Patents by Inventor James Nicholas Watson

James Nicholas Watson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140066785
    Abstract: A system for determining stroke volume of an individual. The system includes a skew-determining module that is configured to calculate a first derivative of photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals of the individual. The first derivative forms a derivative waveform. The skew-determining module is configured to determine a skew metric of the first derivative, wherein the skew metric is indicative of a morphology of at least one pulse wave detected from blood flow of the individual in the derivative waveform. The system also includes an analysis module that is configured to determine a stroke volume of the individual. The stroke volume is a function of the skew metric of the first derivative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventors: James Nicholas Watson, Paul Stanley Addison
  • Publication number: 20140066782
    Abstract: A system to determine a resting heart rate (HR) of an individual. The system may include a monitor that is configured to be operatively connected to a sensor that obtains physiological signals from an individual. The monitor is configured to receive the physiological signals from the sensor. The monitor may include a validation module that is configured to analyze the physiological signals to identify valid heart beats from the physiological signals. The monitor may also include a rate-determining module that is configured to determine an HR signal that is based on the valid heart beats. The HR signal includes a series of data points. The monitor may also include an analysis module that is configured to analyze the HR signal and identify baseline data points from the series of data points. The analysis module is configured to calculate the resting HR based on the baseline data points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventors: Paul Stanley Addison, Rui Wang, James Nicholas Watson
  • Publication number: 20140066732
    Abstract: A system is configured to determine cardiac output of a patient. The system may include a first sub-system configured to detect a first physiological signal, and a second sub-system configured to detect a second physiological signal that differs from the first physiological signal. The first and second sub-systems may be separate and distinct from one another. The system may also include a cardiac output determination module that is configured to determine the cardiac output based, at least in part, on the first and second physiological signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventors: Paul Stanley Addison, James Nicholas Watson
  • Publication number: 20140058229
    Abstract: A system is configured to determine a fluid responsiveness index of a patient from a physiological signal. The system may include a sensor configured to be secured to an anatomical portion of the patient, and a monitor operatively connected to the sensor. The sensor is configured to sense a physiological characteristic of the patient. The monitor is configured to receive a physiological signal from the sensor. The monitor may include an index-determining module configured to determine the fluid responsiveness index through formation of a ratio of one or both of amplitude or frequency modulation of the physiological signal to baseline modulation of the physiological signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventors: Mark Su, James Nicholas Watson, Paul Stanley Addison
  • Patent number: 8660625
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to signal processing systems and methods, and more particularly, to systems and methods for analyzing multiparameter spaces to determine changes in a physiological state. In embodiments, a first signal and a second signal may be obtained, from which a first plurality of values of a physiological parameter may be determined. At least one of the signals also may be used to generate a scalogram derived at least in part from the signal. A second plurality of values may be determined based at least in part on a feature in the scalogram. The first and second plurality of values may then be associated, and a physiological state may be analyzed using the associated first and second values. In an embodiment, the signals may be PPG signals and the associated first and second values may include a parameter scatter plot that may permit a user to determine changes in a patient's ventilation state over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Paul Stanley Addison, James Nicholas Watson, Edward M. McKenna
  • Patent number: 8636667
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing multiple scale bands in the scalogram of a physiological signal in order to obtain information about a physiological process. An analysis may be performed to identify multiple scale bands that are likely to contain the information sought. Each scale band may be assessed to determine a band quality, and multiple bands may be combined based on the band quality. Information about a physiological process may determined based on the combined band. In an embodiment, analyzing multiple scale bands in a scalogram arising from a wavelet transformation of a photoplethysmograph signal may yield clinically relevant information about, among other things, the blood oxygen saturation of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: James P. Ochs, Paul Stanley Addison, James Nicholas Watson
  • Publication number: 20140012110
