BODY-WORN VITAL SIGN MONITOR
The invention provides a body-worn vital sign monitor that measures a patient's vital signs (e.g. blood pressure, SpO2, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature) while simultaneously characterizing their activity state (e.g. resting, walking, convulsing, falling) and posture (upright, supine). The monitor processes this information to minimize corruption of the vital signs and associated alarms/alerts by motion-related artifacts. It also features a graphical user interface (GUI) rendered on a touchpanel display that facilitates a number of features to simplify and improve patient monitoring and safety in both the hospital and home.
1 . A system for measuring vital signs from a patient, comprising:
a first sensor attached to a first portion of the patient's body and configured to measure a first signal from the patient;
a second sensor attached to a second portion of the patient's body and configured to measure a second signal from the patient;
a processing component configured to be worn on the patient's body and comprising a microprocessor and an interface to both the first and second sensors, the processing component configured to receive the first and second signals and collectively process them or versions thereof to calculate at least one vital sign value;
a wireless transmitter configured to receive the at least one vital sign value from the processing component and transmit it over a wireless interface; and
a two-way communications system configured to transmit and receive audio signals over the wireless interface.
2 . A system for measuring vital signs from a patient, comprising:
a first sensor configured to generate a first time-dependent waveform indicative of one or more contractile properties of the patient's heart;
a second sensor configured to generate a second time-dependent waveform indicative of one or more contractile properties of the patient's heart;
a processing component configured to be worn on the patient's body and comprising a microprocessor and an interface to both the first and second sensors, the processing component configured to: (i) receive a first signal representing the first time-dependent waveform through a first interface; (ii) receive a second signal representing the second time-dependent waveform through a second interface; and (iii) calculate at least one vital sign value from at least one of the first and second signals or versions thereof;
a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the at least one vital sign value over a wireless interface; and
a two-way communications system configured to transmit and receive audio signals over the wireless interface.
3 . A system for measuring vital signs from a patient, comprising:
a first sensor attached to a first portion of the patient's body and configured to measure a first signal from the patient;
a second sensor attached to a second portion of the patient's body and configured to measure a second signal from the patient;
a processing component configured to be worn on the patient's arm and configured to receive and process the first and second signals to calculate at least one vital sign value;
a wireless transmitter configured to receive the at least one vital sign value from the processing component and transmit it over a wireless interface; and
a two-way communications system configured to transmit and receive audio signals over the wireless interface.
4 . A system for measuring vital signs from a patient, comprising:
a first sensor attached to a first portion of the patient's body and configured to measure a first signal from the patient;
a second sensor attached to a second portion of the patient's body and configured to measure a second signal from the patient; and
a processing component configured to be worn on the patient's arm and comprising:
a processor configured to receive and process the first and second signals to calculate at least one vital sign value;
a graphical user interface configured to render a two-way communications interface;
a wireless transmitter configured to receive the at least one vital sign value from the processor and transmit it over a wireless interface; and
a two-way communications system initiated from the graphical user interface and configured to transmit and receive audio signals over the wireless interface.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the two-way communications system comprises a speaker.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the two-way communications system comprises a microphone.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless interface is a wireless network.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the wireless network is a network based on an 802.11 protocol.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the wireless interface is a VOIP interface.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the wireless network is based on a cellular protocol.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing component further comprises a touchpanel display.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the touchpanel display is further configured to render both a patient interface and a clinician interface.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the patient interface is a default interface rendered on the touchpanel display.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the patient interface comprises a graphical icon that, when initiated, activates the two-way communications system.
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the clinician interface requires entry of a security code to be activated on the touchpanel display.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the clinician interface comprises a numerical keypad to enter the security code.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the processing component comprises a barcode reader to read the security code.
18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing component comprises a strap configured to wrap around the patient's arm.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the processing component is configured to be worn on the patient's wrist, the first sensor is configured to be worn on the patient's chest, and the second sensor is configured to be worn on the patient's finger.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the first sensor comprises an ECG circuit configured to be worn on the patient's chest that connects to ECG electrodes configured to attach to the patient's torso.
21 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the second sensor comprises a finger ring sensor comprising an optical system and configured to wrap around the patient's finger.