BODY-WORN VITAL SIGN MONITOR

• US 20110224556A1
• Filed: 04/19/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated (Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated (Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: TROMMER, Gunnar, DiBATTISTA, Caroline, MOON, Jim
• Application Number:
  US12/762,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20110224556A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• 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 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

The invention provides a body-worn vital sign monitor that measures a patient'"'"'s vital signs (e.g. blood pressure, SpO2, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature) while simultaneously characterizing their activity state (e.g. resting, walking, convulsing, falling) and posture (upright, supine). The monitor processes this information to minimize corruption of the vital signs and associated alarms/alerts by motion-related artifacts. It also features a graphical user interface (GUI) rendered on a touchpanel display that facilitates a number of features to simplify and improve patient monitoring and safety in both the hospital and home.

Claims

1. A system for measuring vital signs from a patient, comprising:

a first sensor attached to a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body and configured to measure a first signal from the patient;

a second sensor attached to a second portion of the patient'"'"'s body and configured to measure a second signal from the patient;

a processing component configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s body and comprising a microprocessor and an interface to both the first and second sensors, the processing component configured to receive the first and second signals and collectively process them or versions thereof to calculate at least one vital sign value;

a wireless transmitter configured to receive the at least one vital sign value from the processing component and transmit it over a wireless interface;

a voice annotation system configured to receive audio signals, digitize them, and transmit digital audio signals, or a set of parameters determined from the digital audio signals, over the wireless interface; and

a computer memory configured to store the at least one vital sign value and the digital audio signals or the set of parameters determined from the digital audio signals.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the voice annotation system comprises a microphone.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the voice annotation system comprises a speech-to-text converter.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the set of parameters determined from the digital audio signals includes a text field.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the set of parameters determined from the digital audio signals includes an icon.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the set of parameters determined from the digital audio signals includes a numerical value.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is a wireless network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless network is a network based on an 802.11 protocol.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless interface is a VOIP interface.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless network is based on a cellular protocol.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer memory is a database.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a graphical user interface associated with the database.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display the at least one vital sign value and the set of parameters determined from the digital audio signals.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a graph of a set of vital sign values.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a text field superimposed on the graph of a set of vital sign values.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing component comprises a strap configured to wrap around the patient'"'"'s arm.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processing component is configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s wrist, the first sensor is configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s chest, and the second sensor is configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s finger.

2. A system for measuring vital signs from a patient, comprising:

a first sensor attached to a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body and configured to measure a first signal from the patient;

a second sensor attached to a second portion of the patient'"'"'s body and configured to measure a second signal from the patient;

a processing component configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s body and comprising a microprocessor and an interface to both the first and second sensors, the processing component configured to receive the first and second signals and collectively process them or versions thereof to calculate at least one vital sign value;

a wireless transmitter configured to receive the at least one vital sign value from the processing component and transmit it over a wireless interface;

a voice annotation system configured to collect audio signals, convert the audio signals into a text field, and transmit the text field over the wireless interface; and

a computer memory configured to store the at least one vital sign value and the text field.

3. A system for measuring vital signs from a patient, comprising:

a first sensor attached to a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body and configured to measure a first signal from the patient;

a second sensor attached to a second portion of the patient'"'"'s body and configured to measure a second signal from the patient;

a processing component configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s arm and configured to receive and process the first and second signals to calculate at least one vital sign value;

a wireless transmitter configured to receive the at least one vital sign value from the processing component and transmit it over a wireless interface;

a voice annotation system configured to transmit digital audio signals over the wireless interface; and

a computer memory configured to store the at least one vital sign value and the digital audio signals or a set of parameters determined from the digital audio signals.

4. A system for measuring blood pressure from a patient, comprising:

a patient monitor configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s body and continuously measure blood pressure, the patient monitor comprising;

a sensor for continuously measuring blood pressure values;

a wireless transmitter configured to receive a blood pressure value and transmit it over a wireless interface; and

a voice annotation system configured to receive an audio signal and, in response, transmit a digital signal determined from the audio signal over the wireless interface; and

a computer memory configured to store the blood pressure value and the digital signal or a set of parameters determined from the digital signal.

5. A system for measuring vital signs from a patient, comprising:

a first sensor attached to a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body and configured to measure a first signal from the patient;

a second sensor attached to a second portion of the patient'"'"'s body and configured to measure a second signal from the patient; and

a processing component configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s arm and comprising;

a processor configured to receive and process the first and second signals to calculate at least one vital sign value;

a graphical user interface configured to render a voice annotation interface;

a wireless transmitter configured to receive the at least one vital sign value from the processor and transmit it over a wireless interface;

a voice annotation system activated by the voice annotation interface and configured to transmit digital audio signals over the wireless interface; and

a computer memory configured to store the at least one vital sign value and the digital audio signals or a set of parameters determined from the digital audio signals.