Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/16—Devices for psychotechnics; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
  • A61B5/165—Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the cardiovascular system, e.g. pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow
  • A61B5/0205—Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the cardiovascular system, e.g. pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow
  • A61B5/024—Measuring pulse rate or heart rate
  • A61B5/02438—Measuring pulse rate or heart rate with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the cardiovascular system, e.g. pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow
  • A61B5/024—Measuring pulse rate or heart rate
  • A61B5/0245—Measuring pulse rate or heart rate by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
  • A61B5/02455—Measuring pulse rate or heart rate by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals provided with high/low alarm devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/103—Measuring devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
  • A61B5/11—Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb
  • A61B5/1118—Determining activity level
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/24—Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
  • A61B5/316—Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
  • A61B5/318—Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/24—Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
  • A61B5/316—Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
  • A61B5/318—Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
  • A61B5/332—Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
  • G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
  • G08B21/04—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons
  • G08B21/0438—Sensor means for detecting
  • G08B21/0453—Sensor means for detecting worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B2562/00—Details of sensors; Constructional details of sensor housings or probes; Accessories for sensors
  • A61B2562/02—Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
  • A61B2562/0219—Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/16—Devices for psychotechnics; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
  • A61B5/18—Devices for psychotechnics; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
  • A61B5/6801—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
  • A61B5/6813—Specially adapted to be attached to a specific body part
  • A61B5/6824—Arm or wrist
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/72—Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes
  • A61B5/7271—Specific aspects of physiological measurement analysis
  • A61B5/7285—Specific aspects of physiological measurement analysis for synchronizing or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to the field of physiological monitoring of patients, and more particularly, to methods and an apparatus for a physiological monitoring system with an adaptive alert mechanism.
• Holter monitors are one type of ambulatory physiological monitoring systems (PMS) that are used to measure the electrical signals of a patient's heart over a period of time to detect abnormalities in the heart beat of the patient.
• PMS ambulatory physiological monitoring systems
• ECG electrocardiography
• the monitoring system be capable of long term monitoring for arrhythmic events and adequately capture such events when they occur. Since the device will be worn by the patient for potentially long durations of time, it is also desirable for the device to be compact, lightweight, mechanically robust, and unobtrusive as the patient goes about his normal daily routine of activity and rest. Traditional Holter monitors are unsuitable for such long term monitoring because of their bulky profile and relatively high power consumption levels required to power the continual ECG detection and data storage.
• Ambulatory ECG monitors typically include several electrodes that are attached to the patient and a processor that acquires and processes the electrical signals into data and stores the data for later analysis. If it is functioning properly, the monitoring system is able to detect and capture cardiac event data for later retrieval and analysis. In practice, however, it is often the case that the monitoring becomes interrupted because of battery- power loss, sensor detachment problems, or other system or user errors.
• Existing PMS typically employ an audible or visual alarm to alert the user of any such system malfunctions or errors. Some of the malfunctions or errors that trigger the alarm require immediate user attention, such as a malfunction requiring shutdown and restart of the PMS, signal loss due to improper sensor connection(s), or electrical interference. Other errors that trigger the alarm are less urgent (e.g., low battery power).
• This patent describes a Holter-type recorder device equipped with a vibrator alarm or optical indicator such as a light-emitting diode (LED) that alerts the user of a system malfunction.
• a vibrator alarm or optical indicator such as a light-emitting diode (LED) that alerts the user of a system malfunction.
• This vibration alarm if it remains unanswered by the user, provides additional reminders to an audio alarm.
• the drawback of this system is that the audio alarm may become triggered during periods of sleep or other inopportune times when the user cannot respond promptly.
• a user of the PMS may manually change a switch setting between audible and/or silent (e.g. tactile or visual) alarm modes to prevent undesired beeping interruptions.
• the ECG signal to resemble its form when some life-threatening arrhythmias (e.g. ventricular fibrillation) are present when they are in fact absent, and may generate a false positive alarm.
• life-threatening arrhythmias e.g. ventricular fibrillation
• physical activity above a certain level may be inconsistent with the presence of the life-threatening arrhythmia or condition, because the life-threatening condition weakens the patient or renders the patient unconscious.
