Telemeter

Abstract: A medical radio telemetry system has a plurality of telemeters with one telemeter being located on each patient. Each telemeter is connected to the patient to collect data such as temperature, heart rate, pacer rate, respiration rate, brain activity level and blood pressure level. Each telemeter has a patient locator system that functions in conjunction with one or more room locator transmitters. The room locator transmitters are spaced in the rooms or area where the location of a patient is being monitored. A signal from the patient locator transmitter is passed to the patient telemeter. All signals received by the patient telemeter are transmitted to an antenna system that is connected to a receiver. Preferably, there is more than one antenna system with means for switching between the systems to obtain the best signal. Each telemeter has up to six channels so that six separate signals can be sent to the receiver simultaneously. The receiver is connected to a display means for the signals.

Abstract: An implantable intracranial pressure (ICP) telemetry transmitter. Data transmission is accomplished by means of a radio frequency (RF) link coupled to a silicon piezoresistive pressure transducer. Electrostatic bonding of this transducer onto a tubular glass support provides long-term stability, stress isolation and a hermetic package. Because of the large temperature coefficient of the electrostatically bonded pressure transducer (-6 to -9 mm Hg/°C.), a temperature sensor is added to allow temperature compensation to be carried out. Pulse code modulation is employed to assure accurate data transmission. Use of low duty cycle pulse powering techniques lowers the power consumption of the telemeter. The complexity of the electronics is reduced by the use of a custom integrated circuit. Two lithium batteries can provide more than one month of continuous operation and an RF command receiver provides ON/Off control of the telemeter to extend the lifetime of the telemeter.

Abstract: An optical interface incorporated into a multi-channel telemetry device used principally to provide data representing physiological conditions in a human subject. Information is transmitted without the need of a bio-compatible electrical connection via an optical link which conveys calibration parameters and commands to control the operation of the telemeter. The optical link is configured to reside completely on an integrated circuit chip. Of the three channels designed into the chip by means of appropriate electronic circuitry, one of the channels measures temperature and the other two channels are dedicated to develop generic information selectively derived from other physiological conditions. Calibration information that is programmed into the telemeter by means of the optical interface is retrieved by time division multiplexing with one of the generic channels.

Abstract: A telemeter for telemetry of diagnostic messages from a mobile asset to a remote station comprises a processor coupled to the output of one or more condition sensors. The processor converts the output of the condition sensors to a diagnostic message, and provides the diagnostic message at a processor output. A transmitter is coupled to the processor output. The transmitter is adapted to transmit the diagnostic messages in the Industrial, Scientific, Medical (ISM) frequency band. An exemplary embodiment of a telemetry system of the invention comprises a telemeter adapted to transmit diagnostic messages in the ISM frequency band, and a remote station including a receiver for receiving the diagnostic messages in the ISM band.