Systems and methods for monitoring subjects in potential physiological distress
First Claim
1. A portable monitoring apparatus for real-time monitoring of an ambulatory subject, comprising:
- a wearable item comprising a sensor, the sensor providing a sensor signal responsive to the physiology of an ambulatory subject wearing the item; and
a portable data unit local to the wearable item comprising a processing device configured to;
retrieve and process the sensor signal in order to determine physiological information comprising an indication of whether a physiological state of the subject is normal or not or an indication of whether a physiological state of the subject is acceptable or not,present to the subject items selected from said physiological information, and totransmit items selected from the physiological information from the portable data unit to a remote monitoring station in dependence on the physiological state of the monitored subject,wherein the processing device is further configured to direct the transmission, wirelessly to the remote monitoring station, which is a current remote monitoring station selected from two or more candidate remote monitoring stations,wherein the processing device is further configured to select a new remote monitoring station from the candidate remote monitoring stations that is different from the current remote monitoring station; and
is configured to direct future wireless transmissions to the new remote monitoring station and cease directing future wireless transmissions to the current remote monitoring station,wherein the candidate remote monitoring stations are assigned priorities, and wherein the new remote monitoring station currently has the greatest priority at portable data unit of the other candidate monitoring stations,wherein the physiological state is further determined by comparing a value of a physiological parameter to a predetermined threshold value that is acceptable or normal based on predetermined criteria.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for monitoring in real time the physiological status of one or more subjects, especially subject engaged in potentially hazardous or dangerous activities. Systems include wearable items with one or more physiological sensors and a local data unit (LDU) operatively coupled to the sensors. The LDUs digitize and filter sensor data, extract physiological parameters, determine abnormal or not acceptable physiological conditions, and communicate to external monitoring facilities. The external facilities display status and data concerning monitored subjects. In preferred embodiments, communication between the LDUs and the external monitoring facilities dynamically adjusts to the condition of the subjects and to system changes such as subjects and external facilities entering and leaving and/or moving from place to place. The invention also provides program products for performing this invention'"'"'s methods.
280 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A portable monitoring apparatus for real-time monitoring of an ambulatory subject, comprising:
-
a wearable item comprising a sensor, the sensor providing a sensor signal responsive to the physiology of an ambulatory subject wearing the item; and a portable data unit local to the wearable item comprising a processing device configured to; retrieve and process the sensor signal in order to determine physiological information comprising an indication of whether a physiological state of the subject is normal or not or an indication of whether a physiological state of the subject is acceptable or not, present to the subject items selected from said physiological information, and to transmit items selected from the physiological information from the portable data unit to a remote monitoring station in dependence on the physiological state of the monitored subject, wherein the processing device is further configured to direct the transmission, wirelessly to the remote monitoring station, which is a current remote monitoring station selected from two or more candidate remote monitoring stations, wherein the processing device is further configured to select a new remote monitoring station from the candidate remote monitoring stations that is different from the current remote monitoring station; and
is configured to direct future wireless transmissions to the new remote monitoring station and cease directing future wireless transmissions to the current remote monitoring station,wherein the candidate remote monitoring stations are assigned priorities, and wherein the new remote monitoring station currently has the greatest priority at portable data unit of the other candidate monitoring stations, wherein the physiological state is further determined by comparing a value of a physiological parameter to a predetermined threshold value that is acceptable or normal based on predetermined criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification