Surgery – Truss – Pad
Patent
1994-05-05
1998-05-12
Nasser, Robert
Surgery
Truss
Pad
128721, 128725, 128903, A61B 0504
Patent
active
057493650
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to health monitoring, and is especially concerned with monitoring one or more vital signs of a human or animal subject.
Facilities for monitoring vital signs (embracing respiration, pulse, body temperature and blood pressure) of a subject are readily available in the context of a hospital or clinic. Whereas such facilities can, as a general matter, also be used and adapted for monitoring a subject out of that context, for example in the home environment, the equipment involved is normally not only expensive, but also obtrusive, cumbersome and inconvenient to an extent that its use is unacceptable or creates an undesirable intrusion into everyday life.
It is one of the objects of the present invention to facilitate the monitoring of vital signs in a less obtrusive, cumbersome and inconvenient manner than with known equipment.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for monitoring vital signs of a human or animal subject, wherein the subject wears a vest in the form of a garment that has stretch both laterally and longitudinally of the subject's body to fit the body closely, elastic deflections of the vest related to respiratory and/or heart functions of the subject are sensed in both the thoracic and abdominal regions of the subject by sensors that are carried by a common carrier attached to the vest, and signals dependent on the sensed deflections are transmitted for reception and analysis remotely of the subject. The term vest is used in a generic sense and means shirt or undershirt.
According to another aspect of the invention a system for monitoring vital signs of a human or animal subject, comprises a vest for wear by the subject in the form of a garment that has stretch both laterally and longitudinally of the subject's body to fit the body closely, sensors that are carried by a common carrier attached to the vest for sensing in both the thoracic and abdominal regions of the subject elastic deflections of the vest related to the subject's respiratory and/or heart functions, and means for transmitting signals dependent on the sensed deflections for reception and analysis remotely of the subject.
The method and system of the invention are of especial advantage where monitoring is to be carried out in circumstances, which may occur in the environment of a hospital or clinic, but may be more significant in the home environment, where the presence and use of conventional health monitoring equipment is likely to cause distraction and anxiety for the subject concerned, and, possibly also, for those involved with the subject. For example, with apnoea-monitoring of a baby in its home environment, there is a risk that the visible presence of monitoring equipment will have an adverse effect on the welfare of both the infant and its parents.
With the method and system of the present invention there is the advantage that monitoring can be carried out in an unobtrusive manner, and the vest worn can be of a conventional, everyday form that can be laundered in the usual way. More particularly, the use of a common carrier attached to the vest and carrying the sensors for sensing the elastic deflections, facilitates concealment of the sensors. In this respect moreover, the carrier may have an external decorative form which not only hides the sensors but diverts attention from its principal purpose. There is, accordingly, the advantage that monitoring can be carried out against the background of normal, everyday life without the intrusion of unusual and cumbersome objects that might give cause for apprehension or concern to the subject and/or for the subject's welfare.
There is particular advantage where all cable or other connections to the baby or other subject are eliminated by using electromagnetic-wave transmission of signals from the vest to the remote, monitoring location. The means for such transmission may also be carried by, and concealed with the sensors within, the common carrier.
The common carrier, which may be attached to the inside or outs
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