• physical activity itself apart from its influence on the signal quality of the monitored physiological parameter, provides significant information about the patient's cardiac status, and in combination with the ECG signals, provides a more complete assessment of the cardiac condition of a patient at a given time. Accordingly, there is also a need for a knowledge-based PMS that inhibits the transmission of an alarm reflecting a life-threatening physiological event when the system detects that the patient is physically active.
• an exemplary embodiment is a method and system for an adaptive physiological monitoring system that monitors one or more physical parameter(s) of the user to distinguish between periods of quiet rest and normal waking activity and communicates non-urgent information to the user only if one or more physical parameters of the user exceeds a predetermined threshold.
• the physiological monitoring system incorporates a sensor responsive to the physical activity level of the user, such as an accelerometer or other mechanical, chemical, or electrical means for detecting directly or indirectly measuring the physical activity level of the user
• a sensor responsive to the physical activity level of the user such as an accelerometer or other mechanical, chemical, or electrical means for detecting directly or indirectly measuring the physical activity level of the user
• an exemplary embodiment is a method and apparatus for a lightweight, energy-saving physiological monitoring system that conserves power by delaying transmission of non-urgent information to the patient when the patient is asleep or resting.
• the alert information is communicated to the patient by means of a device local to the monitor, such as a vibrator or speaker.
• the alert information is communicated to the patient by means of devices in his environment, which the monitor signals wirelessly.
• an exemplary embodiment is a method and apparatus for long term, low power ECG monitoring.
• the present invention allows for considerable savings in battery power consumption, increasing the capacity for long term monitoring of the patient.
• an exemplary embodiment is a method and apparatus for long term monitoring for life-threatening physiological events. By inhibiting the transmission of alarms reflecting the appearance of a life-threatening pattern in the physiological parameter being monitored when the patient is engaged in normal waking activity inconsistent with the life-threatening phenomenon, the incidence of false alarms is reduced.
• FIG 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the physiological monitoring system of the present invention.
• FIG 2 is a pictorial view showing a physiological monitoring system (PMS) according to an embodiment of the present invention on a patient.
• FIG 3 illustrates a block diagram depicting the major components of the PMS according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG 4 is a flow chart depicting the steps performed by the physiological monitoring system to create a feedback loop that monitors a patient's physiological parameters and alerts the patient of system errors and physiological conditions in an adaptive manner based on the detected activity level of the patient.
• a physiological monitoring system comprises an adaptive system that, in addition to monitoring a particular physical characteristic of the patient for medical purposes, communicates a variety of information to the user based on a knowledge-based approach that determines whether the user is physically active. If the system detects that the patient is asleep, resting, or otherwise in a non-active state, it defers the transmission of non-urgent information until it detects that the patient is in a normal active state. On the other hand, if the system detects that the patient is in a normal active state, it inhibits, as false alarms, transmission of any urgent information that is inconsistent with the patient being in a normal active state.
• FIG 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the monitoring system for monitoring cardiac parameters in an ambulatory setting of daily activity.
• the system 10 comprises a monitor 100 and sensors 110 or other transducers that are connected to the monitor 100.
• a wireless transmitter 109, and optionally, an event button 104 are located on the monitor 100.
• the monitor 100 is designed for use with one or more sensors or transducers such as electrodes 112.
• a variety of sensors may be employed in the practice of this invention. With sufficient hardware and connections to the body, numerous physiologic parameters may be sensed as is pointed out in U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,434 issued to Alt and U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,431, issued to Adams et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
• the physical parameters may include, but are not limited to, a patient's body movements, heartbeats, respiratory movements, snoring, and other mechanical movements and sounds detected by the sensors, respiration rate and depth (by for example, impedance plethysmography), brain waves, body temperature, and blood pressure.
• a plurality of sensors 110 may be employed simultaneously to measure the same or different physiological characteristics. For instance, typically two to six electrodes 112 may be employed to measure biological rhythmic signals such as heart rate in conjunction with an activity sensor 114 such as an accelerometer that measures the physical activity level of the patient. As shown in FIG 2, in one embodiment, at least one set of sensors 110 comprises ECG electrodes 112 that measure electrocardiograms and that are placed in contact with the patient's body so as to receive signals from the patient which are transmitted to the monitor 100. As is obvious to one of skill in the art, the electrodes may be conventional electrodes comprised of silver chloride or other compositions designed to receive analog ECG input.
