Hand-held vital signs monitor

• US 8,442,607 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Banet, Matthew John, Thompson, Michael James, Zhou, Zhou, Visser, Henk II, Fleming, Adam Michael, Dhillon, Marshal Singh, Terry, Andrew Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liu, Chu Chuan (JJ)
• Application Number:
  US11/470,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,441 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/310, 600/323, 600/340, 600/485, 600/483, 600/495, 600/547, 600/322, 600/324, 600/344
• US Class Current: 600/324
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/063 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• 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 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02125 of pulse wave propagation time
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/029 Measuring or recording blood output from the heart, e.g. minute volume A61B8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/327 Generation of artificial ECG signals based on measured signals, e.g. to compensate for missing leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 : Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 : Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 : Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6832 : using adhesives A61B5/259 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 : Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 : Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

The invention features a vital sign monitor that includes: 1) a hardware control component featuring a microprocessor that operates an interactive, icon-driven GUI on an LCD; and, 2) a sensor component that connects to the control component through a shielded coaxial cable. The sensor features: 1) an optical component that generates a first signal; 2) a plurality electrical components (e.g. electrodes) that generate a second signal; and, 3) an acoustic component that generates a third signal. The microprocessor runs compiled computer code that operates: 1) the touch panel LCD; 2) a graphical user interface that includes multiple icons corresponding to different software operations; 3) a file-management system for storing and retrieving vital sign information; and 4) USB and short-range wireless systems for transferring data to and from the device to a PC.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a patient'"'"'s vital signs, comprising:

a sensor component comprising a substrate configured to attach to the patient'"'"'s chest and comprising a plurality of sensors attached to and supported by the substrate that measure, respectively a first, second, and third time-dependent signal;

a control component comprising;

a display element,

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the first, second, and third signals into, respectively, a first digital signal, a second digital signal, and a third digital signal,

a CPU configured to operate an algorithm that generates a value of LVET by processing at least two points from one of the first digital signal, the second digital signal, and the third digital signal and another algorithm that generates a blood pressure value by processing the first digital signal, second digital signal, and the value of LVET,

a graphical user interface generated by computer code operating on the CPU and configured to render on the display element the blood pressure value, and,

means for connecting the sensor component to the control component and transmitting information between these components.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a touch panel connected to the display element.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a touch panel controller in electrical communication with the CPU and the touch panel.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a plurality of icons, each corresponding to a different operation on the device.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the CPU comprises compiled computer code configured to run an operation when an icon is addressed through the touch panel.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the CPU comprises compiled computer code configured to run an operating system.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the CPU comprises compiled computer code configured to run a file-management system.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a memory component.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the memory component is a removable flash memory component.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the memory component is a removable SDRAM memory component.

11. The device of claim 8, further comprising a barcode scanner.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the CPU comprises compiled computer code configured to communicate with the barcode scanner and decode a barcode read by the scanner.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a digital camera.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless modem.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the wireless modem is configured to operate on a wide-area wireless network.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the wireless modem is configured to operate on a CDMA, GSM, or IDEN wireless network.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the wireless modem is configured to operate on a local-area wireless network.

18. The device of claim 14, further comprising a wireless modem configured to operate on a local-area network based on a protocol selected from:

802.11, 802.15, and 802.15.4.

19. A device for monitoring a patient'"'"'s vital signs, comprising:

a sensor component comprising;

a substrate;

an optical sensor configured to generate a first signal,

an electrical sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to generate a second signal,

a third sensor configured to generate a third signal, said optical, electrical, and third sensors mounted on and supported by the substrate;

a control component comprising;

a housing,

a power source disposed within the housing,

a display element proximal to the housing and in electrical contact with the power source,

an analog-to-digital converter disposed within the housing and in electrical contact with the power source, the analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the first signal, second signal, and third signal into, respectively, a first digital signal, a second digital signal and a third digital signal,

a CPU disposed within the housing and in electrical contact with the power source, the CPU configured to operate an algorithm that generates a value of LVET by processing at least two points from one of the first digital signal, the second digital signal, and the third digital signal and another algorithm that generates a blood pressure value by processing the value of LVET and at least two of the first digital signal, second digital signal, and third digital signal,

a graphical user interface generated by computer code operating on the CPU and configured to render on the display element the blood pressure value and,

means for connecting the sensor component to the control component and transmitting information between these components.

20. A device for monitoring a patient'"'"'s vital signs, comprising:

a sensor component comprising;

a substrate;

an optical sensor configured to generate a first signal,

an electrical sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to generate a second signal,

a third sensor configured to generate a third signal, said optical, electrical, and third sensors mounted on and supported by the substrate;

a control component, connected to the sensor component, comprising;

a housing,

a power source disposed within the housing,

a display element proximal to the housing an in electrical contact with the power source,

an analog-to-digital converter disposed within the housing and in electrical contact with the power source, the analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the first signal, second signal, and third signal into, respectively, a first digital signal, a second digital signal and a third digital signal, and

a CPU disposed within the housing and in electrical contact with the power source, the CPU configured to;

i) operate a first algorithm that generates a value of LVET by processing at least two points from one of the first digital signal, the second digital signal, and the third digital signal;

ii) operate a second algorithm that generates a blood pressure value by processing the value of LVET and at least two of the first digital signal, second digital signal, and third digital signal;

iii) operate a file-management system that stores the blood pressure value in a computer memory; and

iv) operate a graphical user interface comprising a plurality of icons and configured to render on the display element the blood pressure value.