Detecting Respiratory Condition Patents (Class 600/484)
  • Patent number: 9693726
    Abstract: An alertness device includes a heart rate sensor configured to obtain an electrocardiographic signal of a person, a calculation unit configured to calculate the electrocardiographic signal obtained from the heart rate sensor, a waveform generation unit configured to generate an RRI waveform from an electrocardiographic waveform of the electrocardiographic signal, and a determination unit configured to determine the alertness of the person based on the electrocardiographic signal. The calculation unit replicates a same number of RRI waveforms as that of anchors, each anchor being a point where a certain RRI is shorter than an adjacent preceding RRI, moves the time axes of the replicated RRI waveforms such that the anchors of the replicated RRI waveforms are in phase with each other, and calculates a PRSA signal defined as an RRI average for each time axis. The determination unit determines the alertness based on the RRIs and the PRSA signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Public University Corporation Nagoya City University
    Inventors: Shinji Sugiyama, Takayoshi Ito, Kiyoko Yokoyama, Issey Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9668713
    Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system provides for the trending of a third heart sound (S3) index. The S3 index is a ratio, or an estimate of the ratio, of the number of S3 beats to the number of all heart beats, where the S3 beats are each a heart beat during which an occurrence of S3 is detected. An implantable sensor such as an accelerometer or a microphone senses an acoustic signal indicative heart sounds including S3. An S3 detector detects occurrences of S3 from the acoustic signal. A heart sound processing system trends the S3 index on a periodic basis to allow continuous monitoring of the S3 activity level, which is indicative of conditions related to heart failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Krzysztof Z. Siejko, Laura Green, Gerrard M. Carlson
  • Patent number: 9636080
    Abstract: The present invention relates to A system for monitoring the cardiovascular system using a heart sound, which comprises a heart sound receiving means(100) for receiving a heart sound(HS); DSP (Digital Signal Processor) module(200) for converting the heart sound(HS) received from said heart-sound receiving means(100) to a digital signal; and an arithmetic section(300) for calculating phonocardiogram(PCG) from the digital signal converted in the DSP module (200) and calculating information related to a preload or information related to a cardiac contractile force or information related to a respiratory change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: THE ASAN FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Sung-Hoon Kim, Segyeong Joo, Gyu-Sam Hwang
  • Patent number: 9622709
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a patient during a procedure. A physiological parameter of a patient is monitored during a procedure at an associated sensor. Respective cumulative times are measured for which the monitored physiological parameter of the patient meets each of a plurality of threshold values during the procedure. A risk metric is calculated for the patient, representing an effect of monitored physiological parameter on a patient outcome related to the procedure from the measured cumulative times for which the monitored physiological parameter of the patient met each of the plurality of threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: Wolf H. Stapelfeldt, Marc R. Reynolds, Bhaswati Ghosh
  • Patent number: 9618226
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system integrated with an application program (APP) of a smart portable device comprises at least an air-conditioning controller, an APP and a plurality of air-conditioning devices. The air-conditioning controller comprises a temperature sensor, provided for sensing an environment temperature so as to transmit a temperature signal. The APP is installed on a smart portable device such that the APP can transmit an operation signal to the air-conditioning controller according to the temperature signal via the smart portable device. The air-conditioning controller further transmits a control signal to the plurality of air-conditioning devices such that the air-conditioning devices can be operated according to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SHU-TE University
    Inventors: Chih-Yung Chen, Jun-Juh Yan
  • Patent number: 9610026
    Abstract: Devices and methods for detecting physiological target event such as events indicative of HF decompensation status are described. An ambulatory medical device (AMD) can measure bio-impedance, such as thoracic impedance, from a patient. The AMD can receive a specified threshold within a range or a distribution of impedance measurement, or a specified percentile such as less than 50th percentile, and calculate a representative impedance value (ZRep) corresponding to the specified threshold or percentile using a plurality of thoracic impedance measurements. The representative impedance value can be calculated using an adaptation process, or using an estimated distribution of the impedance measurements. The AMD can include a physiologic event detector circuit that can generate a trend of representative impedance values over a specified time period, and to detect a target physiologic event such as indicative of HF decompensation using the trend of representative impedance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Viktoria A. Averina, Pramodsingh Hirasingh Thakur, Robert J. Sweeney, Jonathan Walter Krueger
