Device and method for noninvasive continuous determination of physiologic characteristics

Abstract

The invention comprises devices for noninvasively monitoring physiological characteristics of a patient's blood. Generally, probes having radiation emitters and detectors are used to determine absorbance of blood within the patient's tissue to determine various blood parameters. The device also has either a position sensor for determining the position of the probe with respect to the patient's heart or a movement generator for altering the position of the probe with respect to the patient's heart. The invention also comprises methods for noninvasively monitoring the physiological characteristics. In one embodiemnt, induced positional changes create differential hydrostatic pressures to facilitate measurement of blood parameters by absorbance. In a second embodiment, delays in pulse arrival times in coupled organs or members on opposite sides of the body are measured to determine cardiac output. The two methods are such that they can advantageously be used together.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to noninvasive methods of quantitatively determining various physiologic parameters relating to cardiovascular and respiratory function. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for continuous, noninvasive determination of: arterial blood pressure, venous pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, venous oxygen saturation, arterial pulse wave velocity, aortic pulse wave velocity, aortic pulse flow velocity, cardiac stroke volume, cardiac output, heart rate, and respiratory rate. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Critically ill and seriously injured patients require constant care and attention. Doctors, nurses, and hospital technicians need a continuous flow of information about the many patients under their care. Heart rate and blood pressure measurements are two primary vital signs that indicate the health of patients under their care. When these two common indices of wellness fall below nor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a device and method for noninvasive monitoring of a patient's blood. The device includes a tissue probe with a radiation emitter and a radiation detector, a position sensor, and a controller for computing the physiologic characteristic of the patient's blood based on the absorbance of the first wavelength of radiation and the position of the probe. The device can be used in various medical procedures and can provide continuous monitoring of essential cardiovascular characteristics. The invention offers the advantage of noninvasive monitoring and the ability to measure changes in hydrostatic pressure induced by positional changes."

Problems solved by technology

When these two common indices of wellness fall below normal readings, a patient is usually in distress and requires immediate attention.

Dangerous conditions brought about by a cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, severe trauma, or drug abuse may bring about a failure of the lungs and heart to supply the bloodstream with life-giving oxygen.

This third vital sign, which manifests oxygen saturation of the blood, is especially critical because a rapid decline in oxygen in the bloodstream is associated with increased risk of patient mortality.

This is the most accurate means, but has all the disadvantages of invasive measurement, including pain on insertion, risk of infection or disease transmission, risk of bleeding or thrombosis, and great expense.

A further disadvantage is the creation of toxic medical waste (needle, gloves, skin dressing, etc).

Although commonly employed, the occlusive cuff also has numerous disadvantages, which include discomfort, intermittent readings, and poor reliability.

Although most of the noted noninvasive blood pressure methods and apparatus, particularly the occlusive cuff, have been employed for many years by health care personnel, the conventional methods and apparatus have one major, common drawback the need for separate calibration.

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