RU95490U1 - TELEMETRIC SYSTEM OF MONITORING THE STATUS OF A DIVER - Google Patents

Abstract

 1. A telemetry system for monitoring the status of a diver, comprising a physiological signal recording unit including a heart rate sensor connected to a digital signal conversion unit connected to a communication unit connected via a wireless network to a monitoring center including a network computer with a physiological data processing program, characterized in that the physiological signal recording unit further comprises an acoustic breathing sensor and a diver feedback system, and a digital pre mation signals additionally equipped with feedback channel, wherein the registration unit physiological signals and the communication unit are separately constructed and connected by a cable line provided with a buoy, which is mounted in the communication unit. ! 2. The telemetry system according to claim 1, characterized in that an electret microphone with a stethoscopic camera is used as an acoustic respiration sensor. ! 3. The telemetry system according to claim 1, characterized in that an accelerometer is used as an acoustic respiration sensor. ! 4. The telemetry system according to claim 1, characterized in that the digital channel conversion unit is equipped with a system for recording and storing information. ! 5. The telemetry system according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication unit and the monitoring center are connected via a radio network. ! 6. The telemetry system according to claim 5, characterized in that it is equipped with a system for encrypting transmitted information.

Description

The utility model relates to medical equipment and can be used for telemetric monitoring of the state of a diver.

A fairly large number of different systems and devices are known for remote monitoring of the state of physiological parameters of a person, in which the sensor unit for recording physiological parameters and the monitoring unit are in the same environment, for example, air under normal atmospheric pressure (Section RF No. 2122344, Section RF No. 53877 U1, WO 88/05282, U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,998).

However, when registering physiological signals under water, the problem of transmitting these signals to the surface with the least distortion arises. In addition, these devices allow you to measure physiological parameters such as heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), body temperature, blood pressure, but they are not designed to record the noise of the human respiratory system, although listening to respiratory sounds over the lungs (lung auscultation) ) is one of the main medical instruments for studying the human respiratory system

At the same time, it is known that diving activity is associated with exposure to the respiratory system of a complex of adverse factors, in particular, increased partial oxygen pressure, which leads to oxygen intoxication. Although standards for the use of gaseous breathing media have been developed for divers, the problem of assessing the diver’s pulmonary function during operation is still relevant, since sensitivity to the toxic effects of oxygen varies not only between subjects, but also in the same subject at different time periods.

Traditionally, an indicator of a change in pulmonary function is a change in lung capacity (VC), but there are other simple, harmless and informative methods for assessing the state of pulmonary function, for example, a computer analysis of forced expiratory tracheal noises (PV) (Pochekutova IA, Korenbaum VI, etc. Significance of spectral-time parameters of noise during forced exhalation in estimation of bronchi airways. Human Physiology 2001; 27; 441-445), which can be used to assess the state of a diver.

A device is known for monitoring the physiological functions of a patient at rest and in motion and for transmitting measured information via a biotelemetric channel to a distance of up to 100 m (Cl. RF No. 2200463, АВВ 5/05). The device includes blocks for measuring an electrocardiogram, an impedance pneumogram (IPG), an alarm block.

However, the known device allows you to monitor the heart rate, respiratory rate and rhythm, the duration of the phases of inspiration and expiration, body temperature, record an electrocardiogram, but the absence of an acoustic signal recording unit does not allow you to register breathing noise, and the lack of feedback from the patient makes it impossible to respond quickly to information received.

A known telemetry system for monitoring physiological parameters, including including an electrocardiograph, a pulse oximeter, the sensors of which are mounted on underwear with the ability to contact with sensitive parts of the body, a primary signal processing unit and an information unit connected by a telecommunication channel (RF No. 75293 U1, A61B 5/113). This system allows you to record an electrocardiogram, plethysmograph readings, but the absence of strong mechanical contact between the sensors and the body, the inability to record the noise of the respiratory system, the lack of feedback from the patient and the inability to track several patients at the same time, does not allow using it, for example, to monitor the status of divers .

