosed in a housing Sensor assembly 2 includes an emitter array 100 having a plurality of emitters and a detector array 200 having a plurality of one embodiment according to the sensing device 1 is adapted to determine a physiological condition of a By it is meant a person or animal whose physiological is by sensing device Although the invention disclosed herein is described the the teachings disclosed herein are equally applicable in other contexts where compact data acquisition assemblies are desirable to perform measurements over For sensor assemblies according to the invention may be desirable in submersed or difficult to reach in dangerous in applications having weight and size in field research and so In one embodiment according to the sensing device 1 is implanted subcutaneously in the should be that sensing device 1 may be implanted at different locations various implantation For sensing device 1 may be implanted within the chest cavity beneath the Housing 90 may be formed in the shape of a circular or oval with dimensions roughly the same as two stacked quarter dollar Of housing 90 may be configured in a variety of other depending upon the It may include four outwardly projecting loops shown in for receiving sutures in order to fix the assembly subcutaneously within the More or fewer loops 92 may be provided depending WO 5 upon the shape of housing When so sensor assembly 2 is positioned facing inwardly while an energy which is described with particularity faces In another sensing device 1 is positioned externally to the A support member is provided to support sensing device 1 externally to the The support member may be permanently or temporarily coupled to sensing device 1 one the support comprises an adhesive layer for adhesively coupling the support member to the another the support member comprises a which may be for holding sensing device 1 against the Sensing device 1 may be implanted or positioned on the patient with the aid of an external mapping system such an ultrasound Proper placement ensures that a vessel of is located within the sensing range of sensing device 1 Where the vessel of interest is the sensing device 1 may be positioned on the chest or back of the patient in a location that reduces interference by the ribs of the measurements acquired in the manner described In one embodiment according to the sensing device 1 has a communication port for connecting exchanging with other Connector 85 is The operation of connector which is connected to other components of sensing device 1 through board described detail furlher below with reference to 6A and VESSEL DETECTOR In one embodiment to sensing device 1 senses parameters of the blood conveyed in a vessel such as a vein or an In an exemplary sensing Ί emits of electromagnetic energy in the Infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum and detects IR signals reflected from blood circulating in the vessel It should be that other types of electromagnetic energy may be employed consist with the teachings of the Sensing device 1 may emit IR beams at one or more frequencies selected for their ability to pass through the body with minimal inte erence or absorption by ihe body and to reflect from specific blood components selected for their ability to convey the desired blood parameters In the exemplary sensing device 1 emits infrared beams selected to reflect from which is the metalioprotein in red blood cel Photocell arrays may be utilized to emit and detect the IR beams As disclosed in deta il each array is displayed as having sixteen photocel ls arranged in a grid of four rows with four cells Under certain operating conditions described all of the photocells in emitter 0 beams while under other operating conditions each photocell emits a beam at a selected time to obtain specific information to conserve in yet photocell s are dispersed over the surface of the sensing device in including in arrangements where emitters and detectors are interspersed dispersed in alternating rows or columns of emitters and 2 illustrates relationsh ip a vessel 3 conveying blood 4 having haemoglobin in red i and a pa ir photocel emitter 101 and detector 201 or sensor assembly Sensor assembly 2 be selecteo from the 8572 family of optical sensors manufactured by Emitter emits a beam of photons including photon 101 As described 1 ur detail with reference to a portion of the photons in the beam pass through vessel and a portion are reflected as a reflected in this example including photon Receptor 2D 1 receives the reflected Computing device 20 directs emitter to emit the beam the time required for cell 201 to detect the reflected The beam travels through tissue at a known constant The distance from midpoint photocell 10 and 201 on centerline 8 to vessel shown as arrow may calculated from travel time between emission and detection and the geometrical relationship photocells 1 and In one one or more lenses may be included to at least the beams emitted by emitter such that dimensions of the beams remain constant to within a small of their original dimension over the distance of travel of the A collimator may be included o focus created by each Emitter beams may then be correlated to signals produced by detectors to provide additional information about the 3 4 illustrate one a sensor assembly 2 comprising transmitters and receivers positioned in emitter array and detector array Emitter array includes sixteen emitters 101 disposed