Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Via monitoring a plurality of physiological data – e.g.,...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-11
2002-08-20
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Via monitoring a plurality of physiological data, e.g.,...
C600S490000, C600S493000, C600S500000, C600S529000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06436038
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This relates generally to a device for monitoring vital signs in animals and, more specifically, to a thermometer combined with pulse monitoring and a timer to aid in determining respirations in both large and small animals. This device may have a blood pressure monitor for some limited applications primarily in veterinary medicine office applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of devices have been proposed and developed to monitor vital signs in a patient. These range from simple digital thermometers to rather complicated devices that use light transmission to determine blood oxygen levels and pulse rates. Interestingly enough, there is some similarity in devices that are used in pediatric medicine with devices used in veterinary medicine. In both cases the patients cannot be reasoned with and consequently you cannot explain the need for an invasive, possibly painful, procedure and the patient may become restive, if not downright hostile, as the doctor, nurse, or technician goes about taking vital signs. Consequently, a wide variety of devices have been developed, both in human and veterinary medicine, to assist with these procedures.
For example, in Isaacson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,349, a transmittance pulse oximeter sensor is proposed requiring an off-set between the emitter and detector to increase the effective measuring distance for the arterial blood component leading to an improved signal and improved accuracy in the readings. This device is proposed for use not only for infants who often have the pulse oximeter placed on their ear, finger, or toe, where there is minimal tissue, but also for use in veterinary application to monitor small animals, again, whose optimal pulse oximeter location is the necessarily thin tongue tissue. In an animal application the animal would need to be anesthetized for this device to be used. This device measures arterial blood oxygen saturation as well as the pulse of the patient. However, it does nothing to check temperature, respiration rate, or blood pressure.
Noiles, U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,537, proposes a temperature pulse and respiration detector for oral use, including a therm opile and electrodes. The patient holds the housing in one hand and places the probe in his mouth. The therm opile detects the patient's temperature and respiration and the pulse rate is derived from the electrical activity sensed by the electrodes. This is for human use only.
Scanlon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,005, proposes using a transducer in communication with fluid in a pad to monitor acoustic signals transferred into the fluid. Typically, the acoustic signal may represent a heartbeat or breathing of a patient against whom the fluid pad is applied. Scanlon anticipates this could be used in a variety of applications, including monitoring for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), apnea, blood pressure cuffs, and the like.
Pollack, U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,328, proposes an animal monitoring device embedded in the animal to detect the deep body temperature of the animal and then transmit the data to a receiver which will record and monitor the condition of the animal. This could also be used to provide an identification signal providing ownership information and theft protection for stray animals.
Melnick et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,127, proposes an exercise treadmill primarily for horses, particularly thoroughbred race horses. A flexible sling passes underneath the abdominal area of the quadraped. A variety of sensors are placed throughout the device to monitor the condition of the race horse.
Aitken, U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,296, proposes a pressure sensitive transducer mounted on a rectal probe. The transducer detects pressure variations caused by respiration and by the pulse, which can be calculated and displayed on a console connected to the probe. The instrument also has a thermocouple to display temperature. This is a specialized device designed primarily to check the qualitative measurement of the athletic condition of race horses.
Craig, U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,147 discloses a combined thermometer and fecal sampling apparatus primarily for animal use. It allows fecal sampling and measurement of body temperature with one application. It simplifies the taking of temperature and fecal sampling requiring only one penetration of the rectal cavity, thus is less traumatic to the animal undergoing these procedures.
Despite these devices, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, a veterinary technician, or a pet owner may still have difficulty in obtaining the temperature, respiration, pulse, and blood pressure in a quick and usually non-invasive manner for an awake animal The usual procedure is to insert a rectal thermometer for a set period of time—one to two minutes. Then the thermometer must be held in place by the technician, doctor, or pet owner. It is difficult to take a pulse while holding the thermometer in place. For this reason, these separate vital signs are rarely taken at the same time. After the temperature is taken, the pulse then is taken by finding an artery and counting the heartbeats for some predetermined portion of a minute, say 15 seconds, then using an appropriate multiplication factor (four (4) for a 15-second count). It is necessary to use a stethoscope to perceive the heartbeat in some animals. The pulse rate per minute is determined. Likewise, respirations are counted by observation or by touch at an interval and again usually multiplies are used to arrive at a respiration rate for one minute. This procedure requires that two different observations occur at the same time—that is, that the pulse or respiration be counted while a second hand on a watch or on a wall clock is observed to be assure the appropriate time interval is determined. To take these different observations simultaneously is a skill that must be acquired. However, even for skillful clinicians, this can be difficult to do where the animal is restive or where there may be other distractions. Frequently, the count for the parameter observed (pulse rate or respirations) may be lost or the count of the elapsed time may be lost, or even more inaccurate readings are obtained because of a lost count on untimed intervals. For some animals, taking the measurements can result in the animal taking defensive action. For example, a horse may kick someone standing behind the horse. For zoo or wild animals the animal must be sedated, but the shorter sedation time the better. Thus, speeding the process of taking vital signs is a desirable outcome. Consequently, it would be an advance in the art to provide a quick and convenient device made of existing materials and technology that would simplify obtaining the vital signs of an animal being examined, including in most applications respiration, temperature, and pulse rate.
Blood pressure measurement in animals, especially small animals, is difficult Accurate blood pressure measurement can be done by an arterial puncture with a catheter with a pressure transducer, and monitor. This direct blood pressure measurement made inside the artery by the pressure transducer is accurate. However, this arterial puncture procedure is difficult in a conscious animal and for many animals being held while an artery is punctured and a catheter inserted may well change the blood pressure. This is the type of blood pressure measurements used in animals undergoing surgery that are anesthetized.
There are methods for indirect blood pressures. These are ordinarily used with a cuff constricting a peripheral artery on either a leg or the tail. A transducer is placed distal to the cuff to detect blood flow or arterial wall motion. A variety of technologies are used in the transducer to detect blood flow or arterial wall motion from which a blood pressure is calculated. An ultrasonic, oscillometric, or photoplethysmographic technology can be used for the transducer. The ultrasonic doppler technology detects blood flow as a change in the frequency of reflected sound due to motion of the underlying red blood cells. Oscillometric technology uses
Mauney Michael E.
Natnithithadha Navin
Shaver Kevin
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