Systems and methods described herein use pairing to associate a wireless sensor with a patient monitoring device such as a bedside patient monitor or a mobile device. A signal emitted by a patient monitoring device can be detected by a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor can be associated with the detected signal and pair the wireless sensor with the patient monitoring device. The wireless sensor can be configured to enter into a patient parameter sensing mode of operation after the association of the wireless sensor with the patient monitoring device.

Systems and methods described herein use pairing to associate a wireless sensor with a patient monitoring device such as a bedside patient monitor or a mobile device. A signal emitted by a patient monitoring device can be detected by a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor can be associated with the detected signal and pair the wireless sensor with the patient monitoring device. The wireless sensor can be configured to enter into a patient parameter sensing mode of operation after the association of the wireless sensor with the patient monitoring device.

A cable, an associated monitoring system and methods are provided which monitor the continuity of current of electrical components such as sensor signals from sensors used in connection with a medical apparatus. The cable includes a proximal end for coupling with a processing unit and a distal end with or for coupling to sensors. The processing unit generates a continuity signal that travels through the cable via an inductor coil conductor to a distal end inductor coil which imparts the signal to sensor signal conductors of the cable. The continuity signal is carried back to the processing unit with signals from the sensors. Circuitry of the processing unit can detect the returning continuity signals to indicate proper connectivity of the sensor signals. The connection status information of the sensors can be displayed to inform a doctor or other operator of the medical apparatus of sensor signal continuity.

For generating a breathing alert, a method captures a video stream of a subject. The method further generates a vector time series that includes a vector for each image frame of the video stream. The method estimates of breathing signal from the vector time series. The method further determines one of large-scale motion and a breathing event of the subject based on the breathing signal. The method generates an alert if no breathing event is identified and no large-scale motion of the subject is identified within an event time interval.

For generating a breathing alert, a method captures a video stream of a subject. The method further generates a vector time series that includes a vector for each image frame of the video stream. The method estimates of breathing signal from the vector time series. The method further determines one of large-scale motion and a breathing event of the subject based on the breathing signal. The method generates an alert if no breathing event is identified and no large-scale motion of the subject is identified within an event time interval.

Embodiments disclosed herein improve digital stethoscopes and their application and operation. A first method detects of a respiratory abnormality using a convolution. A second method counts coughs for a patient. A third method predicts a respiratory event based on a detected trend. A fourth method forecasts characteristics of a future respiratory event. In a fifth embodiment, a base station is provided for a digital stethoscope.

A system for monitoring medical conditions including pressure ulcers, pressure-induced ischemia and related medical conditions comprises at least one sensor adapted to detect one or more patient characteristic including at least position, orientation, temperature, acceleration, moisture, resistance, stress, heart rate, respiration rate, and blood oxygenation, a host for processing the data received from the sensors together with historical patient data to develop an assessment of patient condition and suggested course of treatment. In some embodiments, the system can further include a support surface having one or more sensors incorporated therein either in addition to sensors affixed to the patient or as an alternative thereof. The sensor can include bi-axial or tri-axial accelerometers, as well as resistive, inductive, capactive, magnetic and other sensing devices, depending on whether the sensor is located on the patient or the support surface, and for what purpose. Compensation for errors introduced because of chest angle or slope can be automatically performed.

A method, apparatus, and system for measuring respiratory effort of a subject are provided. A thorax effort signal and an abdomen effort signal are obtained. The thorax effort signal and the abdomen effort signal are each divided into a volume-contributing component of the respiratory effort and a paradox component. The paradox component represents a non-volume-contributing component of the respiratory effort. The abdomen paradox component is negatively proportional to the thoracic paradox component. The thorax effort signal or the abdomen effort signal or both are weighted by a weight factor to obtain a volume-proportional signal. The volume-proportional signal is proportional to the actual respiratory volume of the respiratory effort. A calibration factor for calibrating the thorax effort signal and the abdomen effort signal is obtained by optimizing the weight factor by minimizing thoracic paradox component and the abdomen paradox component.

Systems and methods are provided for detecting and analyzing changes in a body. A system includes an electric field generator, an external sensor device, a quadrature demodulator, and a controller. The electric field generator is configured to generate an electric field that associates with a body. The external sensor device sends information to the electric field generator and is configured to detect a physical change in the body in the electric field, where the physical change causes a frequency change of the electric field. The quadrature demodulator receives the electric field from the electric field generator and is configured to detect the frequency change of the electric field and to produce a detected response. The controller, coupled to the electric field generator, is configured to output a frequency control signal to the electric field generator and to modify the frequency of the electric field by adjusting the frequency control signal.

A dynamic analysis system includes: an analytic value calculation unit configured to calculate an analytic value in a plurality of time phases on the basis of a dynamic image in the plurality of time phases obtained by performing dynamic photography on the chest of a subject; a ventilation state calculation unit configured to calculate, using a non-linear function, an index value representing a ventilation state of a lung field from the analytic value in the plurality of time phases; a display unit; and a control unit configured to display the index value calculated on the plurality of time phases, on the display unit.