Blood-pressure monitoring device featuring a calibration-based analysis

• US 20050228301A1
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Triage Data Networks
• Original Assignee: Triage Data Networks
• Inventors: Banet, Matthew J., Visser, Henk
• Granted Patent: US 7,004,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/02116 of pulse wave amplitude A61B5/02225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters

Abstract

A monitoring device (10), method and system are disclosed herein. The monitoring device (10) utilizes a vital sign monitor (16) to determine a plurality of vital signs of the user. The vital sign monitor (16) preferably comprises a light source (3) and photodetector (31) in communication with a pulse oximetry circuit (35).

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a patient'"'"'s blood pressure, the device comprising:

a vital-sign monitor comprising an optical module for monitoring a flow of blood through an artery of the patient;

a microprocessor configured to receive a signal from the vital-sign monitor and compare it to a mathematical model to generate a blood-pressure value for the patient; and

a short-range wireless transceiver for transmitting the blood-pressure value from the device.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the optical module generates information describing a real-time flow of blood through the patient.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to extract numerical parameters characterizing the signal and configured to process the numerical parameters to generate blood-pressure values.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to compare the numerical parameters to a calibration curve to generate blood-pressure values.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the optical module connects to a wrist-mounted module comprising the microprocessor and the short-range wireless transceiver.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the short-range wireless transceiver is a radio-frequency transmitter operating a wireless protocol based on Bluetooth™

, 802.11, 802.15.4, or part-15.

7. The device according to claim 6 further comprising a finger-mounted component that comprises the optical module.

8. A method for monitoring a patient'"'"'s blood pressure, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one numerical calibration curve describing the patient'"'"'s blood pressure;

generating an optical waveform based on the flow of blood through the patient'"'"'s artery;

fitting the optical waveform to determine calibration parameters describing a blood-pressure value;

comparing the calibration parameters to the at least one numerical calibration curve to determine the blood-pressure value; and

wirelessly transmitting the blood-pressure value.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein obtaining the at least one numerical calibration curve comprises simultaneously measuring the patient'"'"'s arterial blood flow with a monitoring device and a calibration blood pressure with a calibration device.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein obtaining the at least one numerical calibration curve further comprises transmitting the calibration blood pressure from the calibration device to the monitoring device.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the calibration blood pressure is wirelessly transmitted from the calibration device using a radio-frequency transceiver operating a wireless protocol based on Bluetooth™

, part-15, 802.11, or 802.15.4.

12. The method according to claim 8 wherein generating the optical waveform comprises sending a signal corresponding to the patient'"'"'s arterial blood flow to an analog-to-digital converter which converts the signal into the optical waveform.

13. The method according to claim 8 wherein the fitting step further comprises comparing the optical waveform to a mathematical model that describes primary and reflected waves in the patient'"'"'s circulatory system.

14. A device for monitoring a patient'"'"'s vital signs, the method comprising:

means for obtaining numerical calibration curves describing the patient'"'"'s vital signs;

means for generating an optical waveform based on the flow of blood through the patient'"'"'s artery;

means for fitting the optical waveform to determine calibration parameters describing a vital-sign value;

means for comparing the calibration parameters to at least one numerical calibration curve to determine the vital-sign value; and

for a short range wireless transceiver wirelessly transmitting the vital-sign value.

15. A system for wirelessly monitoring a patient'"'"'s blood pressure, the system comprising:

a monitoring device comprising

a vital-sign monitor for monitoring a flow of blood through an artery of the patient using an optical module,

a microprocessor for receiving a signal from the vital-sign monitor corresponding to the flow of blood and generating a real-time blood pressure for the patient, and

a short-range wireless transceiver for transmitting the real-time blood-pressure value from the microprocessor; and

a handheld device comprising a wireless transceiver for receiving the real-time blood-pressure value and connection to a network.

16. A device for wirelessly monitoring a patient'"'"'s blood pressure, the device comprising:

a finger-mounted module comprising a vital-sign monitor for monitoring the flow of blood through an artery of the patient;

a wrist-mounted module comprising

a microprocessor for receiving a signal from the vital-sign monitor corresponding to the flow of blood through an artery of the patient and generating a real-time blood pressure for the patient, and

a short-range wireless transceiver for transmitting the real-time blood pressure value from the microprocessor; and

means for communicating from the finger-mounted module to the wrist-mounted module.

17. The device according to claim 16 wherein the vital-sign monitor comprises a light source and a photodetector in communication with a pulse-oximetry circuit.

18. The device according to claim 16 wherein the wrist-mounted module further comprises an analog-to-digital converter configured to generate a time-dependent optical waveform based on the information provided by the vital-sign monitor.

19. The device according to claim 16 wherein the short-range wireless transmitter is a radio-frequency transmitter operating a wireless protocol based on Bluetooth™

, part-15, 802.11, or 802.15.4.