Abstract: Non-invasive systems and methods for quantifying respiratory muscle effort (RME) (or breathing effort, work-of-breathing) are provided. The systems and methods utilize simultaneously measured EMG and accelerometer signals. The measured EMG signal is preprocessed to produce both a signal accentuating regular breathing activity and a signal accentuating sniff activity (deep, sharp inhalations). Time intervals of candidate sniffs are determined from the preprocessed EMG signals. The measured accelerometer signal is preprocessed to produce multiple signals accentuating either upper or lower frequency band activity. Features of the preprocessed EMG and accelerometer signals corresponding to the time intervals of candidate sniffs are analyzed to determine if the candidate sniffs constitute actual sniffs or artifacts. Subsequently, after maximum sniff effort has been identified, RME is quantified by the ratio of the mean of the maxima of regular breathing activity to the value of the maximum sniff effort.

Abstract: The invention provides a method (10) for detecting a neural respiratory drive measure of a user. The method includes obtaining (100) an EMG signal and processing (200, 280) the EMG signal to produce a surrogate respiration signal and a processed EMG signal. Inhalations of the user are then detected (300) based on the surrogate respiration signal. The detected inhalations are then used in conjunction with the processed EMG signal to determine (400) a neural respiratory drive measure of the user.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a system for providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) decision support, the system comprising: a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensing unit configured to determine one or more PPG signals at a measurement site on a subject; a core unit comprising a user interface; a motion sensing unit configured to detect motions correlated to chest compressions during compression therapy on the subject; and a processing unit configured to: determine presence or absence of a spontaneous pulse based on the detected motions correlated to chest compressions during compression therapy on the subject and the one or more PPG signals; determine a recommendation to be provided based on the determination of presence or absence of a spontaneous pulse, wherein the recommendation is associated with CPR decision support; and control the user interface to output the determined recommendation.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for determining a respiratory effort for a subject. The method comprises obtaining a relaxed signal representing a subject breathing in a relaxed manner and a forced signal representing a subject breathing in a forced manner. The relaxed signal is then smoothed over a first averaging window and the forced signal is smoothed over a second averaging window, wherein the first averaging window is longer than the second averaging window. Based on the smoothed relaxed signal and the smoothed forced signal, a respiratory effort can thus be determined.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for determining a respiratory effort for a subject. The method comprises obtaining a relaxed signal representing the subject breathing in a relaxed manner and a forced signal representing the subject breathing in a forced manner. A plurality of forced peaks is derived from the forced signal and candidate peaks are selected from the plurality of forced peaks. The candidate peaks are selected based on features of the forced peaks. A user selects a user identified peak from the candidate peaks and thus, a respiratory effort is determined based on the relaxed signal and the user identified peak.

Abstract: A device, system, and method to control activation of oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurements in a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedure. When compressions are present, only a PPG-based pulse detection algorithm is performed. When a spontaneous pulse has been detected and compressions are not detected during a predetermined time period, both a PPG-based pulse detection algorithm and an SpO2 measurement algorithm are performed. Depending on whether a chest compression is delivered manually or automatically, parameter selections for the compression detection algorithm, the PPG-based pulse detection algorithm, and the SpO2 measurement algorithm are adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pregnancy monitoring system, the system comprising a fetal monitoring transducer (20) arranged to detect fetal medical condition information; and a control device (48) comprising a motion assessment unit (50) and a signal output unit (52); wherein the fetal monitoring transducer (20) is arranged to detect fetal movement indicative information, wherein the motion assessment unit (50) is arranged to process fetal movement grading information, in addition to the fetal movement indicative information, wherein the signal output unit (52) is arranged to simultaneously output a fetal condition signal, particularly a fetal heart rate signal, and an augmented fetal movement signal based on the fetal movement indicative information and the fetal movement grading information, wherein a characteristic property of the original fetal movement information is still present in the augmented fetal movement signal. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding pregnancy monitoring method.

Abstract: A device, system, and method to control activation of oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurements in a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedure. When compressions are present, only a PPG-based pulse detection algorithm is performed. When a spontaneous pulse has been detected and compressions are not detected during a predetermined time period, both a PPG-based pulse detection algorithm and an SpO2 measurement algorithm are performed. Depending on whether a chest compression is delivered manually or automatically, parameter selections for the compression detection algorithm, the PPG-based pulse detection algorithm, and the SpO2 measurement algorithm are adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pregnancy monitoring system, the system comprising a fetal monitoring transducer (20) arranged to detect fetal medical condition information; and a control device (48) comprising a motion assessment unit (50) and a signal output unit (52); wherein the fetal monitoring transducer (20) is arranged to detect fetal movement indicative information, wherein the motion assessment unit (50) is arranged to process fetal movement grading information, in addition to the fetal movement indicative information, wherein the signal output unit (52) is arranged to simultaneously output a fetal condition signal, particularly a fetal heart rate signal, and an augmented fetal movement signal based on the fetal movement indicative information and the fetal movement grading information, wherein a characteristic property of the original fetal movement information is still present in the augmented fetal movement signal. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding pregnancy monitoring method.

