WO2011161571A1

WO2011161571A1 - Device for monitoring an object, and method and system for monitoring and cooling an object

Info

Publication number: WO2011161571A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/052414
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kai Huang
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2010-06-22
Filing date: 2011-06-01
Publication date: 2011-12-29
Also published as: TW201208553A

Abstract

This invention relates to a method, a device and a system for monitoring and cooling an object. According to the invention, the device which is used for monitoring an object and which is connected with a cooling system for cooling the object, comprises: a measuring unit for measuring the conductivity distribution of the object; a determining unit for determining whether the conductivity distribution of the object or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are in a predefined range or not; a generating unit for generating a control signal if the determining unit determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are not in the predefined range; and a control unit for controlling the cooling system to cool the object to a predetermined temperature value according to the control signal. By introducing the control unit into the device, the cooling system can be automatically controlled and enabled by the measurement result of the device, so that the cooling system will lower the temperature of the object as soon as possible if the measurement of the device indicates the occurrence of injury of the object.

Description

DEVICE FOR MONITORING AN OBJECT, AND METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND COOLING AN OBJECT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to object monitoring, and particularly to a device for monitoring an object, and a method and a system for monitoring and cooling an object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

MIT (Magnetic Induction Tomography) is a non-invasive and contactless approach, suitable for biomedical applications. For example, ΜΓΓ devices may be used to monitor the brain of a patient by measuring the conductivity distribution thereof. If the change of MIT measurements is large enough, this may indicate the occurrence of a brain injury.

One application of MIT is to monitor the bleeding in the brain after neuro- surgery, and another potential application is to monitor the occurrence of secondary stroke events in patients sleeping at night. The American Heart Association reported that about 700,000 people suffer from a stroke each year in the U.S., and 33% of them are recurrent attacks. In addition, it was found in one study that 25% of the stroke events occur during a person's sleep. Another study revealed that in 54% of the stroke patients, stroke had its onset during sleep. These data shows that stroke happens often when people are asleep and not aware of it.

Further, it has been found that hypothermic therapy after brain injury is one method used to rescue neurons and other brain cells. Research indicates that cooling the brain tissue to a temperature of 30~34°C can lead to delayed neuronal and other cell death. Therefore, when a MIT device is used to monitor these kinds of patients and a brain injury is detected, the following actions have to be taken as soon as possible to protect the brain after a stroke or bleeding event, because the damage to brain cells is irreversible. Time is quite precious for stroke patients or patients with bleeds because the most effective therapy can only be delivered within a time window of - 3-6 hours after the onset of symptoms.

However, so far, an MIT device only outputs the result of its measurement on the screen and waits for the doctor or medical staff to proceed with the following procedure, so that the patient may not be treated in time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is on the basis of the insight that a cooling system should be controlled automatically by the measurement result of an object monitoring device, so that it can benefit stroke patients by delaying the death of brain cells and extending the precious time window, especially for patients suffering a stroke or bleed during their sleep. In addition, an alarm could be sent out if the measurement result indicates brain injury, so that the medical staff can treat the patient immediately.

The present invention provides a method, a device and system to fulfill the above concept.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it provides a device for monitoring an object, the device being connected with a cooling system for cooling the object, the device comprising: a measuring unit for measuring a conductivity distribution of the object; a determining unit for determining whether the conductivity distribution of the object or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are in a predefined range or not; a generating unit for generating a control signal if the determining unit determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are not in the predefined range; and a control unit for controlling the cooling system to cool the object to a predetermined temperature value according to the control signal.

In practice, the cooling system is automatically enabled by the measurement result of the device, so that the cooling system will lower the temperature of the object as soon as possible if the measurement of the device indicates the occurrence of injury of the object.

In an embodiment, the device is a Magnetic Induction Tomography (MIT) device.

In another embodiment, the generating unit is further adapted to generate and send out an alarm if the determining unit determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are not in a predefined range.

