Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (10) for determining an arterial compliance of a subject (12). The device (10) comprises an inflatable cuff (14), a pressure sensor (18) which is configured to sense a pressure signal (52) that is indicative of a pressure within the cuff (14), a second sensor (20) which is at least partly integrated in the cuff (14) and configured to sense a second signal (56) that is responsive to expansions and contractions of the cuff (14) caused by a pulsating blood flow in an artery (50) of the subject (12), and a processing unit (22). The processing unit is configured to determine based on said part of the pressure signal (52) a pulse pressure of the subject (12), to determine based on said part of the second signal (56) an arterial volume change of the artery (50) of the subject (12) during at least one cardiac cycle, and to determine the arterial compliance of the subject (12) based on pulse pressure and the arterial volume change.

Abstract: A processor and method for deriving a respiratory signal is based on processing a 3-axis acceleration signal. A gravity vector is isolated from the 3-axis acceleration signal and a coordinate transformation is performed into a transformed 3-axis coordinate system in which the isolated average gravity vector is aligned with a first axis of the transformed 3-axis coordinate system. Analysis is then performed only of the components for the remaining two axes of the transformed 3-axis coordinate system, thereby to derive a 1 dimensional respiratory signal. A respiration rate may for example be obtained from the 1 dimensional respiratory signal using frequency analysis, or sleep disordered breathing events may be identified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection of physiological signals of cardiovascular systems. In particular, it relates to a system and method for more reliably evaluating a variation of a heart rate of a subject. The system comprises a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal providing unit (10); a motion signal providing unit (20); a motion determination unit (40) for determining a motion period during which motion identifiable in the motion signal corresponds to one of a plurality of predefined motion classes; a signal reliability determination unit (50) for determining a signal reliability of the PPG signal depending on a motion influence period, wherein the motion influence period comprises the motion period and a transition period following the motion period; and a heart rate variation determination unit (60) for determining the variation of the heart rate of the subject based on the signal reliability and on the PPG signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assessing system, an assessing method and a computer program for assessing a heart rate of a subject. It finds application in categorizing a physiological response as a condition, in particular in the diagnosis of pathological tachycardia and bradycardia. The assessing system comprises a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal providing unit (10); a motion signal providing unit (20); a parameter providing unit (30) for providing a subject specific parameter; a heart rate determination unit (40); a resting period determination unit (50); an abnormality determination unit (80) for determining an abnormality of the heart rate during the resting period; and an assessing unit (90) for assessing the determined abnormality based on the subject specific parameter. The invention provides a system and a method, which allow for a more reliable assessment of a heart rate of a subject based on a PPG signal of the subject.

Abstract: A device for measuring a physiological parameter of a user carrying the device that includes a sensor having at least two sensor elements for detecting a sensor signal, a carrier configured to carry the sensor, and electrical contacts of the sensor elements that lead on, into or through the carrier. One or more frames carried by the carrier are formed around the sensor and/or the individual sensor elements, and an insulator material is filled between the one or more frames and the sensor and/or the sensor elements surrounded by a respective frame without covering a top surface of a respective sensor element facing away from the carrier.

Abstract: An optical analysis system and method is provided in which a sample is analyzed using a light source. An optical sensor signal is processed using a first signal processing circuit and an electrical signal, which is representative of a drive signal applied to the light source, is processed using a second signal processing circuit. The sensor signal is further processed to improve the signal to noise ratio using the processed electrical signal as a reference.

Abstract: An optical vital signs sensor is provided which comprises a PPG sensor (100), a pre-processing unit (130) which adapts the sampling rate or the number of pulses per sample, a processing unit (140) which executes at least one processing algorithm based on an output signal of the pre-processing unit and a sensor control unit (150). The sensor control unit is configured to control the PPG sensor by adapting the sampling rate and/or the number of pulses per sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (10) for determining an arterial compliance of a subject (12). The device (10) comprises an inflatable cuff (14), a pressure sensor (18) which is configured to sense a pressure signal (52) that is indicative of a pressure within the cuff (14), a second sensor (20) which is at least partly integrated in the cuff (14) and configured to sense a second signal (56) that is responsive to expansions and contractions of the cuff (14) caused by a pulsating blood flow in an artery (50) of the subject (12), and a processing unit (22). The processing unit is configured to determine based on said part of the pressure signal (52) a pulse pressure of the subject (12), to determine based on said part of the second signal (56) an arterial volume change of the artery (50) of the subject (12) during at least one cardiac cycle, and to determine the arterial compliance of the subject (12) based on pulse pressure and the arterial volume change.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assessing system, an assessing method and a computer program for assessing a heart rate of a subject. It finds application in categorizing a physiological response as a condition, in particular in the diagnosis of pathological tachycardia and bradycardia. The assessing system comprises a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal providing unit (10); a motion signal providing unit (20); a parameter providing unit (30) for providing a subject specific parameter; a heart rate determination unit (40); a resting period determination unit (50); an abnormality determination unit (80) for determining an abnormality of the heart rate during the resting period; and an assessing unit (90) for assessing the determined abnormality based on the subject specific parameter. The invention provides a system and a method, which allow for a more reliable assessment of a heart rate of a subject based on a PPG signal of the subject.

