154 results about "Ambulatory" patented technology

An implanted medical device (e.g. infusion pump) and an external device communicate with one another via telemetry messages that are receivable only during windows or listening periods. Each listening period is open for a prescribed period of time and is spaced from successive listening periods by an interval. The prescribed period of time is typically kept small to minimize power consumption. To increase likelihood of successful communication, the window may be forced to an open state, by use of an attention signal, in anticipation of an incoming message. To further minimize power consumption, it is desirable to minimize use of extended attention signals, which is accomplished by the transmitter maintaining an estimate of listening period start times and attempting to send messages only during listening periods. In the communication device, the estimate is updated as a result of information obtained with the reception of each message from the medical device.

The present invention relates to the field of ambulatory and non-invasive monitoring of a plurality of physiological parameters of a monitored individual. The invention includes a physiological monitoring apparatus with an improved monitoring apparel worn by a monitored individual, the apparel having attached sensors for monitoring parameters reflecting pulmonary function, or parameters reflecting cardiac function, or parameters reflecting the function of other organ systems, and the apparel being designed and tailored to be comfortable during the individual's normal daily activities. The apparel is preferably also suitable for athletic activities. The sensors preferably include one or more ECG leads and one of more inductive plethysmographic sensor with conductive loops positioned closely to the individual to preferably monitor at least basic cardiac parameters, basic pulmonary parameters, or both. The monitoring apparatus also includes a unit for receiving data from the sensors, and for storing the data in a computer-readable medium. The invention also includes systems comprising a central data repository for receiving, storing, and processing data generated by a plurality of physiological monitored apparatus, and for making stored data available to the individual and to health care providers.

A multi-parametric vital signs monitoring device configured for use as an ambulatory and a bedside monitor wherein the device can be patient-wearable and is battery powered. The monitoring device can be used with a charging cradle to provide power to the device in lieu of the battery as a power source for bedside applications, in which the cradle further serves as an intermediary device to enable a data link with a PC or other peripheral device. The monitoring device can include a wireless radio to enable bi-directional transfer of patient-related data to a separate remote station.

A water and moisture sealed, self contained, compact, long term, ambulatory physio-kinetic monitor is designed for mounting directly to the skin of an athlete or fitness performer, preferably immediately adjacent to the organ or system that is to be monitored, and is adhesively held there in place, covertly and comfortably, under clothing by disposable electrode, adhesive skin pads. At least three positive electrodes and a common negative electrode extend from the monitor and attach by similar disposable adhesive electrode pads to detect physiological, e.g. ECG data. Accelerometer means disposed within the monitor detects body movement and likewise stores that data on a third ECG data channel.

A human computer interface system includes a user interface having sensors adapted to detect footfalls of a user's feet and generate corresponding sensor signals, a host computer communicatively coupled to the user interface and adapted to manage a virtual environment containing an avatar associated with the user, and control circuitry adapted to control the avatar within the virtual environment to perform one of a plurality of virtual activities based at least in part upon at least one of a sequence and timing of detected footfalls of the user. The virtual activities include at least two of standing, walking, jumping, hopping, jogging, and running. The host computer is further adapted to drive a display to present a view to the user of the avatar performing the at least one virtual activity within the virtual environment.

Ambulatory patient monitoring apparatus including a portable housing including at least one physiological data input device operative to gather physiological data of the patient, location determination circuitry, and communications circuitry for communicating the physiological data and the geographic location information to a central health monitoring station wirelessly and over a data network, and control circuitry operative to simultaneously store a first portion of such physiological data in a memory in FIFO fashion and a second portion of such physiological data in such memory that is write-protected with respect to said first portion.

A non-invasive bodily-attached ambulatory medical monitoring and treatment device with pacing is provided. The noninvasive ambulatory pacing device includes a battery, at least one therapy electrode coupled to the battery, a memory storing information indicative of a patient's cardiac activity, and at least one processor coupled to the memory and the at least one therapy electrode. The at least one processor is configured to identify a cardiac arrhythmia within the information and execute at least one pacing routine to treat the identified cardiac arrhythmia.

Ambulatory patent monitoring apparatus including a portable housing including at least one physiological data input device operative to gather physiological data of the patient, location determination circuitry, and communications circuitry for communicating the physiological data and the geographic location information to a central health monitoring station via a cellular network and a data network.

