3495 results about "Heart rate" patented technology

The invention relates to a method which utilizes blood glucose (“BG”) sampling, insulin infusion / injection records, heart rate (“HR”) information and heart rate varability (“HRV”) information to estimate BG in the near future and to estimate of the risk of the onset of hypoglycemia. The invention also relates to an apparatus for predicting BG levels and for assessing the risk of the onset of hypoglycemia in the near future. The invention is based on two predetermined bio-mathematical routines: a network model of BG fluctuations and a BG profile for assessment of the risk of hypoglycemia.

Apparatus and methods are provided for monitoring cardiac output using bioelectrical impedance techniques in which first and second electrodes are placed in the trachea and / or bronchus in the vicinity of the ascending aorta, while an excitation current is injected into the thorax via first and second current electrodes, so that bioelectrical impedance measurements based on the voltage drop sensed by the first and second electrodes reflect voltage changes induced primarily by blood flow dynamics, rather than respiratory or non-cardiac related physiological effects. Additional sense electrodes may be provided, either internally, or externally, for which bioelectrical impedance values may be obtained. Methods are provided for computing cardiac output from bioelectrical impedance values. Apparatus and methods are also provided so that the measured cardiac output may be used to control administration of intravenous fluids to an organism or to optimize a heart rate controlled by a pacemaker.

A wearable platform embodied in a belt or patch provides physiological monitoring of soldiers during field operations or trauma victims at accident sites and makes health state assessments. The platform includes sensors for heart rate, body motion, respiration rate and intensity, and temperature and further contains a microprocessor and short range transmitter. An analog circuit running an algorithm obtains the R-wave period from the EKG signal and produces electrical pulses with the period between pulses corresponding to the R-wave period. A rule based processing engine having an evaluation algorithm is capable of making a medical evaluation of subject condition and determines a confidence level for the evaluation. The rules are subject to variation depending upon the subject population. The information is communicated wirelessly to a local hub for relay to a remote monitor.

A wearable platform embodied in a belt or flattened patch-like central body shaped to conform to the abdomen provides physiological monitoring of soldiers during field operations or trauma victims at accident sites and makes health state assessments. The platform includes sensors for heart rate, body motion, respiration rate and intensity, and temperature and further contains a microprocessor and short range transmitter. The respiration sensor uses conductive ink in a novel manner. A small square of the ink is coated on an arched structure so that flexing of the arch either to increase or decrease its radius of curvature modifies the resistance of the structure. This is utilized to set the unstressed resistance of the arch structure and to allow a greater range of resistance values capable of measuring distortions in different deformations of the arch. The respiration sensor supplements the motion information provided by an accelerometer sensor.

Methods and systems for long term monitoring of one or more physiological parameters such as respiration, heart rate, body temperature, electrical heart activity, blood oxygenation, blood flow velocity, blood pressure, intracranial pressure, the presence of emboli in the blood stream and electrical brain activity are provided. Data is acquired non-invasively using ambulatory data acquisition techniques.

A system for monitoring medical conditions including pressure ulcers, pressure-induced ischemia and related medical conditions comprises at least one sensor adapted to detect one or more patient characteristic including at least position, orientation, temperature, acceleration, moisture, resistance, stress, heart rate, respiration rate, and blood oxygenation, a host for processing the data received from the sensors together with historical patient data to develop an assessment of patient condition and suggested course of treatment. In some embodiments, the system can further include a support surface having one or more sensors incorporated therein either in addition to sensors affixed to the patient or as an alternative thereof. The support surface is, in some embodiments, capable of responding to commands from the host for assisting in implementing a course of action for patient treatment. The sensor can include bi-axial or tri-axial accelerometers, as well as resistive, inductive, capactive, magnetic and other sensing devices, depending on whether the sensor is located on the patient or the support surface, and for what purpose.

Apparatus is provided including an implantable sensor, adapted to sense an electrical parameter of a heart of a subject, and a first control unit, adapted to apply pulses to the heart responsively to the sensed parameter, the pulses selected from the list consisting of: pacing pulses and anti-arrhythmic energy. The apparatus further includes an electrode device, adapted to be coupled to a site of the subject selected from the list consisting of: a vagus nerve of the subject, an epicardial fat pad of the subject, a pulmonary vein of the subject, a carotid artery of the subject, a carotid sinus of the subject, a coronary sinus of the subject, a vena cava vein of the subject, a right ventricle of the subject, and a jugular vein of the subject; and a second control unit, adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the site a current that increases parasympathetic tone of the subject and affects a heart rate of the subject. The first and second control units are not under common control. At least one of the control units is adapted to coordinate an aspect of its operation with an aspect of operation of the other control unit. Other embodiments are also described.

