This invention is directed to devices and methods for assessing a patient. The devices have at least one impedance measuring element functionally connected to a programmable element, programmed to analyze an impedance measurement, and to provide an assessment of at least one respiratory parameter of the patient. Preferably the device includes electronics which aid in calibration, signal acquisition, conditioning, and filtering.

An example monitoring device for detecting and measuring a vital sign of a subject includes: a base; a battery mounted to the base; first and second transceivers attached to the base at opposing angles, and powered by the battery to transmit pulses and receive reflected pulses; an antenna powered by the battery, and configured to wirelessly transmit data acquired from the first and second transceivers; and a computing device powered by the battery, and operatively coupled to the first and second transceivers and the antenna, the computing device having a processing device and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the monitoring device to determine a respiration rate by detecting a cyclical change in distance based on the reflected pulses.

A physiological status monitoring apparatus is provided. The physiological status monitoring apparatus comprises a motion sensor, an event detector, and an estimator. The motion sensor senses movement of an object to generate a sensing signal. The event detector detects abnormal events occurring on the object according to the sensing signal. The estimator outputs an index according to at least one abnormal event which occurs during a predetermined time period to indicate a possibility of pauses in breathing.

A physiological status monitoring apparatus is provided. The physiological status monitoring apparatus comprises a motion sensor, an event detector, and an estimator. The motion sensor senses movement of an object to generate a sensing signal. The event detector detects abnormal events occurring on the object according to the sensing signal. The estimator outputs an index according to at least one abnormal event which occurs during a predetermined time period to indicate a possibility of pauses in breathing.

An image processing method for image-based physiological measurement, includes converting at least one user's image signal into image data; determining at least one region of interest within the image data; analyzing image information inside the region of interest to generate physiological information of the user; determining a feedback control signal or a control signal to optimize the physiological information of the user; and adjusting an image sensing unit or an image signal processing unit according to the feedback control signal or the control signal.

The present disclosure related to techniques for extracting a respiratory navigation signal for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system. The extracted respiratory navigation signals accurately represent respiratory motions of a patient.

A wearable medical device is provided. The wearable medical device includes a garment that includes a sensing electrode, at least one of an inductive element and a capacitive element included in at least part of the garment, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine a confidence level of information received from the sensing electrode based on at least one of an inductance of the inductive element and a capacitance of the capacitive element.

Methods and systems using magnetic resonance and ultrasound for tracking anatomical targets for radiation therapy guidance are provided. One system includes a patient transport configured to move a patient between and into a magnetic resonance (MR) system and a radiation therapy (RT) system. An ultrasound transducer is also provided that is hands-free and electronically steerable, securely attached to the patient, such that the ultrasound transducer is configured to acquire four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound images concurrently with one of an MR acquisition or an RT radiation therapy session. The system also includes a controller having a processor configured to use the 4D ultrasound images and MR images from the MR system to control at least one of a photon beam spatial distribution or intensity modulation generated by the RT system. The system determines the previously-acquired correct MR images that represent a specific motion state at some time, t, by a plurality of transformations that allow the representation of the position of fiducial markers in the corresponding ultrasound images to match that of a prior ultrasound acquisition.

Methods and systems using magnetic resonance and ultrasound for tracking anatomical targets for radiation therapy guidance are provided. One system includes a patient transport configured to move a patient between and into a magnetic resonance (MR) system and a radiation therapy (RT) system. An ultrasound transducer is also provided that is hands-free and electronically steerable, securely attached to the patient, such that the ultrasound transducer is configured to acquire four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound images concurrently with one of an MR acquisition or an RT radiation therapy session. The system also includes a controller having a processor configured to use the 4D ultrasound images and MR images from the MR system to control at least one of a photon beam spatial distribution or intensity modulation generated by the RT system. The system determines the previously-acquired correct MR images that represent a specific motion state at some time, t, by a plurality of transformations that allow the representation of the position of fiducial markers in the corresponding ultrasound images to match that of a prior ultrasound acquisition.

A method of measuring patient position by a patient monitoring system includes providing a first position sensor attachable to a portion of the patient, and providing a hub device that includes a calibration position sensor. A first calibration position measurement is received from the calibration position sensor while the hub device is aligned with the portion of the patient where the first position sensor is attached. A first patient position measurement is received from the first position sensor, and then a calibration map is determined for the first position sensor based on a difference between the first calibration position measurement and the first patient position measurement. Position measurement data is then received from the first position sensor, and a patient position is determined based on the position measurement data and the calibration map.