US 5,228,449 A · System and method for detecting out-of-hospital cardiac emergencies and summoning emergency assistance

Abstract

A monitoring system uses infrared photoplethysmography to monitor the pulse of a person wearing a wrist unit, and the wrist unit sends RF signals which describe his heart condition to a base unit. If the wrist unit detects a cardiac arrest or if the wearer manually signals an emergency, both the wrist and the base units sound local alarms. The base unit also telephones others outside of the user's home to alert them to the emergency. The wrist unit is designed to be fail-safe and to prevent false alarms. When the wrist unit fails to detect a pulse, it makes several further attempts to detect a pulse before signalling a cardiac arrest emergency. A prioritization and output activation circuit activates wrist unit outputs, including audio signals, an RF signal transmitter, and a display, according to a predetermined priority when more than one condition requiring a response exists. RF signals sent by the wrist unit's RF signal transmitter are received by the base unit's antenna and processed to selectively activate an external display panel, two audio signal devices, and an auto dialer. The base unit also includes a removable, self-contained CPR instructions player which provides interactive real time directions for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Claims203

Dependent claims

A system for monitoring the physiological condition of a user and alerting people to a user physiological condition problem, comprising:

monitor means for monitoring physiological condition of the user and transmitting signals indicative of said physiological condition, said monitor means worn on the body of said user and portable, said monitor means including:
sensing means selectively actuated by said monitor means for sensing the physiological condition of said user;
and
transmitting means actuated by said monitor means for transmitting at least one wireless signal indicative of the second physiological condition of said user;
base unit means for receiving said wireless signals from said transmitting means associated with said monitor means and analyzing said signals to determine the existence of said user physiological condition problem, said base unit means physically separate from said monitor means;
message delivery means adapted for connection to a communications network and associated with and actuated by said base unit means for automatically delivering at least one message indicative of said user physiological condition problem on said communications network for summoning emergency assistance when said wireless signals indicative said user physiological condition problem.

3 more elements

A system for monitoring the heart condition of a user and alerting people to a user heart condition problem, comprising:

monitor means for monitoring heart function of a user and transmitting signals indicative of said heart function, said monitor means worn on the arm of said user and portable and compact, said monitor means including sensing means actuated by said monitor means for sensing the heart condition of said user and transmitting means actuated by said monitor means for transmitting at least one radio frequency signal indicative of the sensed heart condition of said user;
base unit means physically separate from said monitor means for receiving said radio frequency signals from said monitor means and for selectively generating an output indication in responses to the detection of said user heart condition problem;
and
message delivery means adapted for connection to a telephone network and associated with and actuated by said base unit means for automatically delivering at least one message indicative of a user heart condition problem on a telephone network for summoning emergency assistance when said radio frequency signals indicate said user heart condition problems.

1 more element

A system for monitoring the blood flow status of a user and alerting people to a user heart condition problem when the blood flow status of said user indicates such as problem, comprising:

portable monitor means worn on the arm of the user for monitoring heart conditions of the user and comprising sensing means actuated by said monitor means for sensing the blood flow status of said user, said sensing means comprising an infrared emitter and an infrared detector, and transmitting means actuated by said monitor means for transmitting at least one radio frequency signal indicative of the sensed blood flow status of said user;
base unit means for receiving said radio frequency signals from said monitor means and selectively generating an output indication signal when said radio frequency signals indicate a user heart condition problem, said base unit means physically separate from said monitor means;
and
message delivery means connectable to a telephone network and associated with and actuated by said output indication signal of said base unit means for automatically delivering at least one message indicative of a user heart condition problem on said telephone network for summoning emergency assistance when said radio frequency signals indicate said user blood flow status problem.

