Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprising: a housing; an infrared filter window supported by the housing; and an infrared transceiver mounted in the housing so that infrared light emitted by the infrared transceiver is focused in the vicinity of the infrared window, and radiates from the infrared filter window in an approximately 30 degree illumination cone.

Abstract: System and method of monitoring a patient including acquiring a respiration waveform and an arterial pressure waveform and determining a window on the respiration waveform that represents end expiration and approximates an apnea condition. The method can include calculating a systolic pressure variation value, a delta up value, and a delta down value based on a portion of the arterial pressure waveform corresponding to the window on the respiration waveform. In some embodiments, the respiration waveform can be acquired without manual interruption of mechanical ventilation and the values can be calculated substantially continuously.

Abstract: A monitoring device comprises a housing, a sensing device movable relative to the housing, and a cable having one end secured relative to the housing and another end secured to the sensing device. The housing includes a channel disposed therein and a portion of the cable is disposed in the channel for temporarily storing the cable. In one embodiment, a display screen is disposed in the housing, and the channel is disposed around at least a portion of a perimeter of the display screen. The cable may have a relaxed outside diameter greater than its stretched outside diameter, as in a coiled cable, thus allowing the cable to be stretched, inserted into the channel, and released to secure the cable in the channel. The cable may also be received in the channel in press-fit fashion.

Abstract: An object location tracking system for tracking a movable object includes a plurality of beacons spatially distributed within a building, each beacon transmitting a respective ID signal, at least one transceiver device which receives the transmission of ID signals from the beacons and determines received signal strengths of such transmissions, the transceiver device adapted to be attached to the movable object, a motion detector coupled to the at least one transceiver device configured to provide information relating to a motion of the at least one transceiver device, and a processing module that uses information reflective of the received signal strengths of the transmissions received by the transceiver device, in combination with information reflective of the motion of the at least one transceiver device, to determine a current location of the transceiver device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for printing on both sides of a medium by passing the medium through a printing device and printing on oppositely facing portions of the medium during a single pass of the medium through the printing device. Preferably, a first print head prints on one portion while a second print head prints on the other portion. The medium is preferably folded so that after the printing is completed and the folded medium is unfolded, the printed information on one portion of the medium correlates with the printed information on the other portion of the medium. The printed information is preferably data that has been measured with respect to time, and the printed data on the oppositely facing portions correlate with respect to time. Preferably, the data is medical patient data in the form of textual data, physiological waveforms, or a combination of both.

Abstract: A system for tracking a subject of interest in a location is disclosed. The system is used with subjects who have an identification device having a unique signal identifier. The system comprises a wireless proximity detector capable of detecting the signal identifier; a monitoring unit that monitors the proximity detector by monitoring which signal identifier has been detected by the proximity detector, the monitoring unit generating a data signal representative of which signal identifier has been detected; and a data output unit that generates location data based upon the data signal. The information can be displayed graphically or as a list and can be sorted by various criteria. The display can provide many options to make the display more useful. Also disclosed is a method for tracking a subject of interest using a unique signal identifier. Additionally, a display to be used with the system is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing noise and detecting electrode faults in a physiological activity acquisition system. The method includes the act of delivering a carrier signal through an electrode connected to a subject. Once the carrier signal is delivered, a combined signal having an electrical-activity portion and a carrier-signal portion is sensed by at least one signal sensing electrode attached to the subject. A low-pass, finite impulse response filter, having a first zero point frequency substantially the same as the carrier signal, separates the carrier signal portion from the electrical activity portion. An impedance value for the sensing electrode is calculated using the carrier signal portion. The calculated impedance value is compared against a known value to determine whether an electrode fault exists.

Abstract: A location system and method for determining the location of a tagged item in a facility. In one embodiment, the location system includes a plurality of room transmitters designed to be located throughout the facility. Each room transmitter has a unique signature. The system also includes at least one item or location tag affixed or otherwise associated with an item. Each tag is operable to send a signal having information related to the signature of a room transmitter within the reception range of the tag and information related to the identity of the tag. Signals from the tags are received by one or more locating receivers. Each locating receiver is operable to determine the identity of an item tag and the likely location of the item tag within the facility based upon the signal from that tag. The invention also provides a method of locating an item in a facility.

Abstract: A portable ECG monitor and an overall system for remotely monitoring cardiac function of a patient is disclosed, together with a method of use. The portable ECG includes a multi-lead, multi-channel ECG monitor and a wireless communication device connected to the ECG monitor to receive patient ECG data and transmit the patient ECG data to a centralized facility, such as a hospital. The wireless communication device can include a mobile phone and/or an interactive Internet appliance. A method of remotely monitoring ECG data is also disclosed. The method and apparatus are particularly useful with patients experiencing symptomatic ischemia. The method includes providing a portable ECG device with wireless communication capabilities to such a patient, acquiring ECG data from the patient at a location remote from a health care facility, then transmitting the ECG data to the centralized facility, and assessing the ECG data at the centralized facility.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for acquiring and displaying physiological patient data from a cyclic physiological waveform in a three dimensional representation wherein the amplitude of the data is represented in color and displayed.

