Physiologic signs feedback system

• US 6,047,203 A
• Filed: 03/17/1998
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG, NIMS Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NIMS Incorporated
• Inventors: Sackner, Marvin A., Inman, D. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US09/040,536
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 600/483, 600/300, 600/301, 600/386, 600/388, 600/389, 600/390, 600/481, 600/508, 600/509
• US Class Current: 600/388
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0535 Impedance plethysmography for measuring blood flow A61B5/0295
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence

Abstract

A non-invasive physiologic signs monitoring device includes a garment with electrocardiogram electrodes and various inductive plethysmographic sensors sewn, embroidered, embedded, or otherwise attached to the garment with an adhesive. The garment is in the form of a shirt. When the garment is fitted over the torso of the patient to be monitored, the electrodes and sensors generate signals in response to the physiologic signs of the patient. The signals are transmitted to a recording/alarm device where they are monitored for adverse conditions and logged. When an adverse condition or other preprogrammed condition occurs, a message is communicated to the patient by either an audio message or a display. The recording/alarm unit is also connectable to a remote receiving unit for monitoring by a health care professional or other machine.

Claims

1. A non-invasive physiological monitoring system for monitoring physiological signs of a patient, comprising:

a garment comprising a shirt fitting over the torso of a patient to be monitored;

a plurality of inductive plethysmographic sensors attached to and supported by said garment as an integral part of said garment for generating first signals in response to physiological signs of the patient when the garment is worn on the torso of the patient;

an electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode attached to said garment for generating a second signal in response to another physiological sign of the patient when the garment is worn on the torso of the patient;

a transmitter attached to said garment and connected to said plurality of plethysmographic sensors and said electrocardiogram electrode for transmitting the first and second signals from the garment; and

a processor unit remote from the garment and comprising a first receiver for receiving the transmitted first and second signals, a monitoring unit for receiving the first signals and second signal from first receiver, and an output device for generating and outputting messages to the patient in response to and related to the first and second signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of inductive plethysmographic sensors comprises one of a neck inductive plethysmographic sensor, a respiratory inductive plethysmographic sensor, a thoracic inductive plethysmographic sensor, a hemithoracic inductive plethysmographic sensors, and a limb inductive plethysmographic sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a body position sensor signally connected to said processor for indicating a posture of the patient.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pulse oximeter sensor signally connected to the processor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor unit further comprises a database for periodically logging the first and second signals.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said output device comprises an audio system for generating voice messages in response to the first and second signals.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said output device comprises a display unit for displaying viewable messages in response to the first and second signals.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a signalling device for activation to signal the patient when said processor unit generates a message to the patient.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said signalling device comprises one of an illuminatable light mounted on one of the garment and the processor unit, an audible noise generating device mounted on one of the garment and the processor unit, and a vibrating device mounted on the garment.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor unit comprises a second transmitter for transmitting from the processor unit said first and second signals via a communication link, and wherein said system further comprises a second receiver at a location remote from said processor for receiving the first and second signals transmitted by said second transmitter to thereby allow monitoring of the first and second signals by one of a person and a device at the remote location.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said communication link comprises one of a telephone line connection, an internet connection, a satellite hookup, a cable connection, and a modem connection.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said second receiver comprises means for transmitting a message to said processor unit for output to the patient via the output device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor unit further comprises an input device for one of inputting commands to said processor unit and confirming actions requested by said processor in messages output to the patient by the processor unit.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising one of an oscillator demodulator with multiplexer functions and a plurality of oscillator modules carried on said garment and connected between said plural plethysmographic sensors and said transmitter.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said garment comprises a long-sleeve, turtle-neck garment.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said plural inductive plethysmographic sensors are attached to said garment as an integral part of said garment via an attachment consisting of one of sewing, embroidering, embedding, weaving and printing said inductive plethysmographic sensor into said garment.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said ECG electrode is attached to said garment as an integral part of said garment via an attachment consisting of one of sewing and embedding said ECG electrode into said garment.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said plural inductive plethysmographic sensors comprise a neck inductive plethymographic sensor operatively arranged for measuring jugular venous pulse, carotid arterial pulse, intra-pleural pressure swings related to respiration, contraction of neck muscles, and swallowing deflections of the patient.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said plural inductive plethysmographic sensors comprise abdominal and rib cage inductive plethymographic sensors operatively arranged for measuring breathing patterns of the patient.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said plural inductive plethysmographic sensors comprise a thoracic inductive plethymographic sensor operatively arranged for measuring beat by beat ventricular volume during breath holding and slow breathing of the patient.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said plural inductive plethysmographic sensors comprise two hemithoracic inductive plethymographic sensors operatively arranged for measuring breathing and paradoxical motion between two hemithoraces of the patient.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said plural inductive plethysmographic sensors comprise a limb inductive plethymographic sensor operatively arranged for measuring vascular pulses within a limb of the patient.

