Abstract: According to certain described aspects, an acoustic sensor is employed in a variety of beneficial ways to provide improved physiological monitoring, among other advantages. In various embodiments, the acoustic sensor may include an attachment sub-assembly including a deformable portion that enables improved coupling to a patient. Additionally, the acoustic sensor may include an adhesive layer that, in combination with the deformable portion, enables even, robust, and secure attachment of the sensor to the patient. In various embodiments, an acoustic coupler having a semi-spherical shape is provided to further improve coupling of acoustic signals from the patient to the sensor.

Abstract: A pulse oximetry system for reducing the risk of electric shock to a medical patient can include physiological sensors, at least one of which has a light emitter that can impinge light on body tissue of a living patient and a detector responsive to the light after attenuation by the body tissue. The detector can generate a signal indicative of a physiological characteristic of the living patient. The pulse oximetry system may also include a splitter cable that can connect the physiological sensors to a physiological monitor. The splitter cable may have a plurality of cable sections each including one or more electrical conductors that can interface with one of the physiological sensors. One or more decoupling circuits may be disposed in the splitter cable, which can be in communication with selected ones of the electrical conductors. The one or more decoupling circuits can electrically decouple the physiological sensors.

Abstract: A blood pressure monitoring device configured to attach and supply air to a blood pressure cuff can include a housing having an interior, a port configured to enable fluid communication between the interior of the housing and an interior of the blood pressure cuff, and an air intake configured to allow ambient air to enter the interior of the housing and further configured to inhibit liquids from entering the interior of the housing. The air intake can define a non-linear passageway for ambient air to enter the interior of the housing. The housing can have a first side and a first inner wall. The air intake can be defined by a first opening in the first side and a second opening in the first inner wall. The first opening can be not aligned with the second opening.

Abstract: A blood pressure monitor configured to removably mount to a cuff in a substantially symmetrical position with respect to a width of the cuff can include a housing defining an interior, a first port, and a second port. The first port can: secure to a first prong of the cuff when the cuff is mounted in a first orientation; receive and secure to a second prong of the cuff when the cuff is mounted in a second orientation; and enable fluid communication between the interior and at least one of a first fluid passage within the first prong and a second fluid passage within the second prong. The second port can: secure to the second prong of the cuff when the cuff is mounted in the first orientation; and receive and secure to the first prong of the cuff when the cuff is mounted in the second orientation.

Abstract: A physiological monitor is provided for determining a physiological parameter of a medical patient with a multi-stage sensor assembly. The monitor includes a signal processor configured to receive a signal indicative of a physiological parameter of a medical patient from a multi-stage sensor assembly. The multi-stage sensor assembly is configured to be attached to the physiological monitor and the medical patient. The monitor of certain embodiments also includes an information element query module configured to obtain calibration information from an information element provided in a plurality of stages of the multi-stage sensor assembly. In some embodiments, the signal processor is configured to determine the physiological parameter of the medical patient based upon said signal and said calibration information.

Abstract: Generally described, the present disclosure relates to measuring core body temperature through respiratory mechanisms. The disclosed techniques can use surface temperature, exhaled air, perfusion information, blood oxygen saturation, respiration rate, circadian rhythms, and the like to obtain an accurate reading of the body's core temperature. Example devices are disclosed for obtaining core temperature from exhaled air and useful mechanisms for presenting this information to a user are also disclosed, including user interfaces and alarm mechanisms. Stereo thermometry methods may also be used to estimate core body temperature. This information can be used to track conditions of a subject, including fever status and comfortability, to ensure full consideration of a subject's well-being.

Abstract: A non-contact temperature measurement system for calculating estimated core body temperature is disclosed. The temperature measurement system can include a sensor that can detect temperature of a patient and temperature of ambient surrounding. The temperature of the patient and the ambient temperature can then be used to determine a core body temperature. The temperature measurement system includes an optical module having a light emitter and a light detector. The light emitter emits a beam of light towards the patient and the light detector detects a beam of light reflected by the patient. The reflected beam is analyzed to determine a distance between the temperature measurement system and the patient.

Abstract: Respiratory rate can be calculated from an acoustic input signal using time domain and frequency domain techniques. Confidence in the calculated respiratory rate can also be calculated using time domain and frequency domain techniques. Overall respiratory rate and confidence values can be obtained from the time and frequency domain calculations. The overall respiratory rate and confidence values can be output for presentation to a clinician.

