METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING VITAL SIGNS REMOTELY
First Claim
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8. The apparatus of 1, wherein said monitoring unit includes a processor operative to (i) generate heart-rate information of the subject, based on time-dependent signals having frequency components in the range from about 0.1 to about 10 Hz, and (ii) generate respiration rate information of the subject based on time-dependent signals having frequency components in the range less than about 1 Hz.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring vital signs, such as cardiopulmonary activity, using a ballistograph are provided. The method and apparatus may be used to monitor an infant sleeping in a crib, a patient in a hospital, a person with a chronic disease at home or in professional care, or a person in an elder-care setting.
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Citations
30 Claims
- 8. The apparatus of 1, wherein said monitoring unit includes a processor operative to (i) generate heart-rate information of the subject, based on time-dependent signals having frequency components in the range from about 0.1 to about 10 Hz, and (ii) generate respiration rate information of the subject based on time-dependent signals having frequency components in the range less than about 1 Hz.
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13. A sensor unit for use with a monitoring unit, for monitoring heart and respiration rates of a human subject at rest, comprising, in operative condition,
(a) a fluid or gas-filled pad adapted to be placed on a bed, crib, or chair support, for cushioning at least an upper-body portion of a subject lying on or resting against the support, and (b) a pressure sensor in fluid communication with fluid in said unit, for generating electrical signals in response to pressure variations within the fluid or gas, and adapted to be operatively connected to such a monitor.
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18. A method for monitoring vital signs, including heart and respiration rates, of a human subject lying on or resting against a bed, crib, or chair support, comprising
(a) placing between the subject and the support, a fluid or gas-filled pad positioned for cushioning at least an upper-body area of the subject, (b) generating electrical signals in response to pressure variations within the fluid or gas by a pressure sensor in fluid communication with fluid or gas in said pad, and (c) processing the electrical signals received from the pressure sensor to generate information about the heart and respiration rate of the subject.
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19-1. The apparatus of claim 18, which further includes an ambient-motion device for generating signals related to ambient motion in the vicinity of the subject, and said processor is operatively connected to said device, for processing the signals received from the device, to filter such ambient motion from motion related to the subject'"'"'s heart and respiration rates.
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20. Apparatus for monitoring vital signs, including heart and respiration rates, of a human subject lying on or resting against a bed, crib, or chair support, comprising
(a) a pad adapted to the placed between the subject and the support, for cushioning at least an upper body portion of the individual, said pad comprising (i) a pair of confronting plates, one adapted to be supported on the mattress, and the other adapted for contact with the chest area of the individual, said plates being spaced apart for relative lateral movement in an XY plane and relative vertical movement in the Z direction, (iii) connecting the two plates, an L-shaped connector attached at opposite ends to the opposing plates and having a pair of laterally extending, orthogonally disposed arms, a strain gauge carried on each arm, in an XY plane, and a strain gauge carried on one of the arms, in a vertical plane, and (b) a monitoring unit operative to transmit to a remote user, information about the heart rate of the individual, based on signals received from the pad'"'"'s lateral-movement strain gauge devices, and about the respiration rate of the individual, based on signals received from the pad'"'"'s vertical-movement strain gauge(s).
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27. Apparatus for determining the presence of a subject, comprising:
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(a) a sensing unit having (i) a fluid or gas-filled pad adapted to be placed on a bed, crib, or chair support, for cushioning at least an upper body portion of a subject lying on or resting against the support, mattress or cushion, and (ii) a pressure sensor in fluid communication with fluid in said unit, for generating electrical signals in response to pressure variations within the fluid in the pad, and (b) a monitoring unit operatively connected to said pressure sensor, for (i) receiving signals therefrom, (ii) generating from said signals, information about the presence of the subject and (iii) relaying such information to a monitoring station or individual.
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28. A sensor unit for use with a monitoring unit, for detecting the presence of a subject, comprising:
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(a) a fluid or gas-filled pad adapted to be placed on a bed, crib, or chair support, for cushioning at least an upper-body portion of a subject lying on or resting against the support, and (b) a pressure sensor in fluid communication with fluid in said unit, for generating electrical signals in response to pressure variations within the fluid or gas, and adapted to be operatively connected to such a monitor.
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29. A method for detecting the presence of a subject on or in a bed, crib, or chair support, comprising:
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(a) placing on or in the bed, crib, or chair support a fluid or gas-filled pad positioned for cushioning at least an upper-body area of the subject, (b) generating electrical signals in response to pressure variations within the fluid or gas by a pressure sensor in fluid communication with fluid or gas in said pad, and (c) processing the electrical signals received from the pressure sensor to generate information about the presence of the subject.
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30. Apparatus for monitoring the presence of a subject lying on or resting against a bed, crib, or chair support, comprising:
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(a) a pad adapted to the placed between the subject and the support, for cushioning at least an upper body portion of the individual, said pad comprising (i) a pair of confronting plates, one adapted to be supported on the mattress, and the other adapted for contact with the chest area of the individual, said plates being spaced apart for relative lateral movement in an XY plane and relative vertical movement in the Z direction, (iii) connecting the two plates, an L-shaped connector attached at opposite ends to the opposing plates and having a pair of laterally extending, orthogonally disposed arms, a strain gauge carried on each arm, in an XY plane, and a strain gauge carried on one of the arms, in a vertical plane, and (b) a monitoring unit operative to transmit to a remote user, information about the presence of the subject, based on signals received from the pad'"'"'s strain gauge devices.
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Specification