Abstract: According to an aspect there is provided a method of obtaining a measurement of the blood pressure of a subject using a non-invasive blood pressure, NIBP, monitor and including using a pulse rate sensor and a cuff that is to be placed around a limb of the subject, the method comprising using the pulse rate sensor to obtain information on the pulse rate of the subject; adapting a pressure signal filter according to the obtained information on the pulse rate of the subject; starting inflation of the cuff; obtaining a pressure signal representing the pressure in the cuff as the cuff is inflated; filtering the pressure signal using the adapted pressure signal filter during inflation of the cuff; and processing the filtered pressure signal to obtain a blood pressure measurement for the subject during inflation of the cuff.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a method of operating a non-invasive blood pressure, NIBP, monitor to measure the blood pressure of a subject, the NIBP monitor comprising a cuff, a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the cuff and for outputting a pressure signal representing the pressure in the cuff and a physiological parameter sensor, the method comprising obtaining a first measurement of a physiological parameter for the subject during inflation of the cuff, the first measurement being obtained from the pressure signal; obtaining a second measurement of the physiological parameter for the subject during inflation of the cuff, the second measurement being obtained from the physiological parameter sensor; comparing the first measurement and the second measurement; and estimating the reliability of a blood pressure measurement obtained by the NIBP monitor during inflation of the cuff based on the result of the step of comparing.

Abstract: Self measurements of physiological parameters such as blood pressure are prone to errors and artifacts since they are often not done according to established and standardized protocols i.e., such that predetermined conditions for a reliable measurement are not met. To determine whether the predetermined conditions for a reliable measurement are met one or more physiological and environmental sensors are used to determine a measurement context. The obtained sensor data is compared with predetermined thresholds to determine whether the context allows a reliable self test. In case the predetermined conditions are not met based on the obtained sensor data instructions are given to guide the subject that wants to do a self test.

Abstract: A device (100) for monitoring a subject's breathing rate is disclosed. A transducer (107) radiates energy towards the chest of a subject and receives the reflected energy. An analyzer (105) receives a signal corresponding to the reflected energy. The reflected energy would have undergone Doppler frequency shifts due to the motion of the chest of the subject due to breathing, with reference to the transducer. The analyzer (105) analyzes the signal to calculate the breathing rate by measuring at least one of a periodicity of the signal and a number of cycles per unit time of the signal. In a preferred embodiment the transducer (107) is disposed in or on a sphygmomanometer cuff to radiate energy towards the chest of the subject and receive the energy reflected by the chest of the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the measurement of vital signs such as a respiratory rate or a heart rate. In particular, a system (1) for determining a vital sign of a subject (100), comprising an imaging unit (2) for obtaining video data of the subject, a marker (10, 20, 60, 61) directly or indirectly attached to a body of the subject, wherein the marker comprises a graphical pattern (11, 21), an image processing unit (3) for detecting said marker in said video data, and an analysis unit (4) adapted to extract a vital sign parameter related to the vital sign of the subject from said video data and to determine the vital sign from said vital sign parameter. Further aspects of the invention relate to a device and a method for determining a vital sign of a subject and a computer program for carrying out said method.

Abstract: Respiration of a patient is detected by emitting an electromagnetic signal towards the patient; receiving a reflected electromagnetic signal reflected from the patient; converting the reflected electromagnetic signal, yielding a first signal; phase-shifting the reflected electromagnetic signal and converting the phase-shifted reflected electromagnetic signal, yielding a second signal; determining a first vector being defined by the time derivatives of the first signal and the second signal, for a common first point in time; determining a second vector being defined by the time derivatives of the first signal and the second signal, for a common second point in time; and calculating the scalar product of the normalized first vector and the normalized second vector as an indicator value for a change from expiration to inspiration of the patient or vice versa.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining respiration signals from a subject are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a receiving unit for receiving image data determined from the subject in a field of view, a processing unit for evaluating the image data, wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine a plurality of different alternating signals corresponding to vital sign information of the subject from a plurality of different areas of the field of view on the basis of movement pattern, and an evaluation unit for evaluating the different alternating signals and for determining a plurality of different respiration signals from the subject on the basis of the different alternating signals determined from the different areas of the field of view.

Abstract: For the measurement of vital sign information such as a respiratory rate and a heart rate a device for obtaining vital sign information of a subject is provided, comprising a first detection unit that acquires first set of detection data allowing the extraction of a first vital sign information signal related to a first vital sign of the subject and a second detection unit that acquires a second set of detection data allowing the extraction of a second vital sign information signal related to a second vital sign of the subject. An analysis unit extracts the first vital sign information signal from the first set of detection data (3a) and extracts the second vital sign information signal from the second set of detection data. A processing unit combines the first vital sign information signal and the second vital sign information signal to obtain a combined vital sign information signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining vital sign information from a subject are disclosed. The proposed apparatus comprises a detection unit for detecting radiation received from the subject in a field of view, a first determining unit for determining a first time dependent signal from the radiation received from the subject, an evaluation unit for deriving at least one parameter from the first time dependent signal, a selection unit for selecting an area in the field of view on the basis of the detected radiation and the at least one parameter, a second determining unit for determining a second time dependent signal from the radiation received from the selected area, and an analysis unit for analyzing the second time dependent signal and for determining the vital sign information on the basis of the analysis of the second time dependent signal.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus, system, wearable apparatus and concomitant processing system to detect instants in time at which a cyclically pulsating object within the body of an individual is temporarily quiescent, such an object being the heart, an artery or the lungs. The essence of the invention is the use of a doppler radar motion sensor, normally used for vehicular speed detection or the detection of building occupancy. The doppler radar motion sensor is arranged to transmit electromagnetic signal towards the object and receive reflected electromagnetic signal from the object, and the apparatus is further arranged to identify the instants in time at which the reflected signal indicates the object is temporarily quiescent. The invention is particularly suitable for ambulatory monitoring of the heart.

