Measuring Pressure In Heart Or Blood Vessel Patents (Class 600/485)
  • Publication number: 20130245463
    Abstract: A method of displaying physiological information in a patient monitoring system is provided. The method includes receiving a user input as a digital annotation, maintaining the digital annotation as at least a part of patient monitoring data and displaying the digital annotation concurrently with information displayed by the patient monitoring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Susan Stuebe, Wilbur Cruz Colaco, Judy Moore, Nicola Telling, Juan Antonio Vidal Wagner
  • Patent number: 8529458
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining a cardiac parameter from cardiovascular pressure signals including arterial blood pressure (ABP) and the photoplethysmographic signal to quantify the degree of amplitude modulation due to respiration and predict fluid responsiveness are disclosed. Disclosed embodiments include a method for assessing fluid responsiveness implemented in a digital computer with one or more processors comprising: (a) measuring a cardiovascular signal, and (b) computing a dynamic index predictive of fluid responsiveness from said cardiovascular signal using a nonlinear state space estimator. According to one particular embodiment, and without limitation, the nonlinear state space estimator is based on a model for cardiovascular signals such as arterial blood pressure or plethysmogram signals, and employs a marginalized particle filter to estimate a dynamic index predictive of fluid responsiveness that is substantially equivalent to a variation in pulse pressure of said cardiovascular signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignees: State of Oregon by and Through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Portland State University, APDM, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunghan Kim, Pedro Mateo Riobo Aboy, James McNames
  • Publication number: 20130231577
    Abstract: Multifunctional pad, including an auscultation sensor configured to detect audio signals of a subject and provide subject audio data; and an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor configured to detect electrical activity of the subject and provide subject electrical activity data and an optional temperature sensor; wherein the multifunctional pad is configured to be affixed to a skin surface of the subject by an adhesive layer. Also provided is A monitoring system, including an auscultation sensor configured to detect audio signals of a subject and provide subject audio data; an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor configured to detect electrical activity of the subject and provide subject electrical activity data; one or more monitoring devices; and a connection interface configured to operatively couple the multifunctional pad to the one or more monitoring devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventor: Jonathan LEIDERMAN
  • Patent number: 8523779
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining patient-specific cardiovascular information. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of an anatomical structure of the patient and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the anatomical structure of the patient based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to determine a total resistance associated with a total flow through the portion of the anatomical structure of the patient, and determine information regarding a blood flow characteristic within the anatomical structure of the patient based on the three-dimensional model, a physics-based model relating to the anatomical structure of the patient, and the determined total resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Taylor, Timothy A. Fonte
  • Patent number: 8523771
    Abstract: A system comprises an external medical device configured to communicate with a first implantable medical device (IMD). The external medical device includes a communication circuit and a display. The communication circuit is configured to receive information associated with cardiovascular pressure from the IMD. The external medical device is configured to annotate a waveform on the display to indicate one or more events associated with cardiovascular pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Stahmann, Keith R. Maile
  • Patent number: 8526699
    Abstract: A method and system for providing detecting and classifying coronary stenoses in 3D CT image data is disclosed. Centerlines of coronary vessels are extracted from the CT image data. Non-vessel regions are detected and removed from the coronary vessel centerlines. The cross-section area of the lumen is estimated based on the coronary vessel centerlines using a trained regression function. Stenosis candidates are detected in the coronary vessels based on the estimated lumen cross-section area, and the significant stenosis candidates are automatically classified as calcified, non-calcified, or mixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sushil Mittal, Yefeng Zheng, Bogdan Georgescu, Fernando Vega-Higuera, Shaohua Kevin Zhou, Dorin Comaniciu, Michael Kelm, Alexey Tsymbal, Dominik Bernhardt
  • Publication number: 20130226010
    Abstract: A blood pressure measurement apparatus includes a blood pressure measurement unit, a bio-information acquisition unit, a depth calculation unit, a storage unit and a decision unit. The bio-information acquisition unit continuously acquires bio-information of a subject. The depth calculation unit repeatedly calculates depth indices each indicating a sleep stage of the subject on the basis of the acquired bio-information. The storage unit stores the calculated depth indices. The decision unit decides whether the sleep stage of the subject in sleep satisfies a starting condition, on the basis of a first depth index stored in the storage unit and a second depth index calculated by the depth calculation unit. The blood pressure measurement unit measures blood pressure data of the subject when the sleep stage is decided to satisfy the starting condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: TANITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: TANITA CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130226011