Abstract: A nebulizer comprises a head detachably coupled to a body. The head comprises a nebulizer, an air channel and a flow sensor. A nebulized liquid is released in an air channel that ends in a mouth piece through which a user inhales and exhales. The inhaling and exhaling causes a flow in the air channel which is detected with the flow sensor. The nebulizer is controlled by a controller included in the body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (100) for measuring a cycling cadence, a method (500) of operating a device (100) for measuring a cycling cadence, and a cycling cadence computer program. The device (100) comprises a motion sensor (such as, e.g., an accelerometer) for detecting a movement of the device (100) and for generating a motion signal (x, y, z) corresponding to the movement; a cadence determination unit (300) for determining cycling cadence based on the motion signal (x, y, z). The device (100) can be worn on the cyclist's wrist or arm (110). The motion sensor in the device is able to pick up the tiny movements of the arm or wrist that correspond to the cadence. Optionally, an algorithm is applied that can derive the cadence from a noisy signal.

Abstract: An optical analysis system and method is provided in which a sample is analyzed using a light source. An optical sensor signal is processed using a first signal processing circuit and an electrical signal, which is representative of a drive signal applied to the light source, is processed using a second signal processing circuit. The sensor signal is further processed to improve the signal to noise ratio using the processed electrical signal as a reference.

Abstract: A nebulizer (1) comprises one or more removable components (5,7,9,13), for example a mesh assembly (9), mouthpiece, plunger assembly (7) and medication chamber (13), each having an associated data carrier (5a, 7a, 9a). The data carrier (5a, 7a, 9a) can be used to store information indicating the type of removable component (5,7,9,13) that is fitted to the nebulizer (1). A removable component (5,7,9,13) may be from a set of such removable components. For example, a mouthpiece (5) fitted to the nebulizer (1) may be from a set of mouthpieces having different flow rates. The data carrier (5a, 7a, 9a) may also be used to control operation of the nebulizer (1). A data carrier (9a) attached to a mesh (9) may be used to prevent the nebulizer (1) from being used when the mesh (9) has been used a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring device (10) comprising a light source (14) for emitting light into a body part (12) of a living being; a light sensor (18) for receiving light (16) including an ambient light component (30) and a measurement light component (32) resulting from interactions of said emitted light with said body part (12) and for generating an output signal (34), wherein a transfer function describes the relation between the output signal (34) and the received light; an ambient light cancellation unit (20) for separating the output signal (34) into a first signal portion (36) corresponding to the ambient light component (30) and a second signal portion (38) corresponding to the measurement light component (32); and an ambient light modulation removal unit (22) for compensating a variation of the ambient light component (30) by demodulating the second signal portion (38) based on the transfer function (f) and the first signal portion (36) to generate a measurement signal (40).

Abstract: An animal vital signs detection system is provided which comprises at least one photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor (100) having at least one light source (110), at least one photo sensor (120) and at least one light guide unit (130) which is adapted to guide light from the light source (110) through hairs, fur or pelt to a skin of an animal (100) and light from the skin through hair, fur or pelt of the animal (1000) to the at least one photo sensor (120). By providing the light guide coupled to the light source (110) and the photo sensor (120), the PPG sensor (100) can be placed even on hair, fur or pelt of an animal (1000) while still being able to effectively direct light to the skin and detect light from the skin of an animal (1000). The ratio between a length and a diameter of the light guides is >4.

Abstract: An aerosol generation system has a light source arrangement which provides signals at first and second wavelengths, and the detected light signals are recorded. The detected signals are processed to derive at least a measure of the aerosol particle size. This can be used in combination with the other parameters which are conventionally measured, namely the aerosol density and flow velocity. Thus, optical measurement (possibly in combination with an air flow measurement) can be used to estimate the aerosol output rate as well as the particle size.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring device (10) comprising a light source (14) for emitting light into a body part (12) of a living being; a light sensor (18) for receiving light (16) including an ambient light component (30) and a measurement light component (32) resulting from interactions of said emitted light with said body part (12) and for generating an output signal (34), wherein a transfer function describes the relation between the output signal (34) and the received light; an ambient light cancellation unit (20) for separating the output signal (34) into a first signal portion (36) corresponding to the ambient light component (30) and a second signal portion (38) corresponding to the measurement light component (32); and an ambient light modulation removal unit (22) for compensating a variation of the ambient light component (30) by demodulating the second signal portion (38) based on the transfer function (f) and the first signal portion (36) to generate a measurement signal (40).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (100) for measuring a cycling cadence, a method (500) of operating a device (100) for measuring a cycling cadence, and a cycling cadence computer program. The device (100) comprises a motion sensor (such as, e.g., an accelerometer) for detecting a movement of the device (100) and for generating a motion signal (x, y, z) corresponding to the movement; a cadence determination unit (300) for determining cycling cadence based on the motion signal (x, y, z). The device (100) can be worn on the cyclist's wrist or arm (110). The motion sensor in the device is able to pick up the tiny movements of the arm or wrist that correspond to the cadence. Optionally, an algorithm is applied that can derive the cadence from a noisy signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring a physiological parameter of a user carrying said device. The device comprises a sensor (22) comprising at least two sensor elements (221, 222, 223) for detecting a sensor signal and a carrier (26) carrying said sensor, wherein electrical contacts (34) of said sensor elements lead on, into or through said carrier. One or more frames (41, 42, 43) carried by said carrier are formed around said sensor and/or said individual sensor elements, and an insulator material (32) is filled between said one or more frames and the sensor and/or the sensor elements surrounded by the respective frame without covering the top surface of the respective sensor element facing away from the carrier.

Abstract: A nebulizer comprises a head detachably coupled to a body. The head comprises nebulizing means, an air channel and a flow sensor. A nebulized liquid is released in an air channel that ends in a mouth piece through which a user inhales and exhales. The inhaling and exhaling causes a flow in the air channel which is detected with the flow sensor. The nebulizing means are controlled by control means included in the body.