Abstract: An object location monitoring system includes beacons that are spatially distributed throughout an area to be monitored. The beacons transmit interrogation signals that are received and echoed by transponders that attach to moveable objects. Each beacon retransmits its interrogation signal, and any transponder response thereto, to a receiver that measures a time difference between the two signals. This time difference reflects the signal propagation time, and thus the distance, between the beacon and the transponder. One such receiver preferably analyzes the retransmitted signals of multiple (e.g., 50 to 100) beacons. A triangulation method is used to determine the location of each transponder based on the transponder's distances from a set of beacons. In one embodiment, the transponders are provided as or within disposable ID bracelets worn by patients, and are used to track the locations of the patients within a hospital.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting cardiac repolarization abnormality using at least one electrocardiogram signal. The at least one electrocardiogram signal can be obtained from any number of continuous or non-continuous windows. The method can include deriving a total quantity of representative beats of the at least one electrocardiogram signal. At least one morphology shape descriptor can be used to determine a total quantity of values representing the total quantity of representative beats. Data corresponding to at least some of the total quantity of values can be used to assess cardiac repolarization abnormality.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for displaying alternans data of an electrocardiogram signal having a plurality of odd beats and a plurality of even beats. The method can include calculating an odd median complex for at least one of the plurality of odd beats, the odd median complex having a plurality of odd data points; calculating an even median complex for at least one of the plurality of even beats, the even median complex having a plurality of even data points; comparing the plurality of odd data points with the plurality of even data points to generate a plurality of difference data points; assigning each one of the plurality of difference data points a color corresponding to an amplitude; displaying the plurality of difference data points as a difference curve; and displaying a plurality of difference curves in a temporal alignment.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining alternans data of an ECG signal. The method can include determining at least one value representing at least one morphology feature of each beat of the ECG signal and generating a set of data points based on a total quantity of values and a total quantity of beats. The data points can each include a first value determined using a first mathematical function and a second value determined using a second mathematical function. The method can also include several preprocessing algorithms to improve the signal to noise ratio. The method can also include separating the data points into a first group of points and a second group of points and generating a feature map by plotting the first group of points and the second group of points in order to assess an alternans pattern of variation. The feature map can be analyzed by statistical tests to determine the significance difference between groups and clusters.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for assessing a patient's cardiac vulnerability to sudden cardiac death. The method can include defining a relationship between depolarization and repolarization, determining a first value representative of the relationship for a first beat, determining a second value representative of the relationship for a second beat, and analyzing variation of the first value and the second value to assess the patient's cardiac vulnerability to sudden cardiac death.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for measuring a weak physiological signal in the presence of stronger signals. The method and apparatus utilize motion sensing devices placed on or about the patient to obtain a motion data set from each motion sensing device describing the aggregate detected motion. The data sets are synchronized and then used to solve a set of simultaneous equations which allows for the separation of the various motion components which may include such components of interest as fetal heart motion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to detect irregular heart activity and estimate heart rate. In one embodiment, the heart rate estimation apparatus includes a group of six RR storage structures that receives an input of six successive RR interval values. The apparatus also includes a probability engine coupled to the group of RR storage structures, the probability engine is operable to calculate and output a mean value of the six RR interval values and a median value of the mean value and the six RR interval. In one embodiment, the apparatus carries out a method including the acts of determining a plurality of interval values between successive R waves; determining a mean of a group of six interval values; determining a median interval value for a group including the group of six interval values and the mean of the group of six interval values; and determining a running average of interval values between successive R waves using the median interval value.

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 computer-equipped mobility device for transporting an occupant of the device over a distance and for providing access to a network comprises a personal mobility device, a computer, and a user input device. The computer is coupled to the personal mobility device and is configured to link to the network as well as to engage in two-way communication with the network. The user input device is coupled to the personal mobility device. The user input device is also linked to the computer and capable of at least partially controlling the operation of the computer.

Abstract: A method of displaying a representation of a physiological signal produced by a patient. The method includes the acts of obtaining a portion of at least one physiological signal acquired from the patient, determining an area to display, and constructing a virtual image representing at least a portion of the patient. The virtual image including (M) polygonal areas. The method further includes transforming the obtained signal to a plurality of values, assigning each value to one of the (M) polygonal areas, assigning a visual characteristic to each polygonal area based in part on the assigned values, and displaying at least a portion of the virtual image including the assigned visual characteristics. The invention further provides a method of optimal feature selection for the classification of the physiological signals produced by a patient.