Patent EP0444934A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0444934A1
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EP
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Method and apparatus for monitoring vital signs
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1991-02-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A Dual-Finger Vital Signs Monitor (104) provides a simultaneous and continuous measurement of three primary vital signs; ECG and heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen saturation. The invention employs a pair of finger cuffs (110 and 112) that each include an electro-cardiographic electrode (114 and 120), a first LED and detector pair for blood pressure measurement (116 and 122), and a second LED and detector pair for blood oxygenation measurement (118 and 124). The electrodes re connected to a voltmeter (130) which displays an electrocardiogram. The first LED and detector (116) in each cuff function as a finger-photoplethysmographic pressure sensor. A pair of gas lines (132 and 134) connect each finger cuff (110 and 112) to a pair of pressure controllers (144 and 146), which each include a fluid reservoir (152 and 154). One of the servos (152) is linked to a blood pressure meter (153). The second LED and detector pair (118 and 124) in each cuff (110 and 112) are each connected to a pair of oximeters (164 and 166). All the sensors operate independently. The use of two finger cuffs affords substantial advantages for signal processing and data interpretation. The redundancy of sensors greatly reduces the incidence of false warnings.
Inventors
- 👤 Tad D. Simons
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/145; A61B5/1455; A61B5/14551; A61B5/14552; A61B5/02; A61B5/0205; A61B5/021; A61B5/022; A61B5/02233; A61B5/02241; A61B5/024; A61B5/0245; A61B5/025; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6813; A61B5/6825; A61B5/6826; A61B5/683; A61B5/6838
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A vital signs monitor (104) comprising: a transducing means comprising a first transducer means (110) for measuring a vital sign: said first transducer means (110) comprising a plurality of first detector means mounted proximate one another on a first probe body (110); said first probe body (110) being capable of being coupled to a patient (106); and a plurality of meter means; each of the meter means providing a measurement of a respective one of a plurality of test parameters; each of the meter means being coupled to a respective one of the first detector means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A vital signs monitor (104) as in claim 1 wherein: said transducing means further comprises a second transducer means (112) for measuring said vital sign; said second transducer means (112) comprising a plurality of second detector means mounted proximate one another on a second probe body (112); said second probe body (112) being capable of being coupled to said patient (108); and each of the meter mean coupled to a respective one of the first detector means is also coupled to a respective one of the second detector means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
A vital signs monitor (104) as in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising: a memory means (177) for storing a critical vital sign value; said memory means (177) being coupled to each of the meter means; and an alarm means (180) for providing a warning when said vital sign falls below said critical vital sign value stored in said memory means; said alarm means being coupled to said memory means (177).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
346 words
A vital signs monitor (104) as in claim 1 wherein: one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body (110) is a first hemoglobin oxygenation detector means (118) for sensing a level of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen in said patient (106); one of the plurality of meter means is a hemoglobin oxygenation meter means for providing a measurement of said level of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen; said hemoglobin oxygenation meter means comprises a first hemoglobin oxygenation meter (164); said first hemoglobin oxygenation detector means (118) is coupled to said first hemoglobin oxygenation meter (164); one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body (110) is a first potential difference detection means (114) for sensing an electric field in said patient (106); one of the plurality of meter means is a voltage meter means (130) for providing a measurement of said electric field; said first potential detection means (114) is coupled to said voltage meter means (130); one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body (110) is a first pressure detection means (116) for sensing a blood pressure level in said patient (106); said first probe body (110) comprises a first inflatable pressure cuff means (110) capable of substantially enveloping a first appendage (106) of said patient (106); one of the plurality of meter means is a pressure meter means for providing a measurement of said blood pressure level; said pressure meter means comprises a first pressure meter means (144); said transducer means (110) further comprises; a first fluid conduit means (132) for conveying a fluid to said first inflatable pressure cuff means (110); said first fluid conduit means (132) being coupled to said first inflatable pressure cuff means (110) and to said first pressure meter means (144); said first fluid conduit means (132) being for the purpose of inflating the cuff means (110); and a first fluid reservoir means (152) for controlling said fluid in said first fluid reservoir means (152) being coupled to said first pressure meter means (144).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
581 words
