WEARABLE MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20090204013A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.), Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.), Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Mühlsteff, Jens, Thijs, Jeroen Adrianus Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/506
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 9/001 Underpants or briefs specially adapted for men A41B9/02; specially adapted for ladies A41B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02125 of pulse wave propagation time
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0535 Impedance plethysmography for measuring blood flow A61B5/0295
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes

Abstract

A system for measuring/monitoring the vital signs of a patient especially blood pressure, comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged at least in the waistband of an undergarment, and means for deriving measurements from the electrodes using pulse-transit times.

Claims

1. A system for measuring/monitoring the vital signs of a patient especially blood pressure, comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged at least in the waistband of an undergarment, and means for deriving measurements from the electrodes using pulse-transit times characterised in that the undergarment comprises a pair of underpants, having additional electrodes positioned in the leg portions so as to measure passing pulses in the left and right femoralis.

2. A system according to claim 1 in which the electrodes comprise dry electrodes of conductive rubber.

3. A system according to claim 1 in which there are four electrodes in the waistband, comprising a first pair of electrodes for injecting a current, and a second pair of electrodes for measuring a resulting voltage change, whereby measurements can be made using bio-impedance technology.

4. A measuring system according to claim 1 in which the electrodes are so arranged as to measure passing pulses in the central aorta of the patient.

5. A measuring system according to claim 1 in which pulse-wave velocity measurements are made by detecting pulse transit times between spaced-apart sensors.

6. A measuring system according to claim 1 in which pulse-wave velocity measurements are made by detecting the time difference between the R-peak of an ECG, and a passing pulse in an artery at a given sensor position on the body.

7. A measuring system according to claim 1 further comprising a 3-axis accelerometer whereby the system can detect the patient'"'"'s posture or activity level and compensate for signal artefacts caused by movements.

8. A measuring system according to claim 1 including a signal-processing unit having a front-end circuit for receiving sensor signals means for storing data, and rf-transceiver means for communication with external data-processing and/or control means.

10. A measuring system according to claim 10 further comprising an alarm for alerting the patient to a critical condition.

9. A measuring system according to claim 10 in which the unit is also adapted to receive manual input from the patient and to transmit information relating to the condition of the system and of the patient, to the external means.

11. A measuring system according to claim 10 further comprising means for sending an alert to a source of external professional assistance.

12. A measuring system according to 10 in which the system is arranged to operate as a Holter monitor or ambulatory electrocardiography device, so as to record cardiac activity over an extended period of time.