Abstract: A method of determining body position uses ECG sensors at fixed positions, not fixed to the patient. The ECG signals recorded from the sensors are used to detect body position, using the variation of ECG potential over the surface of the body. The results may be processed by measuring artifacts related to the angle between the sensors and the heart, in particular the polarity of the QRS complex. The sensors may be fixed on the upper surface of a bed and used to measure sleep position.

Abstract: Sensor arrangement, comprising at least one ballistocardiographic sensor for detecting body movements of a subject and at least one noise sensor for detecting vibration, method of ballistocardiographic detection of body movements, ballistocardiographic sensor system and uses of the sensor arrangement. It is suggested to pickup an external noise signal using an inertia sensor that is vibration isolated from a subject under ballistocardiographic examination.

Abstract: A bed exit warning system is used in monitoring a user on a bed that include one or more sensors for measuring one or more physiological characteristics of the user and for producing corresponding signals indicative of the one more physiological characteristics. A processor is configured to monitor the corresponding signals and to determine the likelihood that the user is about to get out of the bed from changes in the one or more physiological characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (1) and method for automatically monitoring the movement activity of a fetus. In order to provide a simple and reliable technique for monitoring the movement activity of a fetus, a method of automatically monitoring the movement activity of a fetus is suggested, the method comprising the steps of: detecting (200) the overall movements of a pregnant female, said overall movements comprising movements of the pregnant female and movements of the fetus; detecting at least one second physiological signal (26) of the pregnant female; and—determining (300) the movement activity of the fetus by analyzing the detected overall movements of the pregnant female, analyzing the at least one second physiological signal (26) of the pregnant female, and discriminating movements of the pregnant female from movements of the fetus depending on the analyzing results.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and signal processing device (620) for analyzing a ballistocardiogram (BCG). The actual energy content of the cardiac part of the BCG in a predefined time window is determined and compared with a reference value. A difference between the actual energy content and the reference energy content exceeding a predefined threshold is indicative of the presence of an arrhythmia in the evaluated part of the BCG because the force exerted by an arrhythmic ventricular contraction, if at all present, is typically substantially smaller than the force exerted by a ventricular contraction of a regular heartbeat. This insight facilitates a more accurate detection of the presence of arrhythmias in a BCG compared to BCG detection schemes based on a heart rate analysis.

Abstract: A device for optical navigation, containing an image sensor which has a large number of image sensor units which are disposed in an array-like manner with respectively at least one light-sensitive surface and at least one lens which is disposed between an object to be imaged and the image sensor. A microlens array is present, at least one microlens being assigned to one image sensor unit. At least one pin diaphragm array is assigned to the image sensor array and is disposed between the image sensor array and the at least one microlens array.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image detection system for a panoramic view comprising linearly disposed optical channels with a microlens and a detector which is situated in the focal plane thereof. The camera unit is thereby mounted on a rotating or rotating-oscillating rotational shaft, as a result of which a panoramic view of the image detection system is made possible. Image detection systems of this type are used in medical technology, on vehicles, for inspection of hole-like recesses and also for 360° image detection in rooms.

Abstract: A method for creating a relational database schema is provided. The method comprises accessing (110, 210) a reference ontology (101) comprising a first number of concepts and a second number of properties, selecting (120, 220) a first set of concepts from the reference ontology, determining (130, 230) a first set of properties from said second number of properties, associated with the selected first set of concepts, determining (140, 240) a second set of concepts associated with the determined first set of properties, and generating (150, 250) a relational database schema comprising a number of tables, of which at least one table pertains to a concept of said second set of concepts. Further, a module (300) for creating a relational database schema is provided.