in a matrix and may emit sixteen beams as directed by computing device For in 3 only emitted beam 10 from emitter is A portion of beam is reflected from vessel 3 as reflected beam Numeral 7 represents a portion of beam 10 that was not reflected by Detector array 200 includes sixteen detectors 201 disposed in a Detector array 200 receives the photons in reflected beam More in this example detector 204 receives photons in reflected beam 1 Although an square matrix is shown comprising four rows of four cells more or fewer cells may be disposed in sensor assembly 2 depending on the size of the the desired precision and the distance between sensor assembly 2 and the target Enough must be to provide a reflected beam suitable for its intended In another each comprises 25 In yet another each array comprises 12 The number of cells in the emitter and detector and the size ci need not Additional detectors may be added to the detector array to increase of the mapping ov a vessel as is described further In the detectors detector array 2ϋϋ are square and the length of each side is 1 In another each side The width of an emitted beam may widen with For a may widen to about mm when the beam impinges a vessel located at a distance of 10 Fig 4 illustrates a view of schematic representation of sensor assembly 2 depicted in It should be understood that each of emitter array 100 is paired with a corresponding detector detector array More emitter 101 is paired with detector emitter paired detector emitter is paired with detector and emitter 1 paired with detector 2 i e other emitters and detectors are paired in a in embodiment of the the angle between an emitter and detector the same for each As emitted beam 1 is directed toward if it vessel reflected beam 1 is received by detector For each sensor assembly the angle formed by emitted beam 113E and reflected beam as the formed by the emitted and reflected beams of WO the other emitter ceil detector cell This angle is referred to herein as the common It should be that a variety of different sensor assemblies 2 may be constructed having common angles between their respective emitter and detector For the common angle between the cells of emitter array 100 and the paired cells of detector array 200 of Fig 4 may bft In another sensor assembly 2 configured to penetrate farther into the the common angle between the pairs may be 30 The of the patient may determine the appropriate sensor assembly 2 to For 1 is implanted subcutaneously in a very thin or very the distance sensor assembly 2 and vessel 3 of interest may be small the corresponding distance in a very heavy or very large sensor assembly 2 naving a larger common angle between emitters and paired detectors will be for while a sensor assembly 2 with a smaller common angle appropriate for the heavy It should further be understood in some emitter array 100 and detector array may be in g device 1 at an angle relative to one In 4 emitter airay a d detector array are at an angle of zero relative to one As a of size or desired mounting locations for emitter array and ihe arrays be tilted toward one another as shown in dotted lines in the are representations of sensor assembly 2 depicted in 4 with the addition of a small orienteo perpendicularly to vessel In only the cells along the outer of emitter array ano array 200 are Each of the emitter cells 1 emits Vessel 12 is shown in because it is farther into tne and not impinged upon by any of the emitted beams i 1 As emitted beam 10 misses both vessels 3 arid no reflected beam is detected by detector 201 A portion of beam vessel A portion of the photons that impinge upon vessel 3 reflected detected fit as reflected beam All of emitted beam impinges upon vessel The portion of the photons of emitted beam 109E that are reflected by the haemoglobin in vessel 3 are detected at detector 209 as reflected beam Like emitted beam only a poilion of emitted beam impinges upon vessel 3 to yield reflected beam at detector Relative to Fig Fig is a view farther into the page essentially of a plane through the second col umn of emitters 14 and the second column of detectors In this vessel 12 is shown in solid lines because it is located in the area illuminated by the emitted from emitters and When activated emitter 102 emits emitted beam w ich misses vessel 3 A portion of emitted beam vessel 2 portion of the impinging photons is reflected as reflected beam In of reflected beam is detected by detector 202 the location ol vassel As was the case with emitted beam 105E of Fig a emiited beam vessel another portion of l 1 before it reaches vessel Some of the photons impinging Yd are ss reflected beam which is not detected by detector portion of that impinges vessel 3 is smaller than the portion of beam that impi vessel 3 due to the interference of vessel As sucri the beam that is detected at detector 206 has less intensity than reflected detected at detector the interference of vessel results in reflected beam which reduce the number of photons at 210 and Fig 5C is view into trie page essentially of a plane through the third column of emitters and column of detectors 21 1 In 5C vessel Ί 2 is in it does not occupy the area ill uminated by emitted beams 1 1 As vessel 12 does not interfere with the emitted beams location of vessel 3 is the as shown in Fig the path of travel of emitted beams 1 1 and the characteristics of the resulting reflected beams 1 5R are the as the corresponding