Abstract: A system is disclosed that detects an optical alarm signal, such as a strobe light signal generated by a building alarm system. Upon detecting such a signal, the system generates a supplemental alert signal capable of alerting an individual who might not otherwise respond to the alarm condition, such as an individual who is asleep, hearing impaired, and/or sight impaired. The system may, for example, be implemented as a patient-worn device, a bedside unit, or a personal computer coupled to a light-sensing peripheral device.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that detects an optical alarm signal, such as a strobe light signal generated by a building alarm system. Upon detecting such a signal, the system generates a supplemental alert signal capable of alerting an individual who might not otherwise respond to the alarm condition, such as an individual who is asleep, hearing impaired, and/or sight impaired. The system may, for example, be implemented as a patient-worn device, a bedside unit, or a personal computer coupled to a light-sensing peripheral device.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for recording continuous streaming data. The system includes a data collection unit, a wireless data transmission unit, a wireless data reception unit and a recorder unit. The data collection unit is for continuously collecting data at a data collection frequency, ƒC and providing collected data. The wireless data transmission unit is for continuously transmitting the collected data at a data transmission frequency, ƒT where ƒC is greater than ƒT. The wireless data reception unit is for continuously receiving collected data at a data reception frequency, ƒR where ƒR is equal to ƒT. The recorder unit is for providing a recorder output of the collected data at a frequency of ƒO where ƒO is equal to ƒT.

Abstract: Methods and systems for waking an individual to an alert condition such as smoke or a fire have greatly improved ability to wake sleeping individuals compared to conventional methods. For example, preferred waking devices include a fluid spray directed toward the head of a bed and the person sleeping in that bed. Used in conjunction with standard digital processing techniques, the systems offer greatly improved reliability and the ability to save lives.

Abstract: Signal data obtained from a piezoelectric sensor placed on a patient's body is used to detect the presence of a cardiac pulse. The piezoelectric sensor has a transducing element adapted to sense movement due to a cardiac pulse and produce piezoelectric signal data in response thereto. Processing circuitry analyzes the piezoelectric signal data for a feature indicative of a cardiac pulse and determines whether a cardiac pulse is present in the patient based on the feature. In one aspect, the feature may be a temporal feature such as a relative change in energy. In another aspect, the feature may be a spectral feature such as the energy or frequency of a peak in the energy spectrum of the signal. In yet another aspect, the feature may be obtained by comparing the piezoelectric signal data with a previously-identified pattern known to predict the presence of a cardiac pulse. Multiple features may also be obtained from the piezoelectric signal data and classified to determine the presence of a cardiac pulse.

Abstract: A medical device is configured to support two-way communication to remotely monitor and manage medical device parameter status and software. A two-way communication module is incorporated into the medical device. A remote monitoring service is configured to regularly communicate with the medical device to initiate status assessments of medical device parameters and perform software updates. The medical device then sends a return message to the remote monitoring service using the two-way communication network. The return message can include the requested information, parameter values, or information about the software updates. This system can be advantageously used to efficiently monitor a large number of portable or mobile medical devices in a manner that is transparent to the users of the medical devices.