A biological-electrode protection module is a monolithic component including a capacitor and a voltage-limiting component integrated in a common substrate. The capacitor component is connected in the series path between the input and output terminals. The voltage-limiting component is connected between ground and a node in the series path. The voltage-limiting component has a low breakdown voltage no greater than 6 volts and may be a biphasic device operating in the punch-through mode. Moreover, the protection module is connected to or integrated with a set of biological electrodes at a distance no greater than 1 cm. The capacitor may be a 3D capacitor, and common fabrication processes may be used in forming the voltage-limiting component and the capacitor. A JFET may be integrated in the same substrate so that an electrical signal output from the monolithic protection device is already pre-amplified.

It is an object of the invention to provide a radio frequency (RF) transmit—receive coil (1) for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system with an integrated vital signs detector (3) for the detection of vital signs of a patient within the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, whereby contact sensors directly attached to the body of the patient, are replaced by a contactless system for monitoring vital signs, which makes it much easier to measure vital signs of the patient. The object is achieved by a RF transmit-receive coil (1) comprising a vital signs detector (3) wherein the vital signs detector (3) is integrated in the RF transmit-receive coil (1), wherein a pair of electrically conducting coil elements (4) of the RF transmit-receive coil (1) forms the vital signs detector (3), wherein the vital signs detector (3) is a capacitive vital signs detector (3), the capacitive vital signs detector (3) being adapted for receiving capacitive vital signs signals. The present invention also concerns a system for the detection of vital signs of a patient within a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a method for operating the system for the detection of vital signs of a patient within a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a software package for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system and a software package for upgrading a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system.

It is an object of the invention to provide a radio frequency (RF) transmit—receive coil (1) for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system with an integrated vital signs detector (3) for the detection of vital signs of a patient within the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, whereby contact sensors directly attached to the body of the patient, are replaced by a contactless system for monitoring vital signs, which makes it much easier to measure vital signs of the patient. The object is achieved by a RF transmit-receive coil (1) comprising a vital signs detector (3) wherein the vital signs detector (3) is integrated in the RF transmit-receive coil (1), wherein a pair of electrically conducting coil elements (4) of the RF transmit-receive coil (1) forms the vital signs detector (3), wherein the vital signs detector (3) is a capacitive vital signs detector (3), the capacitive vital signs detector (3) being adapted for receiving capacitive vital signs signals. The present invention also concerns a system for the detection of vital signs of a patient within a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a method for operating the system for the detection of vital signs of a patient within a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a software package for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system and a software package for upgrading a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system.

A sensing system and method uses a sense electrode arrangement for coupling to a surface of a body such that the sense electrode arrangement and the body (and the spacing between them) define a coupling capacitance. First and second sensing circuits have different transfer functions and generate first and second outputs. These outputs are processed to determine the coupling capacitance. The electrophysiological signal being monitored is also acquired by one or both of the sensing circuits. In this way, the quality of the electrode coupling can be determined in a simple and passive manner.

A sensing system and method uses a sense electrode arrangement for coupling to a surface of a body such that the sense electrode arrangement and the body (and the spacing between them) define a coupling capacitance. First and second sensing circuits have different transfer functions and generate first and second outputs. These outputs are processed to determine the coupling capacitance. The electrophysiological signal being monitored is also acquired by one or both of the sensing circuits. In this way, the quality of the electrode coupling can be determined in a simple and passive manner.

An electrocardiographic detection device for a vehicle includes: a steering wheel electrode provided at a lower layer of a covering material that covers a surface of a steering wheel; a steering wheel electrode provided at a lower layer of the covering material of the steering wheel and an insulating material of a predetermined thickness; a waveform generator detecting a differential voltage between the steering wheel electrode and a ground region; a waveform generator detecting a differential voltage between the steering wheel electrode and a ground region; and a signal processing section that generates an electrocardiographic signal on the basis of the differential voltage detected at the waveform generator and the differential voltage detected at the waveform generator.

A system for providing a standard electrocardiogram (ECG) signal for a human body using contactless ECG sensors for outputting to exiting medical equipment or for storage or viewing on a remote device. The system comprises a digital processing module (DPM) adapted to connect to an array of contactless ECG sensors provided in a fabric or the like. A selection mechanism is embedded into the DPM which allows the DPM to identify body parts using the ECG signals of the different ECG sensors and select for each body part the best sensor lead. The DPM may then produce the standard ECG signal using the selected ECG signals for the different body parts detected. The system is adapted to continuously re-examine the selection to ensure that the best leads are selected for a given body part following a movement of the body part, thereby, allowing for continuous and un-interrupted ECG monitoring of the patient.

A system for providing a standard electrocardiogram (ECG) signal for a human body using contactless ECG sensors for outputting to exiting medical equipment or for storage or viewing on a remote device. The system comprises a digital processing module (DPM) adapted to connect to an array of contactless ECG sensors provided in a fabric or the like. A selection mechanism is embedded into the DPM which allows the DPM to identify body parts using the ECG signals of the different ECG sensors and select for each body part the best sensor lead. The DPM may then produce the standard ECG signal using the selected ECG signals for the different body parts detected. The system is adapted to continuously re-examine the selection to ensure that the best leads are selected for a given body part following a movement of the body part, thereby, allowing for continuous and un-interrupted ECG monitoring of the patient.

The technology disclosed can be implemented to construct devices with an array of optical elements to provide power to stimulate a biological process in a nerve system in living objects, and to provide patterned light outputs from the array of optical elements to indicate a corresponding electrical pattern monitored from the biological process in the nerve system. In one aspect a nerve stimulator apparatus is disclosed including a plurality of optical to electrical transducers arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein each of the plurality of optical to electrical transducers is configured to convert light to an electrical signal; a plurality of electrodes, each electrode associated with one or more associated optical to electrical transducers; and a plurality of electrical interconnects to connect each of the plurality of electrodes to the one or more associated optical transducers. In another aspect nerve sensor apparatus is disclosed including a plurality of optical to electrical transducers; a plurality of optical sources; a plurality of electrodes, each electrode associated with one or more optical to electrical transducers, each optical source configured to modulate light output according to a voltage at one of the plurality of electrodes; and a plurality of electrical interconnects.

Hat, helmet, and other headgear apparatus includes dry electrophysiological electrodes and, optionally, other physiological and/or environmental sensors to measure signals such as ECG from the head of a subject. Methods of use of such apparatus to provide fitness, health, or other measured or derived, estimated, or predicted metrics are also disclosed.