HAND-HELD VITAL SIGNS MONITOR

• US 20140081099A1
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Dhillon, Marshal Singh, Terry, Andrew Stanley, Thompson, Michael James, Zhou, Zhou, Visser, Henk II, Fleming, Adam Michael, Banet, Matthew J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,426,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/324
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/063 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• 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 5/029 Measuring or recording blood output from the heart, e.g. minute volume A61B8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/327 Generation of artificial ECG signals based on measured signals, e.g. to compensate for missing leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 : Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 : Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 : Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6832 : using adhesives A61B5/259 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 : Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 : Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

The invention features a vital sign monitor that includes: 1) a hardware control component featuring a microprocessor that operates an interactive, icon-driven GUI on an LCD; and, 2) a sensor component that connects to the control component through a shielded coaxial cable. The sensor features: 1) an optical component that generates a first signal; 2) a plurality electrical components (e.g. electrodes) that generate a second signal; and, 3) an acoustic component that generates a third signal. The microprocessor runs compiled computer code that operates: 1) the touch panel LCD; 2) a graphical user interface that includes multiple icons corresponding to different software operations; 3) a file-management system for storing and retrieving vital sign information; and 4) USB and short-range wireless systems for transferring data to and from the device to a PC.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method of determining a pre-ejection period (PEP) for a patient using a wearable vital signs sensor system, the method comprising:

adhesively retaining a sensor component on the body of the patient at a position overlying the patient'"'"'s sternum below the sternal notch, the sensor component comprising (i) an electrical sensor comprising an analog-to-digital converter and processing circuitry that is operably connected to primary, reference, and ground electrodes that measure electrical impulses from the patient indicative of cardiac activity, the electrical sensor generating a first time-dependent waveform comprising electrocardiogram signals, and (ii) a piezoelectric sensor that measures low-frequency pressure waves from the patient'"'"'s heart, the piezoelectric sensor generating a second time-dependent waveform comprising pressure wave frequency components from 40-500 Hz;

receiving the first time-dependent waveform and the second time-dependent waveform at a microprocessor configured to process the first time-dependent waveform to identify a first signal indicative of onset of a cardiac cycle,

process the second time-dependent waveform to identify a second signal indicative of end of the PEP in the cardiac cycle,

determine a PEP for the cardiac cycle as the time separating the first signal and the second signal, and

cause the PEP for the cardiac cycle to be displayed on a display element operably connected to the microprocessor; and

causing the sensor component and the microprocessor to determine and display PEP for the patient in a continuous fashion for a plurality of cardiac cycles.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to process the second time-dependent waveform to determine a third signal indicative of aortic valve opening in the cardiac cycle and to determine left ventricular ejection time (LVET) as the time separating the second signal and the third signal, and the sensor component and the microprocessor are further caused to determine and display LVET for the patient in a continuous fashion.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the microprocessor and the display element are operably connected wirelessly.

5. A method according to claim 2, further comprising attaching a pulse oximeter to the patient which generates a third time-dependent waveform comprising pulse oximetry signals, receiving the pulse oximetry signals at the microprocessor, and the sensor component and the microprocessor are further caused to determine and display pulse oximetry for the patient in a continuous fashion.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to process the second time-dependent waveform and the third time-dependent waveform to determine a vascular transit time (VTT), and the sensor component and the microprocessor are further caused to determine and display VTT for the patient in a continuous fashion.

7. A method according to claim 2, further comprising attaching a pulse oximeter to the patient which generates a third time-dependent waveform comprising pulse oximetry signals, receiving the pulse oximetry signals at the microprocessor, and the sensor component and the microprocessor are further caused to determine and display pulse oximetry for the patient in a continuous fashion.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to process the second time-dependent waveform and the third time-dependent waveform to determine a vascular transit time (VTT), and the sensor component and the microprocessor are further caused to determine and display VTT for the patient in a continuous fashion.