Abstract: The present invention relates to a pregnancy monitoring system (10) and to a method for detecting medical condition information from a pregnant subject of interest (12).

Abstract: A heart rate monitor (40) for detecting a pulse of a person (10) employs a platform (43), a plurality of multi-axis accelerometers (41R, 41L) and a pulse detector (44). The multi-axis accelerometers (41R, 41L) are adjoined to the platform (43) to generate differential mode signals (AZR, AZL) indicative of a sensing by the accelerometers (41) of physiological motion (12) of the person (10) relative to acceleration sensing axes (42R, 42L) and to generate common mode signals (AXR, AXL, AYR, AYL) indicative of a sensing by the accelerometers (41R, 41L) of extraneous motion by the person (10) relative to the acceleration sensing axes (42R, 42L). The pulse detector (44) is operably connected to the multi-axis accelerometers (41R, 41L) to generate a pulse signal (PS)as a function of a vertical alignment of the acceleration sensing axes (42R, 42L) combining the differential mode signals (AZR, AZL) and cancelling the common mode signals (AXR, AXL, AYR, AYL).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing a cyclic physiological signal (30, 40, 52, 53, 54). The method comprises the steps of repeatedly collecting (2) the physiological signal (30, 40, 52, 53, 54) over a time period (31, 32, 33) covering two or more cycles of the cyclic physiological signal (30, 40, 52, 53, 54), wherein a next time period (31, 32, 33) is adjacent to or overlaps with a previous time period (31, 32, 33), extracting values (3, 13) of a set of predefined parameters from the physiological signal (30, 40, 52, 53, 54) within each time period (31, 32, 33) which parameter values characterize the physiological signal (30, 40, 52, 53, 54) within the time period (31, 32, 33), and classifying (4, 14) the physiological signal (30, 40, 52, 53, 54) within each time period (31, 32, 33) based upon the extracted set of predefined parameter values.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus (12) detects the presence and quality of chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by analyzing existing signals in automated external defibrillator (AED) devices without using a stand-alone CPR meter. The method includes analyzing both a thoracic impedance signal and a common-mode current signal, each of which can be measured with standard AED pads (18). The method applies criteria to the measured signals, the criteria being used to select which of the measured signals to use for providing CPR chest compression detections.

Abstract: A respiratory monitor comprises: a first sensor (20, 70) configured to generate a respiration-related motion monitoring signal (72) indicative of respiration related motion; a second sensor (20, 22, 80, 82) configured to generate a sound monitoring signal (84) indicative of respiration-related sound; and a signals synthesizer (90) configured to synthesize a respiratory monitor signal (46) based on the respiration-related motion monitoring signal and the respiration-related sound monitoring signal. A sensor for use in respiratory monitoring comprises an accelerometer (30) and a magnetometer (32) together defining a unitary sensor (20) configured for attachment to a respiring subject (10) so as to move as a unit responsive to respiration related motion of the respiring subject.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus (12) detects the presence and quality of chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by analyzing existing signals in automated external defibrillator (AED) devices without using a stand-alone CPR meter. The method includes analyzing both a thoracic impedance signal and a common-mode current signal, each of which can be measured with standard AED pads (18). The method applies criteria to the measured signals, the criteria being used to select which of the measured signals to use for providing CPR chest compression detections.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a monitoring device to be attached to a user is provided. Prior to attachment of the device, the device is aligned with respect to the user such that the measurement reference frame of the device is substantially aligned with a reference frame of the user. A first measurement of the orientation of the device with respect to a world reference frame is obtained. After attachment of the device, a second measurement of the orientation of the device with respect to a world reference frame is obtained. A transformation matrix is determined for use in transforming subsequent measurements obtained by the device into the reference frame of the user. The matrix is calculated using the first and second measurements and information on the amount of rotation of the device relative to the user about a vertical axis in the world reference frame between the first and second measurements being taken.

Abstract: In a multi-sensor system and method of monitoring vital body signals during movement of a body of a human or an animal, acceleration sensors are placed at body locations in such a way that an acceleration angle change induced by the vital body signals differs between the at least two acceleration sensors. The retrieval of the vital body signals is achieved by extracting a wanted vital body signal based on measurement results from multiple sensors that may be motion contaminated. Three retrieval schemes are proposed, each with preferred sensor locations that provide optimal performance of retrieving the vital body signal(s).

Abstract: The invention relates to a motion determination apparatus for determining motion of a moving object, wherein the motion determination apparatus (1) comprises a multi-axial accelerometer (2) for being positioned at the moving object (4), wherein the multi-axial accelerometer (2) is adapted to generate accelerometer signals indicative of the acceleration along different spatial axes. The motion determination apparatus further comprises a motion signal generation unit (3) for generating a motion signal indicative of the motion of the object (4) by combining the accelerometer signals of different spatial axes. The combination of the accelerometer signals of different spatial axes yields a motion signal having a large signal-to-noise ratio, even if an axis is located close to a rotational axis of the movement.

