# US 9,517,012 B2 · Continuous patient monitoring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,012 B2 - Document ID: US9517012B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/026,802 - Filed: 2013-09-13 - Published: 2015-03-19 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-13 - Assignees: Welch Allyn, Inc. - Applicants: Welch Allyn, Inc. - Inventors: John A. Lane; Vuong B. Nguyen; Kristin Ann Alisanski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517012B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/0024: {for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network} - A61B 5/02055: {Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature} - A61B 5/746: {Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms} - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - G16H 40/63: for local operation - G16Z 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass - A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - G16Z: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A system for providing continuous monitoring of a patient includes: a first monitor device configured to measure one or more physiological attributes associated with the patient, the first monitor device being a contactless device; and a second monitor device configured to measure one or more physiological attributes associated with the patient, the second monitor device including one or more sensors contacting the patient; wherein, upon an alarm condition by the first monitor device, the second monitor device is configured to measure a physiological attribute and suppress the alarm condition when the second monitor device detects a non-alarm condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for providing continuous monitoring of a patient, the system comprising: a first monitor device configured to measure one or more physiological attributes associated with the patient, the first monitor device being a contactless device; and a second monitor device configured to measure one or more physiological attributes associated with the patient, the second monitor device including one or more sensors contacting the patient; wherein, upon an alarm condition indicating an abnormality by the first monitor device, the second monitor device is configured to measure a physiological attribute and suppress the alarm condition when the second monitor device detects a non-alarm condition; and wherein the second monitor device allows the alarm condition when the second monitor device detects an alarm condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first monitor device includes a piezoelectric device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the piezoelectric device is positioned under a mattress or cushion of a structure upon which the patient is laid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the piezoelectric device detects the patient's heart rate, respiration rate, and patient movement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second monitor device inflates a blood pressure cuff to estimate movement of the patient. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the blood pressure cuff is inflated to a sub-measurement pressure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein suppression of the alarm condition by the second monitor device is limited to a specified time period. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the second monitor device allows the alarm condition to be transmitted when the specified time period expires and the first monitor device continues to issue the alarm condition. ### Claim 9 A system for providing continuous monitoring of a patient, the system comprising: a first monitor device configured to measure one or more physiological attributes associated with the patient, the first monitor device being a piezoelectric device that measures the physiological attributes without contact, and wherein the physiological attributes including heart rate, respiration rate, and patient movement; and a second monitor device configured to measure one or more physiological attributes associated with the patient, the second monitor device including one or more sensors contacting the patient; wherein, upon an alarm condition indicating an abnormality by the first monitor device, the second monitor device is configured to measure a physiological attribute and either: (i) suppress the alarm condition when the second monitor device detects a non-alarm condition; or (ii) allow the alarm condition when the second monitor device detects an alarm condition; and wherein the second monitor device inflates a blood pressure cuff to a sub-measurement pressure to estimate movement of the patient and detects the non-alarm condition when movement of the patient is detected. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the piezoelectric device is positioned under a mattress of a bed upon which the patient is laid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein suppression of the alarm condition by the second monitor device is limited to a specified time period. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the second monitor device allows the alarm condition to be transmitted when the specified time period expires and the first monitor device continues to issue the alarm condition. ### Claim 13 A method for continuously monitoring a patient, the method comprising: measuring a first physiological attribute using a first monitor device, the first monitor device being a contactless device; detecting an alarm condition indicating an abnormality by the first monitor device; measuring a second physiological attribute using a second monitor device, the second monitor device including one or more sensors contacting the patient, and the measuring including: inflating a blood pressure cuff; estimating movement of the patient based upon a pressure characteristic as measured by the blood pressure cuff, the pressure characteristic including a pressure increase or decrease indicative of movement; and determining a non-alarm condition when movement of the patient is detected; suppressing the alarm condition when the second monitor device detects the non-alarm condition; and transmitting the alarm condition when the second monitor device detects an alarm condition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first monitor device includes a piezoelectric device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising positioning the piezoelectric device under a mattress of a bed upon which the patient is laid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising trending data from the first and second monitor devices to determine a state of recovery for the patient.