Systems and methods for ambulatory monitoring of physiological signs
First Claim
1. A monitoring apparatus for non-invasively monitoring physiological parameters of an individual comprising:
- a monitoring garment comprising a shirt for the torso of the individual to be monitored, one or more inductive plethysmographic (IP) sensors, each IP sensor comprising an inductance sensor including at least one conductive loop arranged to closely encircle the torso, wherein the inductance of the conductive loop is responsive to the cross-sectional area of the torso enclosed by the loop, a cardiac cycle sensor for generating signals responsive to occurrence of cardiac ventricular contractions, a signal cable for carrying signals from said sensors, and a microprocessor unit comprising a microprocessor for receiving signals from said signal cable and for recording digital data derived from all received signals in a removable computer-readable memory media.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to the field of ambulatory and non-invasive monitoring of a plurality of physiological parameters of a monitored individual. The invention includes a physiological monitoring apparatus with an improved monitoring apparel worn by a monitored individual, the apparel having attached sensors for monitoring parameters reflecting pulmonary function, or parameters reflecting cardiac function, or parameters reflecting the function of other organ systems, and the apparel being designed and tailored to be comfortable during the individual'"'"'s normal daily activities. The apparel is preferably also suitable for athletic activities. The sensors preferably include one or more ECG leads and one of more inductive plethysmographic sensor with conductive loops positioned closely to the individual to preferably monitor at least basic cardiac parameters, basic pulmonary parameters, or both. The monitoring apparatus also includes a unit for receiving data from the sensors, and for storing the data in a computer-readable medium. The invention also includes systems comprising a central data repository for receiving, storing, and processing data generated by a plurality of physiological monitored apparatus, and for making stored data available to the individual and to health care providers.
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Citations
66 Claims
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1. A monitoring apparatus for non-invasively monitoring physiological parameters of an individual comprising:
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a monitoring garment comprising a shirt for the torso of the individual to be monitored, one or more inductive plethysmographic (IP) sensors, each IP sensor comprising an inductance sensor including at least one conductive loop arranged to closely encircle the torso, wherein the inductance of the conductive loop is responsive to the cross-sectional area of the torso enclosed by the loop, a cardiac cycle sensor for generating signals responsive to occurrence of cardiac ventricular contractions, a signal cable for carrying signals from said sensors, and a microprocessor unit comprising a microprocessor for receiving signals from said signal cable and for recording digital data derived from all received signals in a removable computer-readable memory media. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
wherein said monitoring garment further comprises a band for the neck of the individual to be monitored, wherein said IP sensors comprise a neck inductive plethysmographic sensor operatively arranged for generating signals responsive to jugular venous pulse, carotid arterial pulse, respiration-related intra-pleural pressure changes, contraction of neck muscles, and swallowing deflections, and wherein the signal cable further comprises an attachment to the conductive loop of the neck IP sensor. -
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said IP sensors comprise at least one abdominal IP sensor including one or more conductive loops and at least one rib cage IP sensor including one or more conductive loops operatively arranged for measuring breathing patterns of the patient.
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9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said IP sensors comprise at least one thoracic IP sensor including one or more conductive loops operatively arranged for measuring ventricular stroke volume.
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10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said IP sensors comprise at least one lower abdominal IP sensor operatively arranged for measuring intra-lower-abdominal contractions and dilations.
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11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said IP sensors comprise one or two hemithoracic IP sensors operatively arranged for measuring breathing and paradoxical motion between two hemithoraces of the patient.
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12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more further sensors attached to the signal cable and selected from a group comprising a body position sensor for indicating a posture of the individual, a pulse oximeter for indicating arterial oxygenation saturation, and a throat microphone for indicating talking and snoring.
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13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising at least two body position sensors, a first body position sensor mounted on said garment and a second body position sensor mounted elsewhere on the individual.
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14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said IP inductive plethysmographic sensors are attached to said garment as an integral part of said garment via an attachment consisting of one of sewing, embroidering, embedding, weaving and printing said inductive plethysmographic sensor into said garment.
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15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor unit further comprises an audio device for generating audio indications to the individual being monitored.
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16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor unit further comprises a display unit for displaying viewable messages to the individual being monitored.
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17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor unit further comprises an input unit for the individual being monitored to input information or commands to said microprocessor unit.
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18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor unit further comprises a memory accessible to the microprocessor, and wherein the memory comprises encoded software instructions for causing the microprocessor to read input data and to write output data derived from the input data in the removable computer-readable memory media.
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19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the memory further comprises encoded software instructions for causing the microprocessor to determine significant physiological events in the individual being monitored and to indicate audibly determined significant events to the individual.
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20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the microprocessor unit comprises components for wirelessly transmitting determined events.
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21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the memory further comprises encoded software instructions for causing the microprocessor to determine significant temporal physiological trends in the individual being monitored and to indicate audibly determined significant trends to the individual.
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22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the microprocessor unit comprises components for wirelessly transmitting determined significant trends.
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23. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the memory further comprises encoded software instructions for causing the microprocessor to compress data before writing to the removable computer-readable memory media.