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, receiving a user selection of a heart failure symptom, receiving a user selection of an abnormal psychological condition, receiving information about a physiological patient status parameter, and determining a heart failure status using the received information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Zhang, Jeffrey E. Stahmann
  • Patent number: 8517950
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining an indicator parameter relating to a subject comprising at least an input line for receiving electrical signals coming from a electrodes, receiving a signal coming from a peripheral sensor predisposed to operate in a predetermined peripheral section of the subject's body; a control unit connected to the input line and configured for determining a value of an indicator value (iHAT) as a function of the instant of generation (TGj) of a pressoric wave in relation to the heartbeat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Marco Vettorello
  • Patent number: 8517952
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a blood pressure monitor, wherein the noise caused by the friction of overlapping parts of a cuff can be inhibited during automatic elevation in the cuff pressure, and reliability in the automatic elevation of cuff pressure can be significantly enhanced. A cuff (1) is used in a blood pressure monitor to measure a blood pressure in a rolled condition where one end of the cuff (1) is wound within the other end thereof, wherein a cushion member (6) made of a raised fabric (61) is provided in at least one of surfaces at one end and the other end of the cuff (1) which rub against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakanishi, Kenichi Matsumoto, Takuro Kohyama
  • Publication number: 20130218031
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for estimating an arrival time (PAT) value of a subject in an automatic and unsupervised fashion from a sequence of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images. The method comprises: providing an EIT imaging device adapted to record impedance signal distribution within a measurement region of the subject; measuring a sequence of temporally discrete EIT images during a predetermined measuring time period in the measurement region using the EIT imaging device, each EIT image comprising one or a plurality of EIT pixel subsets, each of said one or a plurality of EIT pixel subset representing an impedance value; generating one or a plurality of time series, each of said one or a plurality of time series representing a variation of the impedance value of the sequence of EIT images; and estimating the PAT value from each of said one or a plurality of time series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: CSEM SA
    Inventor: CSEM SA
  • Patent number: 8512252
    Abstract: A delivery method and system for noninvasively monitoring cardiac physiologic parameters used to evaluate patients with cardiovascular conditions. The system includes an implantable sensing device configured for chronic implantation in a cavity of the cardiovascular system, such as the heart, pulmonary artery (PA), etc. The method involves introducing the sensing device through a cardiovascular cavity that is upstream in the vasculature from the cavity where implantation is intended and has a larger diameter than the intended cavity, and thereafter blood flow through the cardiovascular system delivers the device to the intended cavity. The device is sized and configured so as to secure itself within the intended cavity when the device moves through the cavity to a point where the diameter narrows sufficiently to secure the device and so as to be oriented once secured to sense a pressure either within, upstream (wedge), or downstream (distal) of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Integrated Sensing Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Achiau Ludomirsky, David Goetzinger, Catherine Morgan, Nader Najafi
  • Patent number: 8506495
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for powering and/or recharging medical devices implanted within the body are described. An illustrative implantable medical device includes a housing having an internal cavity and a flexible anchor assembly that is coupled to the housing. The flexible anchor assembly includes a first electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor, and a piezoelectric layer that is disposed between the first and second electrical conductors and that is configured to displace in response to a physiologic force applied to the flexible anchor assembly and generate a voltage differential between the first and second electrical conductors. The implantable medical device includes power circuitry that converts the voltage differential between the first and second electrical conductors into an operating current for powering one or more components within the implantable medical device and/or for recharging a rechargeable power supply within the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Mi, Lance E. Juffer, Keith R. Maile, Abhijeet V. Chavan, Thomas W. Piaget
  • Patent number: 8506497
    Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods for non-invasively assessing one or more parameters associated with systems such as fluidic circulating systems (e.g., the circulatory system of a living organism). In a first aspect, an improved method of continuously measuring pressure from a compressible vessel is disclosed, wherein a substantially optimal level of compression for the vessel is achieved and maintained using dynamically applied dither perturbations (e.g., modulation) on the various axes associated with the vessel. In a second aspect, an improved apparatus and method are provided for monitoring hemodynamic parameters, such as blood pressure, in a continuous and non-invasive manner while operating under a single unifying scheme. One variant of this scheme using a simulated annealing (SA) type approach to determining and maintaining an optimal operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Tensys Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Katayama, Todd A. Keitel, Manouchehr Goharlaee, Stuart L. Gallant, Warren B. Craycroft
  • Patent number: 8506496
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining the systolic phase interval (SP) of an arterial pressure curve with a starting point (t0) of the systolic phase interval (SP) and an end point (tN) of the systolic phase interval (SP) wherein a QT interval is defined as the start of the Q wave and the end of the T wave in the hearts electrical cycle and wherein the determination of the end point (tN) of the systolic phase interval (SP) is restricted to the measured points of arterial pressure which fulfill the condition that the difference in time between the end point (tN) to be determined of the systolic phase interval (SP) and the starting point (t0) of the systolic phase interval (SP) is smaller than the QT interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences IPRM AG
    Inventors: Reinhold Knoll, Ulf Borg, Ulrich Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20130204147
    Abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is detected based on pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) data. In some embodiments, PAP data generated by a PAP sensor device implanted in or near the pulmonary artery of a patient is processed to determine whether the patient is suffering from AF. In some aspects, detection of AF is based on identifying cycle-to-cycle variations of one or more parameters derived from the PAP data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventors: Andreas Blomqvist, Michael E. Benser
  • Publication number: 20130204100
    Abstract: A system including a plurality of wireless sensors for monitoring one or more parameters of a subject is provided. The wireless sensors can be attachable to or implantable in the subject and form a network. The sensors can include a sensing component configured to detect a signal corresponding to at least one condition of the subject. The sensors further can include a communication component configured to wirelessly transmit the detected signal to at least another of the plurality of wireless sensors, and wirelessly receive a signal transmitted from at least one of the remaining sensors in the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Wireless Live D/B/A Peerbridge Health
    Inventor: Wireless Live D/B/A Peerbridge Health
  • Publication number: 20130204139
    Abstract: The systems, devices, and methods described herein provide for the estimation and monitoring of cerebrovascular system properties and intracranial pressure (ICP) from one or more measurements or measured signals. These measured signals may include central or peripheral arterial blood pressure (ABP), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) or cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV). The measured signals may be acquired noninvasively or minimally-invasively. The measured signals may be used to estimate parameters and variables of a computational model that is representative of the physiological relationships among the cerebral flows and pressures. The computational model may include at least one resistive element, at least one compliance element, and a representation of ICP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Patent number: 8504237
    Abstract: In device for side impact recognition in a vehicle, at least one pressure sensor system that produces a signal is provided in a side part of the vehicle, and an evaluation circuit is provided that recognizes a side impact as a function of the signal. In addition, a test device is provided for the at least one pressure sensor system, the at least one test device being configured such that the at least one test device oversamples the signal and then filters it in order to produce a test signal, the test device comparing the signal with a reference value and, as a function of this comparison, recognizing the operability of the at least one pressure sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Wellhoefer, Boris Adam, Volker Frese
  • Publication number: 20130197374
    Abstract: An automated method of determining a measure of a subject's heart age comprising the steps of: prompting a user for a plurality of inputs, each relating to an attribute of the subject, each attribute defining one or more of a demographic status of the subject, a lifestyle status of the subject, a physical condition of the subject and a medical history of the subject; receiving, from the user, a plurality of said inputs; determining from said received inputs, a set of parameters for which input data has been received as input from the user; selecting a heart age calculation algorithm from a predetermined set of heart age calculation algorithms according to said set of parameters; and calculating a heart age for the subject according to the selected algorithm; and providing as output said calculated heart age.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: CONOPCO, INC., D/B/A UNILEVER
    Inventor: CONOPCO, INC., D/B/A UNILEVER
  • Publication number: 20130197369