• the system 10 may also comprise a set of activity sensors 114 that detect motion, movement, acceleration, mechanical vibrations, sound, or other indicator of physical activity on the part of the human subject.
• the activity sensor 114 may comprise a piezoelectric pressure transducer, a pedometer, a vibratory or motion detector, a detector that measures residual noise generated by friction between the electrode contacts and the patient's skin, strain gage or other transducer means for measuring activity.
• a piezoelectric pressure transducer a pedometer, a vibratory or motion detector, a detector that measures residual noise generated by friction between the electrode contacts and the patient's skin, strain gage or other transducer means for measuring activity.
• an accelerometer other sensors which measure physiological parameters which distinguish between resting and active states may be employed.
• the activity sensor 114 is a cantilevered suspended element which constitutes a high impedance voltage generator such as a piezoelectric element.
• the sensors may be incorporated into the monitor module 100 itself, or placed in close proximity to the monitor.
• the output of the activity sensor 114 is connected to a processor 142 contained within the monitor 100.
• the piezoelectric element is a passive element or sensor requiring no power to cause it to be operational. The distortion of the surface of or of the element, itself, generates the appropriate signal.
• the activity sensors 114 may alternatively detect chemical or electrical changes in the patient that indicate the onset of sleep.
• the activity sensor 114 is integrated within the monitor 100 unit, as shown in FIG 2, and in other embodiments, are external to the monitor 100, such as a wrist-mounted activity sensor 114 attached to a wrist with a strap that detects electromyographic (EMG) electrical impulses produced by the wearer's wrist muscles.
• EMG electromyographic
• Such electrical impulses provide measurements of the changes in the muscular activity at the wearer's wrist, which measurements are useful in detecting drowsiness.
• the sensors 110 are applied to the body such that the surface of the sensors makes physical and/or electrical contact with the patient.
• the monitor 100, and thus the sensors 110 are shown applied to the chest, one of skill in the art will appreciate that various alternative sensor construction, materials, and designs are within the scope of the present invention.
• the system includes the sensors 110 (sensor electrodes 112 and activity sensor 114), an electronics module 140, a power circuit 150, which provides power to the system 10, and may include a voltage splitter and voltage regulator in addition to a battery, an alarm 160 (acoustic alarm 162 and silent alarm such as a tactile or visual/light alarm 164), a user interface module 170, a wireless transmitter 109 or other means for communicating with an external computer, device, or medical personnel (not shown).
• the user interface module 170 includes an event button 104 and optionally, a user display 106 which displays status messages and system error messages to the user.
• a user display 106 which displays status messages and system error messages to the user.
• the major components of the electronic module 140 include a CPU or microprocessor 142 with an internal CPU memory 144 and an internal digital input/output circuit, signal conditioners 145, analog-to-digital converters 147, an activity threshold detector 148 input with a programmable activity level 149, and a clock 146.
• the microprocessor 142 performs a multitude of functions, including, but not limited to, receiving and processing signals output from the sensors 110 regarding arrhythmia conditions and checking and processing system errors.
• the output of the sensors 110 such as the ECG electrodes 112 is coupled to a signal conditioning circuit 145 which filters and amplifies the output.
• the present invention contemplates that the ECG electrode sensors 112 and activity sensor 114 are analog signals that are communicated to an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and communicated to the microprocessor 40 as digital signals along signal path 141. Digital sensors may be substituted, bypassing the A/D converter 147. Communication between the microprocessor 142 and memory/storage 144 is provided by memory line 143.
• the data storage (memory) device 144 is optionally included for storing the ECG signal data, pre-set threshold limits for the physiological conditions being monitored, and user input received through the user interface module 170.
• the memory 144 may be limited to internal CPU/microprocessor memory, which for example, may be static random access memory or "flash" memory, their equivalents, or any of the above in combination with conventional magnetic storage such as a small portable disk drive unit. If the memory comprises only an internal CPU flash memory with limited data storage capacity, the ECG signal data detected by electrodes 112 may be stored into memory in a continuous overwrite mode. In the present embodiment, flash memory (e.g., 128K of SRAM) is provided.
