Hoana Medical, Inc.

Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.

Oceanit Test Systems, Inc.

Ocean Laboratories, Inc.

Patrick K Sullivan

Matthew S Glei

Paul M Embree

Robert E Bourke

Christopher J Sullivan

Nicholas C Epperson

Shashidhar B Hebsur

Dayananda Vithanage

Ken C K Cheung

Paul Pernambuco-Wise

Scott A Christensen

Joanne S M Ebesu

Yoshitsugi Hokama

Mike Rosenman

Warren E Bucher

Warren E Takenaka

Robert W Deuel

A system that observes and analyzes, and, only in the event of a significant negative condition, notifies and reports the event. In a hospital environment, the device includes a bedside unit connected to a pad or coverlet with a sensor array (placed under the patient) and also to an existing hospital nurse call system via an interface. The bedside unit is a wall-mounted unit with a display that becomes active when an alarm condition is enabled. Vigilance alarms are suspended if a patient is detected out of bed. An unable-to-measure alert is provided if the system is unable to reliably monitor. An alert message is generated and maintained on the display screen to inform a responding caregiver of the time and reason for any alarm. The system also may be adapted for use as a monitoring system for operators of motor vehicles, aircraft or other devices.

Systems and methods for monitoring physiology with unable-to-measure alerts

An intelligent medical vigilance system that observes and analyzes, and, only in the event of a clinically significant negative condition, notifies and reports the event to the care staff utilizing the hospital's existing nurse call system. The device includes a bedside unit connected to a pad or coverlet with a sensor array (placed under the patient) and also to an existing hospital nurse call system via an interface. The bedside unit is a wall-mounted unit with a display that becomes active when an alarm condition is enabled. Vigilance alarms are suspended if a patient is detected out of bed. An unable-to-measure alert is provided if the system is unable to reliably monitor. An alert message is generated and maintained on the display screen to inform a responding caregiver of the time and reason for any alarm.

Systems and method for intelligent medical vigilance with alert cause indication

Systems and methods for intelligent medical vigilance with alert cause indication

The invention determines the heart rate and respiration rate of a patient through the patient's extremities. Heart rate and respiration rate are determined via an energy spectrum, periodogram or histogram using a time series analysis. A patient can stand near the device and lean on it, or stand on a piezoelectric pad. A microcomputer provides calculations to determine heart and respiratory rates using signal processing and time series analysis of data.

Non-invasive heart rate and respiration measurements from extremities

Devices, systems and methods provide passive patient monitoring of such parameters as body motion, body position, respiratory rate and/or heart rate. Passive monitoring generally involves a sensor device having at least two piezoelectric sensors, provided on a surface, such as a bed, chair, operating table or the like, so that a patient may be coupled with the device by simply allowing the patient to lie, sit, lean, stand on or wear the surface. In one embodiment, multiple patients in a general care area of a hospital may be continuously monitored via multiple passive monitoring devices. If a patient fails to meet one or more predefined threshold criteria or has a negative physiological trend, the system may activate an alarm.

Devices and methods for passive patient monitoring

The invention determines the energy dispersion via acoustic, electromechanical or other related physiological signals collected from a patient that lies down or otherwise engages a discritized sensing array. Signals are monitored over a range of frequencies and collected in the time domain or frequency domain. A computing machine determines the energy from the signal measured over various elements of the array and calculates the momentum flux. Blood pressure is determined directly from the momentum flux calculation.

