Abstract: A method for predicting drug concentration levels includes receiving at least one subject characteristic of the subject, and executing a full body circulation model by: determining a first concentration of the drug in a first blood flow entering a first organ determining a second concentration of the drug in the first organ, determining a third concentration of a drug in a third blood flow entering a second organ, the third blood flow downstream of the first organ, and determining, using the second organ model a fourth concentration of the drug in the second organ.

Abstract: Monitoring apparatus and methods are provided for assessing a physiological condition of a subject. At least two types of physiological information are detected from a subject via a portable monitoring device associated with the subject, and an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject is made using the at least two types of physiological information, wherein each type of physiological information is individually insufficient to make the physiological condition assessment. Environmental information from a vicinity of a subject also may be detected, and an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject may be made using the environmental information in combination with the physiological information. Exemplary physiological information may include subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate. Exemplary environmental information may include humidity level information in the vicinity of the subject.

Abstract: A system for monitoring medical conditions including pressure ulcers, pressure-induced ischemia and related medical conditions comprises at least one sensor adapted to detect one or more patient characteristic including at least position, orientation, temperature, acceleration, moisture, resistance, stress, heart rate, respiration rate, and blood oxygenation, a host for processing the data received from the sensors together with historical patient data to develop an assessment of patient condition and suggested course of treatment. In some embodiments, the system can further include a support surface having one or more sensors incorporated therein either in addition to sensors affixed to the patient or as an alternative thereof. The support surface is, in some embodiments, capable of responding to commands from the host for assisting in implementing a course of action for patient treatment.

Abstract: An ambulatory medical telemetry device (10) is provided. This device includes at least one sensor (18) for detecting at least one physiological parameter of a patient and a housing that is securable to the patient. A circuit (50) is located in the housing for receiving and processing a signal representative of the physiological parameter from the sensor to generate recordable physiological data. An audible indicator (16) is located in the housing and operationally coupled to the circuit for generating an audio signal indicating at least one operational state of the device.

Abstract: A method for analysing physiological measurement values of a user is proposed. The method comprises at least one data acquisition step, wherein, during the data acquisition step, physiological measurement values of the user are acquired at different measurement times and stored in a measurement data record; at least one pattern selection step, wherein, during the pattern selection step, measurement values acquired during one comparison time interval are selected as at least one comparison pattern; and at least one pattern recognition step, wherein, during the pattern recognition step, patterns corresponding to the comparison pattern are sought after in the measurement data record.

Abstract: Ingestible event markers having high reliability are provided. Aspects of the ingestible event markers include a support, a control circuit, a first electrochemical material, a second electrochemical material and a membrane. In addition, the ingestible event markers may include one or more components that impart high reliability to the ingestible event marker. Further, the ingestible event markers may include an active agent. In some aspects, the active agent, such as a pharmaceutically active agent or a diagnostic agent may be associated with the membrane.

Abstract: A pulse oximetry system for reducing the risk of electric shock to a medical patient can include physiological sensors, at least one of which has a light emitter that can impinge light on body tissue of a living patient and a detector responsive to the light after attenuation by the body tissue. The detector can generate a signal indicative of a physiological characteristic of the living patient. The pulse oximetry system may also include a splitter cable that can connect the physiological sensors to a physiological monitor. The splitter cable may have a plurality of cable sections each including one or more electrical conductors that can interface with one of the physiological sensors. One or more decoupling circuits may be disposed in the splitter cable, which can be in communication with selected ones of the electrical conductors. The one or more decoupling circuits can electrically decouple the physiological sensors.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring outlier behavior in an array of n electrodes includes an electrical line, a switching circuit via which the electrodes are individually coupleable to the electrical line, a sensor; and processing circuitry, where, in each of m iterations: (i) a respective subset of electrodes is coupled by the switching circuit to the electrical line, (ii) the sensor senses an electrical parameter produced over the electrical line by the coupled subset of electrodes, and (iii) the processing circuitry obtains from the sensor a respective value of the electrical parameter, m being less than n, and the processing circuitry identifying those of the electrodes that exhibit outlier electrical behavior by finding electrical values to individually ascribe to individual ones of the electrodes of the array, which ascribed values can result in all of the respective values of all of the m iterations.

Abstract: Ingestible event marker systems that include an ingestible event marker (i.e., an IEM) and a personal signal receiver are provided. Embodiments of the IEM include an identifier, which may or may not be present in a physiologically acceptable carrier. The identifier is characterized by being activated upon contact with a target internal physiological site of a body, such as digestive tract internal target site. The personal signal receiver is configured to be associated with a physiological location, e.g., inside of or on the body, and to receive a signal the IEM. During use, the IEM broadcasts a signal which is received by the personal signal receiver.

Abstract: Controlled activation identifiers for use in ingestible compositions, such as pharma-informatics enabled compositions, are provided. The identifiers include a controlled activation element that provides for activation of the identifier in response to the presence of a predetermined stimulus at a target site of interest. The invention finds use in a variety of different applications, including but not limited to, monitoring of therapeutic regimen compliance, tracking the history of pharmaceutical agents, etc.

