Abstract: The medical communication system comprises a plurality of medical identification devices (12). Each identification device (12) is attached to one particular patient (14). A registration processor generates a unique patient identification data that is stored in an electronic patient identification code memory (54). Each identification device (12) includes an intra-body wireless communication device (16) which transmits the patient's identification on the patient's body. A medical device (22), which is linked to the patient (14) to measure a vital function, periodically automatically receives the patient's identification code to continually ensure association to a correct patient.

Abstract: The system (1) according to the invention is arranged to support an automatic informing of callers (S1, S2, . . . , SN) upon an event of an interrupt in a telecommunication line engaged with a receiving station (4) according to a telecommunication protocol. In order to carry out said automatic informing the receiving station (4) is adapted with a computer program (6,8,10,12,14) arranged to transmit a prerecorded message to all engaged parties upon an event of the interrupt. The computer program is further arranged to carry out background interaction with a caller who is put on hold, so that the caller is not left behind unattended.

Abstract: In order to provide a technique for determining high-quality blood pressure values of a patient, especially in cases of unsupervised blood pressure measurements in a home environment, it is suggested to use a system (1) for determining the blood pressure of a patient (2) comprising a blood pressure measuring device (3, 4) for measuring a blood pressure value, an auxiliary device (6, 7, 8, 9) for measuring the motor activity of the patient (2) during a defined period of time prior to the blood pressure measurement, and a processing device (13, 14), said processing device (13, 14) being adapted to obtain the motor activity information and the blood pressure value, said processing device (13, 14) being further adapted to automatically assess the blood pressure value using the motor activity information, and said processing device (13, 14) being further adapted to provide a measuring result depending on the result of the assessment.

Abstract: A device to carry out a bioelectrical interaction with an individual by means of electrodes 29, 29a whereby an on-demand verification of the integrity of the electrical contact of the electrodes is implemented. The device 20 comprises a control unit 22 arranged to determine an occurrence of the predefined event related to a quality of a measured signal. In case the predetermined event is detected, the control unit 22 actuates the testing means 24. The testing means is arranged to generate the test signals, I1, 12 and to apply them via a coupling circuit 23, 23a to the electrodes. In case it is desired that cumulative information about the contact integrity is obtained, is it sufficient to apply a single test signal per electrode. In case it is required to determine which of the electrodes has lost its contact, a sequence of test signals is generated by the sequencer 24b.

Abstract: The invention relates to heart measurement and heart monitoring, in particular the measurement of mechanical heart activity, and includes a method and apparatus to using doppler radar to transmit an electromagnetic signal of a certain frequency into, and detect a reflected signal from out of, the chest of the individual, to processing the detected signal to produce an output signal representing the rate of change of the doppler signal associated with the reflected signal and to identify from the output signal a group of at least one characteristic point of the output signal, and further to calculate at least one parameter representative of heart activity, this calculation based on the at least one identified characteristic point. The apparatus provides a system for monitoring which is particularly suitable for use in the home and which does not require repeated use of impedance cardiograms which are inappropriate for use by untrained personnel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic induction tomography system and method for studying the electromagnetic properties of an object. In order to provide a high resolution MIT technique without the need of increasing the number of coils, a magnetic induction tomography system (1) for studying the electromagnetic properties of an object (2) is suggested, the system comprising one or more generator coils (4) adapted for generating a primary magnetic field, said primary magnetic field inducing an eddy current in the object (2), one or more sensor coils (5) adapted for sensing a secondary magnetic field, said secondary magnetic field being generated as a result of said eddy current, and means (6, 7, 8, 9) for providing a relative movement between one or more generator coils (4) and/or one or more sensor coils (5) on the one hand and the object (2) to be studied on the other hand.

Abstract: An electrode assembly arranged to carry out a bioelectrical interaction with an individual, said electrode assembly comprising a conductive material having a contact surface arranged to be brought into contact with a receiving area of the individual's skin, said conductive material being electrically connectable to a suitable electronic device to enable said interaction, the electrode assembly having an impedance control means arranged to measure and control the impedance of the receiving area of the individual's skin prior to an event of the bioelectrical interaction.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a user-friendly monitoring system with improved measurement quality, which is suitable for home use. This object is achieved according to the invention by a garment (1) comprising at least one dry electrode (2, 3, 4) for use with a monitoring system for monitoring physiological parameters of a recipient, the electrode (2, 3, 4) having a working surface which is to be brought into contact with the recipient's skin, characterized in that the working surface is automatically positioned at a point of close skin contact with a natural sweat layer present, if the garment (1) is worn by the recipient. The basic principle underlying the invention is that the position of the electrodes (2, 3, 4) on the body has an impact on the acquired signal quality. Therefore, it is an idea of the invention to arrange dry electrodes in positions of the garment (1) where close body contact is automatically obtained and a natural sweat layer is present, if the garment is worn.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a patient monitoring system for monitoring cardio pulmonary performance or the like by means of capacitive measurement. Further the invention relates to a method for monitoring cardio pulmonary performance or the like by means of a capacitive measurement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for measuring bioelectrical signals of a user. Furthermore the invention relates to a computer program for measuring bioelectrical signals of a user. In order to provide a technique for measuring bioelectrical signals with reduced motion artefacts a new method is provided, comprising the steps of determining the displacement of an electrode, the electrode being adapted for measuring a bioelectrical signal, and adjusting the position of said electrode depending on the determined displacement. The present invention can be used in any system for measuring bioelectrical signals, which uses electrodes, e.g. in any ECG measurement system. With the reduction of artefacts according to the present invention the performance of all those systems can be substantially increased.