Radiation stress non-invasive blood pressure method

An intelligent medical vigilance system that observes and analyzes, and, only in the event of a clinically significant negative condition, notifies and reports the event to the care staff utilizing the hospital's existing nurse call system. The device includes a bedside unit connected to a pad or coverlet with a sensor array (placed under the patient) and also to an existing hospital nurse call system via an interface. Within the physical bedside unit are a signal processor and an alarm processor that measure data and evaluate whether a clinically significant event is occurring. The bedside unit is a wall-mounted unit with a display that becomes active when an alarm condition is enabled. The sensing pad or coverlet is a thin, piezoelectric film, or other similar sensing technology, with an array of sensors sheathed in soft padding and is not directly in contact with the skin of the patient. The nurse call feature is made up of hardware, software and cabling to connect to the nurse call system already installed in the hospital or care facility. The monitoring system can also be installed in vehicles to monitor operator physiological conditions. Vigilance alarms are suspended if a patient is detected out of bed. An unable-to-measure alert is provided if the system is unable to reliably monitor. Bed exit alarms can be placed into a pause mode for supervised bed exit of patients on bed restriction. An alert message is generated and maintained on the display screen to inform a responding caregiver of the time and reason for any alarm.

System and methods for intelligent medical vigilance with bed exit detection

An intelligent medical vigilance system that observes and analyzes, and, only in the event of a clinically significant negative condition, notifies and reports the event to the care staff utilizing the hospital's existing nurse call system. The device includes a bedside unit connected to a pad or coverlet with a sensor array (placed under the patient) and also to an existing hospital nurse call system via an interface. Within the physical bedside unit are a signal processor and an alarm processor that measure data and evaluate whether a clinically significant event is occurring. The bedside unit is a wall-mounted unit with a display that becomes active when an alarm condition is enabled. The sensing pad or coverlet is a thin, piezoelectric film, or other similar sensing technology, with an array of sensors sheathed in soft padding and is not directly in contact with the skin of the patient. The nurse call feature is made up of hardware, software and cabling to connect to the nurse call system already installed in the hospital or care facility. The monitoring system can also be installed in vehicles to monitor operator physiological conditions.

Intelligent medical vigilance system

Passive Physiological monitoring apparatus and method have a sensor for sensing physiological phenomenon. A converter converts sensed data into electrical signals and a computer receives and computes the signals, and outputs computed data for real-time interactive display. The sensor is a piezoelectric film of polyvinylidene fluoride. A band-pass filter filters out noise and isolates the signals to reflect data from the body. A pre-amplifier amplifies signals. Signals detected include mechanical, thermal and acoustic signatures reflecting cardiac output, cardiac function, internal bleeding, respiratory, pulse, apnea, and temperature. A pad may incorporate the PVDF film and may be fluid-filled. The film converts mechanical energy into analog voltage signals. Analog signals are fed through the band-pass filter and the amplifier. A converter converts the analog signals to digital signals. A Fourier transform routine is used to transform into the frequency domain. A microcomputer is used for recording, analyzing and displaying data for on-line assessment and for providing realtime response. A radio-frequency filter may be connected to a cable and the film for transferring signals from the film through the cable. The sensor may be an array provided in a MEDEVAC litter or other device for measuring acoustic and hydraulic signals from the body of a patient for field monitoring, hospital monitoring, transport monitoring, home, remote monitoring.

Passive physiological monitoring (P2M) system

An immunological test kit suitable for the rapid detection of ciguatoxin and related low molecular weight lipid polyether marine toxins in fish tissues in the field, home or laboratory. The test procedure utilizes a synthetic membrane laminated onto one end of a solid plastic stick, which is immersed into alcohol with a piece of fish tissue. The membrane is then removed and dried thoroughly, then placed in the suspension of mixed colored beads coated with anti-ciguatoxin. The membrane is then rinsed in water and the intensity of the color compared with a standard range of colors formed (0-3&plus;). The color intensity is proportional to the concentration of toxin in the piece of tissue. The kit includes the synthetic membrane on a plastic stick, a suspension of mixed colored beads coated with anti-ciguatoxin antibody, testing instruments, and a supply of solvent.

Membrane immunobead assay for the detection of ciguatoxin and related polyether marine toxins

Apparatus and method is provided for 3-D measurement and visualization of cloud formations using ceilometers and computer software. Data collected from the ceilometers contains cloud range information in polar coordinates (r,&thgr;,&pgr;) which is then converted to a cloud height depiction in a 3-D space. Visualization of data is enhanced by animating consecutive sets of data in a time loop to show the movement and evolution of the clouds over the measurement site during an extended period of time.

