Abstract: Patient monitoring apparatus for use in an environment which includes a plurality of sensors. The apparatus provides collection and display of patient data signals collected from a medical patient using the sensors, including periods when the patient is being transported. The apparatus comprises a portable monitor coupled to a plurality of distinct data acquisition modules, which are coupled to the sensors. The modules includes cartridges, which detachably mount to the portable monitor, and pods which are positioned independent of the monitor. The pods reduce the number of cables extending between the patient's bed and the portable monitor by combining signals from many sensors into a single output signal. The modules collect patient data in analog form from the sensors and provide digital data signals to the monitor. The portable monitor includes: a display device for displaying the patient data, and storage for the patient data. The portable monitor may be coupled to a docking station.

Abstract: Patient monitoring apparatus for use in an environment which includes a communications network and a plurality of sensors. The apparatus provides collection and display of patient data signals collected from a medical patient using the sensors. The apparatus comprises a portable monitor coupled to a plurality of data acquisition modules, which are in turn coupled to the sensors. The data acquisition modules include cartridges, which mount on the portable monitor, and independently positionable pods. The pods reduce the number of cables extending between the patient's bed and the portable monitor by combining signals from many sensors into a single output signal for transmission to the monitor. The modules collect patient data in analog form from the sensors and provide digital data signals to the monitor. The portable monitor includes: a display device for displaying the patient data, and storage for the patient data. The portable monitor is coupled to the docking station.

Abstract: An automatic blood pressure gauge generates a signal representing the instantaneous pressure levels in a blood pressure cuff. This pressure signal includes a slowly changing component representing a deflating cuff and a more rapidly changing component representing blood pressure pulses that are mechanically coupled to the cuff. The pressure signal is DC coupled to a microprocessor. The microprocessor filters the pressure signal using a minimum order-statistic filter coupled in cascade with a median order-statistic filter to generate an auxiliary signal having peaks at the starting points of the pulses. This auxiliary signal is used to generate a signal representing the slowly changing component of the pressure signal. The slowly changing component of the pressure signal is subtracted from the pressure signal, leaving only the blood pressure pulse signal. The microprocessor then generates a function representing peaks of the blood pressure pulses versus a corresponding cuff pressure at which they occur.

Abstract: A deflation control system for the pressurized cuff of an automatic blood pressure gauge uses a pressure sensor to control solenoid valves. The solenoid valves are responsive to respective pulse signals having variable duty cycles to change their time-apertures and, thus, their flow rates. The duty cycles of the pulse signals are controlled to maintain a desired constant rate of pressure reduction in the cuff. A microprocessor generates a control value which determines the duty cycles of the pulse signals. This value is proportional to the initial volume of fluid in the cuff and to a predictive term which is provided from a table that is indexed by cuff pressure. This value is then augmented by a feedback term, generated by a feedback control loop to ensure an accurate deflation rate. The gain of the feedback loop is selected so that the feedback correction signals do not interfere with pulse signals modulating the pressure signal. The feedback term is normalized by the initial volume measurement.

Abstract: A noise damping system for use in connection with an automatic blood pressure measuring device. The system includes a manifold divided into two expansion chambers in fluid communication with one another by way of a chamber port. The pressure waves and acoustic noise generated by a pump and modulated valves are attenuated by expanding in one chamber against a resistance caused by the chamber port and by expansion in the second chamber against a resistance caused by a manifold inlet/outlet port leading to the ambient environment.

Abstract: An automatic blood pressure measuring device includes a flexible inflation system which quickly and accurately inflates neonatal, pediatric and adult cuffs without significant pressure overshoot. The device uses an electric pump having two intake orifices. A restricted orifice provides air to the pump for all cuff sizes. An unrestricted orifice, which may be opened or closed by actuating a valve, provides air to the pump only when an adult or pediatric cuff is being used. In addition, the pump is controlled by a motor controller which provides dynamic breaking to stop the pump quickly when the threshold pressure has been reached. An overpressure mechanism, separate from the pressure sensor that controls the pump, removes operational power from the pump when a predetermined cuff pressure level, greater than the threshold pressure, has been reached.

Abstract: A handle, for the female half of a quick-action coupling of the type including a body having a first end adapted to receive a hose and a second end adapted to receive the male half of the coupling, a grasping means coupled to the body for releasably grasping the male half of the coupling when inserted into the second end of the body, and a spring-biased slide member coupled to the body and co-acting with the grasping means for causing a locking engagement between the male and female halves. The handle comprises a housing having an interior opening in a first end thereof dimensioned so as to receive the female half of the coupling therein in a loose-fit sliding manner.

Abstract: An automatic blood pressure gauge uses two pulse width modulated solenoid valve to achieve a substantially linear deflation curve. The solenoid valves are controlled by a valve switching signal that has a fixed fundamental frequency. The gauge samples and digitizes the cuff pressure signal. To eliminate artifacts related to the valve switching signal, a microprocessor in the gauge filters the sampled data pressure signal using a third-order Chebychev 2 filter having a zero at the frequency of the valve switching signal. A single timing source used for controlling the microprocessor is also used for developing both the valve switching signal and the sampled data pressure signal, in order to achieve high attenuation of the valve switching signal components in the pressure signal via the Chebychev filter.

Abstract: In a receiver for receiving an information signal including digital information samples which are contaminated with an interference component having known frequency characteristics, a filter is provided having a signal generator responsive to at least a portion of the received signal for generating an output signal having the frequency characteristics of the interference component and an amplitude and phase controlled by the portion of the received signal. A combiner combines the generator output signal with the received signal for generating a filtered output signal having the interference component substantially removed therefrom, which is then applied to an interpolator. In response to the identification of incorrect digital information samples in the received signal, control of the generator by that portion of the received digital information signal which contains the samples identified as incorrect is disabled.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting the occurrence of heartbeats in an ECG signal which may also include pacer artifacts, comprising analysis of the ECG signal for providing a heartbeat signal indicating detection of the occurrence of a heartbeat, analysis of the ECG signal for providing a pacer artifact signal indicating detection of the occurrence of a pacer artifact, analysis of the ECG signal in a manner independent from the first-mentioned analysis for determining if a portion of the ECG signal which follows detection of a pacer artifact has changes in its amplitude level which indicate the validity of the heartbeat indicating signal, and use of the result of the last-mentioned analysis to control the providing of the heartbeat indicating signal by the first-mentioned analysis.