System for remote monitoring of personnel

• US 6,198,394 B1
• Filed: 12/05/1996
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Empire IP LLC
• Original Assignee: Sarcos Incorporated (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Petelenz, Tomasz J., Jacobsen, Stephen C., Wyatt, Roland, Peterson, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Glen
• Application Number:
  US08/760,855
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/539, 340/825.06, 340/825.15, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/825.54, 340/573.1, 364/551.01
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/20 Workers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/063 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system for remotely monitoring personnel status includes a plurality of sensors disposable on a soldier or other person for developing signals which may be used to determine the physiologicalal status. The sensors communicate with a soldier unit which can process the information to ensure that the sensor data falls within acceptable ranges and communicate with remote monitors. The soldier unit also includes a global positioning system. By using the sensor data and the global positioning system, leaders and medics can quickly and accurately track and treat casualties in battle. The system enables more rapid location of the casualty, as well as remote triage/initial diagnosis, thereby assuring that those who are most in need of treatment are attended to first. Typically, the system monitors both body surface and ambient temperature, heart rate, shivering, motion status and body condition. Additional sensors can be provided to supply information on other physiologicalal parameter which may be desired for more thorough diagnosis. The physiologicalal information may be stored and kept with the soldier to enable improved care as the soldier is moved to higher levels of care.

Claims

1. Wearable apparatus for monitoring physiological parameters of a person comprising:

support means for wearing by a person on one or more body parts, the support means comprising a harness having a plurality of pocket means;

sensor means disposed on the support means for measuring multiple physiological parameters of the person;

means disposed in at least one of the pocket means and responsive to the sensor means for transmitting to a remote location data indicating values of each of the multiple physiological parameters measured; and

at least one antenna means disposed on the harness and in communication with the means for transmitting.

2. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the harness comprises a vest, and wherein the means for transmitting is disposed within the vest.

3. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a global positioning means disposed in the at least one pocket and in communication with the at least one antenna means.

4. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, further including a strap disposable about the person under the harness, said sensor means being disposed in the strap.

5. The wearable apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus further comprises a wireless network means for conveying data from the sensor means to the means for transmitting.

6. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a strap mountable about the person'"'"'s torso.

7. The wearable apparatus claim 6, wherein the strap includes a plurality of sensors.

8. The wearable apparatus of claim 7, wherein the support means comprises a band mountable about the person'"'"'s wrist.

9. The wearable apparatus of claim 8, wherein the band includes a plurality of sensors.

10. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises an accelerometer and a plurality of filters disposed in communication with the accelerometer.

11. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises an acceleration switch.

12. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises a heart rate sensor including ECG electrodes.

13. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises a heart rate sensor including an ECG sensor.

14. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises a body surface temperature sensor.

15. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises an ambient temperature sensor.

16. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a receiving/sending means for receiving data indicating the values of the multiple physiological parameters detected by the sensor means, and for communicating said data to remote locations.

17. The wearable apparatus of claim 16, wherein said receiving/sending means comprises a wireless local area network for receiving data from the sensor means.

18. The wearable apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for transmitting further comprises data storage means for recording said data received from the sensor means.

20. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting further comprises processor means for evaluating values received from the sensor means with respect to acceptable physiological ranges for each value received by the processor means.

21. The wearable apparatus of claim 20, further comprising alarm means for generating a human perceptible signal when the values received from the sensor means are not within acceptable physiological ranges.

22. The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises global positioning means for determining the location of the person.

23. The wearable apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus further comprises antenna means for communicating the location of the person to a remote location.

24. The wearable apparatus of claim 23, wherein the antenna means comprises a GPS antenna.

25. The wearable apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus further comprises display means for displaying indicia representing the location of the person.

26. The wearable apparatus of claim 22, wherein the global positioning means is configured to be disposed on the person.

27. A personnel status monitoring system comprising the wearable apparatus of claim 24, and further comprising:

a portable, remote monitoring unit comprising;

communications means for receiving data transmitted by the means for transmitting; and

display means for displaying data representative of the values of the at least one physiological parameter detected by the sensor means, and for displaying indicia representing the geolocation of the person.

