BODY-WORN VITAL SIGN MONITOR

• US 20110066051A1
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated (Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated (Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: MOON, Jim, HUNT, Robert, VISSER, Henk, BANET, Matt, DHILLON, Marshal, McCOMBIE, Devin
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• 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 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02225 using the oscillometric method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0285 Measuring or recording phase velocity of blood waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0295 using plethysmography, i.e. measuring the variations in the volume of a body part as modified by the circulation of blood therethrough, e.g. impedance plethysmography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0809 by impedance pneumography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 : Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 : using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 : Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots

Abstract

The invention provides a body-worn monitor featuring a processing system that receives a digital data stream from an ECG system. A cable houses the ECG system at one terminal end, and plugs into the processing system, which is worn on the patient'"'"'s wrist like a conventional wristwatch. The ECG system features: i) a connecting portion connected to multiple electrodes worn by the patient; ii) a differential amplifier that receives electrical signals from each electrode and process them to generate an analog ECG waveform; iii) an analog-to-digital converter that converts the analog ECG waveform into a digital ECG waveform; and iv) a transceiver that transmits a digital data stream representing the digital ECG waveform (or information calculated from the waveform) through the cable and to the processing system. Different ECG systems, typically featuring three, five, or twelve electrodes, can be interchanged with one another.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a patient, comprising:

a processing system configured to be worn on a patient'"'"'s body comprising a first serial transceiver configured to communicate with external systems for monitoring signals from the patient, and a first microprocessor in electrical communication with the first serial transceiver and configured to receive and process the signals from the patient;

an external ECG system comprising a second serial transceiver and a second microprocessor configured to communicate and synchronize with the processing system, the ECG system configured to generate and transmit a digital ECG data stream representing a digital ECG waveform or values calculated therefrom to the processing system;

an external oscillometric system comprising a third serial transceiver and a third microprocessor configured to communicate and synchronize with the processing system, the oscillometric system configured to generate and transmit a digital oscillometric data stream representing a digital oscillometric waveform or values calculated therefrom to the processing system; and

an external accelerometer system configured to generate and transmit a digital accelerometer data stream representing a digital accelerometer waveform or values calculated therefrom to the processing system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth serial transceivers are CAN transceivers.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the first, second, and third serial transceivers are CAN transceivers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is in communication with both the second microprocessor comprised by the ECG system and the third microprocessor comprised by the oscillometry system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first microprocessor comprised by the processing system is configured to send a packet to the second microprocessor comprised by the ECG system to synchronize the first and second microprocessors.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second microprocessor comprised by the ECG system is configured to adjust a timing parameter in response to the packet.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the ECG system is configured to transmit a packet to the processing system indicating the timing parameter.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the first microprocessor comprised by the processing system is configured to send a packet to the third microprocessor comprised by the oscillometry system to synchronize the first and third microprocessors.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the third microprocessor comprised by the oscillometry system is configured to adjust a timing parameter in response to the packet.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the oscillometry system is configured to transmit a packet to the processing system indicating the timing parameter.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the ECG system comprises the external accelerometer system.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein a cable connecting the processing system and at least one of the ECG system and oscillometry system additionally comprises the external accelerometer system.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the external accelerometer system comprises two accelerometers, the first accelerometer comprised by the ECG system, and the second accelerometer comprised by a cable connecting the processing system and at least one of the ECG system and oscillometry system.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system connects to the ECG system with a first cable configured to transmit serial data, and to the oscillometry system with a second cable configured to transmit serial data.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first cable comprises no more than 5 conductors.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second cable comprises no more than 5 conductors.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the first cable is terminated with a first connector, and the processing system comprises a first input port comprising a group of conductors configured to match conductors in the first cable, the first input port configured so that the first connector can be inserted into and detached therefrom.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the second cable is terminated with a second connector, and the processing system comprises a second input port comprising a group of conductors configured to match conductors in the second cable, the second input port configured so that the second connector can be inserted into and detached therefrom.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the first cable is terminated with a first connector, and the processing system comprises a first input port comprising a first group of conductors configured to match conductors in the first cable, the first input port configured so that the first connector can be inserted into and detached therefrom, and the second cable is terminated with a second connector, and the processing system comprises a second input port comprising a second group of conductors configured to match conductors in the second cable, the second input port configured so that the second connector can be inserted into and detached therefrom, wherein the first input port is additionally configured to receive the second connector, and the second input port is additionally configured to receive the first connector.

2. A system for monitoring a patient, comprising:

a processing system configured to be worn on a patient'"'"'s body comprising a first serial transceiver configured to communicate with external systems for monitoring signals from the patient, and a first microprocessor in electrical communication with the first serial transceiver and configured to receive and process the signals from the patient;

an external system, configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s body, comprising;

i) an ECG system;

ii) an accelerometer;

iii) a temperature sensor;

iv) a second serial transceiver; and

v) a second microprocessor configured to communicate and synchronize with the processing system;

the external system configured to generate and separately transmit digital data streams representing ECG, accelerometer, and temperature signals to the processing system.

3. A cable comprising:

a patient-monitoring component, configured to attach to the patient'"'"'s body, comprising;

i) an ECG system;

ii) an accelerometer;

iii) a temperature sensor;

iv) a serial transceiver; and

v) a microprocessor configured to communicate and synchronize with a processing system worn on the patient'"'"'s body, the patient-monitoring system configured to generate and separately transmit digital data streams representing ECG, accelerometer, and temperature signals through the cable and to the processing system.