A handheld device (100) comprises a plurality of ambulation mechanisms (222-224, 1002-1008) that enable the handheld device (100) to perform translations, rotations or compound movements on a surface (502) on which the device (100) is placed. Using the ambulation mechanisms (222-224, 1002-1008), the device (100) is able to communicate the occurrence of various events to a user via ambulation gestures that are recognized by the user. Ambulation gestures can be programmed by the user. Disclosed ambulation mechanisms (222-224, 1002-1008) comprise linear (302, 700, 800) or rotary (1018, 1102) vibration transducers that are mechanically coupled to elastic feet (226-228, 606-608, 1110) that have an asymmetric tread (402). The asymmetric tread (402) is effective to convert vibration generated by the vibration transducers (302, 700, 800, 1018, 1102) to movement forces tangential to the surface (502) on which the device (100) is placed.

A walker apparatus comprised of a first front support leg assembly, a second front support leg assembly, a first sliding joint, a second sliding joint, a central hinge joint, a first rear support leg assembly, a second rear support leg assembly, a first support member, a second support member, a front leg collapsing assembly, and a rear leg collapsing assembly. The walker apparatus is adapted to be is collapsed to a compact shape in a continuous collapsing motion.

To achieve “ecological” robotic rehabilitation therapy, the present invention provides the system capacity of training of patients in different ambulatory tasks utilizing motorized footplates that guide the lower limbs according to human gait trajectories generated for different ambulatory tasks of interest. A lower extremity robotic rehabilitation system comprises an active pelvic / hip device which applies series elastic actuation to achieve an intrinsically safe and desirable impedance control. A robotic unit features the telepresence operation control that allows a patient stay at home or nursing home to continue his or her rehabilitation training under a physician's remote supervision and monitoring. The robot unit utilizes an affective patient-robot interface to capture emotional information of the patient, to allow for real-time adaptation of the robotic system and adjustments of treatment protocol, and to enhance the quality and effectiveness of rehabilitation

An wireless ambulatory reflux monitoring system capable of monitoring and recording esophageal biological parameters during an ambulatory period. The wireless ambulatory reflux monitoring system is further capable of recording perceived reflux events at the discretion of a patient contemporaneously with the recording of biological data.

The present invention provides an improved, Internet-based system that seamlessly collects cardiovascular data from a patient before, during, and after a procedure for EP or an ID. During an EP procedure, the system collects information describing the patient's response to PES and the ablation process, ECG waveforms and their various features, HR and other vital signs, HR variability, cardiac arrhythmias, patient demographics, and patient outcomes. Once these data are collected, the system stores them on an Internet-accessible computer system that can deploy a collection of user-selected and custom-developed algorithms. Before and after the procedure, the system also integrates with body-worn and / or programmers that interrogate implanted devices to collect similar data while the patient is either ambulatory, or in a clinic associated with the hospital. A data-collection / storage module, featuring database interface, stores physiological and procedural information measured from the patient.

Ambulatory membrane pump intended for medical use e.g. for infusion purposes, consisting of two main parts: 1) the basic device with motor drive and computer, and 2) the administration set, which is disposable. The arrangement with check valves in both ends of the administration system safeguards that no leakage happens when gravitational forces are acting, due to height differences between fluid bag and needle.

A wearable ambulatory data recorder that senses physiological parameters of a patient, and stores physiological parameter data for later retrieval, as well as techniques for using such a wearable ambulatory data recorder, are described. The data recorder includes one or more sensors located on or within a housing. The data recorder may include an adhesive layer for attachment to a patient. In some embodiments, the housing may be within a patch, e.g., bandage, which includes the adhesive layer. The housing may be waterproof. Features of the data recorder such as size, waterproofness, and inclusion of an adhesive may allow the data recorder to be unobtrusively worn by a patient during a variety of daily activities. The data recorder may be for single use and thereafter disposable.

An inflatable balloon pump can be anchored with respect to a wall of the aorta for endoscopic surgical positioning with respect to the aorta of the patient. After engagement of the anchor member in an endoscopically selected location of the aorta, the inflatable balloon pump can be cyclically inflated and deflated to assist the cardiac function based on measured clinical parameters of the patient. The balloon pump can include tapered longitudinal ends and / or be segmented into a plurality of pumping chamber subsegments, each pumping chamber subsegment separated by a flexible power conduit link, where the diameter of the pumping chamber subsegments are independent of one another. Anchor members can be provided located adjacent at least one longitudinal end of the pump, or each longitudinal end of each inflatable chamber defining the pump, or sheathing at least one of the inflatable chambers defining the pump.