  • Patent number: 9591986
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a sensing circuit and an arrhythmia detection circuit. The sensing circuit is configured to generate a sensed physiological signal representative of cardiac activity of a subject. The arrhythmia detection circuit is configured to monitor ventricular depolarization (V-V) intervals using the sensed physiological signal, detect when at least a portion of the V-V intervals satisfies an arrhythmia detection threshold interval, calculate a value of variability of the V-V intervals and calculate a value of variability of a systolic portion of the V-V intervals in response to the detection, and generate an indication of atrial fibrillation (AF) according to a comparison including the value of variability of the V-V intervals and the value of variability of the systolic portion of the V-V intervals and provide the indication to at least one of a user or process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Barun Maskara, Pramodsingh Hirasingh Thakur, Qi An
  • Patent number: 9545227
    Abstract: A method and system for Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) screening are disclosed. The method comprises detecting at least one physiological signal, converting the at least one physiological signal into at least one sensor stream, and processing the at least one sensor stream to perform the SAS screening. The system includes a sensor to detect at least one physiological signal, a processor coupled to the sensor, and a memory device coupled to the processor, wherein the memory device includes an application that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to convert the at least one physiological signal into at least one sensor stream and to processor the at least one sensor stream to perform the SAS screening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: VITAL CONNECT, INC.
    Inventors: Nandakumar Selvaraj, Ravi Narasimhan
  • Patent number: 9526437
    Abstract: A collar with an ultra-wideband radar is described. A housing contains sensor electronics and the transmit and receive antennas are located separate from the housing around the circumference of the collar. A first example of the collar includes a first transmit antenna and a first receive antenna. A second example of the collar adds a second transmit antenna and a second receive antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: i4C Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Paul Tupin, Jr., John Michael Couse
  • Patent number: 9522745
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject matter described herein relate generally to preparing aircraft maintenance application data for retrieval by portable devices. The method or system encompasses different components of the aircraft maintenance domain and meets the requirements of multiple stakeholders each seeking a customized record of aircraft maintenance application data. The method or system is also capable of expansion to support future requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Pradeep Mahalingaiah, Kannan Kathirvel, Michael Christensen, Rupa Rudrappa
  • Patent number: 9492084
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for monitoring in real time the physiological status of one or more subjects, especially subject engaged in potentially hazardous or dangerous activities. Systems include wearable items with one or more physiological sensors and a local data unit (LDU) operatively coupled to the sensors. The LDUs digitize and filter sensor data, extract physiological parameters, determine abnormal or not acceptable physiological conditions, and communicate to external monitoring facilities. The external facilities display status and data concerning monitored subjects. In preferred embodiments, communication between the LDUs and the external monitoring facilities dynamically adjusts to the condition of the subjects and to system changes such as subjects and external facilities entering and leaving and/or moving from place to place. The invention also provides program products for performing this invention's methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Andrew Behar, Jeff Cobb, Alex Derchak, Barry Keenan, Dave Darnall
  • Patent number: 9486148
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating depth of anesthesia includes steps of acquiring an ECG signal from a subject, quantifying the regularity of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) from the ECG signal to obtain an index, and estimating depth of anesthesia based on the index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: Shu-Shya Hseu
  • Patent number: 9474452
    Abstract: A method and a system for quantifying anaesthesia and/or a state of vigilance (e.g. monitoring sedation or sleep) from a plurality of parameters acquired from a subject allows to determine an indicator that reliably quantifies the hypnotic component of anaesthesia and/or the state of vigilance and/or the analgesic component of anaesthesia, even if the number of parameters varies while monitoring the subject. Preferably, a first sub-indicator based on a first subset of parameters adapted to characterize a boundary region between consciousness and unconsciousness is determined, and a second sub-indicator based on a second subset of parameters adapted to characterize a level of hypnosis of said subject is determined, and said first sub-indicator and said second sub-indicator are then combined to compute a global indicator value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Technische Universitaet Muenchen