A home control system using galvanic skin responses and heart rate information and a method thereof. Whether a user is awake is judged using a galvanic skin response sensor, and the extent of stress of a user is determined using the user's heart rate, thereby extracting a user's emotional state and sleeping state. Furthermore, based on these, various systems in the home network of a user are controlled according to the user's emotional state and sleeping state. In addition, those control results are stored in a database so as to create the optimum control conditions.

A method and apparatus for delivering corrective therapy through hormone regulation is provided. Inhibition of sympathetic fibers by spinal cord stimulation is used to regulate the levels of hormones such as catecholamines, renin, and calcitonin gene-related peptide. The invention utilizes a closed or open loop feedback system in which physiological parameters such as the concentrations of hormones and sympathetic indicators such as heart rate and urine production are monitored and used to determine the appropriate level of neurostimulation. The site of electrical stimulation includes, but is not limited to, the spinal cord at levels T7–L2 and the associated neural fibers within a region of the T7–L2 dermatomes

A wearable system or garment comprises at least three conductive electrodes that may, for example, be made of stretch-recovery electrically conductive yarns integrated with non-conductive stretch-recovery yarns that make up the remaining portion of the wearable system or garment. The wearable or garment further comprises means for using three electrodes to monitor at least one physiological or biophysical event or characteristic of the wearer. One electrode is specifically used to feed back an inverted noise signal to the wearer to destructively interfere with the wearer generated noise. Specifically, the wearer's heart rate, ECG and associated electrical characteristics may be monitored in high resolution under dry electrode conditions.

A computerized system for scheduling at least one daily activity of a user. One or more sensors are attached to the body of the user which monitor one or more physiological parameters of the body Physiological data is produced representative of the one or more physiological parameters during a time period. A processing unit attached to memory, is programmed for the scheduling of activities based on the physiological data and on previously stored values. The scheduled activities preferably include eating of a meal, exercise or rest of the user. Physiological parameters include skin temperature and / or heart rate. When the scheduled daily activity is eating of a meal, the processing unit is preferably programmed to recommend to the user to eat the meal during a portion of the time period when the skin temperature is rising or when the heart rate is falling.

Method and calculations determine an individual's, or several individuals' simultaneous rates of oxygen consumption, maximum rates of oxygen consumption, heart rates, calorie expenditures, and METS (multiples of metabolic resting rate) in order to determine the amounts of work that is performed by the individual's body. A heart monitor measures the heart rate, and an accelerometer measures the acceleration of the body along one or more axes. An altimeter measures change in altitude, a glucose monitor measures glucose in tissue and blood, and thermometers, thermistors, or thermocouples measure body temperature. Data including body fat and blood pressure measurements are stored locally and transferred to a processor for calculation of the rate of physiological energy expenditure. Certain cardiovascular parameters are mathematically determined. Comparison of each axis response to the individual's moment can be used to identify the type of activity performed and the information may be used to accurately calculate total energy expenditure for each physical activity. Energy expenditure may be calculated by assigning a separate proportionality coefficient to each axis and tabulating the resulting filtered dynamic acceleration over time, or by comparison with previously predetermined expenditures for each activity type. A comparison of total energy expenditure from the current activity is compared with expenditure from a previous activity, or with a baseline expenditure rate to assess the level of current expenditure. A measure of the individual's cardio-vascular health may be obtained by monitoring the heart's responses to various types of activity and to total energy expended.

A cardiac rhythm management system includes an atrial pacing preference (APP) filter for promoting atrial pacing. The APP filter includes an infinite impulse response (IIR) or other filter that controls the timing of delivery of atrial pacing pulses. The atrial pacing pulses are delivered at an APP-indicated pacing rate that is typically at a small amount above the intrinsic atrial heart rate. For sensed beats, the APP indicated rate is increased until it becomes slightly faster than the intrinsic atrial heart rate. The APP-indicated pacing rate is then gradually decreased to search for the underlying intrinsic atrial heart rate. Then, after a sensed atrial beat, the APP filter again increases the pacing rate until it becomes faster than the intrinsic atrial rate by a small amount. As a result, most atrial heart beats are paced, rather than sensed. This decreases the likelihood of the occurrence of an atrial tachyarrhythima, such as atrial fibrillation. The decreased likelihood of atrial tachyarrhythmia, in turn, decreases the likelihood of inducing a ventricular arrhythmia, either as a result of the atrial tachyarrhythmia, or as the result of delivering a defibrillation shock to treat the atrial tachyarrhythmia.

