Abstract: A body worn patient monitoring device includes at least one disposable module including a plurality of electrical connections to the body. The body worn patient monitoring device also includes at least one communication-computation module, the communication-computation module having at least one microprocessor to actively monitor the patient and to perform a real-time physiological analysis of the physiological signals. A radio circuit communicates a raw physiological signal or a result of the physiological analysis at a predetermined time or on the occurrence of a predetermined event, via a radio transmission to a remote radio receiver, wherein the at least one disposable module is mechanically and electrically coupled directly to the at least one communication-computation module. The body worn patient monitoring device, including the at least one disposable module and the at least one communication-computation module, is directly non-permanently affixed to the skin surface of the patient.

Abstract: A blood pressure system that includes a compact monitor housing that contains a pneumatic circuit and an electrical circuit and a processor for inflating and deflating a cuff to provide blood pressure related data. A split connector allows the housing to interface both pneumatically and electronically with one or more independent cuffs and/or with one or more host stations. Each host station contains a dependent cuff and further electrical components to expand and enhance the systems output of related blood pressure data that is generated by either the independent or dependent cuffs.

Abstract: A patch may be adapted for placement proximate to a surface region of a mammal. The patch may include an infrared target for receiving thermal energy from the surface region and for emitting infrared radiation according to a substantially known emissivity property. When the target is placed proximate to the surface region, the characteristics of infrared radiation emitted by the target substantially correspond to the temperature of the surface region. The patch may have means for selectively maintaining the target in a position proximate to a surface region of a mammal. The patch may include indicia uniquely associated with the patch.

Abstract: A digital otoscope for capturing live and still digital images of body tissue and having associated optical characteristics that improve the quality of visual information gathered for medical inspection of both human and veterinary subjects. The digital otoscope includes a tip element having dimensions that are small enough to fit into a small body cavity, such as an ear canal. The tip element and the otoscope enclose an assembly of optical components yielding optical characteristics that provide a substantially wide field of view and a substantially wide range of optimal focus from which to form visual information within a small and confined body cavity.

Abstract: A thermometric apparatus for determining a patient's temperature having a elongated sensing probe that is connected to a base housing. The insertion tip of the probe contains a outer shell and a spaced apart inner shell. The outer surface of the inner shell has a heater that is fabricated of a resistive thick film material and a heat sensor mounted thereon. The heater and the heat sensor are connected to a pair of thick film conductive traces which in turn are electrically attached by a flexible circuit board to leads running back to the base housing. The space between the two shells is filled by a thermally conductive epoxy.

Abstract: A patch having an infrared (IR) target is placed proximate to the surface of a mammal. The patch may include an insulator for protecting the target from exterior, ambient IR and may include bar codes or other indicia uniquely associated with either the patch or the mammal. The patch may also include a bio-reactive agent for indicating characteristics such as the pH of the mammal's skin. The patch may also include a thermometer for sensing the level of IR radiation from the IR target and may include a display of the temperature associated with such a level. The patch may also include a transmitter for wirelessly communicating information about such level to a remote location. A method of using the patch is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is an infrared thermometer with multiple probes for use at a variety of bodily sites. The thermometer automatically detects which of the multiple probes is currently attached, loads a predetermined program from memory that corresponds to the current probe, and thereafter obtains a temperature measurement from a patient using infrared radiation emitted therefrom. Each of the probes is comprised of an infrared target which provides a substantially consistent sources of infrared radiation for the thermometer to measure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an Infrared (IR) thermometer including an IR detector configured to provide an IR emission data representative of a temperature of an area of tissue. The IR thermometer also includes one or more secondary sensors configured to provide an IR thermometer positioning data. At least one microcomputer is configured to receive the IR thermometer positioning data from one or more secondary sensors. The at least one microcomputer is configured to run an algorithm to convert the IR thermometer positioning data to an IR thermometer positioning indication, wherein the IR thermometer positioning indication suggests a direction to move the IR thermometer for a substantially optimal IR detector view of the area of tissue. The invention also relates to a guiding means including a positioning sensor and a display of IR thermometer positioning information, and a method for positioning an IR thermometer.

Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a method for processing barcode data from one or more barcode scanners. The decoded data is reformatted in accordance with selected reformatting instructions and thereafter supplied to a software application for subsequent use. Preferably, the reformatting instructions can be customized by the end users, thus permitting the end users to adjust their system to receive previously unknown barcode formats.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a method to ensure that mission-critical data is transported safely and effectively across a wireless LAN, and more particularly, to a method which determines network latency under model network loads and ensures that the RF signal strength requirements are met for all RF coverage areas supported by the wireless network, allowing for data transmission which is effective and complete, with acceptable latency and loss, and no unacceptable corruption of the data.