Abstract: One variation of a method for changing a state of a wearable device includes: in response to detected motion of the wearable device, transitioning from a low-power mode into a test mode; in the test mode, detecting a proximity of a surface to the wearable device, detecting a temperature of the surface, and based on a temperature of the surface correlated to a human skin temperature, transitioning from the test mode into an active mode; and, in the active mode sampling a heart rate sensor arranged within the wearable device and wirelessly broadcasting a value corresponding to an output of the heart rate sensor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for monitoring characteristics of a subject. A system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a sensor subsystem including at least one respiratory sensor disposed proximate to the subject and configured to detect a respiratory characteristic of the subject, wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to generate and transmit at least one respiratory signal representing the respiratory characteristic, and at least one physiological sensor disposed proximate to the subject and configured to detect a physiological characteristic of the subject, wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to generate and transmit at least one physiological signal representing the physiological characteristic, and a processor subsystem in communication with the sensor subsystem, the processor subsystem being configured to receive at least one of the at least one respiratory signal and the at least one physiological signal.

Abstract: A method that includes configuring a first and a second identification band with unique serial numbers, each of said bands being connected to a signal cable attached to a sensor is provided. The first identification band is securely fixed to a first location on the patient and the second identification band is securely fixed to a second location on the patient. The first and second identification bands are connected with a bridging band. The signal cable is connected to a diagnostic test monitoring system and the patient's oxygen saturation is monitored. The first and second identification bands are configured to evidence tampering when removed.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes a wearable electronic device having an audio port and a headset having at least one earbud, at least one physiological and/or environmental sensor, and circuitry that processes signals produced by the at least one physiological and/or environmental sensor and transmits the processed signals to the electronic device via the audio port. The headset may include a microphone in audio communication with the electronic device via the audio port, and the circuitry modulates audio signals produced by the microphone and signals produced by the at least one physiological and/or environmental sensor for transmission to the electronic device via the audio port. The circuitry may power the at least one physiological and/or environmental sensor via power supplied by the electronic device through the audio port and may include a processor that coordinates collection, modulation, and/or transmission of signals produced by the at least one physiological and/or environmental sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing a haptic monitor system capable of generating haptic cues based on sensed information are disclosed. The haptic system includes a sensing device, a digital processing unit, and a haptic generator. The sensing device is configured to selectively sense an individual's or user vital information via one or more wearable sensors, and subsequently forwards the sensed vital information to the digital processing unit for data processing. Upon receipt of the vital information, the digital processing unit provides a haptic signal in response to the vital information. The haptic generator, subsequently, generates haptic feedback in accordance with the haptic signal.

Abstract: A wearable electronic device, comprising a heart rate sensor to determine a heart rate of the user, a motion sensor to detect motion of a user, the motion sensor operated in an initial calibration phase during which the heart rate sensor is detecting the heart rate of the user, and the motion sensor is detecting the motion of the user, the calibration phase being used to compute a correspondence between motion of the user and the heart rate of the user, the motion sensor being operated in a low power phase during which the heart rate sensor is powered down, and a processor configured to run a heart rate estimation module configured to calculate an estimated heart rate of the user based upon the motion of the user and the correspondence between the heart rate of the user and the motion of the user determined in the calibration phase.

Abstract: A wearable platform embodied in a belt or patch provides physiological monitoring of soldiers during field operations or trauma victims at accident sites and makes health state assessments. The platform includes sensors for heart rate, body motion, respiration rate and intensity, and temperature and further contains a microprocessor and short range transmitter. An analog circuit running an algorithm obtains the R-wave period from the EKG signal and produces electrical pulses with the period between pulses corresponding to the R-wave period. A rule based processing engine having an evaluation algorithm is capable of making a medical evaluation of subject condition and determines a confidence level for the evaluation. The rules are subject to variation depending upon the subject population. The information is communicated wirelessly to a local hub for relay to a remote monitor.

Abstract: A method of improving psychophysiological function of a subject performing a stress-inducing activity using a computer includes, after a plurality of sensors that monitor stress-indicating physiological parameters have been coupled to the subject and to the computer, providing, by the computer to the subject, a set of training segments that each present the subject with one or more visual, audible, or tactile prompts, wherein in at least one of the training segments, the prompts induce the subject to simultaneously perform both the stress-inducing activity and a relaxation-inducing protocol. The computer provides the set of training segments until a value of at least one physiological parameter that indicates stress in the subject is within a pre-defined range of a baseline value of the parameter, thereby indicating that the subject has successfully performed the stress-inducing activity while maintaining alertness with a relative minimum of stress.

Abstract: A sensor system for sensing a stimulus in vivo includes an implantable sensor. The sensor comprises a passive resonator circuit having a resonant frequency and including at least a pair of generally parallel spirally wound unconnected conductive coils sandwiching a layer of solid dielectric material that manifest a change in property affecting the resonant frequency in response to application of the stimulus to the layer. A resonant frequency of the sensor is modulated by altering the spacing or gap between the coils or altering the overlapping area of the coils. The sensor is energized through application of radiofrequency energy and the responding resonant frequency is detected. The sensor can be advantageously attached to a medical implant to form a practical smart implant for clinical purposes.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking biological age over time based upon heart rate variability includes an activity monitoring device configured to measure and transmit one or more biological age parameters, including heart rate variability, to a biological age calculation and display module configured to calculate a biological age factor as a function of the biological age parameters, calculate biological age as a function of the biological age factor and the user's actual age, and display the biological age.