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting the occurrence of events from a signal are provided. A signal processing system may analyze baseline changes and changes in signal characteristics to detect events from a signal. The system may also detect events by analyzing energy parameters and artifacts in a scalogram of the signal. Further, the system may detect events by analyzing both the signal and its corresponding scalogram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: James Nicholas Watson, Paul Stanley Addison
  • Patent number: 8618947
    Abstract: Techniques for detecting a signal quality decrease are disclosed. A sensor or probe may be used to obtain a plethysmograph or photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal from a subject. A wavelet transform of the signal may be performed and a scalogram may be generated based at least in part on the wavelet transform. One or more characteristics of the scalogram may be determined. The determined characteristics may include, for example, energy values and energy structural characteristics in a pulse band, a mains hum band, and/or a noise band. Such characteristics may be analyzed to produce signal quality values and associated signal quality trends. One or more signal quality values and signal quality trends may be used to determine if a signal quality decrease has occurred or is likely to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: James Nicholas Watson, Paul Stanley Addison
  • Patent number: 8594759
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, techniques for estimating scalogram energy values in a wedge region of a scalogram are disclosed. A pulse oximetry system including a sensor or probe may be used to receive a photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal from a patient or subject. A scalogram, corresponding to the obtained PPG signal, may be determined. In an approach, energy values in the wedge region of the scalogram may be estimated by performing convolution-based or convolution-like operations on the obtained PPG signal, or a transformed version thereof, and the scalogram may be updated according to the estimated values. In an approach, a deskewing technique may be used to align data prior to adding the data to the scalogram. In an approach, one or more signal parameters may be determined based on the resolved and estimated values of the scalogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: Braddon M. Van Slyke, Paul Stanley Addison, James Nicholas Watson
  • Publication number: 20130296674
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for analyzing and normalizing signals, such as PPG signals, for use in patent monitoring. The PPG signal may be detected using a continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring system and the normalized signals may be used to determine whether a recalibration of the system should be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: James Nicholas Watson, Rakesh Sethi, Robert Stoughton, Paul Stanley Addison
  • Publication number: 20130282296
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods for identifying a low perfusion condition are provided by transforming a signal using a wavelet transform to generate a scalogram. A pulse band and adjacent marker regions in the scalogram are identified. Characteristics of the marker regions are used to detect the existence of a lower perfusion condition. If such a condition is detected, an event may be triggered, such as an alert or notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: James Nicholas Watson, Paul Stanley Addison, Edward M. McKenna
  • Publication number: 20130245482
    Abstract: According to embodiments, a respiration signal may be processed to normalize respiratory feature values in order to improve and/or simplify the interpretation and subsequent analysis of the signal. Data indicative of a signal may be received at a sensor and may be used to generate a respiration signal. Signal peaks in the respiration signal may be identified and signal peak thresholds may be determined. The identified signal peaks may be adjusted based on the signal peak threshold values to normalize the respiration signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: Scott McGonigle, Paul Stanley Addison, James Nicholas Watson
  • Publication number: 20130229285
    Abstract: Techniques for detecting a signal quality decrease are disclosed. A sensor or probe may be used to obtain a plethysmograph or photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal from a subject. A wavelet transform of the signal may be performed and a scalogram may be generated based at least in part on the wavelet transform. One or more characteristics of the scalogram may be determined. The determined characteristics may include, for example, energy values and energy structural characteristics in a pulse band, a mains hum band, and/or a noise band. Such characteristics may be analyzed to produce signal quality values and associated signal quality trends. One or more signal quality values and signal quality trends may be used to determine if a signal quality decrease has occurred or is likely to occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT IRELAND
    Inventors: James Nicholas Watson, Paul Stanley Addison
  • Patent number: 8506498