Abstract: A physiological monitor is provided for determining a physiological parameter of a medical patient with a multi-stage sensor assembly. The monitor includes a signal processor configured to receive a signal indicative of a physiological parameter of a medical patient from a multi-stage sensor assembly. The multi-stage sensor assembly is configured to be attached to the physiological monitor and the medical patient. The monitor of certain embodiments also includes an information element query module configured to obtain calibration information from an information element provided in a plurality of stages of the multi-stage sensor assembly. In some embodiments, the signal processor is configured to determine the physiological parameter of the medical patient based upon said signal and said calibration information.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor is provided according to certain aspects for non-invasively detecting physiological acoustic vibrations indicative of one or more physiological parameters of a medical patient. The sensor can include an acoustic sensing element configured to generate a first signal in response to acoustic vibrations from a medical patient. The sensor can also include front-end circuitry configured to receive an input signal that is based at least in part on the first signal and to produce an amplified signal in response to the input signal. In some embodiments, the sensor further includes a compression module in communication with the front-end circuitry and configured to compress portions of at least one of the input signal and the amplified signal according to a first compression scheme, the compressed portions corresponding to portions of the first signal having a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor is configured to provide accurate and robust measurement of bodily sounds under a variety of conditions, such as in noisy environments or in situations in which stress, strain, or movement may be imparted onto a sensor with respect to a patient. Embodiments of the sensor provide a conformable electrical shielding, as well as improved acoustic and mechanical coupling between the sensor and the measurement site.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor attached to a medical patient can non-invasively detect acoustic vibrations indicative of physiological parameters of the medical patient and produce an acoustic signal corresponding to the acoustic vibrations. The acoustic signal can be integrated one or more times with respect to time, and a physiological monitoring system can determine pulse or respiration parameters based on the integrated acoustic signal. The physiological monitoring system can, for instance, estimate a pulse rate according to pulses in the integrated acoustic signal and a respiration rate according to a modulation of the integrated acoustic signal, among other parameters. Further, the physiological monitoring system can compare the integrated acoustic signal or parameters determined based on the integrated acoustic signal with other signals or parameters to activate alarms.

Abstract: Respiratory rate can be calculated from an acoustic input signal using time domain and frequency domain techniques. Confidence in the calculated respiratory rate can also be calculated using time domain and frequency domain techniques. Overall respiratory rate and confidence values can be obtained from the time and frequency domain calculations. The overall respiratory rate and confidence values can be output for presentation to a clinician.

Abstract: Continuous core body temperature measurements are made during hypothermic operations, where the core body temperature of the patient is lowered to reduce swelling. Caregivers monitor the patient's core body temperature to prevent damage that can occur to the patient if the patient's core body temperature becomes too low. To accurately determine the core body temperature of the patient, a temperature monitoring system measures the temperature at or near the surface of the patient and through at least a portion of a thermal block at multiple locations.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor is configured to provide accurate and robust measurement of bodily sounds under a variety of conditions, such as in noisy environments or in situations in which stress, strain, or movement may be imparted onto a sensor with respect to a patient. Embodiments of the sensor provide a conformable electrical shielding, as well as improved acoustic and mechanical coupling between the sensor and the measurement site.

Abstract: A pulse oximetry system for reducing the risk of electric shock to a medical patient can include physiological sensors, at least one of which has a light emitter that can impinge light on body tissue of a living patient and a detector responsive to the light after attenuation by the body tissue. The detector can generate a signal indicative of a physiological characteristic of the living patient. The pulse oximetry system may also include a splitter cable that can connect the physiological sensors to a physiological monitor. The splitter cable may have a plurality of cable sections each including one or more electrical conductors that can interface with one of the physiological sensors. One or more decoupling circuits may be disposed in the splitter cable, which can be in communication with selected ones of the electrical conductors. The one or more decoupling circuits can electrically decouple the physiological sensors.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor is provided according to certain aspects for non-invasively detecting physiological acoustic vibrations indicative of one or more physiological parameters of a medical patient. The sensor can include an acoustic sensing element configured to generate a first signal in response to acoustic vibrations from a medical patient. The sensor can also include front-end circuitry configured to receive an input signal that is based at least in part on the first signal and to produce an amplified signal in response to the input signal. In some embodiments, the sensor further includes a compression module in communication with the front-end circuitry and configured to compress portions of at least one of the input signal and the amplified signal according to a first compression scheme, the compressed portions corresponding to portions of the first signal having a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor attached to a medical patient can non-invasively detect acoustic vibrations indicative of physiological parameters of the medical patient and produce an acoustic signal corresponding to the acoustic vibrations. The acoustic signal can be integrated one or more times with respect to time, and a physiological monitoring system can determine pulse or respiration parameters based on the integrated acoustic signal. The physiological monitoring system can, for instance, estimate a pulse rate according to pulses in the integrated acoustic signal and a respiration rate according to a modulation of the integrated acoustic signal, among other parameters. Further, the physiological monitoring system can compare the integrated acoustic signal or parameters determined based on the integrated acoustic signal with other signals or parameters to activate alarms.

Abstract: According to certain described aspects, multiple acoustic sensing elements are employed in a variety of beneficial ways to provide improved physiological monitoring, among other advantages. In various embodiments, sensing elements can be advantageously employed in a single sensor package, in multiple sensor packages, and at a variety of other strategic locations in the monitoring environment. According to other aspects, to compensate for skin elasticity and attachment variability, an acoustic sensor support is provided that includes one or more pressure equalization pathways. The pathways can provide an air-flow channel from the cavity defined by the sensing elements and frame to the ambient air pressure.

Abstract: According to certain described aspects, multiple acoustic sensing elements are employed in a variety of beneficial ways to provide improved physiological monitoring, among other advantages. In various embodiments, sensing elements can be advantageously employed in a single sensor package, in multiple sensor packages, and at a variety of other strategic locations in the monitoring environment. According to other aspects, to compensate for skin elasticity and attachment variability, an acoustic sensor support is provided that includes one or more pressure equalization pathways. The pathways can provide an air-flow channel from the cavity defined by the sensing elements and frame to the ambient air pressure.