A disposable brief is provided with exterior front and rear pockets to receive and hold in position thermal packs, either hot or cold, at locations such as the lower abdomen, the crotch, the anal area or the lower back. The preferred brief is inexpensive and universal in that it may be worn by both males and females and is readily adjustable in size to fit various sizes of waists, hips or legs to reduce the inventory needed by an institution. The preferred disposable brief is in the form of a diaper that has a rear portion or panel that may be slid under a prone patient's back, a crotch portion that may be pulled between the patient's legs, a front portion or panel that may be positioned over the lower abdomen and securable hip or waist portions such as adjustable straps to secure the brief to the patient and retain the thermal packs in position for a patient in bed or for a patient when ambulatory. The pockets are easily opened and the cold or hot packs may be easily inserted or removed from difficult locations such as behind a patient's back. The preferred brief is reversible so that what would be the rear portion can be positioned as a front portion on the patient, usually for the purpose of locating the pocket on the rear portion at a particular location on the abdomen to apply heat or cold to this location. The illustrated brief may have two or three pockets which are located at the crotch, a rear portion and / or a front portion of the brief. In other embodiments, an absorbent pad such as a sanitary pad is provided for use with the disposable brief. A hot or cold pad may be inserted into a pocket of the disposable brief having the sanitary pad to alleviate cramping if it occurs during the menstrual period. In a still further embodiment, an inexpensive brief or panty has an integral sanitary pad with the used brief and pad being discarded after a single usage thereof.

The present invention relates to a method of analyzing a subject for excessive daytime sleepiness, and more particularly to a quick (short duration), quantitative method of analyzing a subject for sleep apnea. The present invention additionally relates a device for use in detecting excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and another device for detecting sleep apnea. One embodiment of the present invention includes a method of screening for sleep apnea comprising of measuring EEG signals from a subject to determine sleep onset time(s) over a measurement period, as well as measuring and analyzing respirations of the subject to determine variability of the subject's respiration about the sleep onset time(s). A determination about whether the subject has sleep apnea will be based in part on the variability of the subject's respirations about the sleep onset time(s).

A method of determining a confidence level in a heart rate obtained from an ECG signal of a patent comprises determining a heart rate from a segment of an ECG signal, the segment having a pre-determined length, and determining a first confidence level in the determined heart rate. If the first confidence level exceeds a predetermined value, the heart rate is output. Otherwise, the method further comprises determining a set of features from the segment of the ECG signal; and classifying the segment of the ECG signal, based on one or more features selected from the determined set of features and the heart rate, into one of at least three classes: noise, an abnormal sinus rhythm and a normal sinus rhythm.

A long term intra-aortic balloon pump (LTIABP) includes an enlarged pumping chamber on the order of 50 cc to 65 cc, inclusive. The pumping chamber is an intra luminal, large volume, long term balloon pump. The balloon pump can include tapered longitudinal ends and / or be segmented into a plurality of pumping chamber segments, each pumping chamber subsegment separated by a flexible power conduit link, where the diameter of the pumping chamber subsegments are independent of one another such as decreasing in size as the subsegments are further from the heart to accommodate the decreasing diameter of the aorta. The LTIABP can be used with any skin connector, or can be used with a percutaneous access device (PAD). The PAD can be sized and shaped to be surgically implanted in any desired location of the patient corresponding to the particular entry selected for implantation of a temporary IABP or LTIABP.

A walker apparatus comprised of a first front support leg assembly, a second front support leg assembly, a first sliding joint, a second sliding joint, a central hinge joint, a first rear support leg assembly, a second rear support leg assembly, a first support member, a second support member, a front leg collapsing assembly, and a rear leg collapsing assembly. The walker apparatus is adapted to be is collapsed to a compact shape in a continuous collapsing motion.

Wearable (ambulatory) monitors of the present invention have a segmented design, with at least two and preferably three (or more) mechanically independent, spaced apart sensors (e.g., electrodes or other types of physiological sensors) located in discrete islands, or housing structures that are flexibly connected to one another. Each of the sensors is in operable communication with one or more electronics module(s), also located in one or more of the islands. In some embodiments, an electronics module may be centrally located with respect to two or more peripherally located sensors.