beams described with regard to WO According to one of the computing device 20 processes signals received from detector array 200 by and conditioning the signals to calculate measurement val ues corresponding to the or of the beams received by detector array In one computing device 20 digitizes analog signals generated by detector array In Tables 1 and 2 a value of 1 represents of full other value of 1 equals the power expected to be received by detector the corresponding cel l emits that encounters maximum interference with there flection a vessei 3 of In an alternative an electronic circui t is used to and conditioning the signals received detector array and the outpu t of the electronic circuit is provided to computing device 20 for processing In another device 20 evaluates and maps the measurement to the location and diameter of vessel as is further described In one embodiment according to a power signal is scaled to equate to a vessel portion having of centimeters action of full power represents l inearly a fraction or or of the vessel is calculated by adding measured values in a or column of detector as the case might The is identified measured in two or more or columns when vaiues are differ by less than In another the diameter is i when measured two or more or differ by less than Table 1 shows conceptual representation oi measured val ues corresponding to the depiction of vessei shown The val ues ind icate that none of the photons in the beams emitted from though were reflected and subsequently detected by the paired detectors through of array More photons were detected by cells in the second row fourth row and even more by cells in the third row As should be apparent from Table the signals detected in each column of detectors ai e According to the embodiment disclosed above where a full power equates to centimer the width or diameter of vessel 3 may be computed by multiplying the of each in a column by and adding together the resulting More the diameter of vessel 3 in this example is or Table 1 COL3 COL4 209 211 212 Table 2 shows a of values similar to Table 1 but correspondinn tn thn depiction of vessels 3 in The decreased values in column 2 corresponding to detectors and the interference caused by depicted Values in columns 3 and 4 differ by less than as shown they device 20 may disregard the signals in co 7 of vessel 2 using the signals in any of columns 1 3 or 4 in t Table 202 204 2 205 206 207 209 212 216 In one embodiment to the measurement values indicating the presence of vessels having diameters smaller than a predetermined size are or filtered to obtain a clearer representation of vessels of In one measurement values corresponding to vessel diameters smaller than 1 centimeter are In such an the vessel of interest is the which has a known approximate diameter upon physical of the that is substantially nearly other in the vicinity of the mounting location of sensing device Ί It should be understood that of a vessel and mapping its location in the described of emitters are activated in rapid While emitted shown simultaneously the various only one beam is emitted at a time to avoid beam overlays and generate a signal confounded by such By beam and receiving one reflected beam at the paired each provides information about the vessel Each signal represents the fence diffusion experienced by a single In one embodiment of the iws ually in a scanning beginning with emitter is followed sequentially until emitter 1 is In other other sequences When in array are the signal generated by each detector represents interference and diffusion axperienced by each In scanning provides information mopping the location and of a If biood in a vessel is fully blood wiil contain and det will generate signals representing full power blood is not fully detectors wiil generate signals representing less than full because occurs the oxygenation level Is constant during each scanning cycle the power differences of the beams received by each detector may be map the position and diameter of a vessel regardless of the oxygenation The of the pulmonary arter is vicinity of the is similar to the diameter the Ί to identify measure the diameter of the sensing device 1 must distinguish the artery and the as both will have a diameter that exceeds the predetermined difjmetcr threshold Sensing device 1 distinguishes between the two vessels measuring oxygen saturation of and selecting the vessel with the highest oxygen saturation which wil l always be the aorta as the pulmonary artery carries blood from the heat to the When making an oxygen saturation measu sensing device 1 activates all emitters 101 of array 100 sensing device 1 computes the position and diameter of a of as the by the scanning method already upon the dimensions of the vessel the geometrical relation between the emitter and arrays and the and physical acteristics of the emitter and detector arrays size of width of emitter disposition of emitters e i calcula tes maximum oxygen saturation value according to known diffusion the physiological characteristics each patiei sensing 1 calibrate the potential ue for each patient using stored memory of device Sensing device 1 then simultaneously emits beams from detects reflected beams at the detector and reflected In one sensing device the signals produced detectors recei photons reflected by the vessel divides aggregate by maximum potential value to obtain a saturation ratio which is represen ts the