Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system (100) and method of inductively measuring the bio-impedance of a conductive tissue (106). Furthermore the invention relates to a computer program (115) for operating such a system (100). In order to provide a fast, simple and reliable adjustment technique for an inductively bio- impedance measuring system (100) with separate generator and sensor coils (101, 108; 117) a system (100) is suggested, the system (100) comprising a generator coil (101) adapted for generating a primary magnetic field, said primary magnetic field inducing an eddy current in the conductive tissue (106), a separate sensor coil (108; 117) adapted for sensing a secondary magnetic field, said secondary magnetic field being generated as a result of said eddy current, with the axis (109) of the sensor coil (108; 117) being orientated substantially perpendicular to the flux lines of the primary magnetic field (103), and a shimming coil (113; 120) adapted for generating a tertiary magnetic field in a way that in the sensor coil (108; 117) the primary magnetic field is cancelled out.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system (1) and method for automatically monitoring the movement activity of a fetus. In order to provide a simple and reliable technique for monitoring the movement activity of a fetus, a method of automatically monitoring the movement activity of a fetus is suggested, the method comprising the steps of: detecting (200) the overall movements of a pregnant female, said overall movements comprising movements of the pregnant female and movements of the fetus; detecting at least one second physiological signal (26) of the pregnant female; and - determining (300) the movement activity of the fetus by analyzing the detected overall movements of the pregnant female, analyzing the at least one second physiological signal (26) of the pregnant female, and discriminating movements of the pregnant female from movements of the fetus depending on the analyzing results.
Abstract:
The invention refers to a sensor arrangement for weight and/or movement sensing in a bed and uses thereof, to a bed and to a method of sensing weight and/or movement of a user in a bed. For the sensing of weight, activity and/or cardiopulmonary performance in a bed, force sensors integrated between a bedframe and a mattress frame are used. The sensors are designed in a way that they can be positioned between the mattress frame and the bedframe without significantly enhancing the height of a mattress bearing surface. Thus, the integration into any bed with bedframe can be easily realized. The measurements do not require any user interaction or even direct contact between user and sensor.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a patient monitoring system for monitoring cardio pulmonary performance or the like by means of capacitive measurement. Further the invention relates to a method for monitoring cardio pulmonary performance or the like by means of a capacitive measurement. In order to provide a reliable technique for monitoring cardio pulmonary performance or the like, which technique is particularly suitable for home use, a patient monitoring system (1) for monitoring cardio pulmonary performance or the like by means of capacitive measurement is suggested, said system (1) comprising a number of electrodes (2) arranged in the form of a matrix (3), said electrodes (2) being adapted to be integrated with a bed (4) or the like, each electrode (2) being individually selectable, means (5) for determining a number of electrodes (2) depending on the position of the patient on the bed (4) or the like, said means (5) being adapted to determine the number of electrodes (2) by determining the capacitance of a number of electrodes (2), and means (5) for selecting a number of said determined electrodes (2) for carrying out a capacitive measurement.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a user interface system for a personal healthcare environment. Furthermore the invention relates to a method of operating such a user interface system. In order to provide a user interface system which can easily be used by disabled users, a user interface system (1) is suggested, comprising a number of user interface components (2, 3, 4), and further comprising an adaptation module (5), said adaptation module (5) being adapted to carry out an automatic adaptation of at least one of the components (2, 3, 4) based on the disabilities of an individual user.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system and method of analyzing the movement of a user (4) . More particularly the present invention relates to a new technique for assessing a user's motor functions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, robust, and low-cost technique for analyzing the movement of a user, which can be used in an unsupervised home environment. This object is achieved according to the invention by a method of analyzing the movement of a user, the method comprising the steps of causing the user to perform a coordinated movement in accordance with an instruction, generating video image data in form of a sequence of images by video recording the user, determining in the sequence of images a degree of synchronicity of optical flow on the left (14) and right body half (15) using a computer system (11) comprising computer vision technology, and assessing the user' s motor functions based on the degree of synchronicity.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus (1) for inductively measuring the bio-impedance of a user' s body. Furthermore the invention relates to a bed (2) comprising said apparatus (1). In order to provide a method and apparatus for spatially resolved inductively measuring the bio-impedance of a user' s body without a complex circuitry, an apparatus (1) is suggested for inductively measuring the bio-impedance of a user's body, whereas the apparatus (1) comprises a number of first inductors (4), said first inductors (4) being adapted to induce an alternating magnetic field in the user's body and the apparatus (1) further comprises a number of second inductors (6), said second inductors (6) being adapted to measure a secondary magnetic field in the user's body, characterized in that each of the number of first inductors (4) overlaps at least one of the number of second inductors (6) to form a number of measuring areas (12, 25).