Abstract: There is provided a restraint management apparatus. The restraint management apparatus comprises a processing unit arranged to: receive one or more types of sensor data; determine a status of a subject based on the received sensor data; determine, based on the determined subject status, a restraint parameter for a restraint device configured to restrain a body part of the subject; and output a signal based on the determined restraint parameter.

Abstract: There is provided a context detection apparatus for use with a medical monitoring device arranged to measure a physiological characteristic of a subject. The context detection apparatus comprises at least one context sensor comprising a camera; and a processing unit. The processing unit is arranged to receive image data acquired by the camera from the at least one context sensor; analyze the received image data to generate a plurality of different types of context information; wherein each type of context information comprises information which relates to a factor capable of influencing measured values of the physiological characteristic and which is not measurable by the medical monitoring device; and output a signal to the medical monitoring device based on the generated context information.

Abstract: In a multi-sensor system and method of monitoring vital body signals during movement of a body of a human or an animal, acceleration sensors are placed at body locations in such a way that an acceleration angle change induced by the vital body signals differs between the at least two acceleration sensors. The retrieval of the vital body signals is achieved by extracting a wanted vital body signal based on measurement results from multiple sensors that may be motion contaminated. Three retrieval schemes are proposed, each with preferred sensor locations that provide optimal performance of retrieving the vital body signal(s).

Abstract: 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 pulse rate or heart rate for the subject during inflation of the cuff, the first measurement being obtained from the pressure signal; obtaining a second measurement of the pulse rate or heart rate 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: 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: A method includes generating at least first and second histograms respectively for at least first and second sets of vital sign measurements using at least first and second predetermined bins. The first and second sets of the vital sign measurements each include at least two measurements acquired at different times, and the first and second vital sign are different vital signs. The method further includes generating a first score distribution for the first vital sign by mapping each bin of the first predetermined bins to a corresponding predetermined score. The method further includes generating a second score distribution for the second vital sign by mapping each bin of the second predetermined bins to a corresponding predetermined score. The method further includes generating a compound score distribution for the first and second vital signs based on the first and second score distributions, the compound score distribution indicates a patient's health state.

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: A method, and corresponding system (300), for monitoring patients based on activity state and posture. Activity state and/or posture of a patient are measured. Further, one or more vital signs of the patient are measured according to a schedule. Based on the measured activity state and/or posture of the patient and the measured one or more vital signs, the schedule is adjusted and/or patient deterioration is monitored for.

Abstract: There is provided a method for detecting the motion of a user or object in an elevator, the method comprising measuring the acceleration experienced by the user or object to obtain a series of acceleration measurements; processing the series of acceleration measurements to identify a peak and a trough therein that are associated with the start and end of an elevator motion; identifying a section of the acceleration measurements corresponding to the elevator motion from the identified peak and trough; and determining an indication of the change in elevation of the user or object during the elevator module motion from the identified section of the acceleration measurements.

Abstract: When optimizing a medical workflow to balance throughput and safety, a customizable checklist is generated by identifying tasks adherent to the selected workflow, and populating a checklist template with tasks as a function of a user tendency to forget the task and a severity of potential harm to a patient if the task is omitted. Reminders are added to the checklist for tasks that can harm the patient if omitted, and evaluation prompts are added for tasks that will not harm the patient if omitted and therefor can be verified by the user after performance as opposed to before performance. Pause points are inserted into the populated checklist, at which points the user is presented with the reminders and evaluation tasks, and in a manner that does not disrupt the workflow so that throughput is maximized while safety is improved.

Abstract: There is provided a bed exit monitoring apparatus for monitoring a user and determining when the user has got out of a bed, the apparatus comprising a processor that is configured to receive measurements of the acceleration in three dimensions acting on a device that is attached to the user; and process the measurements to determine if the user has got out of bed.

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: 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: The present invention relates to a multi-sensor system and method of monitoring vital body signals during movement of a body of a human or an animal, wherein acceleration sensors are placed at body locations in such a way that an acceleration angle change induced by said vital body signals differs between said at least two acceleration sensors. The retrieval of the vital body signals is achieved by extracting a wanted vital body signal based on measurement results from multiple sensors that may be motion contaminated. Three retrieval schemes are proposed, each with preferred sensor locations that provide optimal performance of retrieving the vital body signal(s).

Abstract: In order to eliminate the need of tiresome and complex calibration procedures for posture-detecting devices, means are provided for determining an orientation of a body-mounted or implanted device (1) relative to the body (2), the device (1) having an orientation detection unit, wherein an uncontrolled output of the orientation detection unit over a period of time together with one or more reference conditions defined in a body reference system (xb, yb, zb) are used for determining the relative orientation of the device and hence for calibration.