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 processing apparatus for processing a physiological signal using model subtraction, notch filtering and gating. The processing apparatus comprises a model subtraction circuit configured to receive the physiological signal and to reduce a first unwanted signal component, such as an ECG contamination, in the physiological signal by subtracting from the physiological signal a model of the first unwanted signal component to obtain a residual signal; a filter circuit configured to receive the residual signal and to reduce a second unwanted signal component, such as power line noise, in the residual signal by applying a notch filter to obtain a filtered signal; and a gating circuit configured to receive the filtered signal and to apply gating to the filtered signal to obtain a gated signal. The processing apparatus further relates to a corresponding electromyography system and a method for processing a physiological signal using model subtraction, notch filtering and gating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to determining a neural respiratory drive (NRD) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on surface electromyography measurements taken from the intercostal muscles on the chest of a subject (100).

Abstract: The invention provides a method (10) for detecting a neural respiratory drive measure of a user. The method includes obtaining (100) an EMG signal and processing (200, 280) the EMG signal to produce a surrogate respiration signal and a processed EMG signal. Inhalations of the user are then detected (300) based on the surrogate respiration signal. The detected inhalations are then used in conjunction with the processed EMG signal to determine (400) a neural respiratory drive measure of the user.

Abstract: An inhaler with a housing (H) comprising an air-inlet (A_I) and a an air-outlet (A_O). Inside the housing (H) a flow path (FP) is defined between air-inlet (A_I) and air-outlet (A_O) where a dispenser (DP) is arranged to dispense an aerosol or a dry powder in the flow path (FP). Two sensors (S1, S2), e.g. microphones, are positioned spaced apart at external surfaces of the housing (H) to sense sound or vibrations resulting from a flow in the flow path (FP) at two different positions. This allows a precise detection of flow velocity during inhalation based on the sound or vibrations sensed by the two sensors (S1, S2), thus allowing examination of correct use of the inhaler. Further, the use of two spaced apart sensors (S1, S2) facilitates identification of priming and firing events in the sensed sound or vibrations which may also be used in evaluating the use of the inhaler.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a processing apparatus (10) for processing a physiological signal (21) using model subtraction, notch filtering and gating. The processing apparatus comprises a model subtraction unit (11) configured to receive the physiological signal (21) and to reduce a first unwanted signal component, such as an ECG contamination, in the physiological signal by subtracting from the physiological signal a model (31) of the 5 first unwanted signal component to obtain a residual signal (32); a filter unit (12) configured to receive the residual signal (32) and to reduce a second unwanted signal component, such as power line noise, in the residual signal by applying a notch filter to obtain a filtered signal (33); and a gating unit (13) configured to receive the filtered signal (33) and to apply gating to the filtered signal to obtain a gated signal (34).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pregnancy monitoring system, the system comprising a fetal monitoring transducer (20) arranged to detect fetal medical condition information; and a control device (48) comprising a motion assessment unit (50) and a signal output unit (52); wherein the fetal monitoring transducer (20) is arranged to detect fetal movement indicative information, wherein the motion assessment unit (50) is arranged to process fetal movement grading information, in addition to the fetal movement indicative information, wherein the signal output unit (52) is arranged to simultaneously output a fetal condition signal, particularly a fetal heart rate signal, and an augmented fetal movement signal based on the fetal movement indicative information and the fetal movement grading information, wherein a characteristic property of the original fetal movement information is still present in the augmented fetal movement signal. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding pregnancy monitoring method.

Abstract: A uterine activity analysis apparatus, comprising a rendering device at least one controller coupled to the rendering device, and configured to acquire a uterine activity signal (UAS) corresponding to uterine activity of a patient; determine uterine activity information based upon the acquired UAS and render, on the rendering device, content based at least in part including UAS upon the determined uterine activity information. The controller may compare the determined uterine activity information with threshold uterine activity information and provide clinical decision support (CDS) based upon the decision. Furthermore, the controller may render a breathing guide to illustrate a preferred breathing pattern, when the start of a contraction is detected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to determining a neural respiratory drive (NRD) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on surface electromyography measurements taken from the intercostal muscles on the chest of a subject (100).

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: A device and method for determining and/or monitoring the respiratory effort of a subject are presented. The device comprises a receiving unit for receiving a posture signal of the subject, a breathing signal of the subject, and an electromyography signal of the subject; and a processing unit for determining an electromyography signal based on the posture signal and the breathing signal and for deriving the respiratory effort based on the determined electromyography signal.