Abstract:
A subject's heart rate is determined by recognizing heart beat patterns in a heart beat signal. A heart rate monitor receives a Doppler signal reflected from an artery of a target, performs demodulation and heart beat recognition techniques on the received signal to determine a set or sequence of features in each frame of the signal. Once a feature sequence is extracted from the signal, pattern classification is performed to determine if the extracted feature sequence is associated with one or more heart beats. The pattern classification may include finding the optimal state sequence by calculating the probability of each allowable state sequence based on the extracted feature sequence and heart beat models or additional noise models. Another pattern classification technique may determine a heart beat candidate using frame energy and dynamic thresholding methods followed by computing the probabilities between the feature sequence and each stored heart beat model or additional noise models. A further pattern classification technique may identify heart beat candidates using frame energy and dynamic thresholding methods and compute the similarity between the feature sequences and each of the stored heart beat templates. Post-processing is applied to heart beat candidates to determine if the candidates are associated with a true heartbeat, noise or some other signal source. Once a true heart beat is identified, the subject heart rate is updated based on the detected heart beat and displayed for a user.
Abstract:
A heart rate monitor for calculating heart rate based upon EKG signals. The monitor preferably utilizes 3 electrodes to pick up EKG signals and a differential amplifier to cancel common mode signals in the output of the electrode. An analog bandpass filter comprised of a low pass and high pass filter in series each with different rolloffs filters out low and high frequency components. The signals are digitized and digital filtering to remove power line hum and remnants of low and high frequency noise is performed. Then the EKG signals are digitally enhanced by differentiating and squaring the results of the differentiator then being averaged in a moving average computation so as to generate enhanced digital data. The enhanced digital data is then processed to learn the EKG characteristics, and a heart rate arbitrator processes the incoming signals to select out actual EKG complexes from EMG noise and other noise. The EKG isolation process is done using rules of reason and the learned characteristics of the EKG signal.
Abstract:
Electro static discharge (ESD) protection is provided for electronic devices with integrated circuits, such as for example heart rate monitors. The ESD protection protects against voltage accumulation and discharge through device external parts that are connected to internal device circuitry. The ESD protection isolates the internal device circuitry and provides a low impedance path over which electro static charges and any transient voltages in the device may discharge. The integrated circuits, electrical components, and other parts protected from ESD may be connected to monitor circuitry and be externally exposed, such as sensing or measurement parts exposed outside the device. The external parts may include a sensing case back, sensing push-buttons, or other components that provide a signal to or are otherwise in communication with the internal device circuitry.
Abstract:
A heart rate monitor determines a heart rate for a primary subject by reducing noise and cross-talk from unwanted signal transmission sources. A set of pulse peaks having about the same amplitude and an amplitude greater than any other set of peaks are processed to determine a subject's heart rate, while data having an amplitude below that of the set of peaks is ignored. To retrieve enough data to determine a peak amplitude, the signal having heart rate information is sampled at a frequency higher than a normal sampling frequency. In some embodiments, if no data is received for a set time period which is in or above the range, the threshold resets to zero under an assumption that the primary subject is no longer within transmitting range.
Abstract:
An ultrasonic monitor implemented on a PCB includes a gel pad comprised of a gel layer and a membrane layer. Ultrasonic signals are transmitted between the ultrasonic monitor and a living subject through the gel pad. An air gap is formed in the PCB underneath transducer elements to provide for more efficient signal transmission. These features provide for a low power, low cost, more efficient ultrasonic monitor. The entire ultrasonic monitor may be encapsulated in plastic, a gel, or both to provide water resistant properties.
Abstract:
The invention provides an ultrasonic monitor for measuring pulse rate values in a living subject, including a module with at least one source of ultrasonic energy, a gel pad comprised of a polymer and from about 50 to about 95% by weight of an ultrasound conductive diluent, wherein the gel pad is positioned in direct contact between the module and the living subject; an ultrasonic energy detector and associated hardware and software for detecting, calculating and displaying a readout of the measured rate values.
Abstract:
A heart rate monitor determines a heart rate for a primary subject by reducing noise and cross-talk from unwanted signal transmission sources. A set of pulse peaks having about the same amplitude and an amplitude greater than any other set of peaks are processed to determine a subject's heart rate, while data having an amplitude below that of the set of peaks is ignored. To retrieve enough data to determine a peak amplitude, the signal having heart rate information is sampled at a frequency higher than a normal sampling frequency. In some embodiments, if no data is received for a set time period which is in or above the range, the threshold resets to zero under an assumption that the primary subject is no longer within transmitting range.
Abstract:
A monitor provides a wireless signal with respective pulses, based on a heartbeat, repetitive physical movement, or other repetitive bodily action of a user. The pulses include longer duration pulses whose duration identifies the monitor, and distinguishes it from other monitors which may provide crosstalk interference. The longer duration pulses are interspersed among short duration pulses to reduce power consumption. A receiver unit processes the signal to determine a rate of the bodily action and provide a corresponding output. The receiver unit can operate in a baseline mode when crosstalk is not detected, where each pulse is used to determine the rate, or in a crosstalk mode when crosstalk is detected, where only the longer duration pulses are used to determine the rate. The receiver unit can synchronize with two or more consecutive longer duration pulses. The pulse duration can be fixed or determined dynamically, e.g., non-deterministically.
Abstract:
A monitor provides a wireless signal with respective pulses, based on a heartbeat, repetitive physical movement, or other repetitive bodily action of a user. The pulses include longer duration pulses whose duration identifies the monitor, and distinguishes it from other monitors which may provide crosstalk interference. The longer duration pulses are interspersed among short duration pulses to reduce power consumption. A receiver unit processes the signal to determine a rate of the bodily action and provide a corresponding output. The receiver unit can operate in a baseline mode when crosstalk is not detected, where each pulse is used to determine the rate, or in a crosstalk mode when crosstalk is detected, where only the longer duration pulses are used to determine the rate. The receiver unit can synchronize with two or more consecutive longer duration pulses. The pulse duration can be fixed or determined dynamically, e.g., non-deterministically.
Abstract:
The invention provides an ultrasonic monitor for measuring pulse rate values in a living subject, including a module with at least one source of ultrasonic energy, a gel pad comprised of a polymer and from about 50 to about 95% by weight of an ultrasound conductive diluent, wherein the gel pad is positioned in direct contact between the module and the living subject; an ultrasonic energy detector and associated hardware and software for detecting, calculating and displaying a readout of the measured rate values.