In this case, the object can be treated in time and the most effective therapy can be delivered within the precious time window.

In a further embodiment, the object is a human's head, and the predefined range and the predetermined temperature value are set according to the type of brain injury of the human's head and the personal health condition. Other objects and results of the present invention will become more apparent and will be easily understood from the following description made in combination with the

accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described and explained hereinafter in more detail in combination with embodiments and with reference to the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the device for monitoring an object according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a flowchart of the monitoring and cooling method according to the present invention; and

Fig. 3 shows the system for monitoring and cooling an object according to the present invention.

The same reference signs in the Figures indicate similar or corresponding features and/or functionalities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the device 10 for monitoring an object according to the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1, the device 10 comprises a measuring unit 11 for measuring a conductivity distribution of the object after receiving a MI (Measurement Instruction). The MI can be inputted through a button pressed by a user.

In an embodiment, the device may be a Magnetic Induction Tomography (ΜΓΓ) device and the object may be a human's head.

In this case, the measuring unit 11 may be used for measuring the conductivity distribution of the brain. As is well-known to those skilled in the art, other parameters may be conducted from the conductivity distribution measured by the measuring unit 11.

The device 10 further comprises a determining unit 12 for determining whether the conductivity distribution of the object or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are in a predefined range or not.

In other words, if the conductivity distribution of the object or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are not in a predefined range, this may be an indication of a brain injury, such as a stroke during sleeping hours or a bleed in the brain after neuro -surgery, and so on.

The device 10 further comprises a generating unit 13 for generating a control signal if the determining unit 12 determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are not in a predefined range. The device 10 further comprises a control unit 14 for controlling the cooling system CS to cool the object to a predetermined temperature value according to the control signal.

In one embodiment, the predefined range and the predetermined temperature value are set according to the type of brain injury of the human's head and the personal health condition.

Research indicates that cooling the brain tissue to a temperature of 30~34°C can lead to delayed neuronal and other cell death. Therefore, the predetermined temperature value is set in accordance with the type of brain injury, for example, a bleed after neuro-surgery or a stroke during sleeping hours. Further, the predetermined temperature value may also be set in accordance with the health condition of the patient, for example, blood pressure, heart rate, medical record of cardio-cerebral vascular disease, etc.

Similarly, the predefined range for the conductivity distribution of the object or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution may be set according to the type of brain injury of the human's head and the personal health condition.

As discussed above, since the cooling system may be automatically controlled and enabled by the measurement of an MIT device without the intervention of a doctor or medical staff, hypothermic therapy can be initiated as soon as possible to protect the brain.

In another embodiment, the generating unit 13 is further adapted to generate and send out an alarm if the determining unit determines that the conductivity distribution or the parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are not in the predefined range.

In this case, by generating and sending out an alarm to the medical staff or to relatives in the direct vicinity of the patient as soon as a brain injury is detected by the device, the patient can be treated in time and the most effective therapy can be delivered within the precious time window.

In another embodiment, the control unit 14 is further configured to keep the temperature value at the surface of the brain consistent with the environmental temperature if the determining unit 12 determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are in a predefined range.

Thus, in the case of a trivial brain injury that has healed by itself, for example, a trivial bleed, the measurement of the measuring unit 11 may be back to the predefined range and then the control unit 14 may control the cooling system to elevate the temperature of the object to room temperature, so that any side effects to the patient or severe low-temperature complications may be mitigated.

This may also happen if the measurement of the measuring unit 11 during a certain period of time is not accurate enough and the cooling system is activated inappropriately. In this case, if the measurement of the measuring unit 11 gets back to a normal value, the cooling system may elevate the temperature of the object to room temperature to protect the object from being treated inappropriately.

