Body-worn vital sign monitor

A system for measuring vital signs from a patient, comprising:

• (a) a monitor configured to be worn on the patient's wrist and comprising a microprocessor, a wireless transmitter, a first accelerometer configured to measure a first time-dependent motion waveform, and a first CAN transceiver;
• (b) an electrocardiography/impedance pneumonography (ECG/IP) sensor operably connected to at least three electrodes and configured to be worn on the patient's chest, wherein the ECG/IP sensor is configured to measure time-dependent ECG and IP waveforms, and wherein the ECG/IP sensor comprises a second accelerometer configured to measure a second time-dependent motion waveform, and second CAN transceiver;
• (c) an optical sensor configured to be worn on a digit of a hand of the patient;
• wherein the optical sensor is configured to measure a time-dependent photoplethysmogram (PPG) waveform;
• (d) an accelerometer sensor configured to be worn on an upper arm of the patient, wherein the accelerometer sensor comprises a third accelerometer configured to measure a third time-dependent motion waveform, and a third CAN transceiver;
• and
• (d) wherein the monitor is configured to:
• (i) communicate with second CAN transceiver to receive the time-dependent ECG and IP waveforms and second time-dependent motion waveform as digital data via the first CAN transceiver;
• (ii) communicate with the third CAN transceiver to receive the third time-dependent motion waveform as digital data via the first CAN transceiver;
• (iii) communicate with the optical sensor to receive the time-dependent photoplethysmogram waveform, (iv) communicate with the ECG/IP sensor and the accelerometer sensor to transmit a timing synchronizing packet that is received and used by the ECG/IP sensor and the accelerometer sensor to time-synchronize the ECG and IP waveforms, the second time-dependent motion waveform, and the third time-dependent motion waveform such that there is a maximum 40-microsecond timing error in the synchrony between the ECG and IP waveforms, the second time-dependent motion waveform, and the third time-dependent motion waveform;
• (v) transmit the ECG and IP waveforms, the second time-dependent motion waveform, and the third time-dependent motion waveform to a remote computer via the wireless transmitter.