    Inventors: Eberhard F. Kochs, Gerhard Schneider, Denis Jordan, Adem Omerovic, Matthias Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 9451886
    Abstract: A probabilistic digital signal processor using data from multiple instruments is described. In one example, an analyzer is configured to: receive discrete first and second input data, related to a first and second sub-system of the system, from a first and second instrument, respectively. A system processor is used to fuse the first and second input data into fused data. The system processor optionally includes: (1) a probabilistic processor configured to convert the fused data into at least two probability distribution functions and (2) a dynamic state-space model, the dynamic state-space model including at least one probabilistic model configured to operate on the at least two probability distribution functions. The system processor iteratively circulates the at least two probability distribution functions in the dynamic state-space model in synchronization with receipt of updated input data, processes the probability distribution functions, and generates an output related to the state of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Rodrigo E. Teixeira
  • Patent number: 9445738
    Abstract: In a cardiographic apparatus (10), a plurality of electrodes (16) are configured for operative connection with a subject (14). A cardiograph (12, 12?, 12?) is connected with the plurality of electrodes to acquire cardiographic data. A respiratory gate (20, 22, 26, 36, 46, 50, 52, 54) is configured to identify end expiration periods or other quiescent respiratory periods so as to generate a cardiographic dataset (30) limited to the identified end-expiration periods from cardiographic data acquired by the cardiograph at least during the identified end expiration periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Eric D. Helfenbein, A. Dean Forbes
  • Patent number: 9408574
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detection of changes in impedance a patient that includes generating measured impedances, generating an adaptive baseline trend of the measured impedances corresponding to a first time period, generating a short term trend of the measured impedances corresponding to a second time period less than the first time period, determining changes in relative position of the short term trend and the baseline trend, the determined changes in relative position corresponding to determining intersecting of the baseline trend by the short term trend, determining differences between the baseline trend and calculated period average impedances, and accumulating, in response to determining no intersecting of the baseline trend by the short term trend, the determined differences between the baseline trend and the calculated period average impedances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Stadler, Li Wang
  • Patent number: 9402563
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus related to identification of apnea type. One aspect of the present subject matter provides a method for real-time apnea discrimination. The method includes sensing an impedance-based tidal volume signal to monitor a respiratory cycle of a patient, and detecting a reduction in tidal swing using the sensed impendence to detect an apnea event. When the apnea event is detected, a shape of the sensed signal is compared to a stored signal shape to determine whether the apnea event is primarily an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) event or primarily a central sleep apnea (CSA) event, in various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Pramodsingh Hirasingh Thakur, David J. Ternes, Stephen B. Ruble
  • Patent number: 9392997
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for determining a fertile phase of a woman by ascertaining a CO2 partial pressure in a respiratory gas of the woman in several consecutive breaths, comprising an inlet for receiving the respiratory gas, and an outlet, a sample chamber (2), into which the respiratory gas can be conducted, a measuring module (3) with a measuring element (4) with which a CO2 concentration in the respiratory gas in the sample chamber (2) can be measured, optionally a pressure sensor (5) for measuring an air pressure, a processor (7) for processing measured data obtained by means of the measuring module (3) and the pressure sensor (5), and at least one output unit (9) for outputting a result of the measured data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Carbomed Medical Solutions GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Gert Krammer
  • Patent number: 9370335
