Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous measurement of blood pressure, based on pulse transit time, which does not require any external calibration. This technique, referred to herein as the ‘composite technique’, is carried out with a body-won sensor that measures blood pressure and other vital signs, and wirelessly transmits them to a remote monitor. A network of disposable sensors, typically placed on the patient's right arm and chest, connect to the body sensor and measure a time-dependent electrical waveform, optical waveform, and pressure waveform. The disposable sensors typically include an armband that features an inflatable bladder coupled to a pressure sensor, at least 3 electrical sensors (e.g. electrodes), and an optical sensor (e.g., a light source and photodiode) attached to a wrist-worn band.

Abstract: A system is described that continuously measures a patient's blood pressure over a length of time. The system features a sensor assembly featuring a flexible cable configured to wrap around a portion of a patient's arm. The flexible cable features a back surface that includes at least two electrodes that are positioned to contact the patient's skin to generate electrical signals. It additionally features an optical sensor that includes at least one light source and at least one photodetector. These components form an optical sensor that is configured to generate an optical signal by detecting optical radiation emitted by the at least one light source and reflected from a blood vessel underneath the patient's skin.

Abstract: A sensor for monitoring a patient's blood pressure, the sensor including a housing unit with a back surface and which includes: a pair of electrodes mounted on the back surface; an optical system mounted on the back surface and including at least one light source that emits optical radiation near 570 nm and at least one photodetector; a first amplifier which generates an analog electrical waveform from the electrical signals from the electrodes; a second amplifier that generates an analog optical waveform from the optical signal from the photodetector; analog-to-digital converter circuitry configured to receive the analog electrical waveform and generate a digital electrical waveform therefrom and to receive the analog optical waveform and generate a digital optical waveform therefrom; and a processor programmed to receive the digital electrical and optical waveforms and determine a pulse transit time for the patient which is a measure of a separation in time of a first feature of the digital electrical wavef

Abstract: The invention features a vital sign monitor that includes: 1) a sensor component that attaches to the patient and features an optical sensor and an electrical sensor that measure, respectively a first and second signal: and 2) a control component. The control component features: 1) an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the first signal and second signal into, respectively, a first digital signal and a second digital signal; 2) a CPU configured to operate an algorithm that generates a blood pressure value by processing with an algorithm the first digital signal and second digital signal; 3) a display element; 4) a graphical user interface generated by computer code operating on the CPU and configured to render on the display element the blood pressure value; and 5) a software component that renders video images on the display element. To capture video and audio information, the device further includes both a digital camera and a microphone.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for measuring a patient's blood pressure featuring the following steps: 1) measuring a first time-dependent optical signal with a first optical sensor; 2) measuring a second time-dependent optical signal with a second optical sensor; 3) measuring a time-dependent electrical signal with an electrical sensor; 4) estimating the patient's arterial properties using either the first or second time-dependent optical signal; 5) determining a pulse transit time (PTT) from the time-dependent electrical signal and at least one of the first and second time-dependent optical signals; and 6) calculating a blood pressure value using a mathematical model that includes the PTT and the patient's arterial properties.

Abstract: A two-component monitoring device and system for monitoring blood pressure from a patient is disclosed herein. The two-component monitoring device includes a disposable component and a main component. The disposable component features: i) a backing structure having a first aperture; and ii) first and second electrodes, each electrode connected to the backing structure and including an electrical lead and a conductive electrode material, and configured to generate an electrical signal that passes through the electrical lead when the conductive electrode material contacts the patient. The main component includes: i) first and second connectors configured to connect to the first and second electrical leads to receive the first and second electrical signals; and ii) an optical component comprising a light source that generates optical radiation and a photodetector that detects the optical radiation. The optical component inserts into the first aperture of the disposable component.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for measuring a blood pressure value of a user featuring the following steps: 1) generating optical, electrical, and acoustic waveforms with, respectively, optical, electrical, and acoustic sensors attached to a single substrate that contacts a user; 2) determining at least one parameter by analyzing the optical and acoustic waveforms; and 3) processing the parameter to determine the blood pressure value for the user.

Abstract: The invention features a vital sign monitor that includes: 1) a hardware control component featuring a microprocessor that operates an interactive, icon-driven GUI on an LCD; and, 2) a sensor component that connects to the control component through a shielded coaxial cable. The sensor features: 1) an optical component that generates a first signal; 2) a plurality electrical components (e.g. electrodes) that generate a second signal; and, 3) an acoustic component that generates a third signal. The microprocessor runs compiled computer code that operates: 1) the touch panel LCD; 2) a graphical user interface that includes multiple icons corresponding to different software operations; 3) a file-management system for storing and retrieving vital sign information; and 4) USB and short-range wireless systems for transferring data to and from the device to a PC.