Closest to the claimed is a device for remote medical monitoring of the health of a person working in extreme conditions, including under water (p. RF No. 33320 U1, A61N 1/37). The device includes a medical unit connected through a communication unit to a monitoring center, which is a network computer with a program for processing physiological data, while the medical unit and the communication unit are structurally made as a single unit in one housing. The medical unit includes a physiological signal recording unit containing sensors for recording an electrocardiogram and respiratory rate, a digital signal conversion unit and random access memory for storing information. The communication unit is connected to the monitoring center via the wireless communication channel of the Internet via the basic TCP / IP protocol. It is also proposed to use other wired or wireless communication networks and communication protocols (television, telephone networks, radio networks, satellite channels, fiber optic networks, RTP, GPRS, HSCSD, W-LAN, WAP) to connect to the monitoring center.

However, this device also does not allow to record the acoustic noise of the respiratory system and provide operational monitoring of the diver.

The objective of the utility model is to expand the functionality of the claimed system and provide operational monitoring of the diver's condition during the dive by organizing a new combined communication system with the diver and the ability to record and analyze the diver's breathing noise.

The problem is solved by a telemetric system for monitoring the state of the diver, which contains a physiological signal recording unit, including a heart rate sensor, an acoustic breathing sensor, a diver feedback system and a digital signal conversion unit equipped with a feedback channel connected to them, while the registration unit and the communication unit are made separately and connected by a cable line equipped with a buoy in which a communication unit is installed, connected wirelessly to a monitoring center including a network th computer with a physiological data processing program.

As a pulse sensor, for example, an optical pulse sensor with a controller is used to control the luminescence of the emitting diodes and synchronize them with a photodetector, or three ECG electrodes with an analogue amplifier of electrocardiographic signals.

As an acoustic breathing sensor it is possible to use, for example, an electret microphone with a stethoscopic camera or an accelerometer having the appropriate parameters for recording breathing noises.

The feedback system with the diver can be performed either in the form of headphones, light indicators or a display.

The circuit of the digital signal conversion unit depends on the used sensors of physiological parameters and contains a multi-channel ADC and a unit providing a feedback system. The digital signal conversion unit can be additionally equipped with a device for recording and storing incoming information.

The communication unit is based on a primary processing computer with the ability to provide wireless communication with a monitoring center, for example, by introducing a radio network card with an antenna.

The communication unit and the monitoring center can be equipped with encryption of the transmitted information.

Well-known modern communication systems with divers via cable or sonar channel are based on the presence of a surface monitoring module that provides the functions of transmitting and receiving information, and an underwater unit placed on the diver’s equipment, while the corresponding radiating and receiving antennas. Communication through the sonar channel does not limit the diver during his movement, unlike cable communication, but has a low data rate, which limits its use for operational monitoring.

The inventive system proposes a combined connection, namely, a diver - a communication unit via cable (does not limit the diver's movement), and a communication unit - a monitoring center - via a wireless channel, for example, a radio channel based on the use of Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network technology or other.

The equipment of the claimed telemetry system with an acoustic sensor and a feedback system with a diver, as well as the proposed two-stage communication scheme between the diver and the monitoring center, can increase the data transfer rate relative to the sonar communication channel, place some of the system elements, for example, power elements, in the buoy’s body, and not in the diver’s registration block, provide feedback to the diver, as well as the ability to independently exchange information with a large number of divers basics through their communication blocks; makes it possible to relay signals by communication units, the ability to encrypt transmitted information, which allows us to talk about achieving a technical result.

Figure 1 shows a functional diagram of the inventive telemetry system using a radio network, where 1 is a heart rate sensor, 2 is an acoustic breathing sensor, 3 is a feedback system, 4 is a digital block for converting signals from sensors, 5 is a cable line, 6 is a communication unit and 7 — a monitoring center including a network computer with a physiological data processing program (not shown in FIG. 1). Communication between the communication unit (6) and the monitoring center (7) is carried out wirelessly.

Figure 2 shows the recording of signals of breathing noise (A) and an electrocardiogram (B) obtained as a result of a model experiment of the inventive system under water.