Abstract: A heart rate monitor (40) for detecting a pulse of a person (10) employs a platform (43), a plurality of multi-axis accelerometers (41R, 41L) and a pulse detector (44). The multi-axis accelerometers (41R, 41L) are adjoined to the platform (43) to generate differential mode signals (AZR, AZL) indicative of a sensing by the accelerometers (41) of physiological motion (12) of the person (10) relative to acceleration sensing axes (42R, 42L) and to generate common mode signals (AXR, AXL, AYR, AYL) indicative of a sensing by the accelerometers (41R, 41L) of extraneous motion by the person (10) relative to the acceleration sensing axes (42R, 42L). The pulse detector (44) is operably connected to the multi-axis accelerometers (41R, 41L) to generate a pulse signal (PS)as a function of a vertical alignment of the acceleration sensing axes (42R, 42L) combining the differential mode signals (AZR, AZL) and cancelling the common mode signals (AXR, AXL, AYR, AYL).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pregnancy monitoring system (10) and to a method for detecting medical condition information from a pregnant subject of interest (12).

Abstract: The invention proposes aphysiological sensor for use with a Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) apparatus, the sensor comprising at least one camera element, adapted to detect a physiological signal, at least one illumination element, adapted to illuminate an area of a patient's body, a housing, adapted to receive the at least one camera element and the at least one illumination element, the housing comprising a fixation element for the fixation of the sensor either on an automated CPR apparatus or on the patient's body, and an automated Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation apparatus comprising a physiological sensor.

Abstract: There is provided a bed exit monitoring apparatus for monitoring a user and determining when the user has got out of a bed, the apparatus comprising a processor that is configured to receive measurements of the acceleration in three dimensions acting on a device that is attached to the user; and process the measurements to determine if the user has got out of bed.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a monitoring device to be attached to a user is provided. Prior to attachment of the device, the device is aligned with respect to the user such that the measurement reference frame of the device is substantially aligned with a reference frame of the user. A first measurement of the orientation of the device with respect to a world reference frame is obtained. After attachment of the device, a second measurement of the orientation of the device with respect to a world reference frame is obtained. A transformation matrix is determined for use in transforming subsequent measurements obtained by the device into the reference frame of the user. The matrix is calculated using the first and second measurements and information on the amount of rotation of the device relative to the user about a vertical axis in the world reference frame between the first and second measurements being taken.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an oxygen sensor comprises a giant magnetoresistance device (10), and a magnetic field generator (14, 14a, 14b) arranged to generate a magnetic field (12, 12a, 12b) overlapping the giant magnetoresistance device and an examination region (20). A component (Bx) of the magnetic field detected by the giant magnetoresistance device is dependent upon an oxygen concentration in the examination region. In an embodiment, a chip (40) includes one or more electrically conductive traces (14a, 14b) disposed on or in the chip and a giant magnetoresistance device (10) disposed on or in the chip such that electrical current flowing in the trace or traces generates a magnetic field (12a, 12b) that overlaps the magnetic field sensor, said magnetic field being perturbed (Bx) by ambient oxygen (24) such that a signal output by the magnetic field sensor indicates ambient oxygen concentration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-sensor system and method of monitoring vital body signals during movement of a body of a human or an animal, wherein acceleration sensors are placed at body locations in such a way that an acceleration angle change induced by said vital body signals differs between said at least two acceleration sensors. The retrieval of the vital body signals is achieved by extracting a wanted vital body signal based on measurement results from multiple sensors that may be motion contaminated. Three retrieval schemes are proposed, each with preferred sensor locations that provide optimal performance of retrieving the vital body signal(s).

Abstract: In order to eliminate the need of tiresome and complex calibration procedures for posture-detecting devices, means are provided for determining an orientation of a body-mounted or implanted device (1) relative to the body (2), the device (1) having an orientation detection unit, wherein an uncontrolled output of the orientation detection unit over a period of time together with one or more reference conditions defined in a body reference system (xb, yb, zb) are used for determining the relative orientation of the device and hence for calibration.

Abstract: An electronic device has an orientation sensing system for determining an orientation of the device. The system includes a magnetometer and an accelerometer. The system further has a calibration device configured to calibrate the sensing system for operational use. The accelerometer supplies measurements used to constrain a range of possible directions of the external magnetic field to be determined. The calibration device numerically solves a set of equations and is equally usable for a 2D or 3D magnetometer in combination with a 2D or 3D accelerometer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing a cyclic physiological signal (30, 40, 52, 53, 54). The method comprises the steps of repeatedly collecting (2) the physiological signal (30, 40, 52, 53, 54) over a time period (31, 32, 33) covering two or more cycles of the cyclic physiological signal (30, 40, 52, 53, 54), wherein a next time period (31, 32, 33) is adjacent to or overlaps with a previous time period (31, 32, 33), extracting values (3, 13) of a set of predefined parameters from the physiological signal (30, 40, 52, 53, 54) within each time period (31, 32, 33) which parameter values characterize the physiological signal (30, 40, 52, 53, 54) within the time period (31, 32, 33), and classifying (4, 14) the physiological signal (30, 40, 52, 53, 54) within each time period (31, 32, 33) based upon the extracted set of predefined parameter values.

Abstract: Compensation coil functionality and flip coil functionality are combined into a single combination coil that is placed under an angle ? with respect to the length direction of a magneto-resistive sensor element. The angle ? substantially deviates from 0° and 90°. This configuration enables to reduce the width of the current line of the planar combination coil, to reduce the effective threshold for sensor element switching, and to include features to simplify a 2D sensor design.