percentage saturation in the blood flowing through the In another sensing device Ί only activates emitters expected to produce beams that will impinge on vessel not activate emitters wnose beams will not impinge on to sensing device 1 only activates emitters to produce on the vessel and will not impinge on other energy simplify photon diffusion In a further sensing device 1 may selectively acti vate pairs of emitters and detectors to min imize the pairs activated to save Under operating i may perform an oxygen saturation twice per day Where abnormal situation is or when functioning a sensing device Ί may perform multiple oxygen saturation i a per of Although substantial electrical WO i4 power is consumed when very frequent the data acquired may be important to the health of the In one embod iment sensing device 1 also calculates cardiac As discussed detectors produce power signals representative of iron content in As the heart pumps oxygenated blood through the power signals A plurality of power signals may in rapid succession capture the power measurement Wore by many saturation measurements ten times per second over n of fifteen the saturation measurements will exhibit i or periodicity thai represents beating of the Computing device 20 may determine a ft such as a sinusoidal which c device may determine the frequency of of the curve to its Each period represents a cardiac the sarnpie period fifteen by an device determine pulse rate in terms of cardiac cycies computing stores cardiac pulse values normal and art abnormal or irreguiar cardiac rhythm by comparing cardiac pulse values In embodiment ol sensing device according to the sensor assembly 2 other of device are integrated with an implanted cardiac device such a an implantable cardioverter defibrillator COMPU TING Computing a plurality ol While components are described herein as they were components may be combined in a device such an appl ication Computing device 20 includes a a inputs The memory may but is not limited s memory or other memory The processor and memory may be constructed in an in tegrated The integrated circuit may include emitter array detector array and communication device WO 15 computing device may converters on an integrated be prcivided The represents computer instructions directing the processor to perform tasks responsive to data resides in the including reference data and also i the data may be stored in ROM or it may be stored RAM so it may bo modified over either in response to external inputs or slits measurement data over Protocols for to also Protocols may be stored in permanent memory ed in as and communication device 30 through inputs control power level of plurality oi beams emitted by ernitiers 101 16 to obtain the desired sst i of F ig 6A discloses a system for exchanging sensing device 1 System 3C0 i i having device connector 30 may include a co docking station 304 operabty coupled to computer cable in one of the system transmits and communication 2 sensing device 1 by device Connector 85 is to into docking Sensing device 1 is shown docked on docking device charge energy storage device The docking is operabiy computer 302 to update the programs and reference values in of computing device 20 pr ior to placing sensing device 1 or the in another sensing device 2 is positioned externally the operationally coupled to an energy source to power prevent depletion of energy device a further according to invention sensors and devices may be coupied to connector and devices may without additional sensor assemblies temperature pressure and or not include a computing Other devices may also be incorporated with sensing device 1 within housing An integrated sensing device is disclosed in the related Utility Patent Application titled HEART MONITORING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING The operation of sensing device 1 may be adapted to operate the additional sensors and devices by downloading into the memory of computing device 20 modified programs adapted to operate Downloading may occur while computing device 20 is docked in the docking new programs may be downloaded wirele sly through computing device 7 is a flowchart illustrating one routine of the program performed by computing device 20 according to one embodiment of the At step computing device 20 activates sensor assembly 2 such that all emitters 16 emit beams or the emitters sequentially emit individual depending upon the measurement being performed as described Step 400 also represents the procedure of generating signals at detectors 201 representing reflected At step computing device 20 processes the signals to obtain measurement Processing may involve removing inherent signal converting signals from analog to digital optical to digital and otherwise conditioning the detected some processing functions may be performed by circuits such as After measured values may be stored in memory or may be analyzed to determine whether the values should be Steps 400 and 402 may be repeated as necessary to obtain sufficient measurement values to calculate the desired parameters in accordance with the disclosure provided Steps 400 and 402 may be performed At step computing device 20 analyzes the measurement Analysis may include calculation of parameter data Parameter data refers to calculated values such as vessel diameter and oxygen cardiac Diagnosis refers to the comparison of parameter values to reference values to detect an abnormal