Vital Insite, Inc.

Mark H Sher

Richard G Caro

Bryan Patrick Flaherty

William J Wohltmann

Bryan F Flaherty

A monitor for determining a patient's physiological parameter includes a calibration device configured to provide a calibration signal representative of the patient's physiological parameter. An exciter is positioned over a blood vessel of the patient for inducing a transmitted exciter waveform into the patient. A noninvasive sensor is positioned over the blood vessel, where the noninvasive sensor is configured to sense a hemoparameter and to generate a noninvasive sensor signal representative of the hemoparameter containing a component of a physiological parameter waveform and a component of a received exciter waveform. In this context, a hemoparameter is defined as any physiological parameter related to vessel blood such as pressure, flow, volume, velocity, blood vessel wall motion, blood vessel wall position and other related parameters. A processor is configured to determine a relationship between a property of the received exciter waveform and a property of the physiological parameter. The processor is connected to receive the calibration signal and the noninvasive sensor signal, and the processor is configured to process the calibration signal and the noninvasive sensor signal to determine the physiological parameter. In the preferred embodiment, the physiological parameter measured is blood pressure, however, the present invention can also be used to analyze and track other physiological parameters such as vascular wall compliance, strength of ventricular contractions, vascular resistance, fluid volume, cardiac output, myocardial contractility and other related parameters.

Apparatus and method for measuring an induced perturbation to determine

A blood pressure can be obtained by supplying an external pressure to a portion of an artery. The external pressure is preferably between the systolic and diastolic pressure. An event which occurs at least once a cycle can then be identified. This event can be, for example, a peak in the arterial compliance that occurs at a transmural pressure approximately equal to zero. A pair of signals, one that is an arterial volume-indicating signal, and one that is an arterial pressure-indicating signal can be used to identify this event. Alternately, a small signal high-frequency exciter component can be placed upon the pressure or volume of the artery and detected to determine the time that the transmural pressure is equal to zero.

Rapid non-invasive blood pressure measuring device

An exciter-detector unit is disclosed which includes an exciter and a detector mounted on a common support for inducing perturbations into the body and detecting the perturbations after they travel a distance through the body in order to detect a hemoparameter.

Exciter-detector unit for measuring physiological parameters

A monitor for determining a patient's physical condition includes a calibration device configured to provide a calibration signal representative of a patient's physiological parameter. An exciter is positioned over a blood vessel of the patient for inducing a transmitted exciter waveform into the patient. A noninvasive sensor is positioned over the blood vessel, where the noninvasive sensor is configured to sense a hemoparameter and to generate a noninvasive sensor signal representative of the hemoparameter containing a component of a physiological parameter waveform and a component of a received exciter waveform. In this context, a hemoparameter is defined as any physiological parameter related to vessel blood such as pressure, flow, volume, velocity, blood vessel wall motion, blood vessel wall position and other related parameters. A processor is configured to determine a relationship between a property of the received exciter waveform and a property of the physiological parameter. The processor is connected to receive the calibration signal and the noninvasive sensor signal, and the processor is configured to process the calibration signal and the noninvasive sensor signal to determine the physical condition. In an exemplary embodiment, the physical condition is arterial stiffness that represents cardiovascular disease, however, many additional physical conditions can be measured and determined such as arterial elasticity, arterial thickness, arterial wall compliance and other conditions. Also, in an exemplary embodiment, the physiological parameter measured is blood pressure, however, the present invention can also be used to analyze and track other physiological parameters

A motion insensitive pulse detector for detecting a patient's pulse includes an exciter adapted to be positioned over a blood vessel of the patient and configured to induce a transmitted exciter waveform into the patient. A noninvasive sensor is adapted to be positioned over the blood vessel and configured to sense a hemoparameter and to generate a noninvasive sensor signal representative of the hemoparameter containing a component of a received exciter waveform. A processor is coupled to the noninvasive sensor and configured to process the noninvasive sensor signal to determine the patient's pulse. Advantages of the invention include the ability to detect a patient's pulse even when the patient is moving or being moved by medical personnel.

Motion insensitive pulse detector

A monitor for activating a sphygmomanometer attached to a patient includes a sensor attached to the patient to generate a sensor signal representative of a physiological parameter. This sensor can be, for example, a noninvasive sensor that generates a signal responsive to blood pressure. The monitor also has a processor coupled to the sensor and to the sphygmomanometer. The processor is configured to process the sensor signal and to send a signal to activate the sphygmomanometer when the sensor signal meets predetermined criteria.

Automatically activated blood pressure measurement device

A monitor for continuously determining a patient's physiological parameter includes a means for obtaining a periodic calibration measurement of the patient's physiological parameter. An exciter, positioned over an artery of the patient induces an exciter waveform into the patient's arterial blood. A noninvasive sensor, positioned over the artery, senses a hemoparameter and provides a noninvasive sensor signal output representative of the hemoparameter. A processor receives the calibration measurement and noninvasive sensor signal output. The processor determines a DC offset based on the calibration measurement and processes the noninvasive sensor signal to continuously determine the patient's physiological parameter. A method includes steps for performing the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the physiological parameter measured is blood pressure, however, the present invention can also be used to analyze and track other physiological parameters such as vascular wall compliance, strength of ventricular contractions, vascular resistance, fluid volume, cardiac output, myocardial contractility and other related parameters.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Mark H Sher