• the monitoring system 10 continuously overwrites the ECG data in the CPU flash memory.
• the monitoring system 10 retains the data for the short time period surrounding the event (e.g. 1 minute) in the memory for later study.
• the information may be stored in reserved areas of a looping memory, preferably in identifiable memory partitions and accessed in sections or in its entirety with the appropriate external device to initiate and receive such transmissions from the monitoring system 10. Event recording using such a looping memory is detailed in the prior art such as in U.S. Patent No.
• an individualized baseline or threshold may be computed and stored in the RAM memory of the microprocessor 142 or an optional external memory 144. In the case of some physiological parameters, fixed threshold levels may be used.
• the microprocessor 142 receives status information from the memory 144 regarding these system variables.
• information regarding the arrhythmia frequency that is predetermined to qualify as a class 1 arrhythmia event is stored in the flash memory of the microprocessor 142. If the ECG sensors measure electrical signals that exceed the programmed arrhythmia frequency, the microprocessor 142 alerts the patient through the user interface module 170, and/or with external devices through the wireless transmitter 109. In the case of alerts reflecting states in which the patient may require assistance, or may be unresponsive, alerts may instead or additionally be directed, by means of wireless transmission to an external system, such as to an emergency responder.
• the user interface 170 communicates with the microprocessor 142 of the electronics module 140 via an internal digital input/output circuit which communicates directly with the microprocessor 142 on input/output lines.
• the microprocessor prompts a message on the user display 106, warning the user that the battery power needs to be recharged.
• the user display 106 is a visual display that may be implemented as a light- emitting diode (LED) display, a dual-colored (back to back) LED, or a conventional alpha- numeric display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD).
• the microprocessor may cause the LED to flash to indicate low battery power or a system error.
• the microprocessor 142 may cause the LED to remain unlit and flash in two different colors to indicate the status of the battery power or other system functions.
• the display may indicate the time of day as well as system status information.
• the pressing of the optional event button 104 by the ambulatory patient causes the user interface 170 to send a signal to the microprocessor 142 to trigger the acoustic alarm 162 which emits an audible alarm and optionally transmits an alarm signal to a wired or wireless transceiver or other external communication device (not shown) for contacting appropriate medical personnel.
• actuation of the event button 104 may cause the microprocessor 142 to record the time an event such as the suffering of chest pains or heart flutters occurred so that the ECG data recorded at that time can be flagged for closer examination.
• Pressing the event button 104 also causes the microprocessor 142 to store the ECG data sequence of the event in the flash memory of the microprocessor 142 for later transmission to an external monitoring device (not shown) and later study.
• the optional event button 104 may also be used to contact and to cancel the emergency help.
• the acoustic alarm 162 also emits an acoustic signal when an observed cardiovascular activity or other physiological parameter surpasses a preset limit (e.g., surpassing the maximum number of arrhythmias preset by the doctor will generate an alarm). In the case of a physiological state that is inconsistent with normal physical activity on the part of the patient, if the activity monitor threshold is exceeded, such an alert may be suppressed as a false alarm.
• the output of the sensors 110 is coupled to a signal conditioning circuit 145, which amplifies and filters the signals, and converted to a digital format by the analog/digital converter.
• the signals from the activity sensor 114 once digitally processed, are input into an activity threshold detector 148, which is coupled to the A/D converter 147.
• the flow of signals and activity threshold detector 148 are set to a selected activity level by programmable activity level 149.
• the activity threshold detector 148 is connected to a control circuit in the microprocessor 142.
• the output of activity threshold detector 148 may be in binary form. For example, it may be a binary 1 if a threshold level of activity is sensed and a binary 0 if less than the threshold level of activity is sensed.
• FIG 4 illustrates a flow chart of a method performed by the system 10 during adaptive monitoring of the patient according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• the microprocessor 142 initially sets up system variables in its memory so that the variables are proper for operation (step 200). For instance, data relating to the threshold conditions for each physiological parameter are entered into the memory of the microprocessor 142 serving the monitor 100.