Abstract: The invention provides system for measuring vital signs from multiple patients, typically in an in-hospital setting. The system features a body-worn vital sign monitor that includes: i) a sensor configured as a patch that measures electrical and optical signals from a patient; ii) a controller featuring a microprocessor that receives and processes the electrical and optical signals to determine the patient's vital sign information, including blood pressure; and iii) a first short-range wireless component that wirelessly transmits a packet comprising the vital sign information to an external receiver. A portable, wireless computer (e.g., a PDA, cellular telephone, or a laptop computer) communicates with the body-worn module. The wireless computer includes: i) a second short-range wireless component that receives the vital sign information and displays it; and ii) a long-range wireless transmitter that transmits the vital sign information over a wireless network.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for measuring vital signs from a patient that includes: 1) a first adhesive patch featuring a first electrode that measures a first electrical signal from the patient; 2) a second adhesive patch featuring a second electrode that measures a second electrical signal from the patient; 3) a third adhesive patch, in electrical communication with the first and second adhesive patches, featuring an optical system that measures an optical waveform from the patient; and 4) a controller that receives and processes the first and second electrical signals and the optical waveform to determine the patient's vital signs.

Abstract: The invention features a monitoring device that measures a patient's vital signs (e.g. blood pressure). The device features a first sensor configured to attach to a first portion of the patient's body that includes: i) a first electrode configured to generate a first electrical signal from the first portion of the patient's body; ii) a first light-emitting component; and iii) a first photodetector configured to receive radiation from the first portion of the patient's body after the radiation is emitted by the first light-emitting component and in response generate a first optical waveform. The device also features a second sensor that includes essentially the same components. An amplifier system, in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes, receives first and second electrical signals from the two sensors to generate an electrical waveform.

Abstract: The invention provides a monitor for measuring blood pressure and other vital signs from a patient without using a cuff. The invention provides a hand-held device for measuring vital signs (e.g.

Abstract: The invention features a monitoring device that measures a patient's vital signs (e.g. blood pressure). The device features a first sensor configured to attach to a first portion of the patient's body that includes: i) a first electrode configured to generate a first electrical signal from the first portion of the patient's body; ii) a first light-emitting component; and iii) a first photodetector configured to receive radiation from the first portion of the patient's body after the radiation is emitted by the first light-emitting component and in response generate a first optical waveform. The device also features a second sensor that includes essentially the same components. An amplifier system, in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes, receives first and second electrical signals from the two sensors to generate an electrical waveform.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for measuring vital signs from a patient that includes: 1) a first sensor including a first electrode that measures a first electrical signal from the patient; 2) a second sensor including a second electrode that measures a second electrical signal from the patient; and 3) a third sensor including an optical system with a light source configured to emit green radiation and a photodetector configured to measure the green radiation emitted from the light source, after it irradiates the patient, to generate an optical signal; and 4) a controller that receives and processes the first and second optical and electrical signals and the electrical waveform to determine the patient's vital signs.

Abstract: A monitoring device, method and system are disclosed herein. The monitoring device is capable of determine when a user's wrist is at rest using a motion sensor disposed within a wrist module that is attached to the user's wrist. When at rest, the monitoring device utilizes a vital sign monitor to determine a plurality of vital signs of the user. The vital sign monitor preferably comprises a light source and photodetector in communication with a pulse-oximetry circuit. The motion sensor is preferably an accelerometer.

Abstract: The invention provides a monitor featuring a chest strap that measures a variety of different vital signs (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse oximetry) and wirelessly transmits them to an external device. The chest strap features: i) an electrode system with at least two electrodes that generate electrical signals to generate an ECG waveform; ii) an optical component featuring a light source and a photodetector that generate an optical waveform; iii) a processing component that receives and processes the ECG and optical waveforms to generate vital sign parameters, e.g. heart rate, pulse oximetry, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure; and iv) a wireless transmitter that receives the vital sign parameters from the processing component and wirelessly transmits them to the external device.

Abstract: The invention provides a device that measures a patient's blood pressure without using an inflatable cuff. The device includes an optical module featuring an optical source and a first optical sensor that generates a first set of information; a flexible, thin-film pressure sensor that generates a second set of information; and a processing module, configured to receive and process the first and second sets of information to calculate a time-dependent blood pressure value.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for measuring blood pressure from a patient that includes: 1) an optical module featuring systems for measuring signals from the patient, serial communication, and power management; 2) an external computing device configured to attach to the optical module, supply power to the optical module, and receive information from the optical module through the system for serial communication; and 3) an algorithm, operating on the external computing device, that processes information received through the system for serial communication to determine the patient's blood pressure.

Abstract: A monitoring device (10), method and system are disclosed herein. The monitoring device (10) utilizes a vital sign monitor (16) to determine a plurality of vital signs of the user. The vital sign monitor (16) preferably comprises a light source (3) and photodetector (31) in communication with a pulse oximetry circuit (35).

Abstract: The invention provides system for measuring vital signs from multiple patients, typically in an in-hospital setting. The system features a body-worn vital sign monitor that includes: i) a sensor configured as a patch that measures electrical and optical signals from a patient; ii) a controller featuring a microprocessor that receives and processes the electrical and optical signals to determine the patient's vital sign information, including blood pressure; and iii) a first short-range wireless component that wirelessly transmits a packet comprising the vital sign information to an external receiver. A portable, wireless computer (e.g., a PDA, cellular telephone, or a laptop computer) communicates with the body-worn module. The wireless computer includes: i) a second short-range wireless component that receives the vital sign information and displays it; and ii) a long-range wireless transmitter that transmits the vital sign information over a wireless network.