    Abstract: This utility model patent makes public a remote health monitoring and tracking system. The system includes the product and the service end. The product includes wireless communication module(1), physiology sensor(2), physiological signal processing circuit(3) and microprocessor(4). Among these, (2) connects (3), (3) connects (4), and (4) connects (1). The service end includes server that can connect to Internet. The database, map software and physiological data analysis software are installed on the server. The wireless communication module, with integrated GPSone technology and embedded TCP/IP, connects to the server through TCP/IP. Compared with the current technologies, this utility model is easier to use, and can monitor and track the health conditions of users remotely. Any abnormal situation happens to the users, their families and emergency center will be noted. Besides, it has GPSone function; the stored physiological data can be used as reference for medical professionals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: Jiannan Xiang
  • Publication number: 20130197320
    Abstract: Medical sensing devices and systems that transmit digital data from a first device via an ultrasonic digital modem to a receiver such as a smartphone. Methods of transmitting digital biological data by ultrasound are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: David E. Albert, James J. Lewis, Kim Norman Barnett, Bruce Richard Satchwell
  • Patent number: 8496594
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Heartflow, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Taylor, Timothy A. Fonte
  • Patent number: 8491503
    Abstract: An interface cable system for providing electrical interconnection between an intrauterine pressure catheter system and a monitoring system is provided. The interface cable system includes a first connector configured to provide electrical interconnection between the interface cable system and the intrauterine pressure catheter system and a second connector configured to provide electrical interconnection between the interface cable system and the monitoring system. The interface cable system also includes a plurality of conductors extending between said first connector and said second connector and a switching element for configuring the interface cable system to provide, upon operation of the switching element, a time period in which a zeroing operation of the intrauterine pressure catheter system may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Eliot J. Zaiken, MaryJo A. Toomey, Stewart W. Low
  • Publication number: 20130184594
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for analyzing relative compliance in the peripheral vasculature. Such apparatus, systems and methods generally involve generating a plethysmograph (PG) signal, generating one or more pressure waveforms and comparing the pressure waveform(s) relative to the PG signal to determine compliance indexes associated particular regions of the vasculature. A relative compliance ratio may also be determined by comparing arterial and venous relative compliance indexes. Apparatus, systems and methods are also provided for analyzing a PG waveform. Such apparatus, systems and methods generally involve generating a plethysmograph (PG) signal and comparing amplitude modulation of the PG signal relative to baseline modulation of the PG signal to estimate a relationship between left ventricular end diastolic pressure and stroke volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: YALE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kirk H. Shelley, David G. Silverman
  • Publication number: 20130184595
    Abstract: Methods are presented for determining pulse transit time (PTT) and/or pulse wave velocity (PWV) of a subject by application of parametric system identification to proximal and distal arterial waveforms. The two waveforms are measured from the subject. A system is defined that relates the proximal arterial waveform to the distal arterial waveform (or vice versa) in terms of the unknown parameters of a parametric mathematical model. The model parameters are determined from the measured waveforms using system identification. PTT between the proximal and distal arterial sites is then determined from the system model. PWV may also be determined by dividing the distance between measurement sites (D) by PTT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Mukkamala, Da Xu, Guanqun Zhang, Mingwu Gao, Mohsen Moslehpour
  • Patent number: 8485981
    Abstract: A system and a method for synchronizing operation between a patient monitoring device and a patient treatment device are disclosed. The patient monitoring device and the patient treatment device are operatively connected via a network, for example, a patient area network (PAN) or a local area network (LAN). A controller with a display is configured to accept user input via a graphic user interface (GUI) and display a patient's physiological data and operating parameters of both the patient monitoring device and the patient treatment device. The operation is synchronized by starting to operate the patient monitoring device at a predetermined operating state of the patient treatment device, and delaying changes in the operating state of the patient treatment device, until the operation of the monitoring device is concluded or the operating state of the patient treatment device indicates an abort condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Draeger Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Ralfs
  • Publication number: 20130178736
    Abstract: Hardware and software methodology are described for a non-invasive approach to blood pressure measurement in pulmonary artery and systemic arteries by using wall displacement and blood velocity that are measured using ultrasound, microwave techniques and/or other radiofrequency (RF) techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: California Institute of Technology