29. A personnel status monitoring system of claim 27, wherein the remote monitoring unit further comprises a data storage mechanism having a plurality of acceptable ranges for physiological values stored therein, and processor means for comparing the data received from the means responsive to the sensors with the acceptable ranges stored in the data storage mechanism.

30. A personnel status monitoring system of claim 29, wherein the data storage mechanism further comprises means for storing the data received from the means for transmitting.

31. A personnel status monitoring system of claim 29, wherein the portable, remote monitoring unit comprises a portable computer.

32. A personnel status monitoring system of claim 27, wherein the portable, remote monitoring unit comprises a portable unit having a display screen and a data entry means for communicating with the means for transmitting.

33. A personnel status monitoring system of claim 32, wherein the portable, remote monitoring unit is configured to be held in one hand and operated with one hand.

19. The wearable apparatus of claim 19, wherein said receiving/sending means further comprises access means for enabling access to information recording in the data storage means from a remote location.

28. A personnel status monitoring system of claim 105, wherein the communication means further comprises means for controlling the means for transmitting to control sending of the data supplied by the means responsive to the sensor means.

34. A personnel status monitoring system comprising:

a) support means for wearing by a person on one or more body parts;

b) sensor means, disposed on the support means, for measuring at least one physiological parameter of the person, and an ambient temperature;

c) means responsive to the sensor means for transmitting to a remote location, wherein the data indicates values of at least one physiological parameter measured;

d) global positioning means for determining the position of the person;

e) a portable, remote monitoring unit comprising;

communications means for receiving data transmitted by the means for transmitting; and

display means for displaying data representative of values of at least one physiological parameter detected by the sensor means, and for displaying indicia representing the geolocation of the person.

35. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 34, wherein the communications means further comprises means for controlling the means for transmitting to control sending of the data supplied by the means responsive to the sensor means.

36. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 34, wherein the remote monitoring unit further comprises a data storage mechanism having a plurality of acceptable ranges for physiologicalal values stored therein, and processor means for comparing the data received from the means responsive to the sensors with the acceptable ranges stored in the data storage mechanism.

37. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 36, wherein the data storage mechanism further comprises means for storing the data received from the means for transmitting.

38. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 36, wherein the portable, remote monitoring unit comprises a portable computer.

39. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 34, wherein the portable, remote monitoring unit comprises a portable unit having a display screen and a data entry means for communicating with the means for transmitting.

40. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 39, wherein the portable, remote monitoring unit is configured to be held in one hand and operated with one hand.

43. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 36, wherein the remote monitoring means comprises:

a mobile leader/medic unit including;

leader/medic communications means for receiving data from the radio communications means of the monitoring unit; and

display means for displaying indicia representing data received from the monitoring unit.

44. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 43, wherein the leader/medic communications unit further comprises a data storage means for recording data received from the monitoring unit.

45. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 43, wherein the leader/medic communications unit further comprises a processor means for processing data received from the monitoring unit.

46. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 45, wherein the processor means comprises means for analyzing data received from the monitoring unit and comparing said data to predetermined acceptable physiological ranges.

47. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 46, wherein the leader/medic command unit further comprises means for generating a humanly perceptible alarm signal when the data received from the monitoring unit is not within the acceptable physiological ranges.

48. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 43, wherein the leader/medic unit is configured for one-handed operation.

49. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 44, wherein the remote monitoring means comprises:

a command unit including;

central command communications means for receiving data from the radio communications means of the monitoring unit; and

display means for displaying data received from the monitoring unit.

50. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 49, wherein the command unit further comprises data storage means for recording data received from the monitoring means.

51. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 49, wherein the command unit further comprises processor means for processing data received from the monitoring unit.

52. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 51, wherein the processor means further comprises means for analyzing data received from the monitoring unit and comparing said data to predetermined acceptable physiological ranges.

53. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 49, wherein the system further comprises a leader/medic unit having means for communicating with the monitoring unit, and wherein the command unit comprises means for communicating with the leader/medic unit.

54. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 49, wherein the system further comprises probe means for analyzing a remote area, the problem means comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of sensor means disposed within said housing for sensing environmental conditions of the remote area and for generating data indicative of the environmental conditions; and

communications means for communicating the data to the command unit.

55. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 54, wherein the plurality of sensor means of the probe means comprises at least one sensor for determining the presence of chemical warfare agents.

56. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 54, wherein the plurality of sensor means of the probe means comprises at least one sensor for determining the presence of a biological warfare agent.

57. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 54, wherein the plurality of sensor means of the probe means comprises at least one means for providing optical images.

58. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 54, wherein the plurality of sensor means of the probe means includes at least one microphone.

59. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 54, wherein the plurality of sensor means of the probe means includes at least one sensor selected from the group consisting essentially of an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, an infrared sensor and a motion sensor.

60. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 54, wherein the probe means further comprises a power supply means, and a micro-computer disposed in communication with the sensor means and the power supply means for controlling the plurality of sensor means and for regulating power consumption.

41. A personnel status monitoring system for monitoring a person, the system comprising:

a monitoring unit including;

a) integrated sensor means configured for wearing by a person, the sensor means comprising an oxygen saturation sensor, breathing rate sensor, and blood pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a heart rate sensor and a motion sensor for generating signals indicative of the person'"'"'s physiological condition;

b) processor means disposed in communication with the integrated sensor means for processing signals from the integrated sensor means and for developing data therefrom;

c) radio communication means disposed in communication with the processor means for conveying the data developed by the processor means to a remote location;

d) global positioning means for indicating the location of the person wearing the integrated sensor means; and

d) remote monitoring means for receiving the data conveyed by the radio communications means of the monitoring unit.

42. The personnel status monitoring system of claim 41, wherein the processor means further comprises means configured for controlling an external medical device for delivery of medical treatment to the person when such an external medical device is disposed in communication with the processor means.

61. A system for monitoring personnel comprising:

at least one soldier unit for wearing by a soldier including;

sensor means having a plurality of sensors for measuring a plurality of physiological parameters and generating signals indicative of the physiological parameters sensed;

a processor means programmed for analyzing the signals and comparing the physiological parameters indicated by the signals to a predetermined range of acceptable physiological parameters;

first wireless communication means for conveying the signals from the sensor means to the processor means;

global positioning means for determining the position of the soldier wearing the soldier unit; and

second wireless communications means disposed in communication with the processor means for conveying signals indicative of the physiological parameters and the position of the soldier to a remote leader/medic unit and/or a remote command unit;

at least one leader/medic unit for use by a leader or medic including;

communications means for receiving signals from the second communications means of the soldier unit indicative of physiological parameters and position of the soldier;

display means for selectively displaying visual indicia representing of the physiological parameters and the position of the soldier; and

input means for selectively controlling whether the display means displays visual indicia representing of physiological parameters or position; and

at least one command unit for communicating with both the at least one soldier unit and the at least one leader/medic unit, the command unit including;

command communication means for communicating with the communication means of the leader/medic unit and the second communications means of the soldier unit;

command processor means disposed in communication with the command communications means for processing signals received from the leader/medic unit and/or the soldier unit, and for providing an alarm signal when one or more of the signals indicates that a physiological parameter monitored by the soldier unit does not fall within the predetermined acceptable range of physiological parameters; and

display means for displaying indicia representing the physiological parameters and/or position of the soldier unit.

62. The system according to claim 61, wherein the sensor means comprises an integrated sensor unit wearable about a soldier'"'"'s torso, the integrated sensor unit comprising at least one heart rate sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one sensor for monitoring movement of the soldier.

63. The system according to claim 61, wherein the sensor unit comprises a band wearable about the wrist of the soldier, and wherein the sensor means comprises an oxygen saturation sensor and a blood pressure sensor.

64. The system according to claim 63, wherein the soldier unit further comprises controller means configured for operating a medical device.

65. The system according to claim 64, further comprising a medical device disposable in communication with the controller means.

66. The system according to claim 65, wherein the controller means is responsive to the signals indicative of the physiological parameters so as to enable adjustment of the operation of the medical device responsive to changes in the physiological parameters.

67. The system according to claim 61, wherein the soldier unit further comprises display means for displaying indicia representing the position of a soldier unit.

68. The system according to claim 61, wherein the processor means includes medical diagnostic software/firmware for identifying signals indicative of undesirable physiological parameters.

69. The system according to claim 61, wherein the soldier unit further comprises data input means for inputting information into the processor means.

70. The system according to claim 61, wherein the soldier unit further comprises data storage means for recording signals indicative of the physiological parameters.

