Abstract:
The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring properties of an object (2). The invention relates further to a corresponding method and a corresponding computer program. The apparatus comprises an antenna (3, 4) for sending and/or receiving electromagnetic waves to and/or from the object (2) for measuring a property of the object, wherein the antenna (3, 4) comprises an electrically conductive element for functioning as an electrode for measuring a further property of the object.
Abstract:
An apparatus is described to measure pulse wave velocity, PWV, along a pathway in the cardiovascular system of a subject and comprising a first sensor coupled to a processor, a second sensor coupled to the processor, the processor arranged to calculate the PWV from measured and calculated values of the sensors. At least one sensor is a transducer arranged to emit electromagnetic signals at a certain frequency and detect doppler shifted reflected electromagnetic signals representative of a pulsatile motion occurring at the respective position in the cardiovascular system. The transducer can be applied directly to the skin, or can be applied to clothing covering skin, and allows the calculation of pulse wave velocity, PWV, without the use of acoustic gel.
Abstract:
Sleep management system and method for improving sleep quality. The system preferably consists of unobtrusive sensors (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) which allow a continuous, every night monitoring, without interfering with a user's sleep. They aresuited to record a certain set ofvital parameters that allows for basic characterization of sleep quality. The user.preferably receives daily feedback on sleep scores and suggestions to improve sleep 5 quality based on medically accepted behavioral changes. The system and method use data processing software, feedback and coaching strategies.
Abstract:
The invention concerns an apparatus, system, wearable apparatus and concomitant processing system to detect instants in time at which a cyclically pulsating object within the body of an individual is temporarily quiescent, such an object being the heart, an artery or the lungs. The essence of the invention is the use of a doppler radar motion detector, normally used for vehicular speed detection or the detection of building occupancy. The doppler radar motion detector is arranged to transmit electromagnetic signal towards the object and receive reflected electromagnetic signal from the object, and the apparatus is further arranged to identify the instants in time at which the reflected signal indicates the object is temporarily quiescent. The invention is particularly suitable for ambulatory monitoring of the heart.
Abstract:
The invention relates to heart measurement and heart monitoring, in particular the measurement of mechanical heart activity, and includes a method and apparatus to using doppler radar to transmit an electromagnetic signal of a certain frequency into, and detect a reflected signal from out of, the chest of the individual, to processing the detected signal to produce an output signal representing the rate of change of the doppler signal associated with the reflected signal and to identify from the output signal a group of at least one characteristic point of the output signal, and further to calculate at least one parameter representative of heart activity, this calculation based on the at least one identified characteristic point. The apparatus provides a system for monitoring which is particularly suitable for use in the home and which does not require repeated use of impedance cardiograms which are inappropriate for use by untrained personnel.
Abstract:
The invention related to a modulator for a communications system. The modulator comprises a spread spectrum coder, a pulse code modulator having a signal input port connectable to a signal output port of the spread spectrum coder. The modulator performs a robust and error free modulation and coding scheme by using a modified spread spectrum scheme combined with pulse code modulation. The communication system contains a low data rate, noise robust modulation and coding scheme using a very simple transmitter. This results in a very straightforward transmitter circuit, reducing size and costs of the transmitter.
Abstract:
The invention concerns an apparatus, system, wearable apparatus and concomitant processing system to detect instants in time at which a cyclically pulsating object within the body of an individual is temporarily quiescent, such an object being the heart, an artery or the lungs. The essence of the invention is the use of a doppler radar motion detector, normally used for vehicular speed detection or the detection of building occupancy. The doppler radar motion detector is arranged to transmit electromagnetic signal towards the object and receive reflected electromagnetic signal from the object, and the apparatus is further arranged to identify the instants in time at which the reflected signal indicates the object is temporarily quiescent. The invention is particularly suitable for ambulatory monitoring of the heart.
Abstract:
The invention relates to heart measurement and heart monitoring, in particular the measurement of mechanical heart activity, and includes a method and apparatus to using doppler radar to transmit an electromagnetic signal of a certain frequency into, and detect a reflected signal from out of, the chest of the individual, to processing the detected signal to produce an output signal representing the rate of change of the doppler signal associated with the reflected signal and to identify from the output signal a group of at least one characteristic point of the output signal, and further to calculate at least one parameter representative of heart activity, this calculation based on the at least one identified characteristic point. The apparatus provides a system for monitoring which is particularly suitable for use in the home and which does not require repeated use of impedance cardiograms which are inappropriate for use by untrained personnel.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a Doppler radar heart sensor comprising a radar signal emitter (102); a radar signal receiver (103); a signal pattern matcher (106); and a transmission power adjuster (108). The signal pattern matcher (106) is connected to the radar signal receiver (102) and arranged to analyze a received radar signal (105), to compare the received radar signal with signal patterns, and to issue a corresponding indication signal upon detection of a sufficiently high similarity between the received radar signal and at least one of the signal patterns. A transmission power adjuster (109) is connected to the radar signal emitter (102) and the signal pattern matcher (106), the transmission power adjuster being arranged to gradually modify a transmission power delivered to the radar signal emitter (102) until the signal pattern matcher issues the indication signal. The invention also relates to a corresponding method and a computer program product.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a waveguide (24) for focusing electromagnetic energy on an area of interest, said waveguide (24) comprising outer walls forming a channel with a width (w) and a height (h) for the propagation of the electromagnetic waves. In order to be able to focus the EM waves on an area of interest, i.e. the chest of a patient (20), so that influences which other moving objects in the environment have on the waves, are shielded away, the channel is provided with a first opening and a second opening wherein said walls are non-metal hollow walls filled with an electrically conductive liquid. The waveguide (24) can be used for example with a computed tomography system (12) CT with a rotating gantry (16) and a patient table (18). The waveguide (24) will not produce artefacts in the CT image by scattering the X-ray, like a metal wall would do it. Nevertheless the conductive liquid makes the construction work as a waveguide for EM waves.