HAND-HELD VITAL SIGNS MONITOR
The invention features a vital sign monitor that includes: 1) a hardware control component featuring a microprocessor that operates an interactive, icon-driven GUI on an LCD; and, 2) a sensor component that connects to the control component through a shielded coaxial cable. The sensor features: 1) an optical component that generates a first signal: 2) a plurality electrical components (e.g. electrodes) that generate a second signal; and, 3) an acoustic component that generates a third signal. The microprocessor runs compiled computer code that operates: 1) the touch panel LCD; 2) a graphical user interface that includes multiple icons corresponding to different software operations: 3) a file-management system for storing and retrieving vital sign information; and 4) USB and short-range wireless systems for transferring data to and from the device to a PC.
1 . A device for monitoring a patient's vital signs comprising:
a sensor component that attaches to the patient's chest and comprises a plurality of sensors that measure, respectively a first and second signal:
a control component comprising:
a display element,
an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the first signal and second signal into, respectively, a first digital signal and a second digital signal,
a CPU configured to operate an algorithm that generates a blood pressure value by processing with air algorithm the first digital signal and second digital signal,
a pulse oximetry circuit, in electrical contact with the CPU, configured to generate a pulse oximetry value,
a graphical user interface generated by computer code operating on the CPU and configured to render on the display element the pulse oximetry value and blood pressure value, and,
means for connecting the sensor component to the control component and transmitting information between these components.