Omni-directional cloud height indicator

A moisture control device and method has a heat generating source in electrical devices that is powered to operate independent of the electrical device for reducing, minimizing or preventing condensation, nucleation and degradations on electronic parts and circuit boards of the electrical device. A power supply is connected to the heat generating source and a switch connected to the power supply. The switch may be manually operable or automatic and is used for controlling operation of the heat generating source. A sensor senses on/off status of the electrical device and automatically operates the switch in response to the sensing. Power is supplied to the heat generating source when the electrical device powers down and disconnected when the electrical device powers on.

Moisture control system for electrical devices

Ballast water is treated by applying ultrasonic frequencies to the water to kill organisms entrained in the water such as diatoms, veligers, fish larvae, plankton, and microorganisms, preventing the introduction of non-indigenous species between ports-of-call. The ballast water is circulated through a ballast treatment system. A pump is connected to a tube lined with a piezoelectric material for aiding in transmitting the ultrasonic frequencies connected to one or more ballast tanks of a ship. The use of the piezoelectric material as a lining allows a broad range of sound wavelengths and energy levels to be transmitted greater distances before problems with uniform sound penetration and energy loss within the sound field occur. Additionally, spatially-controllable, continuous constructive interference zones may be generated within the piezoelectric-lined tubes to specifically target the particular organisms entrained within the ballast water being treated. The treatment system includes a transducer pipe connected to diffusers and shrouds. The diffusers are closed at ends not connected to the pipe. The treatment system is provided in the ballast intake/drain device to route the ballast water through the treatment system. Ballast water is supplied through inlets in the shrouds into the diffuser which circulate the water through the tube which is lined with piezoelectric transducer material and then exhausted after treatment. The ultrasonic waves destroy organisms and prevent transfer of non-indigenous species between ports.

Ship ballast water ultrasonic treatment

The instrument monitors the acoustic and electromechanical signals of the patient and calculates an energy spectrum periodogram or histogram using time series analysis techniques. The patient lies down on a large piezoelectric film (few microns thick) that has the capability of measuring signals from very high to very low frequencies. The heart and respiration rates as well as obstructive apnea can be observed, detected and measured from the spectral peaks in the resulting energy spectrum. A microcomputing machine provides calculations to determine the energy spectrum and provides for discrimination between noise and a true apnea episode. An alarm calls for assistance in the event of an apnea, including obstructive apnea, or a Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) episode.

Passive apnea monitor

A lysimeter has an elongated, relatively narrow sample pipe with flanges at upper and lower ends. A lysimeter assembly is connected to the lower end of the sample pipe by connecting an upper end of a central tube in the assembly to a lower end of the sample pipe. A circular lysimeter pan extends around the central tube. Vertical slits in the central tube provide a screen to permit water flow into the central tube from the pan but to prevent granular materials from the filter pack. Vertical webs in the pan rigidify the pan, and radial supporting webs and a ring beneath the pan support the pan. A relatively large diameter collection chamber has a spheroidal lower end and an upper end which receives the ring for centering the lysimeter pan at the upper end of the collection chamber. An outward and upward sloping flange at an upper end of the collection chamber with an elastic seal supports the lower conical wall of the lysimeter pan. A wick in the pan extends through slits in the central tube to wick water from the pan into the central tube and to flow water down along the inner wall of the central tube. The bottom of the central tube is open and is sloped, and an upward opening inner groove is formed around the lower end of the central tube. A drain tube is connected to a lower portion of the groove. A sampler is raised and lowered and positioned by a rod or chain extending through the sample pipe and central tube, so that a funnel at the upper end of a flask is aligned with the drain tube. Drain openings are provided in the canister bottom.

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Kailua, HI, United States of America

Patrick K Sullivan