Body-worn vital sign monitor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12156743-B2
Application number	US-202117492202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2021
Priority date	Sep 15, 2009
Publication date	Dec 3, 2024
Grant date	Dec 3, 2024

Abstract

The invention provides a body-worn vital sign monitor that measures a patient's vital signs (e.g. blood pressure, SpO2, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature) while simultaneously characterizing their activity state (e.g. resting, walking, convulsing, falling) and posture (upright, supine). The monitor processes this information to minimize corruption of the vital signs and associated alarms/alerts by motion-related artifacts. It also features a graphical user interface (GUI) rendered on a touchpanel display that facilitates a number of features to simplify and improve patient monitoring and safety in both the hospital and home.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for measuring vital signs from a patient, comprising:
(a) a monitor configured to be worn on the patient's wrist and comprising a microprocessor, a wireless transmitter, a first accelerometer configured to measure a first time-dependent motion waveform, and a first control area network (CAN) transceiver;
(b) an electrocardiography/impedance pneumonography (ECG/IP) sensor operably connected to at least three electrodes and configured to be worn on the patient's chest, wherein the ECG/IP sensor is configured to measure time-dependent ECG and IP waveforms, and wherein the ECG/IP sensor comprises a second accelerometer configured to measure a second time-dependent motion waveform, and a second CAN transceiver;
(c) an optical sensor configured to be worn on a digit of a hand of the patient; wherein the optical sensor is configured to measure a time-dependent photoplethysmogram (PPG) waveform;
(d) an accelerometer sensor configured to be worn on an upper arm of the patient, wherein the accelerometer sensor comprises a third accelerometer configured to measure a third time-dependent motion waveform, and a third CAN transceiver; and
(e) wherein the monitor is configured to: (i) communicate with the second CAN transceiver to receive the time-dependent ECG and IP waveforms and second time-dependent motion waveform as digital data via the first CAN transceiver; (ii) communicate with the third CAN transceiver to receive the third time-dependent motion waveform as digital data via the first CAN transceiver; (iii) communicate with the optical sensor to receive the time-dependent photoplethysmogram waveform, (iv) communicate with the ECG/IP sensor and the second accelerometer sensor to transmit a timing synchronizing packet that is received and used by the ECG/IP sensor and the second accelerometer sensor to time-synchronize the ECG and IP waveforms, the second time-dependent motion waveform, and the third time-dependent motion waveform such that there is a maximum 40-microsecond timing error in the synchrony between the ECG and IP waveforms, the second time-dependent motion waveform, and the third time-dependent motion waveform; (v) transmit the ECG and IP waveforms, the second time-dependent motion waveform, and the third time-dependent motion waveform to a remote computer via the wireless transmitter.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is configured to be worn around the patient's thumb.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitor is further configured to calculate a pulse transit time from a time difference separating a QRS complex in the ECG waveform and a foot of a PPG waveform and a respiration rate from the IP waveform.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitor is further configured to calculate an oxygen saturation (SpO2) value from the PPG waveform.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second and third CAN transceivers are operably connected to the monitor via a common cable.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the common cable is terminated with a connector, and the monitor comprises an input port into which the connector can be inserted into and detached therefrom.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitor further comprises a display.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the monitor is configured to render at least two GUIs on the display, wherein the first GUI comprises medical content, and the second GUI comprises only non-medical content.

Assignees

• Sotera Wireless Inc

Inventors

• Moon Jim
• Visser Ii Henk
• Hunt Robert Kenneth
• Mccombie Devin
• Dhillon Marshal Singh
• Banet Matthew J

Classifications

• A61B5/086

  by impedance pneumography · CPC title

• H04W4/02

  Services making use of location information · CPC title

• A61B5/411

  Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance · CPC title

• A61B5/00

  Measuring for diagnostic purposes (radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00); Identification of persons · CPC title

• A61B5/7465

  Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network (telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002) · CPC title