  • Patent number: 8480594
    Abstract: The invention provides improved apparatus and methods for treating congestive heart failure in a medical patient. The apparatus includes a pressure transducer permanently implantable within the left atrium of the patient's heart and operable to generate electrical signals indicative of fluid pressures within the patient's left atrium. The pressure transducer is connected to a flexible electrical lead, which is connected in turn to electrical circuitry, which in the preferred embodiment includes digital circuitry for processing electrical signals. The electrical circuitry processes the electrical signals from the pressure transducer and, based at least in part on those signals, generates a signal that indicates a desired therapeutic treatment for treating the patient's condition. That signal is then communicated to the patient via a patient signaling device, following which the patient administers to him or herself the prescribed therapeutic treatment indicated by the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
    Inventors: Neal L. Eigler, James S. Whiting
  • Publication number: 20130172761
    Abstract: The invention concerns an automated method, a system and means for processing the blood pressure from a detected pressure signal, the method operating in the time domain to determine a value (RES) connected to the energy efficiency of the monitored biological system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventor: Salvatore Romano
  • Patent number: 8475386
    Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and computer program products for providing maintenance, guidance and/or control of certain systems are disclosed. Typically, in some aspects the systems are complex. Also disclosed are methods, systems, devices and computer program products for providing therapeutic guidance for controlling a subject's circulation. One such method comprises the steps of: (i) determining the subject's present and desired circulatory states as a function of at least mean systemic filling pressure (Pms), heart efficiency (EH) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR); (ii) determining a target direction of a trajectory from the subject's present circulatory state to said subject's desired circulatory state, wherein treatment of the subject so as to traverse the trajectory will cause the subject's circulatory state to move towards a desired circulatory state; and (iii) visually representing the target direction of the trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Physiology Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: William G. Parkin, Mark S. Leaning
  • Patent number: 8475385
    Abstract: Blood pressure measurements are represented aurally. An audio synthesizer (15) receives a signal representative of blood pressure information, and synthesizes an audio output from the signal. Both the duration and pitch of the synthesized audio output are dependent on the value of the blood pressure information, according to a linear scale or a non-linear scale such as stepped scale. The blood pressure information includes at least one of arterial or pulmonary arterial systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure measurements, and the audio output includes an earcon comprising a tone or sequence of tones, the tone(s) being representative of a respective type of blood pressure measurement. The earcon may also include one or more static or dynamic beacons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Queensland
    Inventor: Marcus Watson
  • Publication number: 20130165800
    Abstract: A method employed in a prior art arm-worn blood pressure monitor to measure the height position of the heart has been an indirect method that merely estimates the position of the heart, and therefore has had the problems that the measurement accuracy and the reliability of the measurement are low, and that the measuring position is awkward and it is difficult to achieve correct position alignment. An arm-worn blood pressure monitor includes a cuff, a microwave transmitting unit for radiating a microwave onto a human subject, a microwave receiving unit for receiving a reflected wave Doppler-shifted relative to the radiated microwave due to a heartbeat of the subject, and a correct position detector for detecting, based on the reflected wave, whether the cuff worn around an arm of the subject is located in a correct position relative to the position of the heart of the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicants: CITIZEN SYSTEMS JAPAN CO., LTD., CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Shimizu, Yuichi Kato
  • Patent number: 8469895
    Abstract: A method of deriving central aortic systolic pressure comprises (a) creating a set having a predetermined number of blood pressure measurements, the set representative of an arterial waveform; (b) determining an integer interval value; (c) averaging a series of consecutive blood pressure measurement readings in the set equal to the integer interval value commencing from the fth blood pressure measurement in the set; (d) storing the averaged value in a central aortic systolic pressure set; and (e) setting the central aortic systolic pressure as the highest value in the central aortic pressure set. Steps (c) and (d) are repeated with the value of f being incremented by 1 each time until the value of f plus the integer interval value equals the predetermined number of blood pressure measurements in the set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Healthstats International Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Choon Meng Ting, Ngak Hwee Chua
  • Publication number: 20130158417
