Abstract: A vital sign monitoring system that can be used with multiple patients and utilizes historic patient data information for the patient to optimize the process of obtaining current vital sign measurements. Each patient is identified with a unique patient identification device that is automatically detected by the vital sign monitor. The vital sign monitor communicates with a medical records database and obtains historic patient data information and previously diagnosed characteristics for the patient identified by the patient identification device. The historic patient data information and previously diagnosed characteristics of the patient can be utilized by the vital sign monitor to set alarm limits for the vital sign measurements and automatically adjust the blood pressure estimation algorithm of the NIBP monitor.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a non-invasive blood pressure monitor that utilizes an SpO2 plethysmographic signal to reduce the time required to obtain an estimation of a patient's blood pressure. During operation of the NIBP monitor, the NIBP monitor utilizes the SpO2 plethysmographic signal to determine a timing period and a deflation period for each pulse associated with the patient's heartbeat. Upon receiving an oscillation pulse, the NIBP monitor determines the oscillation amplitude during the timing period and deflates the blood pressure cuff during the deflation period immediately following the timing period. Preferably, the deflation period occurs during the same oscillation pulse used to calculate the oscillation pulse amplitude to decrease the amount of time required to obtain a blood pressure estimate from the patient.

Abstract: A system and method for preheating the thermometer probe of an electronic thermometer to a temperature closer to the temperature of the patient to be monitored. The system includes a thermometer probe that includes a heater, temperature sensor and proximity sensor, each coupled to a processor for controlling the operation of the electronic thermometer. The proximity sensor positioned within the thermometer probe generates a contact signal when the thermometer probe is positioned in close proximity to the patient. Upon receiving the contact signal, the processor disables the operation of the heater and begins the process of estimating the patient temperature. By utilizing a separate proximity sensor, the temperature of the probe tip can be elevated to the normal human body temperature, which allows the temperature estimation to be completed more rapidly and allows the thermometer to function at higher ambient temperature environments.

Abstract: A method and system for eliminating artifacts in an oscillation envelope are disclosed. The method and system comprise evaluating conformance of the oscillometric envelope blood pressure data with a predetermined expected pattern and excluding one or more data points of the oscillometric envelope blood pressure data based on non-conformance with the expected pattern. The expected pattern is based upon generally known physiological principles relating to oscillometric envelopes, a curve fit representing an oscillometric envelope from a previous determination, or other types of criteria.

Abstract: An electronic device and method includes a means for setting a time interval for collecting a set of physiological data and entering the number of physiological events that occur within that time interval. The device and method are further configured to calculate the number events that occurred per minute, and displays the results for the user. The device may be implemented as a hand-held device and the method implemented in a graphical user interface of an electronic device.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a non-invasive blood pressure monitor that utilizes an SpO2 plethysmographic signal to reduce the time required to obtain an estimation of a patient's blood pressure. During operation of the NIBP monitor, the NIBP monitor utilizes the SpO2 plethysmographic signal to determine a timing period and a deflation period for each pulse associated with the patient's heartbeat. Upon receiving an oscillation pulse, the NIBP monitor determines the oscillation amplitude during the timing period and deflates the blood pressure cuff during the deflation period immediately following the timing period. Preferably, the deflation period occurs during the same oscillation pulse used to calculate the oscillation pulse amplitude to decrease the amount of time required to obtain a blood pressure estimate from the patient.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for measuring extreme blood pressure values during a single non-invasive blood measurement, the time intervals between sequential heartbeats are measured for a series of heartbeats in an oscillometric blood pressure measurement time period. Oscillometric blood pressure measurement data for the heartbeats of the series is obtained and associated with the heartbeat time intervals. An average time interval between heartbeats is also determined. A first data bin may be defined for blood pressure data associated with time intervals that are longer as compared to the average time interval. A second data bin is defined for blood pressure data with time intervals that are shorter as compared to the average time interval. The measured oscillometric blood pressure data is sorted into the data bins in accordance with the associated time intervals. The data in the first data bin is used to derive a high systolic blood pressure value and a low diastolic blood pressure value.

Abstract: A system and method for preheating the thermometer probe of an electronic thermometer to a temperature closer to the temperature of the patient to be monitored. The system includes a thermometer probe that includes a heater, temperature sensor and proximity sensor, each coupled to a processor for controlling the operation of the electronic thermometer. The proximity sensor positioned within the thermometer probe generates a contact signal when the thermometer probe is positioned in close proximity to the patient. Upon receiving the contact signal, the processor disables the operation of the heater and begins the process of estimating the patient temperature. By utilizing a separate proximity sensor, the temperature of the probe tip can be elevated to the normal human body temperature, which allows the temperature estimation to be completed more rapidly and allows the thermometer to function at higher ambient temperature environments.

Abstract: A method and system for determining when to make a reversion to smaller cuff pressure steps during an oscillometric blood pressure measurement is disclosed. The method and system comprise comparing conformance of oscillometric envelope blood pressure data with previous blood pressure data, including measuring a shift between the oscillometric envelope blood pressure data and an oscillometric envelope derived from the previous blood pressure data. In addition, the method and system include making a reversion decision based on whether the shift exceeds an allowable threshold. Once a reversion decision is made a subsequent decision may be made as to the need for increasing the cuff pressure level.