    Abstract: A physiological acoustic monitoring system receives physiological data from an acoustic sensor, down-samples the data to generate raw audio of breathing sounds and compresses the raw audio. The acoustic monitoring system has an acoustic sensor signal responsive to tracheal sounds in a person. An A/D converter is responsive to the sensor signal so as to generate breathing sound data. A decimation filter and mixer down-samples the breathing sound data to raw audio data. A coder/compressor generates compressed audio data from the raw audio data. A decoder/decompressor decodes and decompresses the compressed audio data into decompressed audio data. The decompressed audio data is utilized to generate respiration-related parameters in real-time. The compressed audio data is stored and retrieved so as to generate respiration-related parameters in non-real-time. The real-time and non-real-time parameters are compared to verify matching results across multiple monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Masimo Corporation
    Inventors: Ammar Al-Ali, Sung Uk Lee
  • Patent number: 9368016
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, includes a housing insertable into an ear canal of a subject. A sensor disposed within the housing measures a position of the subject's head relative to an axis of gravity. A transducer is responsive to the sensor and is capable of creating a stimulus detectable by the subject under certain conditions. In various embodiments, a controller receives signals corresponding to a pitch angle and a roll angle of the subject's head measured by the sensor, determines if the pitch and roll angles correspond to a sleep apnea inducing position, and causes the transducer to generate a stimulus upon determining that the subject's head is in the sleep apnea inducing position more than a predetermined threshold number of times. Various parameters of the stimulus may be modified with successive stimulus generation until a non-sleep apnea inducing position is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Thomas Lyons, Ellen M. Lyons, Stephen Thomas Lyons
  • Patent number: 9339209
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for measuring respiratory rate (RR) from a patient. The system includes an impedance pneumography (IP) sensor, connected to at least two electrodes, and a processing system that receives and processes signals from the electrodes to measure an IP signal. A motion sensor (e.g. an accelerometer) measures at least one motion signal (e.g. an ACC waveform) describing movement of a portion of the patient's body to which it is attached. The processing system receives the IP and motion signals, and processes them to determine, respectfully, frequency-domain IP and motion spectra. Both spectra are then collectively processed to remove motion components from the IP spectrum and determine RR. For example, during the processing, an algorithm determines motion frequency components from the frequency-domain motion spectrum, and then using a digital filter removes these, or parameters calculated therefrom, from the IP spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SOTERA WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventors: Matt Banet, Marshal Dhillon, Devin McCombie
  • Patent number: 9336353
    Abstract: System and method for communicating glucose concentration information between devices of a continuous glucose monitoring system is provided. The continuous glucose monitoring system can include a sensor module generates a glucose concentration measurement data and transmits the data to one or more further devices of the continuous glucose monitoring system. The further devices can include a receiver unit and one or more secondary display devices. The receiver unit can be configured to be a stand-alone device of or physically connect to a secondary display device. A user interface can also be provided that provides enhanced functionality for using the continuous glucose monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge Valdes, Shawn Larvenz, Michael Robert Mensinger, Hari Hampapuram, Kostyantyn Snisarenko, Phil Mayou, Eli Reihman, Randy Tompot
  • Patent number: 9304271
    Abstract: A connecting element for connecting a fiber-optic light guide to a light source one time and detaching the fiber-optic light guide from a light source one time is provided. The connecting element includes a housing having a wall, where the housing encloses a cavity, a fiber-optic light guide that passes through the housing and the cavity, a connecting piece corresponding to a connecting section of the light source for establishing the connection to the light source, where the connecting section can be reused after the detachment, and prevention device configured to prevent repeated use of the connecting element and/or the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Andreas Dietrich, Thomas Reichert
  • Patent number: 9275484
    Abstract: Examples disclose selecting an error calculation corresponding to a measure of goodness of fit and identifying a fit type among multiple fit types based on the selected error calculation. The identified fit type indicates a better fit type of goodness of fit than the multiple fit types. The examples further disclose providing the goodness of fit based on the selected error calculation and the identified fit type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Timothy James Wessman, Gregory Thorn Springer
  • Patent number: 9226726