1 more element

A system for monitoring blood flow status of a user and alerting people to a user heart condition problem when the blood flow status of said user indicates such a problem, comprising:

monitor means for monitoring the blood flow status of the user and transmitting signals indicative of said blood flow status, said monitor means worn on the arm of said user and portable, said monitor means comprising:
sensing means actuated by said monitor means for sensing the blood flow status of said user, said sensing means comprising an infrared emitter and an infrared detector;
notifying means selectively actuated by said monitor means for providing an indication at the immediate location of said monitor means when said monitor means determines that the user has a specified blood flow status problem;
and transmitting means selectively actuated by said monitor means for transmitting at least one radio frequency signal indicative of the sensed blood flow status of said user;
base unit means for receiving said radio frequency signals from said monitor means and selectively generating an output indication signal in responses to said radio frequency signals, said base unit means physically separate from said monitor means;
indicating means associated with and actuated by said output indication signal of said base unit means for providing an indication in a proximate surrounding area of said base unit means when said radio frequency signals transmitted by said monitor means are one of unreceived by said base unit means and received by said base unit means and indicative of a specified blood flow status of said user;
and
message delivery means adapted for connection to a telephone network and associated with and actuated by said base unit means for automatically delivering at least one message indicative of a user heart condition problem on said telephone network for summoning emergency assistance when said radio frequency signals indicate said user blood flow status problem.

5 more elements

A system for monitoring the heart condition of a user and alerting people to a user heart condition problem, comprising:

portable monitor means for monitoring the heart function of said user and transmitting signals indicative of said heart condition, said monitor means comprising:
control means for controlling the operation of the monitor means and determining the existence of any heart condition problem;
sensing means connected to and actuated by said control means for sensing the heart condition of said user;
diagnostic means connected to said control means for detecting and signalling an operational problem in said monitor means;
attachment means for securing said monitor means to the arm of said user;
attachment sensing means connected to said attachment means and to said control means for determining and signalling the attachment status of said attachment means with respect to the arm of said user;
transmitting means connected to and actuated by said control means for transmitting radio frequency signals indicative of at least one of the sensed heart condition of said user and the operating status of said monitor means;
activation means connected to said control means and manually operable by said user for at least one of activating a specified operating status of said monitor means and causing said transmitting means to transmit a predetermined radio frequency signal;
and notifying means associated with and actuated by said monitor means for providing an indication at the immediate location of said monitor means when said monitor means determines that said user has a specified heart condition problem said notifying means providing in response at least one of a visual and audible indication;
base unit means for receiving said radio frequency signals from said monitor means analyzing said signals, and selectively producing an output signal upon determination of said user heart condition problem, said base unit means being physically separate from said monitor means and comprising:
diagnostic means for determining a problem with the operation of said base unit means;
indicating means actuated by said output signal of said base unit means for providing an indication in a surrounding area of said base unit means when said radio frequency signals transmitted by said monitor means are one of unreceived by said base unit means, and received by said base unit means and indicative of a specified heart condition problem of said user, said indicating means providing in response at least one of a visual and an audible indication information giving means for providing emergency instructions and information to a caregiver in the event of a downturn in the physiological condition of said user, said information giving means providing verbal instructions on performance of cardiac resuscitation;
programming means associated with said base unit means for enabling said user to direct said base unit means to make user-selected customized outputs;
and message delivery means associated with and actuated by said base unit means for automatically delivering at least one message on a telephone network, said message being at least one of a prerecorded verbal message indicating a user heart condition problem and summoning emergency assistance when said radio frequency signals indicate said user heart condition problem, and electronic data indicating the operation of said system.

11 more elements

A system for monitoring the blood flow status of a user and alerting people to a user heart condition problem when the blood flow status of said user indicates such as problem, comprising:

