Enhanced functionality and accuracy for a wrist-based multi-parameter monitor

• US 8,182,429 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Mason, Martin K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US12/094,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20080306354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 600/485, 600/486, 600490-503, 600/481, 600/483, 600/508, 600/509, 600/513
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0261 using hydrostatic pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A method for adjusting a blood pressure measurement to compensate for a pressure offset due to obtaining the blood pressure measurement at an elevation other than heart level is illustrated. The method includes measuring a blood pressure at a location above or below a heart level and adjusting the measured blood pressure in accordance with a pressure difference between the location at which the blood pressure is obtained and the heart level.

Claims

1. A physiological measurement system comprising:

a wrist mounted unit configured to be mounted to a wrist of a patient;

a blood pressure sensor that measures a blood pressure relative to atmospheric pressure at the wrist, the blood pressure sensor being carried by the wrist mounted unit to abut the wrist;

a pressure compensation system that determines an offset pressure between the wrist and a heart level, the pressure compensation system including;

a pressure sensor that senses pressure in a fluid filled cavity that extends from a level of the blood pressure sensor to the heart level relative to atmospheric pressure; and

a component which combines the blood pressure measured relative to atmospheric pressure and the cavity fluid pressure relative to atmosphere to generate a measure of blood pressure at the heart level;

a plurality of physiological parameter sensors configured to be mounted to the patient, each sensor sending sensed physiological parameters over a wireless body area network;

a transceiver mounted in the wrist mounted unit and coupled to the wireless body area network to at least receive the sensed physiological parameters;

a communication component mounted in the wrist mounted unit and connected with the transceiver and the pressure sensor to receive the sensed physiological parameters and the blood pressure at heart level therefrom, the communication component wirelessly transmitting the sensed physiological parameters and the blood pressure at heart level from the wrist mounted unit to a remote medical network.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, the pressure sensor being disposed in contact with the fluid in the cavity, to measure a pressure within the cavity relative to atmospheric pressure.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the pressure sensor is disposed at an end of the cavity that is positioned at one of:

about the heart level, and

about blood pressure sensor level.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor includes a solid state transducer, an amplifier, and an analog-to-digital converter which converts the heart level blood pressure to a digital blood pressure value.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fluid filled cavity includes a flexible tube.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a call button attached to the wrist mounted unit and connected with the communication unit for transmitting a call for assistance to the medical network.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a tracking unit disposed in the wrist mounted unit and connected with the communications unit which communicates patient location to the medical network.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a component connected with the wrist unit which generates an electrical signal identifying the monitored patient.

9. A physiological measurement system comprising:

a wrist unit which extends around a patient'"'"'s wrist;

a blood pressure sensor mounted to the wrist unit;

a fluid filled tube that extends from the wrist unit to a level of the heart;

a pressure sensor that measures a pressure of fluid in the tube;

a monitoring component that combines the measured blood pressure and the fluid pressure measured in the tube to render a heart level blood pressure signal;

a plurality of ECG electrodes;

ECG leads that run from the wrist unit along and exterior to the fluid filled tube and to the ECG electrodes to connect the ECG electrodes to the wrist unit;

a blood oxygen sensor connected with the wrist unit to convey blood oxygen signals thereto;

at least one analog to digital converter which digitizes the heart level blood pressure signals, the ECG signals, and the blood oxygen signals, the analog to digital converter being disposed in the wrist unit;

a computer memory which stores the digital heart level blood pressure signals, the digital ECG signals and the digital blood oxygen signals, the computer memory being disposed in the wrist unit;

a communication component which converts the stored digital heart level blood pressure signals, the stored digital ECG signals and the stored digital blood oxygen signals to RF signals and transmits the RF signals wirelessly to a medical network; and

a battery which powers the at least one analog to digital converter, the computer memory, and the communication component, the battery being disposed in the wrist unit.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9, further including:

a call button attached to the wrist unit and connected with the communication unit by which the patient can submit a call for assistance to the medical network.

11. The system as set forth in claim 10, further including:

a tracking unit disposed in the wrist unit for tracking a location of the wrist unit, the tracking unit being connected with the communications unit which communicates the location of the wrist unit to the medical network.

12. The system as set forth in claim 10, further including:

a tracking component connected with the wrist unit which identifies the monitored patient.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the tracking component includes a RFID tag.

14. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the tracking component includes a bar code.