Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying annotations on a digital image such that the viewing area is simplified and maximized. Abbreviated reason codes are employed, thereby increasing the number of annotations that may be displayed concurrently with an image and reducing the obtrusiveness of the annotations. The abbreviated reason codes may provide information to viewers about the significance of the image. Viewers may configure where the annotations are displayed and may associate priorities with the reason codes such that annotations of interest may be displayed more prominently or accessibly. Likewise, text descriptions associated with an annotation may be hidden until requested by a viewer. In instances where the number of annotations exceeds some configurable threshold, the excess annotations may be hidden unless requested.

Abstract: The present technique addressably handles image data, which is decomposed and tessellated into a plurality of tessellated sub-band blocks. The tessellated sub-band blocks may be addressed by an array of indices, which identify specific data blocks of the image data by decomposition level and spatial coordinates of the tessellated sub-band blocks. Accordingly, a desired region of the image data at multiple resolutions can be identified and individually handled for storage, transmission, retrieval, and display. The desired region also can be reference marked based on the array of indices.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing cardiac data acquired from a patient having an implant. The system can acquire non-implant cardiac data and implant cardiac data from the patient. The system can synchronize the non-implant cardiac data and the implant cardiac data and can correlate the non-implant cardiac data with the implant cardiac data to determine a cardiac condition of the patient.

Abstract: A system and a method for scheduling an emergency procedure in response to detecting that a patient has a high probability of acute myocardial infarction. The system is able to identify patients that are suspected of having acute myocardial infarction (or acute ischemia). The system uses one or more expert software tools or algorithms to analyze received ECG records. Each software tool has logic (e.g., thresholds and/or settings) for automatic routing which is configurable by the customer via a graphical user interface. If any sufficient condition for automatic routing is satisfied, the system routes the data (including the underlying ECG record) and an alert to an electronic device which is accessible by the cardiologist “on call” via a bidirectional pager. If the cardiologist decides that the requested emergency treatment or procedure should be performed, the system accesses the schedules of all associated catheterization labs across multiple hospitals to identify a lab having optimum time-to-treatment.

Abstract: A device and method for simultaneously acquiring a temperature and a respiration rate of a patient. In some embodiments of the invention, the device can include a probe, a temperature sensing element coupled to the probe, a disposable cover that can be positioned over the probe, and a respiration sensing element coupled to the disposable cover. In other embodiments of the invention, the device can include a probe having a temperature sensing element, a transmitter, and a receiver. The device can further include a probe cover having a respiration sensing element that can be positioned over the probe.

Abstract: An impedance variation respiration monitor determines the variation in human body impedance between two electrodes coupled to the surface of the body. One of the two electrodes is attached to the thorax below the armpit and the other of the two electrodes is attached to the leg extending from the opposing side of the thorax. The variation in impedance between these two electrodes measured by the monitor is closely correlated to the respiration rate of the subject and is particularly responsive to and indicates combined abdominal and thoracic breathing.

Abstract: A monitoring system and method for monitoring signals from an implantable medical device are disclosed. The monitoring system and method include a monitor configured to detect a radio frequency artifact from the signals of the implantable medical device and circuitry for processing the radio frequency artifact from the signals of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: A method and system for eliminating artifacts in an oscillation envelope are disclosed. The method and system comprise evaluating conformance of the oscillometric envelope blood pressure data with a predetermined expected pattern and excluding one or more data points of the oscillometric envelope blood pressure data based on non-conformance with the expected pattern. The expected pattern is based upon generally known physiological principles relating to oscillometric envelopes, a curve fit representing an oscillometric envelope from a previous determination, or other types of criteria.

Abstract: A communication system including a first device transmitting a modulated signal and a second device receiving the modulated signal. The second device can include a first demodulator and a second demodulator. The first demodulator can receive the modulated signal, produce a first demodulated output, and implement a first demodulation technique. The second demodulator can receive the modulated signal, produce a second demodulated output, and implement a second demodulation technique. The second demodulation technique can differ from the first demodulation technique. The second device can also include an error detection module that can perform bit error detection based on the first demodulated output and the second demodulated output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for acquiring pulse oximetry and electrocardiogram signals from an appendage of a patient. The apparatus can include a substrate that can be attached to the appendage of the patient, an emitter coupled to the substrate, a detector coupled to the substrate, and an electrode coupled to the substrate. The apparatus can generate a blood oxygen saturation output signal based on radiation received by the detector. The apparatus can also generate a reference or non-reference electrocardiogram signal. The apparatus can include a neural-muscular transmission device.

