WIRELESS, INTERNET-BASED SYSTEM FOR MEASURING VITAL SIGNS FROM A PLURALITY OF PATIENTS IN A HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL CLINIC

• US 20060009697A1
• Filed: 09/20/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Triage Wireless, Inc.
• Inventors: Banet, Matthew John, Visser, Henk II.
• Application Number:
  US11/162,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009697A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/06 Arrangements of multiple sensors of different types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02125 of pulse wave propagation time
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck

Abstract

The invention provides system for measuring vital signs from multiple patients, typically in an in-hospital setting. The system features a body-worn vital sign monitor that includes: i) a sensor configured as a patch that measures electrical and optical signals from a patient; ii) a controller featuring a microprocessor that receives and processes the electrical and optical signals to determine the patient'"'"'s vital sign information, including blood pressure; and iii) a first short-range wireless component that wirelessly transmits a packet comprising the vital sign information to an external receiver. A portable, wireless computer (e.g., a PDA, cellular telephone, or a laptop computer) communicates with the body-worn module. The wireless computer includes: i) a second short-range wireless component that receives the vital sign information and displays it; and ii) a long-range wireless transmitter that transmits the vital sign information over a wireless network. The system also includes an Internet-based system that receives the vital sign information from the wireless network, and avails this to medical professionals through an in-hospital information system.

Claims

1. A system for measuring vital signs from a plurality of patients, comprising:

a body-worn vital sign monitor comprising;

i) a sensor configured as a patch that measures electrical and optical signals from a patient;

ii) a controller comprising a microprocessor that receives and processes the electrical and optical signals to determine the patient'"'"'s vital sign information, including blood pressure; and

iii) a first short-range wireless component that wirelessly transmits a packet comprising the vital sign information to an external receiver;

a portable, wireless computer comprising;

i) a second short-range wireless component that receives the vital sign information and displays it; and

ii) a long-range wireless transmitter that transmits the vital sign information over a wireless network; and

an Internet-based system that receives the vital sign information from the wireless network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable, wireless computer comprises a software program that processes the packet to identify the body-worn vital sign monitor from which it originated.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the software program comprises a database that associates a patient'"'"'s name with an identifying code comprised by the packet.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the Internet-based system further comprises a software component that sends contents of the database to the portable, wireless computer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable, wireless computer further comprises a software program that detects a body-worn vital sign monitor, and a user interface that displays a patient associated with the body-worn monitor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the Internet-based system further comprises an interface to a hospital information system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the interface is a web services interface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable, wireless computer is a personal digital assistant, cellular telephone, or a laptop computer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the patch comprises:

a first adhesive component comprising a first electrode that measures a first electrical signal from the patient;

a second adhesive component comprising a second electrode that measures a second electrical signal from the patient; and

a third adhesive component, in electrical communication with the first and second adhesive components, comprising an optical system that measures the optical signal from the patient.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the optical system comprises a light-emitting diode and an optical detector.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the optical system further comprises a substrate, and the light-emitting diode and optical detector are disposed on a same side of the substrate.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising an optical detector aligned to detect radiation first emitted from the light-emitting diode and then reflected from the patient'"'"'s skin to generate the optical waveform.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises an algorithm configured to process the first and second electrical signals to generate an electrical waveform.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller further comprises an algorithm configured to process the optical signal to generate an optical waveform.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller further comprises an algorithm that processes the electrical and optical waveforms to calculate a blood pressure value.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller further comprises an algorithm that determines blood pressure by processing:

1) a first time-dependent feature of the optical waveform;

     2) a second time-dependent feature of the electrical waveform; and

     3) a calibration parameter.

17. A system for measuring vital signs from a plurality of patients, comprising:

a body-worn vital sign monitor, comprising;

a sensor configured as a patch comprising;

i) a first adhesive component comprising a first electrode that measures a first electrical signal from the patient;

ii) a second adhesive component comprising a second electrode that measures a second electrical signal from the patient; and

iii) a third adhesive component, in electrical communication with the first and second adhesive components, comprising an optical system that measures the optical signal from the patient;

a controller comprising;

i) a microprocessor that receives and processes the electrical and optical signals to determine the patient'"'"'s vital sign information, including blood pressure;

and ii) a first short-range wireless component that wirelessly transmits a packet comprising the vital sign information to an external receiver;

a portable, wireless computer comprising;

i) a second short-range wireless component that receives the vital sign information and displays it; and

ii) a long-range wireless transmitter that transmits the vital sign information over a wireless network; and

an Internet-based system that receives the vital sign information from the wireless network.

18. A system for measuring vital signs from a plurality of patients, comprising:

a body-worn vital sign monitor, comprising;

i) a sensor configured as a patch that measures electrical and optical signals from a patient;

ii) a controller comprising a microprocessor that receives and processes the electrical and optical signals to determine the patient'"'"'s vital sign information, including blood pressure; and

iii) a first short-range wireless component that wirelessly transmits a packet comprising the vital sign information and an identifying code to an external receiver;

a portable, wireless computer comprising;

i) a second short-range wireless component that receives the vital sign information and the identifying code, and in response displays the vital sign information and a patient associated with the identifying code; and

ii) a long-range wireless transmitter that transmits the vital sign information over a wireless network; and

an Internet-based system that receives the vital sign information from the wireless network.