• pre-determined baseline information regarding arrhythmia such as the frequency and signal amplitude of electrocardiograms that would constitute a class 1 arrhythmic event are stored in the flash memory of the microprocessor 142. It is also within the scope of this invention to utilize algorithmic routines to calibrate non-static, non-preset thresholds that adapt to changing physical parameter base line information. The system is also set so that various types of system errors, malfunctions or low power level (hereinafter collectively referred to as "errors") are categorized as either urgent or non-urgent and this information is contained in the memory. In an exemplary embodiment of the physiological monitoring system 10 of the present invention, the microprocessor 142 runs an error routine to check for errors.
• Part of the initialization routine is for the microprocessor 142 to perform power up tests of the monitor 100 and controls of the user interface 170, including the event button 104 and user display 106. If the system fails any of the power up tests, the microprocessor 142 idles and prompts status messages on the visual display through the user interface 170. If the system checks were successfully completed, the system enables a data acquisition mode (step 220). During the data acquisition mode, the system 10 receives and processes information from the electrode sensors 112 and continuously overwrites the
• the data acquisition mode also includes receiving and processing information about the activity level of the patient output from the activity sensor 114. As described above, the output from the activity sensor 114 is processed through an activity threshold detector. The monitoring continues until signals from the electrode sensors exceed a pre-set threshold, and thus indicate a "cardiac event," (step 230). The microprocessor 142 determines whether the signals indicate a cardiac event of the type that is life-threatening regardless of the physical activity level of the patient, or of another type that is life- threatening only if physical activity level is below a pre-set threshold.
• the microprocessor 142 processes the output of the activity threshold detector 148. If the microprocessor 142 determines that the measured signal level is above a preprogrammed activity threshold for a predetermined period of time (which may be medically and experimentally determined), indicating that the patient is in an alert state, the microprocessor 142 may suppress the cardiac event alert and return the system to the monitoring state 220.
• the microprocessor 142 does not suppress the cardiac event alert.
• the PMS may be programmed with additional pre-set thresholds that recognize a variety of ECG signals and patterns that indicate a cardiac event even when physical activity is detected on the part of the patient. In such instances, when ECG signals of a pre-determined type exceed the pre-set threshold, the cardiac event alerting will remain unsuppressed regardless of the patient's activity level.
• the microprocessor 142 When an unsuppressed cardiac event occurs, the microprocessor 142 records the time from clock 146, turns off the ECG data overwriting routine and saves ECG data relating to the cardiac event and a buffer time period before and after the event (e.g., 30 seconds before and 30 seconds after the event) in the flash memory of the microprocessor 142 for later transmission to an external monitoring device (not shown) and later study (step 250). It also signals the alarm circuit 160 to trigger the acoustic alarm 162 and sends a distress signal through the wireless transmitter 109 (step 260). The acoustic alarm continues to sound an alarm signal until it turned off by the patient or the doctor (step 270).
• a buffer time period before and after the event e.g., 30 seconds before and 30 seconds after the event
• the microprocessor 142 processes error routines (step 290).
• the microprocessor 142 checks for system errors and malfunctions and conducts a test for the battery power level. If any type of system error is detected during the error routine, the microprocessor 142 determines, based on the information in the memory 144, whether the error is urgent or non-urgent (step 300). If it is urgent, the microprocessor 142 sends a signal to trigger the acoustic alarm 162 and wireless transmitter 109 (step 310). However, if a non-urgent error is detected, the microprocessor 142 processes the output of the activity threshold detector 148.
• the microprocessor 142 may sound an acoustic alarm 162 and wireless transmitter 109 to alert the patient to system malfunctions or errors requiring immediate attention.
• the microprocessor 142 triggers a silent alarm such as a visual message on the user display 106 (step 330).
• the system 10 is designed to continue to monitor the patient normally until the activity level rises above the activity threshold, in which case, the system triggers the acoustic alarm (step 260).

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• 2005
  • 2005-01-05 US US10/597,079 patent/US20070167850A1/en not_active Abandoned
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  • 2005-01-05 EP EP05702586A patent/EP1708613B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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