Abstract: In a medical pulse oximetry sensor (10) at least two light emitting diodes (16, 18) are disposed to emit red light and infrared light through a portion of a subject's anatomy with a typically high oxygenated blood throughput. Typically, this area is also relatively narrow, to allow the light to pass through the area with acceptable attenuation, such as a finger or an earlobe. Light emitted from the LEDs (16, 18) is incumbent upon an integrated circuit (22) printed from a single CMOS substrate (21). The integrated circuit (22) includes all preprocessing and post-processing elements needed to convert the detected light signals into a pulse oximetry measurement. These elements include a photodetector (20), a photo pre-amplifier (40), a sampler/holder (42), an analog to digital converter (44), a microprocessor (46) a rangefinder (48), a timing control circuit (50) and an LED control circuit (52).

Abstract: In order to provide a technique for determining high-quality blood pressure values of a patient, especially in cases of unsupervised blood pressure measurements in a home environment, it is suggested to use a system (1) for determining the blood pressure of a patient (2) comprising a blood pressure measuring device (3, 4) for measuring a blood pressure value, an auxiliary device (6, 7, 8, 9) for measuring the motor activity of the patient (2) during a defined period of time prior to the blood pressure measurement, and a processing device (13, 14), said processing device (13, 14) being adapted to obtain the motor activity information and the blood pressure value, said processing device (13, 14) being further adapted to automatically assess the blood pressure value using the motor activity information, and said processing device (13, 14) being further adapted to provide a measuring result depending on the result of the assessment.

Abstract: The belt device comprises a torso portion, a collar portion, sensor elements and at least a first and a second closure element. The first closure element is part of the collar portion on the front side and a second closure element is part of the torso portion on the front side. The closure elements arranged in such a way that they can be opened by a wearer in a comfortable way. The user is able to put on and off the belt system without help of a third person. By the ability to combine different sized collar portions with different sized torso portions a belt device system is provided.

Abstract: A modulator for a communications system includes a spread spectrum coder and a pulse code modulator having a signal input port connectable to a signal output port of the spread spectrum coder. The modulator performs a robust and error free modulation and coding scheme by using a modified spread spectrum scheme combined with pulse code modulation. The communication system contains a low data rate, noise robust modulation and coding scheme using a very simple transmitter. This results in a very straightforward transmitter circuit, reducing size and costs of the transmitter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for measuring bioelectrical signals of a user. Furthermore the invention relates to a computer program for measuring bioelectrical signals of a user. In order to provide a technique for measuring bioelectrical signals with reduced motion artefacts a new method is provided, comprising the steps of determining the displacement of an electrode, the electrode being adapted for measuring a bioelectrical signal, and adjusting the position of said electrode depending on the determined displacement. The present invention can be used in any system for measuring bioelectrical signals, which uses electrodes, e.g. in any ECG measurement system. With the reduction of artefacts according to the present invention the performance of all those systems can be substantially increased.

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.

Abstract: The invention also relates to an optical sensor for a photoplethysmography measurement, comprising a light unit 1 with a light emitter 2 for emitting light into tissue of a patient 8 and/or a light detector 3 for detecting a part of the emitted light after interaction with the tissue, wherein the light unit is embedded in an elastic material 4. The invention further relates to a device for contactless respiration monitoring of a patient 8, comprising: a distance sensor for consecutively detecting the temporal distance variations relative to the patient's chest 12, preferably based on electromagnetic waves; and a calculating unit for determining the breathing activity based on the detected temporal distance variations. The invention is especially useful for providing a reliable and easy to use possibility for simultaneously monitoring respiration action, blood pressure and heart rate with a handheld device which can be used for spot-checking the vital parameters of patients in hospitals.

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 an apparatus for measuring properties of an object (2). The invention relates further to a corresponding method and a corresponding computer program. The apparatus comprises 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, wherein the antenna (3, 4) comprises an electrically conductive element for functioning as an electrode for measuring a further property of the object.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting impending vasovagal syncopes includes a plurality of ECG sensors (12), one of which is located close to the heart and a remote pulse sensor (22) located away from the heart. A processing unit (30) measures the pulse transit time for a pulse to travel from the heart ECG sensor to the remote pulse sensor.