Abstract: A vital sign monitoring system that can be used with multiple patients and utilizes historic patient data information for the patient to optimize the process of obtaining current vital sign measurements. Each patient is identified with a unique patient identification device that is automatically detected by the vital sign monitor. The vital sign monitor communicates with a medical records database and obtains historic patient data information for the patient identified by the patient identification device. The historic patient data information can be utilized by the vital sign monitor to set alarm limits for the vital sign measurements and automatically control the operation of an NIBP monitor for the specific patient.

Abstract: A method of operating a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor that includes a blood pressure cuff and a pressure transducer. The method initially inflates the blood pressure cuff to a level above systolic pressure and begins to deflate the pressure cuff using a continuous or linear deflation technique. During the linear deflation of the pressure cuff, the oscillation pulses from the pressure transducer are obtained and compared to predicted pulse estimates. If the obtained oscillation pulses vary from the predicted pulse estimates, the linear deflation technique is interrupted and the pressure cuff is then deflated in a sequence of distinct pressure steps. During each pressure step, the oscillation pulses are obtained and the pressure cuff is not deflated to the next pressure step until the oscillation pulses correspond to each other.

Abstract: A method of operating a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor that includes a blood pressure cuff and a pressure transducer. The method initially inflates the blood pressure cuff to a level above systolic pressure and begins to deflate the pressure cuff using a continuous or linear deflation technique. During the linear deflation of the pressure cuff, the oscillation pulses from the pressure transducer are obtained and compared to predicted pulse estimates. If the obtained oscillation pulses vary from the predicted pulse estimates, the linear deflation technique is interrupted and the pressure cuff is then deflated in a sequence of distinct pressure steps. During each pressure step, the oscillation pulses are obtained and the pressure cuff is not deflated to the next pressure step until the oscillation pulses correspond to each other.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement system that utilizes a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor having a blood pressure cuff and pressure transducer. The measurement system provides a plurality of separate processing techniques that each receive a plurality of oscillometric data values from the pressure transducer. Each of the processing techniques separately constructs an oscillometric envelope based upon the oscillometric data values. Based upon the plurality of separate oscillometric envelopes, the system compares the envelopes and develops a calculated blood pressure from the plurality of envelopes. The calculated blood pressure is then displayed by the NIBP system. The plurality of oscillometric envelopes can be compared and combined in different manners to calculate the patient's blood pressure from the plurality of different processing techniques.

Abstract: A method and system for determining pulse rate of a patient are disclosed. The method and system include acquiring measured information for at least one pulse at a pressure step, determining and storing quality values for the at least one pulse at the pressure step, analyzing pulse matching criteria for the pressure step, and determining pulse rate based on the measured information, quality values, and pulse matching criteria.

Abstract: A method and system for determining when to make a reversion to smaller cuff pressure steps during an oscillometric blood pressure measurement is disclosed. The method and system comprise comparing conformance of oscillometric envelope blood pressure data with previous blood pressure data, including measuring a shift between the oscillometric envelope blood pressure data and an oscillometric envelope derived from the previous blood pressure data. In addition, the method and system include making a reversion decision based on whether the shift exceeds an allowable threshold. Once a reversion decision is made a subsequent decision may be made as to the need for increasing the cuff pressure level.

Abstract: A method and system for determining pulse rate of a patient are disclosed. The method and system include acquiring measured information for at least one pulse at a pressure step, determining and storing quality values for the at least one pulse at the pressure step, analyzing pulse matching criteria for the pressure step, and determining pulse rate based on the measured information, quality values, and pulse matching criteria.

Abstract: A technique for comparing pressure oscillations obtained during a blood pressure determination wherein two or more sets of matching criteria may be employed. The set of matching criteria to be employed is determined based on the heart rate variability or the presence of heart beat irregularities or arrhythmias as determined by an independent heart monitor, such as an ECG. The selected set of matching criteria may then be employed in determining the acceptability of the time interval between two oscillations and the equivalence of the two oscillations based upon one or more oscillation characteristics, such as peak amplitude. In this manner, non-consecutive oscillations may be matched and used in determining blood pressure.

Abstract: A method and system for making pulse rate and blood pressure determinations is disclosed. The method and system comprise collecting oscillometric blood pressure data from pulses, determining individual quality values for feature measurements of the pulses, obtaining an overall quality assessment based on the individual quality values, repeating the collecting step until overall quality level is satisfied, and determining blood pressure and pulse rate using the individual quality values.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for measuring extreme blood pressure values during a single non-invasive blood measurement, the time intervals between sequential heartbeats are measured for a series of heartbeats in an oscillometric blood pressure measurement time period. Oscillometric blood pressure measurement data for the heartbeats of the series is obtained and associated with the heartbeat time intervals. An average time interval between heartbeats is also determined. A first data bin may be defined for blood pressure data associated with time intervals that are longer as compared to the average time interval. A second data bin is defined for blood pressure data with time intervals that are shorter as compared to the average time interval. The measured oscillometric blood pressure data is sorted into the data bins in accordance with the associated time intervals. The data in the first data bin is used to derive a high systolic blood pressure value and a low diastolic blood pressure value.

Abstract: A method and system for eliminating artifacts in an oscillation envelope are disclosed. The method and system comprise evaluating conformance of the oscillometric envelope blood pressure data with a predetermined expected pattern and excluding one or more data points of the oscillometric envelope blood pressure data based on non-conformance with the expected pattern. The expected pattern is based upon generally known physiological principles relating to oscillometric envelopes, a curve fit representing an oscillometric envelope from a previous determination, or other types of criteria.