Method and apparatus for monitoring physiologic parameters of a living subject

• US 6,705,990 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2000
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tensys Medical Inc. (Recorders & Medicare Systems Pvt Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Tensys Medical Inc. (Recorders & Medicare Systems Pvt Ltd.)
• Inventors: Markle, William H., Gallant, Stuart L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCrosky, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/625,677
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/485, 600/452, 600/500, 600/493, 600/513, 600/520, 600/484, 600/490, 128/903, 128/904, 128/920, 709/205, 703/11
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• 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 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/70 for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus for monitoring a plurality of physiologic parameters associated with a living subject. In one aspect, the invention comprises a monitoring apparatus capable of non-invasively and continuously monitoring the blood pressure, heart rate (ECG), and weight of the subject. The apparatus further includes a display, input device, and one or more communications links such that data and other information may be communicated between the apparatus and one or more remote locations. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a portable monitoring station disposed in the subject'"'"'s home, which is kept in communication with a remote medical facility via a wireless interface and PSTN or data network. Two-way communications of monitored data, video, audio, and other types of information is provided to facilitate remote care of the subject, and obviate the need for an in-home caregiver or frequent trips to the medical facility. A communications system for exchanging data between the various locations, and computer program allowing such data exchange, are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a plurality of physiologic parameters within a living subject, comprising:

continuously and tonometrically measuring blood pressure from a blood vessel of said subject without using a cuff, said act of measuring further comprising;

(i) measuring a first hemodynamic parameter from a blood vessel of said subject;

(ii) compressing said blood vessel;

(iii) measuring a second hemodynamic parameter from said blood vessel during at least a portion of said act of compressing;

(iv) identifying at least one artifact within said second hemodynamic parameter; and

(v) calibrating the first hemodynamic parameter using at least said artifact;

measuring a second physiologic parameter from said subject;

measuring a third physiologic parameter from said subject;

comparing data derived from said acts of measuring to predetermined values of said blood pressure, second, and third parameters, respectively; and

identifying when at least a portion of said data bears a predetermined relationship to at least one of said predetermined values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the acts of measuring said three physiological parameters are performed simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the acts of measuring said second and third physiologic parameters comprise measuring the weight of said subject and measuring the electrocardiograph of said subject via at least two electrically conductive terminals adapted to contact the extremities of said subject, respectively.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising measuring the oxygen saturation of the blood of said subject.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the act of identifying comprises alerting the subject using a technique selected from the group consisting of a visual alert and an audible alert.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the act of identifying comprises:

generating a data set representative of the relationship of said data associated with at least one of said first, second or third parameters to corresponding ones of said predetermined values;

transmitting said data set via a communications channel to a receiver; and

generating an alert at said receiver.

7. A device for monitoring the physiology of a living subject, comprising:

first apparatus adapted to continuously and tonometrically determine the arterial blood pressure from said blood vessel and generate first data relating thereto, said act of determining comprising forming a time-frequency distribution of acoustic energy transmitted into said artery;

second apparatus adapted to measure at least one other physiologic parameter from said subject and generate second data relating thereto, said physiological parameter selected from the group consisting of;

(a) weight;

(b) ECG; and

(c) SPO2; and

a digital processor operatively coupled to said first and second measuring apparatus and having a program running thereon, said processor and program adapted to process at least portions of said first and second data.

8. A method of monitoring a plurality of physiologic parameters within a living subject, comprising:

continuously and tonometrically measuring blood pressure from a blood vessel of said subject using controlled applanation of said vessel and without using a cuff, said act of measuring blood pressure comprising forming a time-frequency distribution of acoustic energy radiated into said blood vessel;

measuring a second physiologic parameter from said subject;

measuring a third physiologic parameter from said subject;

comparing data derived from said acts of measuring to predetermined values of said blood pressure, second, and third parameters respectively; and

identifying when at least a portion of said data bears a predetermined relationship to at least one of said predetermined values.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of measuring said three physiological parameters are performed simultaneously.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of measuring blood pressure comprises:

tonometrically measuring a first hemodynamic parameter from a blood vessel of said subject;

measuring a second hemodynamic parameter from said blood vessel;

deriving a calibration function based at least in part on said second hemodynamic parameter; and

calibrating the first hemodynamic parameter using said calibration function.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the acts of measuring said second and third physiologic parameters comprise measuring the weight of said subject and measuring the electrocardiograph of said subject via at least two electrically conductive terminals adapted to contact the extremities of said subject, respectively.

12. A method of remotely assessing the physical condition of a living subject disposed at a first location, comprising:

continuously and tonometrically measuring the blood pressure from a blood vessel of said subject to produce first data, said act of measuring blood pressure comprising controllably applanating at least a portion of said blood vessel without using a cuff and forming a time-frequency distribution of acoustic energy radiated into said blood vessel;

measuring a second physiological parameter from said subject to produce second data;

measuring a third physiological parameter from said subject to produce third data;

transmitting at least a portion of said first, second, and third data to a second location; and

assessing the physical condition of said living subject based at least in part on said data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the acts of measuring said physiological parameters are performed simultaneously.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating at least one treatment option for said subject based on said act of assessing; and

transmitting information relating to said at least one treatment option from a third location to said first location.

15. A system for monitoring the physiology of a living subject, comprising:

a first measuring apparatus adapted to continuously and tonometrically determine the blood pressure within an artery from said subject and form a time-frequency distribution therefrom, said first apparatus comprising at least one pressure transducer which also acts to controllably compress said artery without use of a cuff;

a second measuring apparatus adapted to measure at least one other physiologic parameter not directly related to said blood pressure from said subject and generate second data relating thereto, said second apparatus capable of measuring said second physiologic parameter contemporaneously with measuring said blood pressure;

a data processor operatively coupled to said first and second measuring apparatus and having a program running thereon, said processor and program adapted to process at least portions of said first and second data and compare said at least portions to other first and second data previously obtained from said subject, respectively; and

display apparatus, in data communication with said at least one measuring apparatus, adapted to display at least a portion of said first and second data.