The system operates as follows. The signals from the sensors (1) and (2) enter the digital block (4) signal conversion. Then digitally transmitted via cable line (5) to the communication unit (6). Next, there is an exchange of data according to standard network protocols between the communication unit (6) and the monitoring center (7), where the signal is received and transmitted to a network computer, which, after processing the received data, informs the descent leader about the diver's state and, in case of exceeding the threshold values of indicators, gives an alarm signal.

When using voice telephones feedback system (3), communication with the diver is carried out over the radio network using the headset of the monitoring center. The signal from the center (7) is converted into analog form in the block (4) of the digital converter and fed to the diver's head phones (feedback system (3)). The diver's voice (if the scuba design allows him to speak) is transmitted along with breathing noises using an acoustic sensor (2) of breathing noises.

The inventive system was implemented using an ECG sensor consisting of three electrodes and an electrocardiographic amplifier as a pulse sensor. Used electrodes (company Fiab SpA, model F9070) with a diameter of 50 mm from a liquid-tight foam on a polyethylene base fixed to the body with strong adhesive. The collector element of the electrodes is implemented on the basis of silver chloride gel.

An MKE-3 sensor with a stethoscopic camera was installed as an acoustic breathing sensor, which allows recording breathing noises in the region of 200-2000 Hz.

The multi-channel ADC of the digital signal conversion unit was implemented on the basis of the M-Audio TransitUSB device, has an AKM AK4584 analog-to-digital-analog converter, the dynamic range of which is 100 dB. It supports a digital signal with a resolution of 16 and 24 bits with a minimum sampling frequency of 8 kHz. The audio interface has an analog stereo input, one of which is powered by an acoustic breathing sensor - an electret microphone, and an analog output with the ability to connect head stereo phones.

The communication unit was made on the basis of a primary processing computer Pentium II1, 500 MHz, 128 MB of RAM.

The unit for recording physiological signals of the diver was placed in a jumpsuit on the diver's abdomen. Communication between the registration unit and the communication unit located in the surface buoy was carried out using USB extension cords.

The power of the registration unit was carried out with a voltage of 5 volts via the USB 1.1 interface.

Recording and processing of signals in the monitoring center was implemented on the basis of appropriate programs.

The model tests of the system under water made it possible to record the electrocardiographic curve (B) and the breathing sounds of the diver (A) (Fig. 2). At the same time, processing of the records of the electrocardiographic curve and tracheal noises of forced expiration (PV) was performed, the duration of the PV noise was automatically calculated and the analysis of the data obtained, allowing us to draw a conclusion about the state of the diver. The obtained results confirm the operability of the claimed telemetry system for remote measurement of the physiological parameters of a diver when he is underwater.

Thus, due to the proposed combined two-stage communication system of the diver with the monitoring center, installation of the acoustic breathing noise sensor and feedback system, the problem was solved. The system allows you to increase the data transfer rate relative to the sonar communication channel, does not make significant changes to the volume and mass of the diver, provides feedback to the diver, as well as the possibility of independent exchange of information with a large number of divers through their communication units; and also has the ability to encrypt information transmitted over the air.

Claims (6)

1. A telemetry system for monitoring the status of a diver, comprising a physiological signal recording unit including a heart rate sensor connected to a digital signal conversion unit connected to a communication unit connected via a wireless network to a monitoring center including a network computer with a physiological data processing program, characterized in that the physiological signal recording unit further comprises an acoustic breathing sensor and a diver feedback system, and a digital pre mation signals additionally equipped with feedback channel, wherein the registration unit physiological signals and the communication unit are separately constructed and connected by a cable line provided with a buoy, which is mounted in the communication unit. 2. The telemetry system according to claim 1, characterized in that an electret microphone with a stethoscopic camera is used as an acoustic respiration sensor. 3. The telemetry system according to claim 1, characterized in that an accelerometer is used as an acoustic respiration sensor. 4. The telemetry system according to claim 1, characterized in that the digital channel conversion unit is equipped with a system for recording and storing information. 5. The telemetry system according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication unit and the monitoring center are connected via a radio network. 6. The telemetry system according to claim 5, characterized in that it is equipped with a system for encrypting transmitted information.