Abstract: A mattress has a sensor pad affixed on a top surface thereof. The sensor pad has (i) a matrix array of plural pressure sensors, (ii) plural row conductors, and (iii) plural column conductors. Each intersecting row and column conductor provides an electrical signal from a corresponding sensor when pressure is applied thereto. The sensor pad has plural through-holes therein disposed between the plural row conductors the plural column conductors, respectively. Preferably, at least one patient-mounted physiological sensor is configured to provide an output signal corresponding to a patient physiological parameter. An electronic unit is mounted inside the mattress and is configured to receive signals from the sensor pad. The electronic unit has a data storage unit preferably storing (i) patient identification information, (ii) patient physiological information, and (iii) mattress information.

Abstract: An ingestible apparatus produces and processes physiological signals representative of a physiological parameter. The apparatus measures the physiological parameter from within the body of a living entity. The apparatus includes a physiological transducer circuit to sense the physiological signals, a processor to process the physiological signals in response to the physiological transducer circuit, and a transmitter that transmits the processed signals during transmission intervals which are alternated with idle intervals. The apparatus further includes a capacitor-based circuit, including at least one capacitor, to accumulate sufficient charge during one of the idle intervals to supply power to the transmitter during one of the transmission intervals.

Abstract: A control device for a medical system is provided. The medical system may be a medical diagnosis and/or medical therapy system. The medical system may include a control unit operable to be used to carry out control processes that control the medical system, and a mobile handheld control unit operable to control at least one controllable element of the medical system by a user. The control device may be configured so that one or more control processes may only be carried out by the control unit when the mobile handheld control unit is located at a predefined location.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and systems for correlating relationships between foods and symptoms such as gastrointestinal manifestations. Users can provide information regarding food intake and/or symptoms through any number of devices. The food and/or symptoms can be analyzed to pinpoint foods that are highly correlated with health symptoms, such as, digestive problems. Removal of such foods from the user's diet can then be suggested.

Abstract: One of the most significant safety concerns in the automation of extracorporeal blood treatments such as dialysis is the risk of blood leakage. Extracorporeal blood treatment systems draw blood at such a high rate that a loss of integrity in the blood circuit can be serious. There are a number of mechanisms for detecting and preventing leaks, but none is perfect. This tends to limit the use of such equipment in unsupervised settings, such as the home will be limited. Some leak detection schemes can be made sensitive enough to detect the barest of leaks, but when this is done, they result in too many false positives. The invention combines information from multiple inputs to enhance sensitivity in leak detection and reduce the problem of false positives.

Abstract: A neonatal feeding tube (10) includes electronics and instrumentation for monitoring a neonate and for provides nourishment to the neonate. The tube (10) includes electrodes (20) for sensing ECG signals of the neonate. Thermistors (22, 24, 28, 30) are placed at various points along the tube (10) to measure the neonate's temperature at those points. Breathing effort is measured by calculating a pressure differential at two pressure ports (32, 34). Pulse and SpO2 are measured at a fiber optic window (35). The electrodes (20), a distal electrode (64) and a light source (66) aid in helping a caregiver position the tip (12) of the tube (10) correctly in the stomach of the neonate.

Abstract: A novel wearable electronic skin patch sensor device configured for the real time acquisition, processing and communicating of cardiac activity and other types of biological information within a wired or wireless network is disclosed. A system level scheme for networking the sensor device with client devices that include intelligent personal health management appliances, cellular telephones, PDAs, portable computers, personal computers, RFID Tags and servers is disclosed. The sensor device and the system enable distributed processing, archival and correlation of the biological information with biometrics, gastronomic information, user profiles and health factors that include height, weight, blood pressure and physical activity facilitating real time personal health management at any time and any place.

Abstract: One of the most significant safety concerns in the automation of extracorporeal blood treatments such as dialysis is the risk of blood leakage. Extracorporeal blood treatment systems draw blood at such a high rate that a loss of integrity in the blood circuit can be serious. There are a number of mechanisms for detecting and preventing leaks, but none is perfect. This tends to limit the use of such equipment in unsupervised settings, such as the home will be limited. Some leak detection schemes can be made sensitive enough to detect the barest of leaks, but when this is done, they result in too many false positives. The invention combines information from multiple inputs to enhance sensitivity in leak detection and reduce the problem of false positives.

Abstract: Apparatus and method support a neurological event screening for a medical device. The medical device assists a user in determining a configuration of the medical device for delivering an effective treatment for a nervous system disorder. The medical device detects a neurological event, such as a seizure, and reports a neurological event focus location and a neurological event spread to the user. The user may use the information to provide a configuration of a therapeutic delivery unit and associated therapy parameters. Therapeutic treatment is delivered to the patient, and the medical device is provided an indication of the patient's acceptance to the treatment. The user may modify the configuration and therapy parameters in order to achieve efficacy and acceptance. Depending upon the patient's acceptance, therapy is applied in either an open loop mode or a closed loop mode. The medical device determines whether the treatment is successful in accordance with a criterion.