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for detection of high-frequency heart sounds for diagnosing heart diseases. One embodiment utilizes an accelerometer-based detector that presents a light load to the chest, is sensitive to the desired high frequency range, and provides a quantitative measurement of the quality of the acquired signal. Two thin piezoelectric flexible sensors, supported by a lightweight mechanical structure, are center-loaded so that they respond to the same mechanical energy and will produce identical electrical signals in the absence of noise. A signal processing system compares the signals from the two sensors to produce an estimate of the signal-to-noise ratio. The two signals can be combined to further improve the signal-to-noise ratio. The invention is designed to be light weight, to have a sensitive sensor mechanism, to provide an estimate of the signal-to-noise ratio of the detected signal, and to be relatively immune to noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventor: John L Semmlow
  • Patent number: 9211097
    Abstract: A physiological monitor has notification unit for notifying an alarm; an alarm determination section that determines whether or not to generate an alarm by comparing measured physiological parameter pertinent to a patient with a predetermined threshold value, an alarm control section that lets the notification unit notify an alarm when the alarm determination section has determined to generate an alarm, and a foot switch that, when being trodden, outputs to the alarm control section an alarm inactivate signal for inactivating the alarm, wherein the alarm control section inactivates the alarm being generated from the notification unit in accordance with the alarm inactivate signal output from the foot switch and lets the notification unit notify by voice details of physiological parameter for which the alarm is being generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rie Muneshima
  • Patent number: 9204857
    Abstract: A method for continuous non-invasive hemodynamic state monitoring in a subject. The method includes acquiring continuous ultrasound data, estimating continuous arterial waveforms based upon the acquired ultrasound data, and deriving hemodynamic parameters for each cardiac cycle from the arterial waveforms. The method further includes defining a current hemodynamic state of the subject by setting limits on one or more hemodynamic parameters based upon the variation of these parameters over an initial period of time, and continuously monitoring a hemodynamic state of the subject. Further, a current state for one or more hemodynamic parameters of the subject are compared to previously determined limits for the one or more hemodynamic parameters, and either an alarm is triggered in an event that a change is detected in the current state of the one or more hemodynamic parameters or the arterial parameters are converted into a continuous estimate of the arterial blood pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Aaron Mark Dentinger
  • Patent number: 9198617
    Abstract: A garment for ambulatory, physiological monitoring of a patient includes a belt, having first and second end portion with closures at the end portions to wrap around a user's chest, a strap having a first end coupled to a portion of the belt with the strap having a second end, a pair of shoulder strap portions each shoulder strap portion having a first end coupled together at the second end of the strap and a second end, and a back portion that joins the second ends of the pair of shoulder strap portions, with at least one of the belt, strap portions and back portion having an accommodation for carrying a sensor. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Medicomp, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond C. Kurzweil, Paul Albrecht, Brandon Craft, Lucy Gibson, Mark Lutwyche, Vishal Dua, Aaron Kleiner, Michelle Daniels
  • Patent number: 9186108
    Abstract: A physiological monitoring system may determine physiological information, such as physiological rate information, from a physiological signal. The system may determine a skew metric based on the physiological signal. The system may determine an algorithm setting based on a reference relationship between the determined skew metric and a value indicative of a physiological rate. The algorithm setting may, for example, affect the amount of filtering applied to the physiological signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Fernando Rodriguez-Llorente, Pirow Engelbrecht, Nicholas James Wooder
  • Patent number: 9186093
    Abstract: We have developed a reduced Drosophila heart preparation in which dissection of the fly heart removes nervous system input and reveals its inherent myogenic activity, which can be preserved for several hours. High speed image capture combined with computer-based analytical packages allows us to generate the equivalent of M-mode traces obtained from ultrasounds of human hearts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BURNHAM INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
    Inventors: Rolf Bodmer, Karen Ocorr, Martin Fink
  • Patent number: 9161703
    Abstract: An integrated bioinformatics sensing apparatus includes a piezoelectric sensing layer, an upper conductive layer, a bottom conductive layer and an information transmission controller. The piezoelectric sensing layer senses a physiological rhythm of a living organism to output a physiological rhythm signal, and the upper and bottom conductive layers sense a physiological electrical signal on a body surface of the living organism. The information transmission controller receives and processes the physiological rhythm signal and the physiological electrical signal to generate and store the sensed bioinformatics, or transmit the signals to the external processing device to display the sensed bioinformatics. The simple-structured sensing apparatus can be attached onto the body surface of the living organism conveniently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: CHANG GUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Min-Hsien Wu, Yi-Yuan Chiu, Hsin-Yao Wang, Song-Bin Huang