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24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor unit further comprises circuitry for deriving digital data from non-digital data received from the signal cable.
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25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said monitoring apparatus further comprises circuitry for generating a variable-frequency signal from each IP sensor, the generated frequency being responsive to the inductance of the conductive loop of the IP sensor, and wherein the microprocessor unit further comprises circuitry for deriving digital data from the generated variable-frequency signals, the digital data comprising encoding of the variable frequency of the signals with errors of 100 ppm or less.
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26. A monitoring apparatus for non-invasively monitoring physiological parameters of an individual comprising:
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a monitoring garment comprising a shirt for the torso of the individual to be monitored, one or more inductive plethysmographic (IP) sensors, each IP sensor comprising (i) a longitudinal band of elastic material attached to said garment for closely encircling the torso, (ii) an inductance sensor including at least one flexible conductive loop attached to the longitudinal band, wherein the inductance of the conductive loop is responsive to the cross-sectional area of the torso enclosed by the loop, and (iii) a tightening device for adjusting circumferential tightness of the IP sensor to substantially prevent longitudinal movement of the IP sensor along the torso, and a microprocessor unit comprising a microprocessor for receiving signals from said IP sensors and for recording digital data derived from all received signals in a removable computer-readable memory media. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A monitoring apparatus for non-invasively monitoring physiological parameters of an individual comprising:
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a monitoring garment comprising a shirt for the torso of the individual to be monitored and a longitudinal fastener for opening and closing the shirt, one or more inductive plethysmographic (IP) sensors, each IP sensor comprising an inductance sensor including at least one flexible conductive loop arranged to closely encircle the torso, wherein the inductance of the conductive loop is responsive to the cross-sectional area of the torso enclosed by the loop, a cardiac timing sensor for generating signals responsive to occurrence of cardiac ventricular contractions, a signal cable for carrying signals from said sensors comprising at least one module, wherein the module is coupled to and electrically completes the conductive loops of the IP sensors, wherein termini of the conductive loops may be uncoupled from module, and wherein the module comprises circuitry for generating signals responsive to the IP sensors, and a microprocessor unit comprising a microprocessor for receiving signals from said signal cable and for recording digital data derived from all received signals in a removable computer-readable memory media. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A monitoring apparatus for non-invasively monitoring physiological parameters of an individual comprising:
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a monitoring garment comprising a shirt for the torso of the individual to be monitored, one or more inductive plethysmographic (IP) sensors, each IP sensor comprising an inductance sensor including at least one flexible conductive loop arranged to closely encircle the torso, wherein the inductance of the conductive loop is responsive to the cross-sectional area of the torso enclosed by the loop, a cardiac timing sensor for generating signals responsive to occurrence of cardiac ventricular contractions, a signal cable for carrying signals directly from the conductive loops of said IP sensors and for carrying signals from said sensor, electronic circuitry comprising (i) a multiplexing switch for connecting the conductive loop of any one of the IP sensors to an oscillator, the oscillator having an oscillation frequency responsive to the inductance of the conductive loop connected by the multiplexing switch, and (ii) a demodulator operatively coupled to the oscillator and outputting digital data responsive to the oscillation frequency, and a microprocessor unit comprising a microprocessor for receiving signals from said signal cable and for receiving digital data from said electronic circuitry and for recording digital data from received inputs in a removable computer-readable memory media. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A monitoring apparatus for non-invasively monitoring physiological parameters of an individual comprising:
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a monitoring garment comprising a shirt for the torso of the individual to be monitored, a plurality of sensors, said sensors comprising (i) one or more inductive plethysmographic (IP) sensors, each IP sensor comprising an inductance sensor including at least one flexible conductive loop arranged to closely encircle the torso, wherein the inductance of the conductive loop is responsive to the cross-sectional area of the torso enclosed by the loop, wherein at least one sensor comprises a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting signals generated by the sensor within the vicinity of said physiological monitoring apparatus, a microprocessor unit comprising (i) a receiver for receiving signals wirelessly transmitted from said sensors, and (ii) a microprocessor for accepting the received signals and for recording digital data derived from the received signals in a removable computer-readable memory media. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A system for the non-invasive physiological monitoring of physiological parameters of at least one individual comprising:
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at least one physiological monitoring apparatus comprising a monitoring garment worn on the torso of an individual being monitored, wherein the monitoring apparatus stores in a digital form in a removable computer-readable memory media data, wherein the data is by sensors comprising generated from (i) one or more inductive plethysmographic (IP) sensors flexibly attached to the monitoring garment, and (ii) a cardiac timing sensor for generating signals responsive to cardiac ventricular contractions, and a data repository for reading data from the removable computer-readable memory media that has been recorded by said physiological monitoring apparatus and for storing read data in a data archive, said data repository being remotely located from said physiological monitoring apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A computer readable medium comprising data recorded in digital form, wherein the recorded digital data comprises data responsive with errors of 100 ppm or less to the frequency of an oscillator connected to at least one conductive loop of at least one inductive plethysmographic sensor.
Specification