Patient-worn medical monitoring device

• US 8,668,643 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. (Excelsior Union Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: MR Holdings (HK) Limited (Excelsior Union Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kinast, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US11/642,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,638 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/04 Constructional details of apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• 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 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6841 by using templates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/72 Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes character recognition, recognising digital ink, document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00; recognition or understanding of postal images G06V30/424

Abstract

One embodiment of a medical monitor includes a lanyard and an electronic package supported in the manner of a pendant. Another embodiment of a medical monitor attaches adhesively to a patient. Both embodiments include a reusable portion housing electronic components for processing measurements of the patient'"'"'s physiological condition, and a disposable portion including a battery. The physiological measurements may be transmitted to a remote location along with a signal identifying the patient.

Claims

1. A method for locating a person within a building, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of receivers at spaced locations in the building, each receiver having a specified location, a predetermined reception range and receiver identification data identifying the receiver, the reception range of each receiver overlapping with the reception range of at least one next closest receiver;

wirelessly transmitting first data from a transmitter connected to the person without the transmitter receiving data from any of the receivers, the first data including person identification data identifying the person, wherein wirelessly transmitting the first data comprises wirelessly transmitting in short bursts at random intervals;

receiving the first data at least one of the receivers when the transmitter is within the reception range of the at least one receiver; and

transmitting second data from the at least one receiver to a central station, the second data including the person identification data and the receiver identification data for the at least one receiver,

whereby the central station uses the personal identification data and the receiver identification data to locate the person.

2. The method for locating a person as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a physiological condition of the person and generating condition data representative of the physiological condition;

processing the condition data to create processed data, wherein the first data includes the processed data.

3. The method for locating a person as claimed in claim 2, further comprising issuing an alarm at the central station when the processed data satisfies predetermined criteria.

4. The method for locating a person as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processed data includes data indicating an alarm condition.

5. The method for locating a person as claimed in claim 2, wherein the condition data includes data indicating an alarm condition when the condition data satisfies predetermined criteria, the method further comprising:

transmitting an alphanumeric message to a pager when the condition data satisfies the predetermined criteria.

6. The method for locating a person as claimed in claim 5, wherein the alphanumeric message includes a location of the person.

7. The method for locating a persona as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the second data to the central station is performed wirelessly.