Apparatus for monitoring a mechanically transmitted signal based on the organs or vital functions and for processing the results

• US 6,254,551 B1
• Filed: 07/29/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Instrumentarium Dental Incorporated (Envista Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Instrumentarium Dental Incorporated (Envista Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Varis, Reijo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/355,576
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 600/534, 600/535, 600/538, 600/546, 600/390, 600/391, 600/587, 600/595
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring a mechanically transmitted signal based on the organs or vital functions and for processing the results, the apparatus comprising a measuring sensor arrangement (10) comprising one or more measuring sensors (1) and signal processing means (2; 2, 3, 4) for processing the sensor signal(s), transmission means (5; 5a, 5b) for transmitting the signal generated by the sensor arrangement (10), a data collecting device (6) for receiving and storing the signal transmitted by the transmission means, means (7) for processing the signal stored by the data collecting device (6) and a display or output device (8) for presenting the results. In accordance with the invention the measuring sensor arrangement (10 ) is arranged to produce the signal spectra based on a plurality of vital functions as a single composite signal spectrum, and the means (7) for processing the information stored by the data collecting device (6) comprise processing software for dividing the signal spectrum generated by the measuring sensor arrangement into a plurality of partial spectra of different physiological origins.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring mechanically transmitted physiological phenomena based on the organs or vital functions of a subject and for processing the monitoring results, the apparatus comprising:

a measuring sensor arrangement (10) adapted to be placed on the subject, said measuring sensor arrangement comprising at least two measuring sensors (1, 52, 61, 71) responsive to the mechanically transmitted physiological phenomena and signal processing means (2;

2, 3, 4) for processing sensor signals,

transmission means (5;

5a, 5b,) for transmitting a signal generated by the measuring sensor arrangement (10),

a data collecting device (6) for receiving and storing the signal transmitted by the transmission means,

means (7) for processing the signal stored by the data collecting device (6), and

a display or output device (8) for presenting the results of processing, wherein

said at least two measuring sensors of the measuring sensor arrangement (10) are each of a different sensor type, each of said sensors being responsive to a physiological phenomenon that another one of said sensors is also responsive to, at least one of said sensors being responsive to an additional physiological phenomenon, said measuring sensor arrangement being arranged to produce a single, unmodulated, composite spectrum signal based on a plurality of vital functions and containing spectral signals produced by said measuring sensors of different types, and wherein

the means (7) for processing data, stored by the data collecting device, comprise processing software for dividing the unmodulated, composite spectrum signal generated by the measuring sensor arrangement into a plurality of partial spectrum signals of different physiological origins.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means (7) for processing the signal stored by the data collecting device (6) comprise a general-purpose personal computer.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the measuring sensor arrangement (10, 21) is arranged to generate the signal based on the functions of heart and lungs, and body movements.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sensor arrangement (10) is arranged to be fitted onto the subject'"'"'s chest without skin contact.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sensor arrangement (10) comprises measuring sensors selected from the following sensor types:

capacitive acceleration transducer (1, 52), EMF diaphragm sensor (61) and strain-gage sensor (71).

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the sensor arrangement (10) comprises one sensor of each said sensor type.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sensor arrangement includes an EMF diaphragm sensor (61) on the chest side of a part fitted onto the subject'"'"'s chest.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sensor arrangement is arranged in an elastic portion of a band fitted onto the subject'"'"'s chest.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the sensor arrangement (70) includes a strain-gage sensor (71) arranged to be secured in the elastic portion of the band at at least two points, spaced in a longitudinal direction of the band, said points being located on opposite sides of the strain-gage sensor.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that a part (60) of the sensor arrangement comprising an EMF diaphragm sensor (61) and a part (70) of the sensor arrangement comprising a strain-gage sensor (71) are connected to one another in such a way that the elastic portion of the band is arranged to extend between them.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that part (70) of sensor arrangement comprising the strain-gage sensor (71) comprises a pocket-like recess for the part (50) of the sensor arrangement incorporating a transmitter (53), an acceleration transducer (52) and an accumulator (51).

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the single, composite spectrum signal generated by the sensor arrangement (10) comprises superimposed signals produced by said measuring sensors.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the composite spectrum signal generated by the sensor arrangement (10) comprises the signals generated by said measuring sensors as a time-division signal formed by the signals of said measuring sensors.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the transmission means for transmitting the composite signal generated by the sensor arrangement (10) comprise a transmitter (5a) arranged in conjunction with the sensor arrangement (10) and a receiver (5b) arranged in conjunction with the data collecting device (6).

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the transmitter comprises an ultrasound transmitter and the receiver comprises a microphone.