A respiration monitoring device includes an accelerometer (210) for application to the chest, whereby acceleration is possible due to both non-respiratory body motion and respiration, and an electronic circuit (DSP) responsive to an acceleration signal from the accelerometer and operable to separate from the acceleration signal a heart signal, a respiration signal, and a substantially non-respiration body motion signal. Other devices, sensor articles, electronic circuit units, and processes are also disclosed.

The present invention uses electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve to treat epilepsy with minimized or no effect on the heart. Treatment is carried out by an implantable signal generator, one or more implantable electrodes for electrically stimulating a predetermined stimulation site of the vagus nerve, and a sensor for sensing characteristics of the heart such as heart rate. The heart rate information from the sensor can be used to determine whether the vagus nerve stimulation is adversely affecting the heart. Once threshold parameters are met, the vagus nerve stimulation may be stopped or adjusted. In an alternative embodiment, the invention may include a modified pacemaker to maintain the heart in desired conditions during the vagus nerve stimulation. In yet another embodiment, the invention may be simply a modified pacemaker having circuitry that determines whether a vagus nerve is being stimulated. In the event that the vagus nerve is being stimulated, the modified pacemaker may control the heart to maintain it within desired conditions during the vagus nerve stimulation.

Program products, methods, and systems for providing fitness monitoring services are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for providing heart rate information to a user of a portable fitness monitoring service includes: (a) defining a plurality of heart rate zones as ranges of percentages of a maximum heart rate; (b) associating a color with each of said heart rate zones; (c) receiving heart rate information from the user; and (d) providing a graphical display of the heart rate information, wherein a color of a portion of the graphical display corresponds with the color associated with one of said heart rate zones, wherein steps (a)-(d) are executed using at least one processor.

Methods and apparatus for patient care detect a current medical condition of a patient receiving medical treatment, e.g., by sensing blood pressure, heart rate, weight, glucose level, hemoglobin level, and / or blood potassium level (all by way of example) and transmit information regarding that medical condition to a digital data processing system disposed remotely from the medical treatment apparatus. The medical treatment apparatus can be, for example, one for peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis, and the medical condition can be sensed by sensors coupled to or otherwise utilized in connection with such apparatus.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for evaluating and establishing pricing of insurance products based on insured member compliance to health-promoting measures. Member participation in health-promoting measures are monitored and used as a basis for establishing incentives (i.e., reduction in insurance premiums) for said member. In one embodiment, exercise / activity monitors are worn by members to verify their identity and to record insurance member compliance in performing health-promoting measures (i.e., heart rate, type of exercise, exercise intensity and duration). All health-related information, including physical examination results and recorded participation in health-promoting measures, are used to determine appropriate incentives (i.e., subsidize membership fees for health club) to be rewarded to said member.

Systems and methods for determining presence and / or physiological motion of at least one subject using a Doppler radar system having a quadrature receiver are provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a transmitter for transmitting a source signal, a quadrature receiver for receiving the source signal and a modulated source signal (e.g., as reflected from one or more subjects), and logic for mixing the source signal and the received modulated source signal to generate in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) data, whereby nulls in the signal are avoided. In one example, the quadrature receiver further includes logic for center tracking quadrature demodulation. The apparatus may further include logic for determining physiological motion (e.g., heart rate and / or respiration rate of a person) of a subject based on the source signal and the modulated source signal.

A cardiac monitor is provided that monitors the condition of the heart of a cardiac patient and generates signals indicating one of several conditions, such as supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. In order to generate these signals, the ECG from the patient is analyzed to determine a cardiac interval and heart rate, as well as a waveform factor and a waveform factor irregularity. The waveform factor is derived from the average of the ECG amplitudes during a cardiac interval and the peak value of the ECG during the same interval. Preferably, a running average is calculated over several intervals. This waveform factor is then used to detect shockable ventricular arrhythmia. The waveform factor irregularity is indicative of the variability of the waveform factor and is used to differentiate between ventricular tachycardia and ventricular defibrillation.