condition the Reference data corresponds to a normal condition of the If an abnormal condition is computing device 20 may communicate an alert rather than communicating measurement values as they are collected unnecessary or waiting to transmit measurement values until the memory is full or a predetermined transmission time is reached the patient to unnecessary danger during the waiting Reference values may include target values and acceptable variation ranges or Parameter values may indicate an abnormality when they fall outside reference target values or In some parameter values may produce a statistic such for a moving and an abnormality would be detected when the parametric statistic differs from a reference statistic by than an expected If parameter data differs from expected values by more than a predetermined computing device 20 may initiate a new measurement cycle to verify the parametric data before diagnosing an In one computing device 20 the location and diameter when measured values differ from expected values by more than In another computing device 20 the position and diameter when measured values differ from expected values by more than One abnormal medical condition is low oxygen Computing device 20 may be configured to perform an analysis of the measurement values to for whether oxygen saturation values are too Although the value of oxygen saturation varies from patient to patient and depends upon the condition of the generally oxygen saturation measurement of less than is considered Another abnormal medical condition is irregular cardiac rhythm which may be detected in the manner described Additional abnormal medical conditions may be detected using values obtained externally or from additional Additional sensors which may be included in sensing device 1 are disclosed in the related Utility Patent Applications titled MOTION SENSOR APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING and HEART MONITORING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING In an embodiment where sensing device 1 includes a Doppler vessel diameter and location may be used to calculate the velocity of a fluid and the pumping Where the vessel is the these parameters may be used to calculate and diagnose an abnormal condition relating to cardiac Aorta parameters may be combined with systolic and WO 18 diastolic blood velocity values obtained with the Doppler sensor to calculate systolic and diastolic blood Other sensors may include an EGG sensor and a temperature At step computing device 20 transmits an alert if an abnormal condition is particularly a condition determined to be a serious or dangerous condition according to prescribed The alert may be used to actuate an alarm or to alert the patient to take remedial A remedial action may be terminating or reducing physical The alert may also provide global positioning information to an emergency Referring to the abnormal when found to be may also be displayed on a computer 302 transmitted via communication device 30 Nokia modem KNL to a The alert may comprise a text message or a code corresponding the Computing device 20 may also initiate a new measurement cycle and measure on a continuous basis in response to the detection of an abnormal At step computing device 20 may initiate a Sensing device 1 may through communication device an external command to perform a treatment response to the based on the an abnormal condition may also be used to direct a device adapted to provide treatment to deliver such Treatment may for an electric shock a drug At step the parameter values or other information are communicated to an external Step 410 may be performed concurrently with any of the above The parameter values may be stored in memory and transmitted wirelessly by communication device The communication signal from communication device 30 may be activated on a periodic in response to abnormal in response to an externally received whenever memory usage exceeds a predetermined or whenever the energy storage level is determined to be the latter two conditions established to prevent data loss as a result of memory overflow or energy It should also be understood that sensing device 1 may include communication devices in addition to communication device For where communication device 30 is a cellular sensing device 1 may also include a backup Bluetooth or F communication Such a backup device may be desirable lo provide alternative communication means in situations where cellular modems WO 19 are unable to transmit information due to low available poor reception of cellular or other communication poor network In such a computing device 20 may activate the backup communication device to transmit information or an alert to an alternate external receiving Step may be for once an abnormal condition has been detected so as to update a caregiver on a substantially Step may also be performed at regular such as once a once a once a Alternatively or in addition to these computing device 20 may be programmed to respond to requests for data received by communication device 30 from a health care by causing communication device 30 to transmit the requested data or information representing the requested The communication signal may be received by equipment near the patient to alert the patient to the or received remotely as over a by a healthcare or other predetermined COMMUNICATION DEVICE Referring again to a system adapted for transmitting and receiving