A vital signs monitor (104) as in claim 2 wherein: one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body (110) is a first hemoglobin oxygenation detector means (118) for sensing a level of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen in said patient (106); one of the plurality of second detector means mounted on said second probe body (112) is a second hemoglobin oxygenation detector means (124) for sensing said level of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen in said patient (108); one of the plurality of meter means is a hemoglobin oxygenation meter means for providing a measurement of said level of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen; said hemoglobin oxygenation meter means comprises a first and a second hemoglobin oxygenation meter means (164 & 166); the first and second hemoglobin oxygenation detector means (118 & 124) each being coupled to a respective one of the first and second hemoglobin oxygenation meter means (164 & 166); one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body (110) is a first potential difference detector means (114) for sensing an electric field in said patient (106); one of the plurality of second detector means mounted on said second probe body (112) is a second potential difference detector means (120) for sensing said electric field in said patient (108); one of the plurality of meter means is a voltage meter means (130) for providing a measurement of said electric field; the first and second potential difference detector means (114 & 120) each being coupled to said voltage meter means (130); one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body (110) is a first pressure detection means (119) for sensing a blood pressure level in said patient (106); one of the plurality of second detector means mounted on said second probe body (112) is a second pressure detection means (122) for sensing said blood pressure level in said patient (108); said first probe body (110) comprises a first inflatable pressure cuff means (110) capable of substantially enveloping a first appendage (106) of said patient (106); said second probe body (112) comprises a second inflatable pressure cuff means (112) capable of substantially enveloping a second appendage (108) of said patient (108); one of the plurality of meter means is a pressure meter means (144) for providing a measurement of said blood pressure level; said pressure meter means comprises a first and a second pressure meter means (144 & 146); the first and second transducer means (110 & 112) further comprise; a first and a second fluid conduit means (132 & 134) for conveying a fluid to the first and second inflatable pressure cuff means (110 & 112); the first and second fluid conduit means (132 & 134) each being coupled to a respective one of the first and second inflatable pressure cuff means (110 & 112) and to a respective one of the first and second pressure meter means (144 & 146); the first and second fluid conduit means (132 & 134) being for the purpose of each inflating a respective one of the first and second inflatable pressure cuff means (110 & 112); and a first and a second fluid reservoir means (152 & 154) for controlling said fluid in the first and second fluid conduit means (132 & 134); the first and second fluid reservoir means (152 & 154) each being coupled to respective one of the first and second pressure meter means (144 & 146).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vital signs monitor (104) as in claim 4 wherein; said first inflatable pressure cuff means (110) is a first inflatable finger cuff means (110); and said first appendage of said patient (106) is a first finger digit of said patient (106).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A vital signs monitor (104) as in claim 5 wherein; the first and second inflatable pressure cuff means (110 & 112) are a first and a second inflatable finger cuff means (110 & 112); and the first and second appendage of said patient (106 & 108) are a first and a second finger digit of said patient (106 & 108).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
165 words
A vital signs monitor (104) as in claim 7 wherein: the first and second pressure detection means (116 & 122) each comprise; a first light emitting device (116 & 122) which each emit radiation through a respective one of the first and second finger digits (106 & 108) of said patient (146 & 108); a first light detector (116 & 122) which receives transmitted radiation from said first light emitting device (116 & 122); the first and second hemoglobin oxygenation detector means (118 & 124) each comprise; a second light emitting device (118 & 124) which each emit radiation through a respective one of the first and second finger digits (106 & 108) of said patient (106 & 108); and a second light detector (118 & 124) which receives transmitted radiation from said second light emitting device (118 & 124); and the first and second potential difference detector means (114 & 120) each comprise; an electrode means (114 & 120) for obtaining an epidermal voltage.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
261 words
A method for monitoring a vital sign of a patient (106 & 108) while reducing resulting tissue damage to said patient (106 & 108), which comprises the steps of: a) selecting a first finger digit (106) of said patient (106); b) selecting a second finger digit (108) of said patient (108); c) inserting said first finger digit (106) into a first inflatable finger cuff means (110) on which is mounted a plurality of first detector means, wherein one of the first detector means is a first pressure detection means (116) for sensing a blood pressure level in said patient (106); d) inserting said second finger digit (118) into a second inflatable finger cuff means (112) on which is mounted a plurality of second detector means, wherein one of the second detector means (124 & 122) is a second pressure detection means (122) for sensing said blood pressure level in said patient (106); e) employing said first and second inflatable finger cuff means (110 & 112) in an alternating sequence between two states: a first state wherein said first detector means senses said blood pressure level in said first finger digit (106) while said first finger cuff means (110) is inflated and said second finger cuff means (112) is deflated to reduce tissue damage in said patient (106), and a second state wherein said second detector means senses said blood pressure level in said patient (106) while said second finger cuff means (112) is inflated and said first finger cuff means (110) is deflated to reduce tissue damage in said patient (106).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method of increasing data integrity in monitoring said vital sign of said patient (106) as in claim 9, wherein: said first finger digit is selected from one hand of said patient (106) and said second finger digit is selected from an opposing hand of said patient (106).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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