71. The system according to claim 61, wherein the leader/medic unit further comprises data storage means disposed in communication with the communication means.

72. The system according to claim 61, wherein the leader/medic unit further comprises camera means disposed in communication with the communication means for generating a visual image.

73. The system according to claim 72, wherein the command unit comprises means for displaying visual images generated by the camera means of the leader/medic unit.

74. The system according to claim 61, wherein the command unit further comprises data storage means disposed in communication with the command processor means.

75. The system according to claim 61, wherein the sensor means comprises means for monitoring environmental parameters about the soldier unit.

76. The system according to claim 75, wherein the sensor means comprises a temperature sensor for determining environmental temperature adjacent the soldier unit.

77. The system according to claim 75, wherein the sensor means comprises a humidity sensor for determining environmental humidity.

78. Wearable apparatus for monitoring physiological parameters of a person comprising:

a) support means for wearing by a person on one or more body parts;

b) sensor means, disposed on the support means, for measuring at least one physiological parameter of the person, and an ambient temperature;

c) means responsive to the sensor means for transmitting to a remote location, data indicating values of at least one physiological parameter measured; and

d) a harness having a plurality of pocket means, the means for transmitting being disposed in at least one pocket, and at least one antenna means disposed on the harness and in communication with the means for transmitting.

79. The wearable apparatus of claim 78, wherein the harness comprises a vest, and wherein the means for transmitting is disposed within the vest.

80. The wearable apparatus of claim 78, wherein the apparatus comprises a global positioning means disposed in at least one pocket and in communication with the at least one antenna means.

81. The wearable apparatus of claim 78, further including a strap disposable about the person under the harness, said sensor means being disposed in the strap.

82. The wearable apparatus of claim 81, wherein the apparatus further comprises a wireless network means for conveying data from the sensor means to the means for transmitting.

83. Wearing apparatus for monitoring physiological parameters of a person comprising:

support means for wearing by a person on one or more body parts;

sensor means, disposed on the support means, for measuring multiple physiological parameters of the person including oxygen saturation, breathing rate and blood pressure of the person; and

means responsive to the sensor means for transmitting to a remote location data indicating values of each of the multiple physiological parameters measured.

84. Wearable apparatus for monitoring physiological parameters of a person comprising:

(a) support means for wearing by a person on one or more body parts, the support means having a strap mountable about the person'"'"'s torso;

(b) sensor means, disposed on the support means, for measuring at least one physiological parameter of the person, and an ambient temperature; and

(c) means responsive to the sensor means for transmitting to a remote location, data indicating values of at least one physiological parameter measured.

85. The wearable apparatus as in claim 84 wherein the strap includes a plurality of sensors.

86. The wearable apparatus as in claim 84 wherein the sensor means is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer including filters, an acceleration switch, a heart rate sensor including an ECG sensor, and a body surface temperature sensor.

87. Wearable apparatus for monitoring physiological parameters of a person comprising:

(a) support means for wearing by a person on one or more body parts;

(b) sensor means, disposed on the support means, for measuring a least one physiological parameter of the person, and an ambient temperature;

(c) wherein the sensor means is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer including filters, an acceleration switch, a heart rate sensor including an ECG sensor, body surface temperature sensor, and an ambient temperature sensor; and

(d) means responsive to the sensor means for transmitting to a remote location, data indicating values of at least one physiological parameter measured.

88. The wearable apparatus as in claim 87 wherein the sensor means comprises modular sensor means for selectively changing which physiological parameters are measured.

89. Wearable apparatus for monitoring physiological parameters of a person, comprising:

a) support means for wearing by a person on one or more body parts;

b) sensor means, disposed on the support means, for measuring at least one physiological parameter of the person, and an ambient temperature;

c) a receiving/sending means responsive to the sensor means for transmitting data to and receiving data from a remote location, wherein the data indicates values of at least one physiological parameter measured; and

d) a wireless local area network coupled to the receiving sending means for receiving data from the sensor means.

90. The wearable apparatus as in claim 89, wherein the receiving/sending means further comprises data storage means for recording said data received from the sensor means.

91. The wearable apparatus of claim 90, wherein said receiving/sending means further comprises access means for enabling access to information recorded in the data storage means from a remote location.