a communication signal according to one embodiment of the invention is illustrated Communication device 30 is a communication via the cellular telephone system the GPS satellite Communication device 30 includes an antenna 32 for transmitting and receiving communication The communication identified by numeral travel wirelessly to and from one of a plurality of optional external communication An external communication device may be a computer 302 or any electronic device capable of wirelessly receiving a communication such as telephone which is exemplified herein as a cellular Telephone 306 may also be an emergency service switchboard or a hospital or medical center By communication signal is meant a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed to encode information in the By way of and not communication signals include other wireless and combinations of any of the An external communication device may also be a relay unit located externally of the clipped to the The relay unit may include a receiver lor receiving the transmissions from communication device and a transmitter for the communication signal to another external communication The relay unit may also be stationary and hardwired for connection to the internet or direct connection to a healthcare the relay unit may receive a communication signal from a healthcare provider and transmit the signal to communication device The communication signal from communication device 30 may include a voice a text measured The communication received by communication device 30 may include such as updated reference or A command may for instructions to computing device 20 for performing a task such as providing a treatment to the collecting and transmitting additional or updating the reference Additional embodiments of methods of communicating information according to the invention are disclosed in the related Utility Patent Application titled AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A HEALTH ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE Referring again to 1 C and a system for recharging energy storage device 40 may be provided in one embodiment according to the Computing device 20 receives energy from energy storage device Energy storage device 40 includes an energy storage component such as a sensing device 1 may also include an energy coupler for receiving energy from an external source to charge energy storage device One example of an energy coupler is an electromagnetic such as induction coils for receiving external electromagnetic signals 310 and converting such signals into electrical energy for recharging the energy storage An external electromagnetic device 308 generates electromagnetic signal which is received and converted into electrical energy by energy storage device Energy storage device 40 may provide a charge signal to computing device Computing device 20 may compare the charge signal to a reference charge signal and initiate a low charge communication si for alerting the patient healthcare a such as a voltage may be used to monitor the charge of energy storage device 40 and provide a signal to computing device 20 when the charge falls below a Electromagnetic device 308 may be placed near sensing device 1 to charge energy storage device Energy may or be provided in the form of ultrasonic For a piezoelectric transducer may be included in sensing device 1 An ultrasonic vibration may be provided The transducer generates electricity when driven by ultrasonic While this invention has been described as having an exemplary the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this This application is therefore intended to cover any or adaptations of the invention using its general this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention What is claimed 1 A sensing device for acquiring signals and computing measurements a sensor assembly including a plurality of emitters and a plurality of detectors for generating a plurality of the emitters and detectors facing one side of a a computing device operating the plurality of emitters and detectors and processing the plurality of signals to obtain measurement and a housing enclosing the sensor assembly and the computing The sensing device of claim 1 wherein the computing device includes an algorithm for computing parameter The sensing device of claim wherein the parameter values include a distance from the sensor assembly to a vessel and a diameter of the The sensing device of claim wherein the parameter values include parameters of a fluid conveyed by the insufficientOCRQuality

Claims (1)

1. 5. The sensing device of claim 4, wherein the fluid is blood. 6. The sensing device of claim 2, wherein the parameter values include at least one of aorta locat on, aorta diameter, oxygen saturation, and cardiac rhythm. 7. The sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured for subcutaneous implantation. 8. The sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of emitters are arranged in a matrix. 9. The sensing device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of detectors are arranged in a matrix. 10. The sensing device of claim 9, wherein the emitter matrix includes four rows of four emitters and the detector matrix includes four rows of four detectors. 11 . The sensing device of claim 1 , wherein each detector is operationally paired with a different emitter. 