Abstract: A method for transferring data may include receiving data from a monitoring device, determining whether the subject being monitored has a condition that may require attention, and sending a notification message to a portable electronic device that is designed to be carried by a caregiver if such a condition exists. The notification message may be sent using one or both of a first wireless data transfer method and a second wireless data transfer method. The system may use both methods to communicate with one device or may use the first method to communicate with a first device and the second method to communicate with a second device. The portable electronic device may include two wireless transceivers such as a transceiver designed to connect the device to a local area network of a facility and a transceiver designed to connect the device to a cellular network.

Abstract: A communication system including a first device transmitting a modulated signal and a second device receiving the modulated signal. The second device can include a first demodulator and a second demodulator. The first demodulator can receive the modulated signal, produce a first demodulated output, and implement a first demodulation technique. The second demodulator can receive the modulated signal, produce a second demodulated output, and implement a second demodulation technique. The second demodulation technique can differ from the first demodulation technique. The second device can also include an error detection module that can perform bit error detection based on the first demodulated output and the second demodulated output.

Abstract: A method for selecting images for coronary analysis using time stamps to correlate cardiovascular images to corresponding physiological or hemodynamic monitoring, e.g., ECG, data. The method uses time stamps that are intrinsic to a distributed network clock synchronization protocol for correlation of images and data. A coronary analysis system is employed to correlate images with physiologic data, e.g., using time stamp data as well as offset data derived using the distributed network clock synchronization protocol.

Abstract: An imaging system employs method of labeling orthogonal images. The method comprises: identifying a primary image taken in a first plane; identifying a plurality of secondary images taken in planes orthogonal to the first plane; associating a label to a point in the primary image; calculating a distance from the point to a line of intersection between the primary image and each secondary image in the plurality of images; and associating the label to a secondary image in the plurality of secondary images having a line of intersection with the primary image closest to the point.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system is disclosed. The patient monitoring system includes at least one monitoring cable, a plurality of connecting wires, and a plurality of connectors. The plurality of connecting wires are housed within an outer covering and each extend from a first end to a second end of the at least one monitoring cable. The plurality of connectors are arranged in an in-line sequence from the first end to the second end of the at least one monitoring cable and may include at least one ECG connector and at least one non-ECG connector. The patient monitoring system may also be configured to provide strain relief for the at least one cable.

Abstract: A system for retaining information in a data management system in which a memory manger is associated with a server, an interface is provided for controlling access to the memory manager, and one or more application components are adapted for implementing the interface. A method for retaining information in a data management system in which information is stored and retrieved from an external database into a memory associated with a server and access to the memory is enabled through an interface implemented by one or more application components. A machine-readable storage medium and machine readable code for implementing the same.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless communication. The system can include a transmitter that transmits a data signal having a time period without data transmission. The system can also include a receiver including a first antenna, a second antenna, a switch that activates one of the first antenna and the second antenna, and a processor that estimates a first signal-to-noise ratio for the first antenna and a second signal-to-noise ratio for the second antenna during the time period without data transmission. The processor can control the switch to select one of the first antenna and the second antenna based on a comparison between the first signal-to-noise ratio and the second signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A hand-held electrocardiograph system with automatic analysis and interpretation is provided. The electrocardiograph includes an acquisition element adapted to be coupled to a patient through a set of relatively short leadwires and a hand-held, battery powered portable processing and display element coupled to the acquisition element and controlled through a graphical user interface.

Abstract: The present technique selectively handles image data, which is decomposed into a plurality of resolution levels. The image data may be retrieved in order of progressively higher resolution levels for display in a viewport. Initially, the image data may be displayed in the viewport at a relatively lower one of the plurality of resolution levels. As a user desires higher resolution displays of all or part of the image, one or more of the progressively higher resolution levels may be retrieved and scaled to fit the viewport. Accordingly, the present technique handles the data more efficiently by accessing the image data in blocks corresponding to the plurality of resolution levels, rather than accessing the entirety of the image data. A scaling threshold also can be used to signal the need for a next higher level of the plurality of resolution levels.

Abstract: A technique is provided for generating scout or navigational images based upon a series of related images. The related images are analyzed to compute pixels of scout images, such as by determining a characteristic of aligned pixels of each of the related images. The scout or navigational images are then projections of the related images and individual rows or columns of the scout images correspond to individual images of the related set. One or more of the related images may then be accessed by review of the scout image or images. The scout images may be referred to in their own right for an overview of features of interest and may be modified by a user. The technique provides for efficient time management by allowing specific images to be identified in large image series, and facilitates intelligent use of bandwidth for accessing specific images in a viewer workstation.