  • Patent number: 9155478
    Abstract: A physiological monitoring system may determine physiological information, such as physiological rate information, from a physiological signal. The system may generate a difference signal based on the physiological signal and sort the difference signal to generate a sorted difference signal. The system may identify a midpoint of a first segment of the difference signal and a midpoint of a second segment of the difference signal. The first segment may correspond to positive values of the difference signal and the second segment may correspond to negative values of the difference signal. The system may determine an algorithm setting based on the first midpoint and the second midpoint. The algorithm setting may, for example, affect the amount of filtering applied to the physiological signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Fernando Rodriguez-Llorente, Pirow Engelbrecht, Nicholas James Wooder
  • Patent number: 9149597
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling the delivery of therapeutic gas delivered to a patient undergoing positive airway pressure therapy is described. The method includes providing a flow of gas to a patient's airway at a pressure, obtaining information from the range of 0 to 25 Hz of the frequency domain of the flow, and adjusting the pressure based on the information. The apparatus includes a blower for providing a flow of gas to a patient's airway at a pressure, a sensor to measure a characteristic of the flow, a controller to obtain information from the range of 0 to 25 Hz of the frequency domain of the characteristic, and a pressure regulator for adjusting the pressure based on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: FISHER & PAYKEL HEALTHCARE LIMITED
    Inventors: Lewis George Gradon, David Robin Whiting, Andrew Gordon Gerred, Gregory Martyn Smith, Fiona Elizabeth Anderson
  • Patent number: 9131892
    Abstract: A garment and/or garment system with health-monitoring (e.g., cardiovascular monitoring) capability, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventor: Gal Markel
  • Patent number: 9119925
    Abstract: This disclosure describes improved systems and methods for efficiently configuring respiratory settings and/or parameters in a ventilatory system. Specifically, the present methods and user interface provide an efficient and consistent means for configuring ventilatory settings for a new patient. Specifically, the ventilator may be preconfigured with appropriate parameter settings based on an institution-specific protocol, a physician-specific protocol, or other suitable protocol or specification. Indeed, the present disclosure provides an institution and/or physician with increased control over routine ventilatory settings by pre-configuring the ventilator with these routine settings. Further, the present disclosure provides increased assurance as to the consistency of the routine ventilatory settings by eliminating repeated data entry by clinicians, decreasing the chances of error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Joseph D. Vandine, Peter R. Doyle, Warren G. Sanborn
  • Patent number: 9113788
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the respiration rate of a patient includes attaching a plurality of electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes and a pressure sensor to a patient, producing a first respiration signal based on variations detected in signals provided by the ECG electrodes attached to the patient, and producing a second respiration signal based on pressure variations detected in the pressure sensor secured to the patient. The method also includes selecting at least one of the first respiration signal and the second respiration signal based on respective signal qualities and producing a respiration rate from the selected signal. The method also includes providing indicia of the respiration rate. The method may also include displaying ECG signals with the indicia of the respiration rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jack Balji, Cadathur Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 9114253
    Abstract: Devices and processes for performing magnetic resonance imaging of the anatomy of a patient during radiation therapy to measure and control the radiation dose delivered to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: James F. Dempsey
  • Patent number: 9092965
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, includes a housing insertable into an ear canal of a subject. A sensor disposed within the housing measures a position of the subject's head relative to an axis of gravity. A transducer is responsive to the sensor and is capable of creating a stimulus detectable by the subject under certain conditions. In various embodiments, a controller receives signals corresponding to a pitch angle and a roll angle of the subject's head measured by the sensor, determines if the pitch and roll angles correspond to a sleep apnea inducing position, and causes the transducer to generate a stimulus upon determining that the subject's head is in the sleep apnea inducing position more than a predetermined threshold number of times. Various parameters of the stimulus may be modified with successive stimulus generation until a non-sleep apnea inducing position is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher Thomas Lyons, Ellen M. Lyons, Stephen Thomas Lyons