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are disclosed for non-invasively determining blood pressure of a subject. To improve the specificity of automatic blood pressure determinations in a patient monitor provided with a non-invasive blood pressure determination unit, a physiological index indicative of sympathetic activity is derived from a subject, variations in the physiological index are monitored, and the blood pressure determination unit is instructed to initiate blood pressure determination when the variations fulfill a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Alle Borger
  • Patent number: 8465424
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for monitoring vital signs using a health monitor embedded into a mobile device. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a mobile device having an embedded health monitor to take measurements of vital signs of an individual, to determine vital sign parameters from the measurements, and to transfer the vital sign parameters; and a computing system communicably coupled to the mobile device to store the vital sign parameters and to perform trend analysis on stored vital sign parameters and to provide feedback to the user or user specified persons and generate alarms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Sudhir Aggarwal
    Inventor: Sudhir Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 8465436
    Abstract: An implant centering system includes a sensor connected to a hollow cylindrical anchor via at least two struts. The hollow cylindrical anchor is transformable between a radially compressed configuration for delivery and a radially expanded configuration for lodging against a vessel wall. The struts longitudinally relocate the sensor between a first position in which the sensor is longitudinally spaced apart from the radially compressed anchor, and a second position in which the sensor is at least partially within a lumen of the radially expanded anchor and radially centered within vessel. In one embodiment, the struts are heat-set into a curved configuration and an externally applied force longitudinally relocates the sensor until the struts lock over center into their heat-set configuration. In another embodiment, radial expansion of the anchor longitudinally relocates the sensor without an externally applied force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Griswold
  • Patent number: 8465435
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method 10 for determining a beat-to-beat stroke volume 9a and/or a cardiac output 9b based on a measurement 2 of suitable arterial pressure data. At the step 4 a waveform of the arterial pressure pulse is assessed based on data obtained during the measurement of step 2. At step 6 a compliance or impedance in dependence of at least one measurement of arterial pressure data is computed using a non-linear model 7. The non-linear model may comprise an arctangent model. The arctangent model may be differentiated numerically or analytically to obtain the compliance or the impedance of an aortic portion. The thus obtained compliance or impedance may then be substituted into a linear model 8. The linear model 8 may comprise a Windkessel model 8a, or a Waterhammer model 8b or any other suitable linear pulse contour model 8c. As a result, the beat-to-beat stroke volume 9a and/or cardiac output 9b are computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Bmeye B.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Van Goudoever, Olaf Schraa, Karel H. Wesseling
  • Publication number: 20130150686
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process and composition of matter to support safe, assisted, independent living. The process is to create ubiquitous monitoring of the invention user's activities, physiology, and environment; analyze information from monitoring and sensing devices; and act on the information in a prioritized manner to address emergent events, and potentially undesirable conditions. The invention uses a software architecture and schema called Adaptive Scalable Plug&play Infrastructure for Responsive Engineering (ASPIRE).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: PnP INNOVATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Donald Clark Fronterhouse, Thomas Umberson Mead, Patrick Sean McGuirk, Kenneth Brian Center
  • Publication number: 20130150736
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an automatic method, as well as the related system and the tools allowing the same to be executed, for measuring and processing blood pressure starting from a detected pressure signal, the method operating in the time domain for discriminating whether the detected signal is an adequate measurement or not and, where it is not, time domain analysis automatically selects a low-pass filter to, possibly iteratively, apply to the detected pressure signal for having correct values and wave form of the blood pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: Salvatore Romano
  • Publication number: 20130150735
    Abstract: A device for non-invasively measuring at least one parameter of a cardiac blood vessel in a patient is provided. The device comprises at least one light source that emits light in the 400 nm to 1000 nm wavelength range; at least one photodetector adapted to receive light emitted by the light source and generate an output based on the received light, wherein said light is reflected from or transmitted through tissue of the patient, the output of said photodetector being correlated with a parameter of the blood vessel; and at least one probe for facilitating delivery of light from the light source to an external tissue site on the patient in the proximity of the cardiac blood vessel and receipt of light by the photodetector. A system and methods of monitoring/measuring cardiac parameters utilizing the device and/or system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: MESPERE LIFESCIENCES INC.
    Inventor: Mespere Lifesciences Inc.
