Abstract:
An optical sensor (12) generates blood pressure data by obtaining two dimensional images of the surface of the patient's body, such as in the vicinity of the radial artery in the wrist area. Blood flow in the patient causes light to be reflected off a flexible reflective surface (14) applied against the patient with a hold down pressure, and the scattering of light is sensed with a two-dimensional array (17) of photo-detectors (18). The output of the photo-detectors during systolic and diastolic events is calibrated against known blood pressure measurements taken with a conventional air-cuff sphygmomanometer. Linear calibration relationships between output signal and blood pressure (FIG. 25) are obtained during calibration for some set of the photo-detectors. When blood pressure data is obtained from the patient, the linear calibration relationship between output signals and blood pressure is applied to the output signals from the set of photo-detectors, resulting in blood pressure data. The method provides for compensation for changes in hold down pressure and translation or rotation of the optical sensor relative to the patient. A preferred optical sensor arrangement for use in performing the method is also described.
Abstract:
A system and method of identifying a pathogenic microorganism is provided. A sample, which contains an unknown, potentially pathogenic microorganism, is placed on an image sensor. The sensor generates an image of the microorganism. The characteristics of the image are compared to a set of known or stored characteristics using fuzzy logic and the microorganism is identified based on this comparison.
Abstract:
A wireless, programmable system for medical monitoring includes a base unit and a plurality of individual wireless, remotely programmable biosensor transceivers. The base unit manages the transceivers by issuing registration, configuration, data acquisition, and transmission commands using wireless techniques. Physiologic data from the wireless transceivers is demultiplexed and supplied via a standard interface to a conventional monitor for display. Initialization, configuration, registration, and management routines for the wireless transceivers and the base unit are also described.
Abstract:
A blood pressure sensor includes a source of photo-radiation, such as an array of laser diodes. The sensor also includes a two-dimensional, flexible reflective surface. The reflective surface is nominally positioned relative to the radiation source such that the radiation travels in a direction normal to the reflective surface. The reflective surface is placed adjacent to the location on the patient where the blood pressure data is to be acquired. Radiation from the source is reflected off of the reflective surface onto a two-dimensional array of photo-detectors. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure fluctuations in the patient are translated into deflections of the patient's skin. These deflections cause corresponding deflections in the two dimensional reflective surface. The associated movement of said flexible reflective surface due to blood pulsation causes scattering patterns from said reflective surface to be detected by the two dimensional array of photo-detectors. The output from the array of photo-detectors is calibrated to blood pressure in mmHg during a calibration procedure to obtain a set of calibration relationships for one or more of the individual detectors. The calibration relationship are then used during acquisition of blood pressure data to arrive at blood pressure data.
Abstract:
A wireless biopotential sensor includes an adhesive strip having a lower surface for placement against the skin of a patient and an upper surface. A pair of conductive electrodes are applied to the lower surface of the adhesive strip. A sensor substrate is applied to the upper surface. The sensor substrate includes first and second conductive contact pads that are placed in registry with the pair of conductive electrodes, with the contact pads arranged in electrical contact with the conductive electrodes. An electronics module is applied to the sensor substrate and arranged in electrical contact with the contact pads. The electronics module comprises a power supply and electronics for generating a wireless signal containing biopotential signals detected by the pair of conductive electrodes.
Abstract:
The organic MEMS according to the present invention comprises a polymeric substrate comprising a substrate surface including a first region and a second region. A polymer coating is applied to the first region to provide a coating surface that is spaced apart from the substrate surface. A terminal is disposed on the second region. A metallic trace is affixed to the coating surface such that the metallic trace forms a flexible extension over the second region. The extension has a rest position where the extension is spaced apart from the terminal, and a flexed position where the extension is disposed towards the terminal. An actuator is used to provide an electric field to deflect the extension from the rest position to the flexed position. By changing the spacing between the extension and the terminal, it is possible to change the electrical condition provided by the MEMS.
Abstract:
An RF tagging system includes an RF tag (10, 30) and an RF tag reader 80. The RF tag includes a plurality of RF resonant circuits. Each RF resonant circuit is resonant at a given RF frequency. A group of decoder RF resonant circuits (12, 32) have resonant frequencies defining one of a plurality of predetermined decoding modalities. A group of data RF resonant circuits (14, 34) have resonant frequencies corresponding to a predetermined identification code when the resonant frequencies of the data RF resonant circuits are decoded in accordance with the one decoding modality. The RF tag reader detects the resonant frequencies of the decoder RF resonant circuits and determines the one decoding modality. The RF tag reader is operative in each of the plurality of predetermined decoding modalities, detects the resonant frequencies of the group of data RF resonant circuits, and decodes the resonant frequencies of the group of data RF resonant circuits in accordance with the one decoding modality to provide the identification code. The decoder RF resonant circuits may also indicate the number of data RF resonant circuits on the RF tag. The RF tag reader determines the predetermined number from the decoder RF resonant circuits to confirm the accurate detection of the data RF resonant circuits. The RF tag reader, when selecting a decoding modality in accordance with the detected resonant frequencies of the decoder RF resonant circuits, determines various frequency bands and alters the RF tag reader frequency detection operation for accurate detection of the data RF resonant circuits.
Abstract:
2094506 9305474 PCTABS00020 A guidance device (101) determines direction, and indicates with a discrete transition indicator (104, 106, 108) when the guidance device axis is aligned that direction. This is accomplished through the integration of a radio navigation receiver, in this case a GPS receiver (203) and a flux-gate compass (205) in a hand held unit with a user interface including a keypad (110), a direction display (119) and a configurable display (115).
Abstract:
Un método para supervisión médica en un sistema inalámbrico, teniendo el sistema inalámbrico una unidad base (18) y al menos un sensor inalámbrico para conexión al cuerpo del paciente (12), incluyendo el método: dotar a dicho sensor inalámbrico de un conjunto transceptor (20) para transmitir y recibir comunicaciones inalámbricas con dicha unidad base (18); dotar a la unidad base (18) de un transceptor inalámbrico (54) para transmitir y recibir comunicaciones inalámbricas con dichos sensores, incluyendo dichas comunicaciones inalámbricas órdenes; y proporcionar un conjunto de instrucciones ejecutables en dicha unidad base (18) donde dicha unidad base (18) puede emitir dichas órdenes a dicho conjunto transceptor (20) en respuesta a la ejecución de dichas instrucciones, respondiendo dicho conjunto transceptor (20) a dichas órdenes según instrucciones almacenadas en dicho transceptor; donde dichas órdenes procedentes de dicha unidad base (18) y respuestas a dichas órdenes procedentes de dicho conjunto transceptor permiten que dicha unidad base (18) gestione y configure a distancia dicho conjunto transceptor (20) en tiempo real antes o durante un período de tiempo en el que dicho conjunto transceptor (20) está adquiriendo señales fisiológicas de dicho paciente (12) y transmitiendo datos correspondientes a dichas señales fisiológicas a dicha unidad base (18); donde dichas órdenes incluyen una asignación de un número de identificación de dicho transceptor inalámbrico y una asignación de una posición funcional de dichos sensores inalámbricos en dicho paciente (12).