12. The sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the number of emitters in the plurality of emitters is different from the number of detectors in the plurality of detectors. 13. The sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the sensing device is dimensioned about the same as two stacked quarter dollar coins. 14. The sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly and the computing device are integrated in a single piece. 15. The sensing device of claim 1 , further including one or more communication devices for transmitting and receiving communication signals. 16. The sensing device of claim 15, wherein the communication device transmits and receives wireless communication signals. 17. The sensing device of claim 15, wherein the communication device includes a connector adapted to operably couple to one or more of a docking station and a second sensing device, 18. The sensing device of claim 16, wherein the sensor assembly, the computing device, and the one or more communication devices are integrated in a single piece. 19. The sensing device of claim 1 , further including an energy storage device for storing energy and powering the computing device and the sensor. 20. The sensing device of claim 19, wherein the energy storage device includes an energy coupler for receiving energy to recharge the energy storage device. 21 . A method for acquiring signals and computing measurements comprising : providing a sensing device including a plurality of photon emitters and detectors, the emitters emitting beams, the detectors detecting beams and generating a plural ity of signals corresponding to the detected beams, and the emitters and detectors facing a side of a vessel, and a computing device for operating the plurality of emitters and detectors; operating the pl urality of emitters and detectors to obtain a plurality of signals; processing the plurality of signals to obta in measurement values; and analyzing the measurement values to obtain parameter values indicative of a characteristic of at least one of the vessel and the fluid. WO 2(109/138880 PCT/IB2009/00(i078 24 22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the sensing device further includes a communication device, further including the steps of diagnosing a condition using at least one of the parameter values and performing a function in response to the diagnosing step. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the condition is an abnormal condition. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the function is communicating an alarm. 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the function is initiating a treatment. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the treatment is an electric shock. 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the treatment is delivering a drug. 28. The method of claim 22, wherein the function is communicating information on a periodic basis. 29. The method of claim 21 , wherein the operating step includes operating emitters and detectors in pairs to obtain measurement values. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein emitter and detector pairs are operated in succession. 31. The method of claim 29, wherein emitter and detector pairs are operated concurrently. 32. The method of claim 29, wherein operating step includes the steps of: operating the emitter and detector pairs in succession to obtain a first plurality of signals corresponding to a first parameter value; obtaining the first parameter value; selecting based on the first parameter value a plurality of emitter and detector pairs; and operating the selected emitter and detector pairs concurrently to obtain a second plurality of signals corresponding to a second parameter value. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the second parameter value is an oxygen saturation value. 34. A device for optically measuring a characteristic of at least one of a blood vessel and blood flowing through the blood vessel, the device including: a housing having a first side and a second side; a sensor assembly mounted to the housing and including a plurality of emitters for emitting photons through the first side of the housing and a plurality of detectors for receiving at least a portion of the emitted photons though the first side of the housing, each emitter being operationally paired with a separate detector and oriented such that a beam of photons emitted from the emitter that impinges upon a vessel adjacent the sensor assembly will partially reflect toward the paired detector, each detector being configured to produce a signal representing the emitted photons received by the detector; a computing device configured to activate the plurality of emitters and interpret the signals from the detectors to determine the characteristic. 35. The device of claim 34, wherein the characteristic is a diameter of the vessel . 36. The device of claim 34, wherein the characteristic is an oxygen saturation of the blood. 37. The device of claim 34, wherein each pair of emitters and detectors is positioned at an angle relative to one another, the angle being the same for all emitter and detector pairs. 38. The device of claim 34, wherein the computing device individually activates each of the plurality of emitters sequentially to determine the diameter of the vessel . 39. The device of claim 34, wherein the computing device activates all of the plurality of emitters simultaneously to determine the oxygen saturation of the blood.