System for gathering physiological data

• US 4,926,866 A
• Filed: 10/24/1988
• Issued: 05/22/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arnold St. J. Lee
• Original Assignee: Arnold St. J. Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Arnold St. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shay, Randy
• Application Number:
  US07/262,051
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 128/670, 128/671, 128/630, 128/714, 128/897
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1102 Ballistocardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/704 Tables

Abstract

Disclosed is a system, apparatus and method for gathering physiological data. Basic to the system of the present invention is a rigid body mold having preferably a negative impression of the dorsel half of the body. By connecting and/or embedding sensors to the body mold at specific locations, e.g., accelerometers, thermistors, and electrocardiogram electrodes, the sensors will be accurately and reproducibly positioned next to a specific body location each time the subject lies in the body mold. The body mold can be used to insulate the body from external motions thereby facilitating the preparation of a ballistocardiogram. The exact re-positioning of the body in the mold allows exact determination of the center of gravity in the horizontal plane of the body.

Claims

1. A system for accurately and reproducibly gathering physiological data taken from a subject'"'"'s body, the system comprising:

steady means for stationing the subject'"'"'s body in a reproducible supine position, the steady means including a rigid body mold having an impression intimately matching the entire length of the dorsal portion of the subject'"'"'s body; and

sensor means mounted in a defined position in said steady means and positioned so as to have a defined position relative to the subject'"'"'s body when the subject is placed in said steady means for taking physiological data from the body.