Abstract: Doppler radar sensor (3) is used for generating a reference or target signal (SR, ST), which can be used for positioning of measuring sensors (2) for acquiring a vital parameter of a subject (5). With the invention a simple and reliable technique for positioning sensors (2) is provided. Furthermore a simple and reliable technique for reproducing the position of sensors (2) is provided.

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 detector, normally used for vehicular speed detection or the detection of building occupancy. The doppler radar motion detector 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: 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 pulse detector that uses electromagnetic waves for detecting a patient pulse in conjunction with the administration of defibrillation and/or CPR. Electromagnetic waves are applied to a patient blood vessel and the reflected electromagnetic waves are analyzed for a Doppler shift, which is indicative of a pulse. In some applications the pulse detector can be used as a stand-alone device in conjunction with the administration of CPR. In other applications, the pulse detector is included with a defibrillator and provides pulsatile information that is analyzed in addition to ECG information in determining resuscitation therapy, or following defibrillation to ascertain its success.

Abstract: In a medical pulse oximetry sensor (10) at least two light emitting diodes (16, 18) are disposed to emit red light and infrared light through a portion of a subject's anatomy with a typically high oxygenated blood throughput. Typically, this area is also relatively narrow, to allow the light to pass through the area with acceptable attenuation, such as a finger or an earlobe. Light emitted from the LEDs (16, 18) is incumbent upon an integrated circuit (22) printed from a single CMOS substrate (21). The integrated circuit (22) includes all preprocessing and post-processing elements needed to convert the detected light signals into a pulse oximetry measurement. These elements include a photodetector (20), a photo pre-amplifier (40), a sampler/holder (42), an analog to digital converter (44), a microprocessor (46) a rangefinder (48), a timing control circuit (50) and an LED control circuit (52).

Abstract: A system for measuring/monitoring the vital signs of a patient especially blood pressure, comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged at least in the waistband of an undergarment, and means for deriving measurements from the electrodes using pulse-transit times.

Abstract: The invention relates to heart measurement and heart monitoring, in particular the measurement of mechanical heart activity, and includes a method and apparatus to using doppler radar to transmit an electromagnetic signal of a certain frequency into, and detect a reflected signal from out of, the chest of the individual, to processing the detected signal to produce an output signal representing the rate of change of the doppler signal associated with the reflected signal and to identify from the output signal a group of at least one characteristic point of the output signal, and further to calculate at least one parameter representative of heart activity, this calculation based on the at least one identified characteristic point. The apparatus provides a system for monitoring which is particularly suitable for use in the home and which does not require repeated use of impedance cardiograms which are inappropriate for use by untrained personnel.

Abstract: An electrode assembly arranged to carry out a bioelectrical interaction with an individual, said electrode assembly comprising a conductive material having a contact surface arranged to be brought into contact with a receiving area of the individual's skin, said conductive material being electrically connectable to a suitable electronic device to enable said interaction, the electrode assembly having an impedance control means arranged to measure and control the impedance of the receiving area of the individual's skin prior to an event of the bioelectrical interaction.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a user-friendly monitoring system with improved measurement quality, which is suitable for home use. This object is achieved according to the invention by a garment (1) comprising at least one dry electrode (2, 3, 4) for use with a monitoring system for monitoring physiological parameters of a recipient, the electrode (2, 3, 4) having a working surface which is to be brought into contact with the recipient's skin, characterized in that the working surface is automatically positioned at a point of close skin contact with a natural sweat layer present, if the garment (1) is worn by the recipient. The basic principle underlying the invention is that the position of the electrodes (2, 3, 4) on the body has an impact on the acquired signal quality. Therefore, it is an idea of the invention to arrange dry electrodes in positions of the garment (1) where close body contact is automatically obtained and a natural sweat layer is present, if the garment is worn.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a patient monitoring system for monitoring cardio pulmonary performance or the like by means of capacitive measurement. Further the invention relates to a method for monitoring cardio pulmonary performance or the like by means of a capacitive measurement.