  • Patent number: 8460197
    Abstract: A monitoring device with a pedometer is disclosed herein. The monitoring device preferably comprises an article, an optical sensor, an accelerometer and processor. The optical sensor preferably comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting diodes. A sensor signal from the optical sensor is processed with a filtered accelerometer output signal from the accelerometer to generate a pedometer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Impact Sports Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Brady, Nikolai Rulkov, Mark Hunt
  • Patent number: 8463347
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for analyzing and normalizing signals, such as PPG signals, for use in patent monitoring. The PPG signal may be detected using a continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring system and the normalized signals may be used to determine whether a recalibration of the system should be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: James N. Watson, Rakesh Sethi, Robert Stoughton, Paul Stanley Addison
  • Publication number: 20130144176
    Abstract: A non-invasive pressure measurement device measures pressure of fluid in a conduit via a piezoelectric transducer positioned proximate to the conduit having a fluid passing therethrough. The piezoelectric transducer is in communication with the conduit via a plate member having a protrusion extending outward from one side of the member. In one application, the device continuously measures blood pressure without the need for an inflatable cuff. Also, the device can detect and measure heart beat pulses from the fluid and utilize heart beat pulse information to provide further characteristics pertaining to the fluid in the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Drexel University
    Inventor: Ryszard M. Lec
  • Publication number: 20130144175
    Abstract: A smart identification tag system comprises a helmet and an identification tag. The helmet defines a headspace adapted to receive a wearer's head. A sensor assembly is disposed in the headspace and comprises a sensor capable of capturing data and a wireless transceiver in communication with the sensor and adapted to transmit a wireless signal indicative of data captured by the sensor. The identification tag comprises a wireless transceiver adapted to receive the signal from the helmet, and a non-transitory memory in communication with the wireless transceiver and adapted to store the received data. The helmet is adapted to be worn by a wearer, and the identification tag is adapted to be carried on the person of the wearer, such that information captured by the sensor assembly is transmitted to the identification tag and stored therein. The identification tag may further store personal health information of the wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Sheldon M. Lambert, John W. Woodmansee, JR.
  • Patent number: 8454523
    Abstract: In a method for intermittently occluding the coronary sinus, in which in an alternating manner the coronary sinus is occluded by an occlusion device and the occlusion is released, the curve of the fluid pressure occurring in the coronary sinus after the release of the occlusion is estimated by calculation and the time of the beginning of the next occlusion is determined as a function of the estimated pressure curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Miracor Medical Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Mohl, Ilinka Kajgana
  • Patent number: 8454521
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a sphygmomanometer that is easy to use. The sphygmomanometer according to the present invention measures blood pressure in accordance with an oscillation in an artery wall, resulting from an arterial pulse correspondent with a change in cuff pressure. It comprises a cuff that is connected to the sphygmomanometer main body by a tube, a display unit for displaying the results of blood pressure measurements, and an air supply unit for supplying air to, and thus pressurizing, the cuff, which is detachable from the sphygmomanometer main body. The air supply unit is screwed into the sphygmomanometer main body with a screw assembly, and the screwed-in state is preserved by a caulking ring. The air supply unit also comprises a filter for keeping dust from entering the sphygmomanometer main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 8454522
    Abstract: A method for estimating blood pressure includes sensing a sphygmus wave at a body part of a user to which vibration is applied to generate a sensed sphygmus wave, filtering the sensed sphygmus wave to generated a filtered sphygmus wave, and estimating blood pressure of the user based on time differences between peaks of the sensed sphygmus wave and peaks of the filtered sphygmus wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong Pal Kim
  • Publication number: 20130137941
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the early detection of life-threatening conditions of persons, wherein such risks exist, for example, due to a preceding operation. The system detects a plurality of vital parameters depending on the person to be monitored by means of a detector unit that is subsequently evaluated by an evaluation logic using a neuronal network. Individual parameters that exceed thresholds and constellations of parameters that represent a critical health condition of the person are displayed in different forms by means of a display device, depending on the risk. Said risk is determined in that the probability of the presence of a health anomaly is first determined and then evaluated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventor: Anne Schardey
  • Patent number: 8449444
    Abstract: Materials and methods related to blood pump systems are described. These can be used in patients to, for example, monitor arterial pressure, measure blood flow, maintain left ventricular pressure within a particular range, avoid left ventricular collapse, prevent fusion of the aortic valve in a subject having a blood pump, and provide a means to wean a patient from a blood pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Thoratec Corporation
    Inventor: Victor Poirier