Abstract: A system and associated method is disclosed to monitor physiological activity of a subject. One or more sensors are positioned in or on a support, the support being adapted to receive the subject, at least a first one of the sensors being adapted to produce a first signal indicative of movement of the subject over time. Processing apparatus is adapted to identify first, second and third portions of the first signal. The first and third portions correspond to first and third time periods, respectively, during which the subject changes body position on the support. The second portion corresponds to a second time period, between the first and third time periods, during which substantially no change in body position of the subject on the support takes place.

Abstract: A sensor system comprises a mat (20) for placement over a patient's mattress including a number of sensors (10) located in the mat. The sensors include a sensor housing (12), a sound vibration sensing element in the form of a PVDF membrane (13), and means for amplifying sensed sounds. The PVDF membrane is coated/covered with a typically latex, impedance matching layer (14). The sensor automatically provides for auscultation, in which the patient's own weight, from the patient lying on the bed, compresses their thorax against the membrane, compressing also the patient's clothing, bed sheet and mattress cover material between the two. The recoil in the mattress opposes the body mass, thus compressing the membrane against the thorax. The impedance matching layer on top of the membrane transmits fine breath sounds through to the membrane as the latex does not weaken or attenuate the fine breath sounds but transmits them to the PVDF membrane. However being flexible, it is not uncomfortable to lie on.

Abstract: An assembly for monitoring physiological parameters of a living subject at a sensing station, the assembly comprising: a plurality of sensors arranged about the subject to create at least one sensor field in which said sensors are capable of sensing one or more said parameters of the subject in each said at least one sensor fields; electronic means to transmit data sensed by each said sensors of said at lest one sensor field to at least one data receiving station; a controller for controlling transmission of said data from said sensor fields to said receiving station; means for an operator to optimise signals received from the sensor fields; wherein the data includes sensed movements and sounds within the range of 0.5 Hz-20000 Hz; and wherein data obtained from the sensor fields includes data capable of interpretation by the use of the sense of touch.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method and system for automatically determining heart rate. The invention can be applied to determining the heart of any animal including humans. The method involves sensing body sounds and transducing them to electrical signals. Digitizing the electrical signals. Emphasizing the heart sound maxima (S1 and S2 signals) relative to noise by filtering, decompression and squaring. Detecting local maxima in the signals as likely S1 signals and generating a threshold amplitude. Selecting maxima that exceed the threshold as surviving likely candidate S1 signals. Screening the surviving candidate S1 against physiologically derived criteria. And, calculating the heart rate from the screened S1.