portable monitor means for monitoring blood flow and transmitting indications of sensed conditions and worn on a limb of said user said monitoring means comprising:
control means for controlling monitoring and transmitting functions of said monitor means;
sensing means connected to and actuated by said control means for sensing the blood flow status of said user and determining any user blood flow status problem, said sensing means and comprising an infrared emitter and an infrared detector;
diagnostic means connected to said control means for detecting and signalling an operational problem in said monitor means;
attachment means for securing said monitor means to the limb of said user;
attachment sensing means connected to said attachment means and said control means for determining and signalling the attachment status of said attachment means with respect to the limb of said user;
transmitting means connected to and actuated by said control means for transmitting radio frequency signals indicative of the sensed blood flow status of said user and the operating status of said monitor means;
activation means connected to said control means manually operable by said user for at least one of activating a specified operating status of said monitor means and causing said transmitting means to transmit a predetermined radio frequency signal;
and
notifying means associated with and selectively actuated by said control means for providing an indication at the immediate location of said monitor means when said monitor means determines that said user has a specified blood flow status and said monitor means operates in a specified operating status, said notifying means including at least one of an audible and a visual signal producing device;
base unit means for receiving and said radio frequency signals from said monitor means and analyzing said signals;
diagnostic means associated with said base unit means for determining and signalling a problem with the operation of said base unit means;
indicating means associated with and actuated by said base unit means for providing an indication in a proximate surrounding area of said base unit means when said radio frequency signals transmitted by said monitor means are one of unreceived by said base unit means, and received by said base unit means and indicative of a specified blood flow status of said user, said indicating means including at least one of an audible and a visual indicator;
information giving means associated with said base unit means for providing emergency instructions and information to a caregiver in the event of a downturn in the physiological condition of said user, said information giving means providing verbal instructions on performance of cardiac resuscitation;
programming means associated with said base unit means for enabling said user to direct said base unit means to make user-selected customized outputs;
and
message delivery means associated with and actuated by said base unit means for automatically delivering at least one message an a telephone network, said messgae being at least one of a prerecorded verbal message indicating a user heart condition problem and summoning emergency assistance when said radio frequency signals indicate said user blood flow status problem, and electronic data indicating the operation of said system.

14 more elements

A system for monitoring the blood flow status of a user and alerting people to a user heart condition problem when the blood flow status of said user indicates such as problem, comprising:

portable monitor means for monitoring blood flow status of the user and transmitting data signals indicative of said blow flow status, said monitor means worn on the arm of said user and comprising:
control means for controlling monitoring and transmitting functions of said monitor means;
sensing means associated with and actuated by said control means for sensing the blood flow status of said user, said sensing means comprising an infrared emitter and an infrared detector;
diagnostic means connected to said control means for determining and signalling an operational problem in said monitor means;
attachment menas for securing said monitor means to the arm of said user;
attachment sensing means associated with said attachment means and connected to said attachment means and to said control means for determining the attachment status of said attachment means with respect to the arm of said user;
transmitting means associated with and actuated by said control means for transmitting radio frequency signals indicative of the blood flow status of said user and the operating status of said monitor means;
manual activation means connected to said control means and manually operable by said user for activating a specified operating status of said monitor means and causing said transmitting means to transmit a predetermined radio frequency signal;
and
notifying means associated with and selectively actuated by said control means for providing an indication at the immediate location of said monitor means when said monitor means determines that said user has a specified blood flow status and said monitor means operates in a specified operating status, said notifying means providing at least one of an audible signal and a visual signal;
base unit means physically separate from said monitoring means for receiving said radio frequency signals from said monitor means and analyzing and responding to said signals;
diagnostic means associated with said base unit means for determining and signalling a problem with the operation of said base unit means;
indicating means associated with and actuated by said base unit means for providing an indication in a proximate surrounding area of said base unit means when said radio frequency signals transmitted by said monitor means are one of unreceived by said base unit means, received by said base unit means and indicative of a specified blood flow status problem of said user, and received by said base unit means and indicative of a specified operating status of said monitor means, said indicating means including at least one of an audible and a visual indicator for providing the indication;
and
programming means associated with said base unit means for enabling said user to direct said indicating means to make user-selected customized indications.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for detecting out-of-hospital cardiac emergencies and summoning emergency assistance

Life of this patent

System and method for detecting out-of-hospital cardiac emergencies and summoning emergency assistance

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims203