Localization and activation of alarm of person in danger

• US 10,424,179 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ing. Vladimir Kranz
• Original Assignee: Ing. Vladimir Kranz
• Inventors: Kranz, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Point, Rufus C
• Application Number:
  US13/816,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20150279187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,959 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use

Abstract

Invention describes set of units able to communicate one with each other by means of cooperating software, mutually control themselves and imagine displays from other units. Invention enables by means of indicated set or individual units as well, to make remote monitoring of persons and control their location, heath condition and capacity. Also, it enables to monitored persons to check their condition on mobile unit.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring comprising:

a sensor block placed on a monitored person or carried by the monitored person comprising minimally 2 electrodes for sensing heart signals from the body of the monitored person and for processing the heart signals into data and subsequently transmitting the heart signals data locally to a central control block;

a communication block for local transmission, within reach of local transmitting modules, of the heart signals data from the sensor block to the central control block;

the central control block formed by at least one central control unit placed locally within reach of local transmission located at least one of;

on the monitored person, in a pocket of the monitored person, on a wrist of the monitored person, near the monitored person, or a combination thereof;

wherein the central control block processes the heart signals data, wherein the heart signals data is at least one of;

multiple electrocardiogram (ECG), pulse curve with curves of regular pulse limits, arrhythmia values, arrhythmia curve, variability value, variability curve, or a combination thereof, and the ECG is processed as a multiple ECG leads or as optionally chosen number of ECG leads, wherein the chosen number of leads is minimally 1 lead, and maximally 12 leads; and

a display on the at least one local central control unit placed in the reach of local transmission for live displaying the processed heart signals locally.

2. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor block further comprising 2 to 10 electrodes for sensing heart signals and the central control block or a surveillance centre processes the heart signals, with chosen number of ECG leads;

wherein for processing 1 ECG lead, 2 electrodes are used, and by adding up to 8 electrodes up to 12 ECG leads can be processed and it is optional, on how many electrodes will be added to achieve the desired number of processed ECG leads.

3. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the display on central control unit is adapted for viewing by the monitored person for adjusting activities of the monitored person and/or medication according to a health condition seen on the display.

4. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the central control block is formed by the central control unit, further comprising at least one of:

a keypad, buttons, a touch screen, or a combination thereof, and accessible by the monitored person to control the central control block, and/or the sensor block.

5. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the sensor block is sensing the heart signals and/or health functions and the sensor block is adapted for processing of the heart signals and/or health functions into data for local transmission to central control block placed locally and for remote transmission to surveillance centre placed remotely and if transmission was executed to central control block, the heart signals and/or health functions data are sent from the central control block remotely to the surveillance centre for evaluation and sending of data to surveillance centre is done on the bases of at least one of:

selected participants request, monitored person request, surveillance centre request, alarm activation, exceeding of set limits of health functions values, request for uninterrupted transmission, request for periodical transmission in predetermined intervals and durations, or a combination thereof.

6. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein if the heart signals or health functions exceed a set health limits of the monitored person, the central control unit and/or surveillance centre activates an alarm or a warning signal for the monitored person and when monitored person or medical personnel doesn'"'"'t reset the warning signal within a preset time interval from the beginning of the warning signal, alarm is activated, wherein if alarm is initiated in the central control unit, it is advantageously sent to the surveillance centre, whereby the limits for activation of the warning signal and/or the alarm are set by the monitored person and/or medical personnel.

7. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, further comprising:

a countdown timer for test of physical fitness adjustable by the monitored person or a qualified personnel, and when an adjusted time on the countdown timer expires, the timer produces a warning signal and the countdown timer has to be reset within preset time manually by the monitored person and/or automatically by movement of the monitored person detected by a movement sensor worn by the monitored person and/or placed in a monitored room where the person is being monitored, wherein the automatic reset can be deactivated and/or two timers are used where the first countdown timer is designed for manual and automatic reset and the second count down timer is designed for manual reset only to deactivate the warning signal, and when warning signal is not deactivated it changes into alarm.

8. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein

a movement sensor is placed in a monitoring room for automatic reset of a countdown timer and connected to a stationary central control unit and the reset may be executed by the monitored person using a remote reset unit or push button on the central control unit.

9. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein for monitoring the health functions comprises at least one of:

body temperature sensor, respiration sensor, blood oxygen content sensor, blood pressure sensor, heart pulse sensor, test on physical fitness by movement sensor, test on mental fitness, or a combination thereof.

10. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein

the communication block for local transmission is formed by locally transmitting means formed by at least one of:

wired connection, wireless connection module, Bluetooth module, ANT module, radiofrequency connection module, or a combination thereof, and the communication block for long distant communication is for voice and/or data formed by parts for communication over a mobile network.

11. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein

the central control block is formed by at least one of central control unit, basic larger central control unit, smaller central control unit on a wristband, master central control unit, slave central control unit, primary central control unit, secondary central control unit, mobile phone, PDA, pocket computer, or a combination thereof.

12. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor block is formed by central control unit with electrodes for sensing heart signals from both hands placed on the central control unit for sensing 1 lead ECG and advantageously up to 8 electrodes can be added for sensing up to 12 leads ECG.

13. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the central control unit is a first portable small central control unit adapted for placing on a wristband for right away view of processed heart signals and/or health functions on a smaller size display and the central control unit is adapted for voice and/or data communication with a second basic larger central control unit for detailed monitoring on a bigger display of processed heart signals or health functions, whereby the central control unit is master for one way communication or central control units communicate on two way communication, wherein the first portable central control unit and the second control unit are communicating with each other over wireless connection and advantageously images displayed on one central control unit can be displayed on the other central control unit.

14. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the sensor block is formed by a chest belt or a multifunctional chest belt placed on chest of monitored person for sensing heart signals by electrodes placed on the chest belt or multifunctional chest belt and/or placed externally to the chest belts on the body of monitored person, wherein by placing 2 electrodes on the chest belt, the central control block can process 1 lead ECG and by adding up to total maximum 10 electrodes on the chest belt or externally to the chest belt, the central control block can process up to 12 lead ECG and it is optional how many leads will be used and how many will be added and/or the sensor block is further formed by sensors for sensing health functions values detectable by sensors placed on the multifunctional chest belt or on the body of the monitored person and the chest belt or multifunctional chest belt is adapted for processing heart signals and/or health function values into data for local transmission to the central control block placed locally and/or for remote transmission to a surveillance centre placed remotely.

15. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, further comprising a chest belt for sensing of up to twelve leads ECG with six electrodes placed in a curve in positions corresponding with positions of six chest electrodes of standard ECG system for ECG monitoring leads V1-V6, wherein the electrodes are placed on the broader chest belt or on a narrow chest belt complemented with elastic cross straps which are pushing the electrodes for connection to the body of monitored person, wherein the remaining four electrodes for twelve leads ECG are placed externally and connected by wire.

16. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein

the communication block is adapted for voice and data communication between the central control unit of monitored person and a surveillance centre and/or medical personnel.

17. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein

the communication block is adapted for automatic answering a voice call by surveillance centre with hands free operation, when monitored person does not answer the call and/or the monitored person can initiate the call on central control unit to surveillance centre and/or pushes an alarm button to alert the surveillance centre or medical personnel in emergency.

18. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein

the electrodes are placed on self-holding straps placed around at least one of:

a wrist, arm, leg, ankle, thigh, connected to a wire advantageously by a connector for connection to sensor block for processing the heart signals.

19. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein

the central control block comprises at least one of another central control unit, a mobile phone, PDA, pocket computer, PC.

20. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the central control unit is formed by a mobile phone, advantageously placed on the monitored person, on a bracelet, on a belt, or a handheld device.

21. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor block sensing by means from the body of the monitored person, comprises at least one of a means for sensing cardiac electrical signals, a means for sensing health data detectable by sensor block, a means for sensing the data of the physical fitness of the monitored person, or a combination thereof;

wherein the means for sensing cardiac electrical signals placed on a chest belt or multifunctional chest strap, comprise at least one of a heart rate sensor, a ECG control unit, a control unit of a chest belt, or a combination thereof, wherein the ECG control unit can be placed outside of the chest belt;

wherein the means for sensing health data comprises at least one of a body temperature sensor, a sensor of the oxygen content in blood, a sensor for rhythm and depth of breathing, a blood pressure sensor, a device measuring heart pulse or a combination thereof;

wherein the means for sensing data on physical fitness comprise at least one of a physical activity sensor, a movement motion sensor, a body position sensor, a shock sensor, a footstep sensor, or a combination thereof.

22. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the central control unit comprises an integrated storage medium and/or removable storage medium, advantageously formed by a (SD) card for storing a final data of the status of the monitored person and/or further comprises a transmission means for transmitting the final data to a surveillance centre and advantageously the central control unit is included in the sensor block.

23. The system for monitoring according to claim 1, further comprising:

a timer for tracking completion of a task by the monitored person;

a surveillance centre for receiving the data;

wherein the central control unit or the central surveillance centre are adjusted for verification if a timer has been reset by the monitored person within a preset period of time and/or for verification of completion of a given task by the monitored person, which are used for analysis of the mental fitness of the monitored person, wherein if the timer is not reset within the adjusted time period and/or if the given task is not fulfilled properly, a warning signal is activated.

24. The system for monitoring according to claim 21, wherein

the chest belt for sensing the health data detectable by sensors from the body of the monitored person comprises at least one of a sensor for rhythm and depth of breathing, a body temperature sensor, a sensor of the oxygen content in blood, a blood pressure sensor, a body position sensor, a shock sensor, a movement motion sensor, a footstep sensor, a position sensor a device for sensing a heart pulse, or a combination thereof, and the sensor are placed on the chest belt and/or placed on the body of the monitored person.

25. The system for monitoring according to claim 21, wherein

the chest belt for processing the cardiac electrical signals contains at least one of the central control unit of the chest belt, the heart rate sensor, the ECG control unit, or a combination thereof and the chest belt further comprises at least one of components for communication through a mobile operator network for remote communication with the surveillance centre, a communication means for local communication with the central control block a manual switch of ECG measurement, an audio source, a vibrator on ECG control unit, the central control unit, the communication block for remote communication, the communication means for local communication, a portable memory medium or a combination thereof, whereby the portable memory medium is advantageously formed by SD card for storage and transmitting the data wirelessly, or by moving the memory medium to another device.

26. A method of monitoring comprising:

sensing heart signals from the body of a monitored person by a sensor block placed on the monitored person or carried by the monitored person equipped with minimally 2 electrodes, processing the sensing heart signals into data and subsequently transmitting the heart signals data locally to a central control block;

local transmission by a communication block within reach of local transmitting modules of the heart signals data from the sensor block to the central control block;

processing the heart signals by a central control block formed by at least one central control unit placed locally within reach of local transmission located at least one of;

on the monitored person, in a pocket of monitored person, on a wrist of monitored person, near the monitored person, or a combination thereof, wherein the heart signals are processed into at least one of;

multiple electrocardiogram (ECG, pulse curve with curves of regular pulse limits, arrhythmia values, arrhythmia curve, variability value, variability curve, or a combination thereof, and the ECG is processed as a multiple leads ECG or as optionally chosen number of ECG leads, minimally 1 lead, and maximally 12 leads;

displaying the processed heart signals, live or from memory, locally on a display on at least one local central control unit placed in the reach of local transmission.

27. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

sensing the heart signals by the sensor block, with 2 to 10 electrodes and processing heart signals by the central control block or a surveillance centre, with chosen number of ECG leads, wherein for processing 1 lead ECG 2 electrodes are used and by adding up to 8 electrodes up to 12 leads ECG can be processed and it is optional, when and how many electrodes will be added to achieve the desired number of processed ECG leads.

28. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising displaying for the monitored person on the display on central control unit for adjusting activities of the monitored person and/or medication according to health condition seen on the display.

29. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

sensing the heart signals and/or health functions by the sensor block which and processing of the heart signals and/or health functions into data for local transmission to central control block placed locally and for remote transmission to a surveillance centre placed remotely, and if transmission was executed to central control block, the heart signals and/or health functions data are sent from the central control block remotely to the surveillance centre for evaluation and sending of data to surveillance centre is done on the bases of at least one of:

selected participants request, monitored person request, surveillance centre request, alarm activation, exceeding of set limits of health functions values, request for uninterrupted transmission, request for periodical transmission in predetermined intervals and durations, or a combination thereof.

30. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising activation of an alarm or a warning signal for the monitored person by the central control unit and/or a surveillance centre if the heart signals or health functions exceed set health limits of the monitored person, and when monitored person or medical personnel doesn'"'"'t reset the warning signal within a preset time interval from the beginning of the warning signal, alarm is activated, and wherein if alarm is initiated in the central control unit, it is advantageously sent to the surveillance centre, whereby the limits for activation of the warning signal and/or the alarm are set by the monitored person and/or medical personnel.

31. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising activation of the warning signal by a countdown timer, when the time adjusted by monitored person or qualified personnel expires, for test of physical fitness of the monitored person, wherein the timer has to be reset within a preset time manually by monitored person and/or automatically by movement of the monitored person detected by a movement sensor worn by the monitored person and/or placed in monitored room where the person monitored is located, wherein the automatic reset can be deactivated, and/or two timers are used where the first countdown timer is designed for manual and automatic reset and the second count down timer is designed for manual reset only to deactivate the warning signal;

and when warning signal is not deactivated then warning signal changes into alarm.

32. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

automatic reset of a countdown timer by the movement sensor placed in monitoring room and connected to a stationary central control unit and/or the reset by the monitored person using a remote reset unit or push button on the central control unit.

33. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

monitoring of health functions of the monitored person, wherein the health functions is at least one of:

body temperature, respiration, blood oxygen content, blood pressure, heart pulse, test on physical fitness, test on mental fitness, or a combination thereof.

34. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

local transmission by the communication block formed by locally transmitting means formed by at least one of:

wired connection, wireless connection module, Bluetooth module, ANT module, radiofrequency connection module, or a combination thereof, and/or the communication block for long distant communication is for voice and/or data formed by parts for communication over a mobile network.

35. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

sensing heart signals from both hands by the sensor block formed by the central control unit with electrodes placed on the central control unit for sensing 1 lead ECG and advantageously up to 8 electrodes can be added for sensing up to 12 leads ECG.

36. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

displaying of processed heart signals or health functions on a first portable small central control unit adapted for placing on a wristband on a smaller size display, wherein the central control unit is adapted for voice and/or data communication with a second basic larger central control unit for detailed monitoring on a bigger display of processed heart signals or health functions, whereby which central control unit is master for one way communication or central control units communicate on two way communication, wherein the first central control unit and the second control unit are communicating with each other over wireless connection and advantageously images displayed on one central control unit can be displayed on the other central control unit.

37. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

sensing heart signals by the sensor block formed by a chest belt or a multifunctional chest belt placed on chest of monitored person, wherein sensing is by electrodes placed on the chest belt or multifunctional chest belt and/or placed externally to the chest belts on the body of monitored person, wherein by placing 2 electrodes on the chest belt, the central control block can process 1 lead ECG and by adding up to total maximum 10 electrodes on the chest belt or externally to the chest belt, the central control block can process up to 12 lead ECG and it is optional how many leads will be used and how many will be added and/or the sensor block is further formed by sensors for sensing health functions values detectable by sensors placed on the multifunctional chest belt or on the body of the monitored person and the chest belt or multifunctional chest belt is adapted for processing heart signals and/or health function values into data for local transmission to the central control block placed locally and/or for remote transmission to a surveillance centre placed remotely.

38. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

sensing of the up to twelve leads ECG by six electrodes placed on the chest belt in a curve in positions corresponding with positions of six chest electrodes of standard ECG system for ECG monitoring leads V1-V6, wherein the electrodes are placed on the broader chest belt or on a narrow chest belt complemented with elastic cross straps which are pushing the electrodes for connection to the body of monitored person, wherein the remaining four electrodes for twelve leads ECG are placed externally and connected by wire.

39. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

voice and data communication between the central control unit of monitored person and a surveillance centre and/or medical personnel by the communication block.

40. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

automatic answering a voice call by communication unit in surveillance centre with hands free operation, when monitored person does not answer the call and/or the monitored person can initiate the call on central control unit to a surveillance centre and/or pushes an alarm button to alert the surveillance centre or medical personnel in emergency.

41. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

displaying arrhythmia numerically and/or graphically based on the percentage of arrhythmic cardiac pulses occurrence of the total number of pulses adjustable time period, or in the range given by the number of pulses, wherein the arrhythmia is expressed numerically in percentage or in degrees, and for calculation of an arrhythmia degree is percentage of irregular pulses is divided by one hundred and multiplied by the number of degrees of the scale and the figure is rounded off to the desired number of decimal places and arrhythmia curve arises by plotting the arrhythmia in percentage or degrees on the y axis for the time on x axis.

42. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

calculating the value the arrhythmic cardiac pulses are defined by comparing the current heart rate of the present pulse and average heart rate for selected number of pulses, wherein arrhythmic cardiac pulse is defined as pulse whose current pulse rate deviates from the average pulse rate by more than a selectable value, advantageously 13 percent.

43. The method of monitoring according to claim 26, comprising

displaying a heart rate curve formed by connecting two adjacent values of pulses, where the heart rate by minutes on the y axis calculated by dividing the minute by the time intervals on the x axis between two adjacent cardiac pulses;

displaying the curve of upper and lower limits of the regular sinus pulses calculated from the curve of average heart rate, by adding or deducting a certain heart rate value, advantageously 13% of the average heart rate;

specifying the irregular pulses in the part of the heart rate curve going over curves of upper and lower limit;

creating and/or displaying a curve of the average heart rate calculated from a number of recent cardiac pulses, pulse by pulse, advantageously from 3-15 pulses.