    Abstract: According to embodiments, systems and methods for non-invasive blood pressure monitoring are disclosed. An exciter may induce perturbations in a subject, and a sensor or probe may be used to obtain a detected signal from the subject. The detected signal may then be used to measure one or more physiological parameters of the patient. For example if the perturbations are based on a known signal, any differences between the known signal and the input signal may be attributable to the patient's physiological parameters. A phase drift between the perturbation signal and the detected signal may be determined from a comparison of the scalograms of the exciter location and the sensor or probe location. From the scalogram comparison, more accurate and reliable physiological parameters may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: Rakesh Sethi, Paul Stanley Addison, James Nicholas Watson
  • Patent number: 8483459
    Abstract: According to embodiments, systems, devices, and methods for ridge selection in scalograms are disclosed. Ridges or ridge components are features within a scalogram which may be computed from a signal such as a physiological (e.g., photoplethysmographic) signal. Ridges may be identified from one or more scalograms of the signal. Parameters characterizing these ridges may be determined. Based at least in part on these parameters, a ridge density distribution function is determined. A ridge is selected from analyzing this ridge density distribution function. In some embodiments, the selected ridge is used to determine a physiological parameter such as respiration rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nèllcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: James Nicholas Watson, Paul Stanley Addison, David Clifton
  • Patent number: 8478376
    Abstract: According to embodiments, a pulse band region is identified in a wavelet scalogram of a physiological signal (e.g., a plethysmograph or photoplethysmograph signal). Components of the scalogram at scales larger than the identified pulse band region are then used to determine a baseline signal in wavelet space. The baseline signal may then be used to normalize the physiological signal. Physiological information may be determined from the normalized signal. For example, oxygen saturation may be determined using a ratio of ratios or any other suitable technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: Braddon M. Van Slyke, Paul Stanley Addison, James Nicholas Watson, Scott McGonigle
  • Patent number: 8462321
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards embodiments of systems and methods for discriminating (e.g., masking out) scale bands that are determined to be not of interest from a scalogram derived from a continuous wavelet transform of a signal. Techniques for determining whether a scale band is not of interest include, for example, determining whether a scale band's amplitude is being modulated by one or more other bands in the scalogram. Another technique involves determining whether a scale band is located between two other bands and has energy less than that of its neighboring bands. Another technique involves determining whether a scale band is located at about half the scale of another, more dominant (i.e., higher energy) band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennet Ireland
    Inventors: Paul Stanley Addison, James Nicholas Watson, David Clifton
  • Patent number: 8433524
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods for identifying a low perfusion condition are provided by transforming a signal using a wavelet transform to generate a scalogram. A pulse band and adjacent marker regions in the scalogram are identified. Characteristics of the marker regions are used to detect the existence of a lower perfusion condition. If such a condition is detected, an event may be triggered, such as an alert or notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: James Nicholas Watson, Paul Stanley Addison, Edward M McKenna
  • Patent number: 8410951
    Abstract: Techniques for detecting a signal quality decrease are disclosed. A sensor or probe may be used to obtain a plethysmograph or photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal from a subject. A wavelet transform of the signal may be performed and a scalogram may be generated based at least in part on the wavelet transform. One or more characteristics of the scalogram may be determined. The determined characteristics may include, for example, energy values and energy structural characteristics in a pulse band, a mains hum band, and/or a noise band. Such characteristics may be analyzed to produce signal quality values and associated signal quality trends. One or more signal quality values and signal quality trends may be used to determine if a signal quality decrease has occurred or is likely to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: James Nicholas Watson, Paul Stanley Addison
  • Patent number: 8398556
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for non-invasive continuous blood pressure determination. In some embodiments, a PPG signal is received and locations of pulses within the PPG signal are identified. An area within a particular pulse is measured. The area may be of just the upstroke, downstroke or the entire pulse. The area may be measured relative to a time-domain axis or a baseline of the pulse. The pulse may be split into multiple sections and the area of each section may be measured. The area of one portion of the pulse may correspond to systolic blood pressure while the area of another portion may correspond to diastolic blood pressure. Empirical data may be used to determine blood pressure from the measured area by applying calibration data measured by a suitable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Rakesh Sethi, James Nicholas Watson