Abstract: The invention related to a modulator for a communications system. The modulator comprises a spread spectrum coder, a pulse code modulator having a signal input port connectable to a signal output port of the spread spectrum coder. The modulator performs a robust and error free modulation and coding scheme by using a modified spread spectrum scheme combined with pulse code modulation. The communication system contains a low data rate, noise robust modulation and coding scheme using a very simple transmitter. This results in a very straightforward transmitter circuit, reducing size and costs of the transmitter.

Abstract: A monitoring device (21) arranged to measure a signal (S1) representative of a physiological condition of the individual by means of a suitably arranged sensor (22) and to automatically modify a contact pressure (P) of said sensor meeting real-time requirements. For this purpose the sensor (22) is supported by a piece of elastic material, the monitoring device further comprising an actuator (27) arranged to interact with the piece of elastic material upon receipt of a control signal (CS) from a control unit (25). The control unit (25) is arranged to analyze the signal (S1) from the sensor (22) and to decide on an alteration of the contact pressure (P). For this purpose the control means (25) comprises a logic unit (25a) arranged to carry out a suitable signal analysis. Preferably, the monitoring device (21) is arranged with a further sensor (23), a signal (S3) of which is also provided for analysis to the control unit (25).

Abstract: An electrophysiological device comprises a lead-off detector in the form of an electrical impedance detector and further a path from a supply voltage to a second voltage. The path comprises segments having electrical impedances, at least one of which is to be ascertained, and a measuring vertex. The electrical impedance detector further comprises a discriminator connected to the measuring vertex and arranged to evaluate an electrical measuring signal observed at the measuring vertex.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wearable device arranged for enabling a bioelectrical interaction with an individual when being brought into contact with the individual's skin I, said device comprising electrodes 2 arranged to carry out said interaction by means of a first electrical signal, said electrodes comprise motion artifact detection means 4. The electrode assembly 1 comprises electrode 2 arranged to carry out a bioelectrical interaction with the individual by means of measuring an electrical signal on the body of the individual I and/or applying an electrical signal to the body of the individual. In order to enable said bioelectrical interaction the electrode 2 is provided with an electrical cable 2a. According to the invention, the electrode 2 is arranged with a pr 4. The pressure sensor 4 is arranged to measure a normal force component of an external force applied to the electrode due to movement of the individual.

Abstract: The system (1) according to the invention is arranged to support an automatic informing of callers (S1, S2, . . . ,SN) upon an event of an interrupt in a telecommunication line engaged with a receiving station (4) according to a telecommunication protocol. In order to carry out said automatic informing the receiving station (4) is adapted with a computer program (6,8,10,12,14) arranged to transmit a prerecorded message to all engaged parties upon an event of the interrupt. The computer program is further arranged to carry out background interaction with a caller who is put on hold, so that the caller is not left behind unattended.

Abstract: A detector arrangement and/or a semiconductor-based image sensor with a plurality of detector elements or image pixels is described, which each have an integrated SD-(Sigma Delta) Modulator (20 to 29) or an integrated SD-A/D-(Sigma Delta Analog/Digital) converter (20 to 30), as well as particularly such a detector arrangement and/or such an image sensor on the basis of a CMOS-semiconductor. Particularly on the basis of the differential version and/or the multi-phase structure of the SD modulator and the SD-A/D converter, a detector arrangement and/or an image sensor with specially high noise robustness, a high dynamic range and a lesser noise can be produced, so that this is particularly suitable for usage in Computer Tomography (CT) apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable electronic device, like a shaver, a toothbrush, a walkman, a telephony unit, etc., said device being arranged to measure a signal representative of a physiological condition of a user during a conventional usage of said device. In an embodiment of the electric shaver (25), it is provided with a first contact surface (26) comprising a plurality of shaving heads (26a, 26b, 26c). The shaving heads are manufactured from an electrically conducting material, usually a metal and are suited to provide a good electrical contact to the individual's skin during shaving, thus constituting a first electrode. The second contact surface (28?) is provided on the housing of the shaver, in particular on a grip portion (28) thereof, where a contact to a hand of the individual is enabled. The second contact surface (28?) comprises a second electrode (29).

Abstract: A device to carry out a bioelectrical interaction with an individual by means of electrodes 29, 29a whereby an on-demand verification of the integrity of the electrical contact of the electrodes is implemented. The device 20 comprises a control unit 22 arranged to determine an occurrence of the predefined event related to a quality of a measured signal. In case the predetermined event is detected, the control unit 22 actuates the testing means 24. The testing means is arranged to generate the test signals, I1, 12 and to apply them via a coupling circuit 23, 23a to the electrodes. In case it is desired that cumulative information about the contact integrity is obtained, is it sufficient to apply a single test signal per electrode. In case it is required to determine which of the electrodes has lost its contact, a sequence of test signals is generated by the sequencer 24b.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distress signaling system, a body area network for enabling a distress signaling, a method for signaling a condition of a distress and a vehicle arranged with the distress signaling system. The distress signaling system 10 according to the invention comprises monitoring means 11 arranged in a vehicle in order to monitor a vital sign of a seated passenger by means of a sensor 12 arranged to measure a signal representative to said sign. The monitoring means 11 are preferably arranged to perform a continuous monitoring of the vital sign of the passenger and are further arranged to provide a corresponding signal to the front-end electronics 20 of the system 10. The front-end electronics 20 is arranged to analyze the signal from the monitoring means 11. For that purpose the front-end electronics 20 comprises a data processing means 21 arranged to process the measured signal in order to yield data representative to a condition of the passenger.

Abstract: A battery configuration (1, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) comprises a standard battery (AA, CR) of a standard type of battery and a tag (2, D). By inserting the battery configuration (1, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) in any apparatus, the apparatus can be designed to communicate with a communication device (14, 25, 16, 22).