A multipurpose hemofiltration system (10) and method are disclosed for the removal of fluid and / or soluble waste from the blood of a patient. The system (10) continuously monitors the flow rates of drained fluid, blood, and infusate. When necessary, the pumping rates of the infusate, drained fluid and blood are adjusted to remove a preselected amount of fluid from the blood in a preselected time period. A supervisory controller (160) can monitor patient parameters, such as heart rate (120) and blood pressure (130), and adjust the pumping rates accordingly. The supervisory controller (160) uses fuzzy logic to make expert decisions, based upon a set of supervisory rules, to control each pumping rate to achieve a desired flow rate and to respond to fault conditions. An adaptive controller (162) corrects temporal variations in the flow rate based upon an adaptive law and a control law.

A method and apparatus for delivering corrective therapy through hormone regulation is provided. Inhibition of sympathetic fibers by spinal cord stimulation is used to regulate the levels of hormones such as catecholamines, renin, and calcitonin gene-related peptide. The invention utilizes a closed or open loop feedback system in which physiological parameters such as the concentrations of hormones and sympathetic indicators such as heart rate and urine production are monitored and used to determine the appropriate level of neurostimulation. The site of electrical stimulation includes, but is not limited to, the spinal cord at levels T7-L2 and the associated neural fibers within a region of the T7-L2 dermatomes

Pacing systems are disclosed including detectors for detecting the presence of electromagnetic interference and setting an interference state pacing mode and pacing rate. The interference state pacing mode and pacing rate are altered as a function of patient pacemaker dependency and the prevailing mean heart rate. When pacemaker dependency exists, the pacing rate is maintained and even increased from the prevailing mean heart for the duration of the interference state. When the patient is determined to not be pacemaker dependent, pacing is inhibited or suspended for the duration of the interference state.

A system and method are disclosed for identifying monitoring and evaluating hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions. The system may be worn by safety personnel to detect equipment conditions such as low power supply, environmental conditions such as ambient temperature and / or physiological conditions such as heart rate of a wearer. The system further includes a control unit having electronics operable to communicate signals associated with equipment, environmental and physiological conditions.

A method for combining measurements from two or more independent measurement channels, particularly physiological measurements such as heart rate. Independent measurements of heart rate, for instance by ECG and pulse oximetry, can be combined to derive an improved measurement eliminating artefacts on one channel. A model of the process generating the physiological parameter, e.g., the heart rate, is constructed and is run independently for each channel to generate predictions of the parameter. The measured values are compared with the predicted values and the differences are used as an indication of the confidence in the measurement. The measurements from the two channels are ombined using weights calculated from the respective differences.

A method of diagnosing pulmonary congestion is provided. At least one decrease in a trans-thoracic impedance value from a baseline trans-thoracic impedance value is sensed. At least one increase in a heart rate value from a baseline heart rate value is also sensed. Pulmonary congestion is diagnosed if the decrease in the trans-thoracic impedance value corresponding to the increase in the heart rate does not increase after a predetermined interval. Systems and programs incorporating the method are also provided.

A system and method are disclosed for identifying monitoring and evaluating hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions. The system may be worn by safety personnel to detect equipment conditions such as low power supply, environmental conditions such as ambient temperature and / or physiological conditions such as heart rate of a wearer. The system may further include a control unit having electronics operable to communicate signals associated with equipment, environmental and physiological conditions.

In a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) a rotodynamic blood pump (10) is powered by a brushless DC motor (12). A power supply (14) supplies power to the motor (12). Three feedback channels, one for each of voltage, current, and motor speed lead to a microcontroller or microprocessor (18). The three feedback waveforms are analyzed, and from these waveforms, motor input power, patient heart rate, current pump flow rate, and systemic pressure are determined. The microprocessor (18) then calculates a desired flow rate proportional to the patient heart rate. The microprocessor communicates a new power output to a commutation circuit (16), which regulates power to the motor (12). The pump (10) also includes safety checks that are prioritized over desired pump flow. These include prevention of ventricular suction, low pulsatility, minimum and maximum pump speed, minimum speed-relative pump flow, minimum absolute pump flow, minimum and maximum motor input power.