  • Patent number: 9079033
    Abstract: Changes in patient status are assessed based at least in part on respiration parameters. A user can make selections regarding alert criteria options to be used in assessing patient status. Respiration is implantably sensed and respiration data is stored by an implantable device. A respiration parameter, such as respiration rate, is measured from the respiration data. The change in patient status is assessed by comparing the respiration parameter to the configured alert criteria. If the comparison of the respiration parameter and the configured alert criteria indicates a significant change in patient status, an alert signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard O. Kuenzler, Donald Hopper, Mary Jane Rasmussen, Aaron McCabe, John Layton
  • Patent number: 9060722
    Abstract: A pulse oximeter system comprises a data processor configured to perform a method that combines a sigma point Kalman filter (SPKF) or sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) algorithm with Bayesian statistics and a mathematical model comprising a cardiovascular model and a plethysmography model to remove contaminating noise and artifacts from the pulse oximeter sensor output and measure blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, left-ventricular stroke volume, aortic pressure and systemic pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventor: Rodrigo E. Teixeira
  • Publication number: 20150148617
    Abstract: A patient monitoring system and method is disclosed herein. The system includes one or more patient monitors that obtain physiological data from a patient. Based upon the physiological data obtained from the patient, as well as the information available for the patient in an electronic health record, an algorithm selection device determines which one of a plurality of early warning algorithms are best suited for use in monitoring a patient. One or more early warning algorithms can be presented to a user for selection. Once the algorithm selection device or the user determines which of a plurality of early warning algorithms would be most effective, the early warning algorithm is downloaded to the patient monitor for use by the patient monitor. The patient monitor utilizes the downloaded early warning algorithm to generate alarms and alerts to indicate the health status of the patient being monitored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce Arnold Friedman
  • Publication number: 20150141852
    Abstract: A detection device, for placement under or on a mattress, configured for the movements of a person lying on the mattress, includes a sensing portion having an inflatable chamber intended to be positioned under the individual, an electronic unit arranged at a distance from the sensing portion and having a pressure sensor, intended to be positioned outside of the bedding, a transmitting portion interposed between the sensing portion and the electronic unit, including a channel establishing a fluid connection between the inflatable chamber and the sensor, the channel having a transverse dimension (T) that is much smaller than the width (L1) of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: WITHINGS
    Inventors: Florent Dusanter, Bastien Rechke, Pierre Barrochin, Nadine Buard, Eric Carreel, Lodie Julien
  • Publication number: 20150133796
    Abstract: Systems and methods using a database of physiological information for the design, development, testing and use of therapeutics. In one aspect, the physiological information can include at least one of: hemodynamic monitoring information, pulmonary arterial pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, respiratory rate, peripheral vascular resistance, total peripheral resistance or dicrotic notch information. Optionally, the cardiovascular physiology information can include ambulatory physiological information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Jay Yadav
  • Publication number: 20150133795
    Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a system and method allows for the assessment of health and mortality based on dynamic nonlinear calculations of self-similar fluctuation patterns in a time series of QT intervals and of other physiological signals, such as RR intervals, temperature, blood pressure, respiration, saturation of peripheral oxygen, intracardiac pressures, and electroencephalogram. In order to nonlinearly determine health and mortality, time series of QT intervals and of other physiological signals (e.g.. RR intervals) are simultaneously obtained, and entropy values are calculated for each signal over the same temporal interval. “EntropyX” is calculated from relative changes between moments and entropy of QT intervals and those of other physiological signals over seconds to days. The absolute and relative entropy values at a specific time point and/or subsequent changes in entropy over future time points can be used to determine a treatment plan for the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Gordon F. Tomaselli, Deeptanker Demazumder