Abstract: In general the invention is directed to systems, methods, and/or software modules which may analyze a patient's drug history, and optionally other data, and derive a probable diagnosis for the patient based on rules.

Abstract: The invention relates to the determination of the clinical state of a subject. A respective adaptive transform is applied to at least one measurement signal acquired from the subject, each adaptive transform being dependent on previously acquired history data, and a diagnostic index is formed, which is dependent on the transformed measurement signal(s) and serves as a measure of the clinical state of the subject. In order to reliably evaluate the clinical state of a subject on a fixed diagnostic scale during changes in the state of the subject, some or all of the previously acquired history data on which an adaptive transform is currently dependent is replaced with other previously acquired history data when a predetermined event is detected. The predetermined event is indicative of a change in the respective measurement signal, and the introduction of the said other previously acquired history data sets the transform ready for the change.

Abstract: A user wearable portable communication device and a method for collecting and transmitting a plurality of physiological parameters to a remote monitoring center are disclosed. The portable communication device includes a provision for enabling the user to establish a video conference, a fall detection module in conjunction with an accelerometer recognizes a placement of the portable communication device, a home automation module for enabling the user to remotely operate multiple electronic devices, an acknowledgment acceptance module for receiving the acknowledgment, a physiological data collecting module communicatively coupled to a fetal doppler module for monitoring and transmitting the physiological parameters associated with a child, multiple preprogrammed contact numbers for enabling the user to establish a communication, a subscriber identity module for enabling the user establish a communication and data transmission between the portable communication device and the remote monitoring center.

Abstract: A general-purpose, low-cost system provides comprehensive physiological data collection, with extensive data object oriented programmability and configurability for a variety of medical as well as other analog data collection applications. In a preferred embodiment, programmable input signal acquisition and processing circuits are used so that virtually any analog and/or medical signal can be digitized from a common point of contact to a plurality of sensors. A general-purpose data routing and encapsulation architecture supports input tagging and standardized routing through modern packet switch networks, including the Internet; from one of multiple points of origin or patients, to one or multiple points of data analysis for physician review. The preferred architecture further supports multiple-site data buffering for redundancy and reliability, and real-time data collection, routing, and viewing (or slower than real-time processes when communications infrastructure is slower than the data collection rate).

Abstract: Receivers, which may be external or implantable, are provided. Aspects of receivers of the invention include the presence of one or more of: a high power-low power module; an intermediary module; a power supply module configured to activate and deactivate one or more power supplies to a high power processing block; a serial peripheral interface bus connecting master and slave blocks; and a multi-purpose connector. Receivers of the invention may be configured to receive a conductively transmitted signal. Also provided are systems that include the receivers, as well as methods of using the same. Additionally systems and methods are disclosed for using a receiver for coordinating with dosage delivery systems.

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: The present invention provides for safe and reliable electronic circuitry that can be employed in ingestible compositions. The ingestible circuitry of the invention includes a solid support; a conductive element; and an electronic component. Each of the support, conductive element and electronic component are fabricated from an ingestible material. The ingestible circuitry finds use in a variety of different applications, including as components of ingestible identifiers, such as may be found in ingestible event markers, e.g., pharma-informatics enabled pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: Devices and methods for sleep detection involve the use of an adjustable threshold for detecting sleep onset and termination. A method for detecting sleep includes adjusting a sleep threshold associated with a first sleep-related signal using a second sleep-related signal. The first sleep-related signal is compared to the adjusted threshold and sleep is detected based on the comparison. The sleep-related signals may be derived from implantable or external sensors. Additional sleep-related signals may be used to confirm the sleep condition. A sleep detector device implementing a sleep detection method may be a component of an implantable pulse generator such as a pacemaker or defibrillator.

Abstract: A wireless patient monitoring system. In one embodiment the system has a first patient monitoring subsystem including a plurality of sensors and sensor modules; and a processor-transceiver in communication with the plurality of sensors and sensor modules; and a first clinician display subsystem including a processor-transceiver. The processor-transceiver of the first clinician display subsystem broadcasts, on a first predetermined frequency, the frequency the processor-transceiver of the first clinician display subsystem will use to communicate with the processor-transceiver of the first patient monitoring subsystem. The processor-transceiver of the first patient monitoring subsystem then transmits and receives data on the frequency that the processor-transceiver of the first clinician display subsystem will use to communicate with the processor-transceiver of the first patient monitoring subsystem.

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: An implantable medical device, such as a sensor for monitoring a selected internally detectable physiological parameter of a patient, is attached to a fixation member that is deployable within the patient to position and orient the sensor to enable it to perform its function. The fixation member may be configured to lie in a single plane when deployed or may be tubular in shape. The attachment of the housing and fixation member includes providing the fixation member with a linear attachment strut that is non-circular in cross section and providing the housing with external members that define an elongate channel, non-circular in cross section and receptive to the attachment strut. The attachment strut can be inserted transversely into the channel and the external member can be crimped over the strut to secure the housing and fixation member together.