The invention relates to a loading and unloading system for a distribution center type automated container terminal. The loading and unloading system comprises a plurality of quay cranes, a nearshore multipath rectangular-ambulatory-plane automatic transportation system, an elevated container automatic loading and unloading system, a storage yard, a container evacuating port side multipath rectangular-ambulatory-plane automatic transportation system, a container evacuating port transportation system, an annular special container channel and a control system. Compared with the scheme of an existing automated container terminal, the loading and unloading system for the distribution center type automated container terminal is advantaged in that the loading and unloading system is creative and unique, and is high in production efficiency, safety, automation degree and stability, and is simple in structure, simple to control and complete in scheme.

An ambulatory intrinsic brain signal processor circuit is coupled to a plurality of electrodes. The signal processor circuit can include a digital multiplexer circuit coupled to the electrodes to multiplex brain signal data from different electrodes together into a multiplexed data stream. An ambulatory transceiver circuit wirelessly communicates information to and from a remote transceiver. A controller circuit permits a user to control which of the electrodes contribute data, a data resolution, and whether the data includes one or both of neural action or local field potential data. Seizure prediction components and methods are also described.

The present invention provides an improved, Internet-based system that seamlessly collects cardiovascular data from a patient before, during, and after a procedure for EP or an ID. During an EP procedure, the system collects information describing the patient's response to PES and the ablation process, ECG waveforms and their various features, HR and other vital signs, HR variability, cardiac arrhythmias, patient demographics, and patient outcomes. Once these data are collected, the system stores them on an Internet-accessible computer system that can deploy a collection of user-selected and custom-developed algorithms. Before and after the procedure, the system also integrates with body-worn and / or programmers that interrogate implanted devices to collect similar data while the patient is either ambulatory, or in a clinic associated with the hospital. A data-collection / storage module, featuring database interface, stores physiological and procedural information measured from the patient.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to medical devices and treatments for chronic venous insufficiency, open ulceration and related medical conditions, and more particularly to a device and treatment incorporating negative pressure compression to the foot and lower leg or other appendage of a patient.

The present invention provides an improved, Internet-based system that seamlessly collects cardiovascular data from a patient before, during, and after a procedure for EP or an ID. During an EP procedure, the system collects information describing the patient's response to PES and the ablation process, ECG waveforms and their various features, HR and other vital signs, HR variability, cardiac arrhythmias, patient demographics, and patient outcomes. Once these data are collected, the system stores them on an Internet-accessible computer system that can deploy a collection of user-selected and custom-developed algorithms. Before and after the procedure, the system also integrates with body-worn and / or programmers that interrogate implanted devices to collect similar data while the patient is either ambulatory, or in a clinic associated with the hospital. A data-collection / storage module, featuring database interface, stores physiological and procedural information measured from the patient.

The electrocardiograph (200) of the invention is suitable for capturing a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from signals representative of the cardiac activity of a patient and acquired with the help of at least nine electrodes. The electrocardiograph comprises a body (210) having a front face (211) and at least one arm (212, 213) suitable for being folded beside the body and pivotable about an axis that is substantially parallel to the front face. Each arm is adapted to form a variable dihedral angle with the front face so that the substantially concave surface (214) formed by the front face and the or each arm and having six precordial electrodes (201-206) distributed thereon, is capable of adapting to the patient's morphology so as to enable the precordial electrodes to be properly positioned on the patient's chest. The electrocardiograph also includes means enabling said good positioning of the precordial electrodes on the patient's chest to be maintained.

Methods and apparatus are provided for electrically isolating an ambulatory medical device for infusing treatment materials into a patient when the medical device is connected to a peripheral device via an active communication cable. In one embodiment, the ambulatory medical device include first circuitry controlling infusion of a medicament to the patient by a fluid conduit connectable to the patient and second circuitry controlling communications when an active communication cable is connected to the medical device. The first and second circuitry are electrically isolated using a pair of first and second isolation transceivers, where the first pair of isolation transceivers communicate a control signal and the second pair of isolation transceivers are giant magneto-resistive (GMR) transceivers that communicate at least one data signal.