Abstract: The invention refers to a sensor arrangement with at least one sensor and a method for monitoring physiological parameters of a person, a textile fabric and a use of a textile fabric. An sensor arrangement is described that is suited to improve signal quality and suppress noise, for instance in remote capacitive sensing of body parameters. To achieve this, certain textile fabrics are used, preferably integrated into textile used in a bed, e.g. the blanket, the bed cover, or the mattress. These textile fabrics allow for a suppression of electromagnetic interference from external sources and can be arranged to avoid charge build-up during measurements, in particular those caused by movements of the person.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and a kit for stress and relaxation management. A cardiac activity sensor (101) is used for measuring the heart rate variability (HRV) signal of the user and a respiration sensor (102) for measuring the respiratory signal of the user. The system contains a user interaction device (103) having an input unit (104) for receiving user specific data and an output unit for providing information output to the user. A processor (106) is used to assess the stress level of the user by determining a user related stress index. The processor is also used to monitor the user during a relaxation exercise by means of determining a relaxation index based on the measured HRV and respiratory signals, the relaxation index being continuously adapted to the incoming measured signals and based thereon the processor instructs the output unit to provide the user with biofeedback and support messages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inductively measuring the bio-impedance of a user's body without complex circuitry. An apparatus is described for inductively measuring the bio-impedance of a user's body, wherein the apparatus includes a number of first inductors being adapted to induce an alternating magnetic field in the user's body and the apparatus further includes a number of second inductors being adapted to measure a secondary magnetic field in the user's body, wherein each of the number of first inductors overlaps at least one of the number of second inductors to form a number of measuring areas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of analyzing the movement of a user. More particularly the present invention relates to a new technique for assessing a user's motor functions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, robust, and low-cost technique for analyzing the movement of a user, which can be used in an unsupervised home environment. This object is achieved according to the invention by a method of analyzing the movement of a user, the method comprising the steps of causing the user to perform a coordinated movement in accordance with an instruction, generating video image data in form of a sequence of images by video recording the user, determining in the sequence of images a degree of synchronicity of optical flow on the left and right body half using a computer system comprising computer vision technology, and assessing the user's motor functions based on the degree of synchronicity.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method comprises accessing (110) a target database (107) comprising at least one table associated with a first concept or property of a reference ontology (101), defining (120) a data source ontology (104) for a data source (102) comprising a dataset, said data source ontology (104) comprising a second concept or property, wherein said second concept or property is different from said first concept or property, and creating (140) a link between said second concept or property and said first concept or property, said link defining to which table of said target database data of said dataset, associated with said second concept or property, is related.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for the analysis of a ballistocardiogram signal. The method comprises detecting heart beats in the BCG signal by locating typical features of a heart beat for a user in the BCG signal, the typical features of the heart beat having been obtained during a training step.

Abstract: There is provided a bed monitoring system comprising a sensor for detecting and measuring the pressure or force exerted on a bed; and a processor configured to process signals from the sensor to identify a pressure or force pattern that is characteristic of a state of a user relative to the bed; wherein the pressure or force pattern is identified by examining the measured pressure or force over time.

Abstract: In order to provide a simple and reliable monitoring technique for a number of different parameters of a patient in a bed (2), a system (1) is provided, said system (1) comprising: at least one first sensor device (25) adapted to measure a first force component acting in a first direction (12), said first force component corresponding to a first parameter of the patient, at least one second sensor device (36) adapted to measure a second force component acting in a second direction (13, 14), said second force component corresponding to a second parameter of the patient, and a data device (16) adapted to acquire the measured data from the at least one first sensor device (25) and the at least one second sensor device (36) and to process those data in order to provide information about the number of parameters of the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to the development of economical camera modules having objectives contained therein with a minimal constructional length and excellent optical properties. It is made possible as a result that camera modules of this type can be used in mobile telephones or minicomputers, such as PDAs (personal digital assistant).

Abstract: There is provided a control system for an adjustable height bed, the adjustable height bed having a raised position and a lowered position, the control system comprising an input for receiving signals from a sensor located in the adjustable height bed; and a processor for processing the received signals to determine the status of a user relative to the bed and for generating control signals for adjusting the bed to the raised position or to the lowered position on the basis of the determined status.

Abstract: There is provided a method for analyzing a ballistocardiogram signal to determine a heart rate, the method comprising: determining an initial time estimate for a first heart beat in the ballistocardiogram signal; computing, iteratively, estimates for subsequent heart beats in the ballistocardiogram signal using the initial time estimate; wherein each iteration in the step of computing comprises evaluating a target function that comprises a weighted sum of a plurality of scoring functions; and wherein each iterative step of computing estimates for subsequent heart beats in the ballistocardiogram signal is limited to a target interval after the time estimate found in the previous iterative step of computing.

Abstract: A method for creating a relational database schema is provided. The method comprises accessing (110, 210) a reference ontology (101) comprising a first number of concepts and a second number of properties, selecting (120, 220) a first set of concepts from the reference ontology, determining (130, 230) a first set of properties from said second number of properties, associated with the selected first set of concepts, determining (140, 240) a second set of concepts associated with the determined first set of properties, and generating (150, 250) a relational database schema comprising a number of tables, of which at least one table pertains to a concept of said second set of concepts. Further, a module (300) for creating a relational database schema is provided.