  • Publication number: 20150133797
    Abstract: A device (13) is provided for use with a treatment device for treating a patient. The device (13) includes a detection device (17) for detecting at least one transition of the patient's treatment from a first phase of treatment to a second phase of treatment. A signal device (25) for sending at least one signal when the transition is detected. It proposes, furthermore, a workstation equipped herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Frank FRANZ, Michael WILKENING, Wilfried BUSCHKE
  • Publication number: 20150126879
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for measuring respiratory effort of a subject are provided. A thorax effort signal and an abdomen effort signal are obtained. The thorax effort signal and the abdomen effort signal are each divided into a volume-contributing component of the respiratory effort and a paradox component. The paradox component represents a non-volume-contributing component of the respiratory effort. The abdomen paradox component is negatively proportional to the thoracic paradox component. The thorax effort signal or the abdomen effort signal or both are weighted by a weight factor to obtain a volume-proportional signal. The volume-proportional signal is proportional to the actual respiratory volume of the respiratory effort. A calibration factor for calibrating the thorax effort signal and the abdomen effort signal is obtained by optimizing the weight factor by minimizing thoracic paradox component and the abdomen paradox component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Sveinbjorn HOSKULDSSON, Haraldur Tomas HALLGRIMSSON, Gudjon Teitur SIGURDARSON
  • Publication number: 20150126822
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to devices and methods for monitoring, identifying, and determining risk of congestive heart failure (CHF) hospitalization. Methods include determining physiological values of a patient by electrocardiogram (ECG), bioimpedance, and 3-axis accelerometer, filtering the physiological values, comparing physiological values to baseline parameters and determining CHF risk. Devices include a 3-axis accelerometers, bioimpedance sensors, and an electrocardiogram, each capable of measuring patient physiological values, and one or more processors to receive the measured physiological values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Abhi CHAVAN, Niranjan CHAKRAVARTHY
  • Publication number: 20150126878
    Abstract: Devices and methods for detecting heart failure (HF) events or identifying patient at elevated risk of developing future HF events are described. A medical device can detect contextual condition associated with a patient, such as an environmental context or a physiologic context, sense a heart sound signal, and perform multiple measurements of heart sound features in response to the detected patient contextual condition meeting specified criterion. The contextual condition includes information correlating to or indicative of a change in metabolic demand of a patient. The medical device can use the physiologic signals to calculate one or more signal metrics indicative of diastolic function of the heart such as a trend of the heart sound features. The medical device can use the signal metrics to detect an HF event or to predict the likelihood of the patient later developing an HF event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Qi An, Yi Zhang, Viktoria A. Averina, Kenneth C. Beck, Pramodsingh Hirasingh Thakur
  • Publication number: 20150126847
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the respiration rate of a patient includes attaching a plurality of electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes and a pressure sensor to a patient, producing a first respiration signal based on variations detected in signals provided by the ECG electrodes attached to the patient, and producing a second respiration signal based on pressure variations detected in the pressure sensor secured to the patient. The method also includes selecting at least one of the first respiration signal and the second respiration signal based on respective signal qualities and producing a respiration rate from the selected signal. The method also includes providing indicia of the respiration rate. The method may also include displaying ECG signals with the indicia of the respiration rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Jack Balji, Cadathur Rajagopalan
  • Publication number: 20150126877
    Abstract: A bio-measurement data recording device has a seat which has a back surface made of a foam material, a seat surface, and a plurality of back surface sensors embedded in the back surface such that a plurality of leads for an electrocardiogram of a the person can be received. At least two seat surface sensors are embedded in the seat surface. A left hand grip is arranged such that it can be gripped by the person with the left hand and which has a left hand grip sensor or conducting a channel for the electrocardiogram, and a right hand grip is arranged such that it can be gripped by said person with the right hand and which has a right hand grip sensor for conducting a channel for the electrocardiogram. An evaluation unit is connected to the sensors and is configured to ascertain the electrocardiogram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Peter Roehr, Joachim Vetter, Martin Oehler