Please note that, although the present invention only takes an MIT device as an example of the device 10, it will readily occur to those skilled in the art that any device capable of monitoring the object and measuring the conductivity distribution of a human's head and then determining whether there is a brain injury, may be used, such as Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT), Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT), Electromagnetic Tomography (EMT), and Magnetic Resonance

Electrical Impedance Tomography (MREIT) devices. Fig. 2 is a flowchart of the method of monitoring and cooling an object according to the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 2, the method according to present invention comprises a step 21 of measuring a conductivity distribution of the object. The function of step 21 can be executed by the measuring unit 11.

The method further comprises a step 22 of determining whether the conductivity distribution of the object or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are in a predefined range or not. The function of step 22 can be executed by the determining unit 12.

The method further comprises a step 23 of generating a control signal if the step 22 of determining determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are not in a predefined range. The function of step 23 can be executed by the generating unit 13.

The method further comprises a step 24 of controlling a cooling system to cool the object to a predetermined temperature value according to the control signal. The function of step 24 can be executed by the control unit 14.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises a step 25 of generating and sending out an alarm if the step 22 of determining determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are not in the predefined range. The function of step 25 can be executed by the generating unit 13.

In an embodiment, the object is a human's head, and the predefined range and the predetermined temperature value are set according to the type of brain injury of the human's head and the personal health condition. In this case, the method may further comprise a step 26 of keeping the temperature value at the surface of the brain consistent with room temperature if the step 22 of determining determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are in the predefined range.

Fig. 3 shows a system for monitoring and cooling an object according to the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 3, the system according to the present invention comprises the ΜΓΓ device as mentioned above and a cooling system connected with the MIT device. In detail, the MIT device comprises basic MIT hardware 301, including magnetic emitting/receiving coils, shielding cover and other necessary components to monitor the object 302.

Further, the MIT device comprises a control unit 312, which is used for controlling the cooling system to cool the object to a predetermined temperature value according to the control signal generated by the MIT hardware 301.

Since the MIT device has been described above in detail, further description thereof is omitted herein.

Next, a cooling system adopted in the system for monitoring and cooling an object according to one embodiment of the present invention is described.

As shown in Fig. 3, the cooling system comprises a pillow 313 having heat conductive fluid 303 in the body 314 of the pillow and a tube system 316 having coolant 308 circulating therein and exchanging heat with the pillow 313 in order to cool the object 302, which in this example is a human's head. The cooling system may be configured so as to be a comfortable normal pillow when the sleeping patient is fine, while it starts protecting the brain of the patient as soon as possible when brain injury occurs by cooling the brain.

As shown, the body 314 of the pillow 313 further comprises an upper layer 304 adapted for supporting the object 302 and contacting the object 302 directly. The upper layer 304 is heat-conductive and soft. Inside the pillow 313, there is a through-hole adapted for containing the tube 307 of the tube system 316.

The tube system 316 comprises two different tubes. The one 307 inside the through- hole of the pillow 313 is made of heat-conductive material and the other one 306 outside the pillow 313 is made of an adiabatic, non-conductive and rigid material. As a result, the coolant 308 inside the tube 307 may exchange heat with the heat conductive fluid 303 in the pillow, and the coolant 308 will not be heated when passing through the tube 306 since it is made of adiabatic, non-conductive and rigid material, and thus the heat efficiency may be improved.

In one embodiment, the tube system 316 further comprises a cooling pump 310 for driving the coolant 308 circulating inside the tube system 316 and a control unit 309 for controlling the cooling pump 310 according to the control signal from the control unit 312 of the ΜΓΓ device.

In one embodiment, the pillow 313 further comprises at least one branch tube 315 made of an adiabatic, non-conductive and rigid material 305. Although two branch tubes 315 are shown on both sides of the object 302, those skilled in the art may easily understand that there may be only one ore more than two branch tubes 315, as required.

The branch tube 315 is capable of communicating with the body 314 of the pillow 313 such that when the object 302 lies down in the pillow 313, the upper layer 304 bends so as to form a cavity, causing the heat conductive fluid 303 to rise in the branch tube 315, thereby controlling the object 302 to be in a fixed position and the upper layer 304 of the pillow 313 being kept in close contact to the object 302 due to the force induced by the height difference of the heat conductive fluid 303.

Since the object 302 may be controlled so as to be in a fixed position and it will not move relative to the MIT device, the measurement precision of the MIT device may be improved. Further, since the upper layer 304 of the pillow 313 is kept in close contact to the object 302, the object 302 may be effectively cooled and thus the effect of delayed neuronal and other cell death may be enhanced.

In another embodiment, the system may further comprise a temperature sensor 311 for sensing the temperature value of the object 302.

As shown in Fig. 3, the temperature sensor 311 may be placed at the upper layer 304 or the surface of the brain as long as it can sense the temperature value at the surface of the brain.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention and that those skilled in the art will be able to design alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in a claim or in the description. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In the system claims enumerating several units, several of these units can be embodied by one and the same item of software and/or hardware. The usage of the words first, second and third, et cetera, does not indicate any ordering. These words are to be interpreted as names.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for monitoring an object, the device being connected with a cooling system for cooling the object, the device comprising: a measuring unit (11) for measuring a conductivity distribution of the object; a determining unit (12) for determining whether the conductivity distribution of the object or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are in a predefined range or not; a generating unit (13) for generating a control signal if the determining unit determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are not in the predefined range; and a control unit (14) for controlling the cooling system to cool the object to a predetermined temperature value according to the control signal.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a Magnetic Induction Tomography (MIT) device.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the generating unit (13) is further adapted to generate and send out an alarm if the determining unit (12) determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are not in the predefined range.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the object is a human's head, and the predefined range and the predetermined temperature value are set according to the type of brain injury of the human's head and the personal health condition.

5. A method of monitoring and cooling an object, comprising the steps of:

measuring (21) a conductivity distribution of the object; determining (22) whether the conductivity distribution of the object or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are in a predefined range or not; generating (23) a control signal if the step (22) of determining determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are not in the predefined range; and controlling (24) a cooling system to cool the object to a predetermined temperature value according to the control signal.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising a step (25) of generating and sending out an alarm if the step (22) of determining determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are not in the predefined range.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the object is a human's head and the predefined range and the predetermined temperature value are set according to the type of brain injury of the human's head and the personal health condition.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a step (26) of keeping the temperature value at the surface of the brain consistent with room temperature if the step (22) of determining determines that the conductivity distribution or parameters conducted from the conductivity distribution are in the predefined range.

9. A system for monitoring and cooling an object, comprising the device according to any one of claims 1 to 4; and a cooling system connected with the device.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the system further comprises a temperature sensor (311) for sensing the temperature value of the object.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the cooling system comprises: a pillow (313) having heat conductive fluid (303) in the body (314) of the pillow (313); and a tube system (316) having coolant (308) circulating therein and exchanging heat with the pillow (313).

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the body (314) of the pillow (313) further comprises: an upper layer (304) adapted for supporting the object (302) and contacting the object (302) directly, the upper layer (304) being heat-conductive; a through-hole adapted for containing the tube (307) of the tube system (316).

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the tube system (316) comprises two different tubes, the one (307) inside the through-hole of the pillow (313) being made of heat-conductive material and the other one (306) outside the pillow (313) being made of an adiabatic, non-conductive and rigid material.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the tube system (316) further comprises: a cooling pump (310) for driving the coolant (308) circulating inside the tube system (316); and a control unit (309) for controlling the cooling pump (310) according to the control signal from the control unit (312) of the device.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the pillow (313) further comprises at least one branch tube (315) made of an adiabatic, non-conductive and rigid material (305), which branch tube (315) is capable of communicating with the body (314) of the pillow (313) such that when the object (302) lies down in the pillow (313), the upper layer (304) bends so as to form a cavity, causing the heat conductive fluid (303) to rise in the branch tube (315), thereby controlling the object (302) to be in a fixed position and the upper layer (304) of the pillow (313) being kept in close contact to the object (302) due to the force induced by the height difference of the heat conductive fluid (303).