23. A non-invasive physiological monitoring system for monitoring physiological signs of a patient, comprising:

a garment comprising a shirt fitting over the torso of a patient to be monitored;

an inductive plethysmographic sensor attached to and supported by said garment as an integral part of said garment for generating signals in response to the physiological signs of the patient when the garment is worn on the torso of the patient;

a transmitter attached to said garment and connected to said inductive plethysmographic sensor for transmitting the signals generated by said sensor;

a processor unit remote from the garment and signally connected to said transmitter via a wireless communication link for receiving the transmitted signals generated by said sensor, and comprising a monitoring unit for receiving the transmitted signals and for detecting from the received signals adverse or preprogrammed conditions, and an output device for generating and outputting messages to the patient in response to the conditions detected by the monitoring unit.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said inductive plethymographic sensor comprises a plurality of inductive plethysmographic sensors, and wherein said transmitter further comprises one of an oscillator demodulator with multiplexer functions and a plurality of oscillator modules connected to said plurality of inductive plethysmographic sensors.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein each of said plurality of inductive plethysmographic sensors comprises one of a neck inductive plethysmographic sensor, a respiratory inductive plethysmographic sensor, a thoracic inductive plethysmographic sensor, a hemithoracic inductive plethysmographic sensors, and a limb inductive plethysmographic sensor.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said plurality of non-invasive sensors further comprises an electrocardiogram electrode.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said ECG electrode is attached to said garment as an integral part of said garment via an attachment consisting of one of sewing and embedding said ECG electrode into said garment.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein said processor unit further comprises a database for logging the received signals on a periodic basis.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising a receiving unit at a location remote from said processor unit and signally connected to said processor unit for receiving from said processing unit said generated signals and thereby allowing monitoring of said generated signals at the remote location.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein said long distance communication link comprises one of a telephone connection, a modem connection, an internet connection, a satellite hookup, and a cable connection.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein said processor unit is connected to said receiving unit via a long distance communication link.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein said receiving unit comprises means for transmitting a command to said processor unit for one of sending a message to the patient through said output device, reading the database, writing to the database, and altering a response of the processor unit to the received signals.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein said transmitter transmits the generated signals from the garment at a sampling rate of at least 25 points per second.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein said transmitter generates a trend value on a periodic basis from each of the generated signals and transmits from the garment to said processing unit only the periodic trend value.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said transmitter transmits the generated signals at a sampling rate of at least 25 points per second when the monitoring unit detects an adverse or preprogrammed condition.

36. The system of claim 23, wherein said garment comprises a long-sleeve, turtle-neck garment.

37. The system of claim 23, wherein said inductive plethysmographic sensor is attached to said garment as an integral part of said garment via an attachment consisting of one of sewing, embroidering, embedding, weaving, and printing said inductive plethysmographic sensor into said garment.

38. The system of claim 23, wherein said plural inductive plethysmographic sensors comprise a neck inductive plethymographic sensor operatively arranged for measuring jugular venous pulse, carotid arterial pulse, intra-pleural pressure swings related to respiration, contraction of neck muscles, and swallowing deflections of the patient.

39. The system of claim 23, wherein said plural inductive plethysmographic sensors comprise abdominal and rib cage inductive plethymographic sensors operatively arranged for measuring breathing patterns of the patient.

40. The system of claim 23, wherein said plural inductive plethysmographic sensors comprise a thoracic inductive plethymographic sensor operatively arranged for measuring beat by beat ventricular volume during breath holding and slow breathing of the patient.

41. The system of claim 23, wherein said plural inductive plethysmographic sensors comprise two hemithoracic inductive plethymographic sensors operatively arranged for measuring breathing and paradoxical motion between two hemithoraces of the patient.

42. The system of claim 23, wherein said plural inductive plethysmographic sensors comprise a limb inductive plethymographic sensor operatively arranged for measuring vascular pulses within a limb of the patient.