Abstract: In a system and method for determining vital sign information of a subject the subject is illuminated with radiation, and radiation reflected from the subject is received. A region of interest is located in a first phase. Said illumination is controlled to locally illuminate, in a second phase, the located region of interest with radiation allowing determination of vital sign information. Finally, vital sign information of the subject is determined from the radiation reflected from said region of interest and detected in said second phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for determining a vital sign of a subject by which the likelihood of generating and outputting false alarms is reduced. The system comprises a vital sign processor that processes said vital sign information signal measured by a sensor attached to a subject to obtain a vital sign of said subject, an image analysis unit that detects motion of a marker attached to said sensor from image data obtained by an imaging unit from at least an imaging region containing said sensor, and an alarm unit that generates and outputs an alarm signal based on the measured vital sign information signal and/or obtained vital sign and on the detected motion of said marker.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fever detection apparatus for detecting fever of a living being. A heart rate providing unit (3) provides a heart rate value and a peripheral physiological value providing unit (3) provides a peripheral physiological value, wherein a heart rate characteristics determination unit (4) determines heart rate characteristics from the heart rate value and a peripheral characteristics determination unit (5) determines peripheral characteristics from the peripheral physiological value. A fever detection unit (6) detects fever depending on the heart rate characteristics and the peripheral characteristics. Since the heart rate characteristics and the peripheral characteristics are influenced by fever, the fever detection apparatus can be used to reliably and preferentially unobtrusively detect fever.

Abstract: A system for positioning electrodes on a patient body includes an image capturing system, a memory device, a processing system and an indicator system. The image capturing system generates an actual image of the patient body. The memory device stores a reference image, the reference image including a reference body and a reference position on the reference body. The processing system compares the actual image and the reference image and for determining an electrode position on the patient body by matching the reference position on the reference body. The indicator system indicates the electrode position on the patient body.

Abstract: The invention relates to an emergency response system. The emergency response system (10) comprises a central station (4) for receiving information about emergencies, whereby position information of a victim is provided and stored in a look-up table (6) of the central station (4). The central station addresses a list (7) of publicly available actuatable emergency response devices and selects a suitable device. The central station (4) transmits a trigger signal by means of a suitable communication network (3) to the selected remote actuatable emergency response device (14), which comprises communication means (13) for activating the signaling means (15) upon receipt of the trigger signal. Also, the actuatable emergency response device (14) comprises storage means (11) arranged to store the position information of the emergency response device and the provided position information of the victim.

Abstract: The invention relates to a waveguide (24) for focusing electromagnetic energy on an area of interest, said waveguide (24) comprising outer walls forming a channel with a width (w) and a height (h) for the propagation of the electromagnetic waves. In order to be able to focus the EM waves on an area of interest, i.e. the chest of a patient (20), so that influences which other moving objects in the environment have on the waves, are shielded away, the channel is provided with a first opening and a second opening wherein said walls are non-metal hollow walls filled with an electrically conductive liquid. The waveguide (24) can be used for example with a computed tomography system (12) CT with a rotating gantry (16) and a patient table (18). The waveguide (24) will not produce artefacts in the CT image by scattering the X-ray, like a metal wall would do it. Nevertheless the conductive liquid makes the construction work as a waveguide for EM waves.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the respiration activity of a subject, comprising the acquisition of a sensor signal of at least one Doppler-Radar sensor representing the respiration activity of a subject, the transformation of the sensor signal into a transformation signal being a series according to Formula (I) where ak is a set of predetermined constant coefficients specific for one individual subject, and processing the transformation signal S(t). The transformation signal can be analysed with basic signal processing techniques that are applied in the field of inductive plethysmography. The invention is further related to a corresponding monitoring system.

Abstract: An apparatus measures properties of an object such as a heart in a patient (2). The apparatus includes an antenna (3, 4) for sending and/or receiving electromagnetic waves to and/or from the object (2) for measuring a property of the object. The antenna (3, 4) includes an electrically conductive element for functioning as an electrode for measuring a further property of the object. The electromagnetic waves are reflected by the object, causing a Doppler shift. The apparatus uses this shift to provide mechanical information about the object and uses the electrode to provide electrical information about the object, such as an electrocardiogram.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for detecting a critical physiological state of a patient, especially for detecting a critical hemodynamic event. A set of values of physiological parameters is measured, including the heart rate and the pulse arrival time. On the basis of these measurements, a risk assessment is performed including the allocation of a representation of the measured set of values as a vector in a vector space to a risk level representing the risk of the occurrence of a critical hemodynamic event.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Doppler radar heart sensor comprising a radar signal emitter (102); a radar signal receiver (103); a signal pattern matcher (106); and a transmission power adjuster (108). The signal pattern matcher (106) is connected to the radar signal receiver (102) and arranged to analyze a received radar signal (105), to compare the received radar signal with signal patterns, and to issue a corresponding indication signal upon detection of a sufficiently high similarity between the received radar signal and at least one of the signal patterns. A transmission power adjuster (109) is connected to the radar signal emitter (102) and the signal pattern matcher (106), the transmission power adjuster being arranged to gradually modify a transmission power delivered to the radar signal emitter (102) until the signal pattern matcher issues the indication signal. The invention also relates to a corresponding method and a computer program product.