System and Process For Non-Invasive Collection and Analysis of Physiological Signals

Abstract

A system and method for detecting, monitoring and analyzing physiological characteristics. Signals from a subject are acquired from a suite of sensors, such as temperature, carbon dioxide, humidity, light, movement, electromagnetic and vibration sensors, in a passive, non-invasive manner. The signals are processed and physiological characteristics are isolated for analysis. The system and method are to analyze sleep patterns, as well as to prevent bed sores or detect conditions such as illness, restless leg syndrome, periodic leg movement, sleep walking, or sleep apnea. However, numerous other applications of the invention are also disclosed.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A non-invasive system for assessing physiological characteristics of a subject, said system comprising:
 a network of sensors configured to provide electronic output signals indicative of at least one sensed condition, said network including at least one passive sensor selected from the group consisting of vibration, temperature, carbon dioxide, humidity, electromagnetic and light sensors;   data acquisition circuitry for collecting the electronic signals output from said network of sensors;   a processor configured to process the electronic signals; and   an output device for outputting the processed signals into human-readable data indicative of at least one condition of a subject, wherein said human-readable data comprises a subject restlessness rate.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said processor further includes an amplifier configured to amplify at least one of the electronic signals. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said processor further includes first and second filters configured to receive the amplified electronic signals to produce two processed electronic signals, wherein said first filter includes a band pass filter and said second filter includes a low pass filter and a high pass filter. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein at least some of the sensors are passive sensors requiring no active involvement from the subject and no direct attachment to the subject. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein all of the sensors are passive sensors requiring no active involvement from the subject and no direct attachment to the subject. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the human-readable data comprises an obstructive sleep apnea count. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of said network of sensors is incorporated in one of a mattress pad, bed, couch, or chair. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said mattress pad consists of sleeves and fixtures to accommodate sensor pads within said sensor network including at least one passive sensor selected from the group consisting of vibration, temperature, carbon dioxide, humidity, electromagnetic and light sensors. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein saturation of at least one of said sensors allows differentiation between gross movement and acute movements. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein gross movement includes physical repositioning and acute movement includes cardiac and respiratory events. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein at least one of the gross movement and acute movement are interpreted to prevent development of pressure ulcers or bed sores in the patient. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said sensors are from the group including piezoelectric, fiber optic, or load cell. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said data acquisition circuitry further comprises a user activated privacy flag to flag for omission output signals from said network of sensors. 
     
     
         34 . A non-invasive system for assessing physiological characteristics of a subject, said system comprising:
 a network of sensors configured to provide electronic output signals indicative of at least one sensed condition, said network including at least one passive sensor selected from the group consisting of vibration, temperature, carbon dioxide, humidity, electromagnetic and light sensors;   data acquisition circuitry for collecting the electronic signals output from said network of sensors;   a processor configured to process the electronic signals, wherein a first signal is acquired that corresponds to a respiratory rate on a breath-by-breath basis of the subject and a second signal is acquired that corresponds to a heart rate on a beat-by-beat basis of the subject; and   an output device for outputting the processed signals into human-readable data indicative of at least one condition of a subject, wherein the human-readable data comprises a subject restlessness rate.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said processor further includes first and second filters that generate two processed electrical signals via frequency filtering, wherein said first filter includes a band pass filter and said second filter includes a low pass filter and a high pass filter. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein said first filter receives signals indicative of chest movement and said second filter receives signals indicative of heart movement. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein and said processor includes an algorithm to generate a heart rate and a respiratory rate based on processed electronic signals output at or below about 50 Hz. 
     
     
         38 . A non-invasive system for assessing physiological characteristics of a subject, said system comprising:
 a network of sensors configured to provide electronic output signals indicative of at least one sensed condition, said network including at least one passive sensor selected from the group consisting of vibration, temperature, carbon dioxide, humidity, electromagnetic and light sensors, wherein said network of sensors can saturate when gross movement occurs;   data acquisition circuitry for collecting the electronic signals output from said network of sensors;   a processor configured to process the electronic signals, wherein a first signal is acquired that corresponds to a respiratory rate on a breath-by-breath basis of the subject and a second signal is acquired that corresponds to a heart rate on a beat-by-beat basis of the subject; and   an output device for outputting the processed signals into human-readable data indicative of at least one condition of a subject;   wherein said system is adapted to assess the subject's quality of sleep and wherein:   said data acquisition circuitry is configured to collect the electronic signals output from said network of sensors indicative of heart rate and/or respiratory rate; and   said processor includes an algorithm to generate a heart rate and a respiratory rate based on processed electronic signals and an algorithm for determining sleep staging and aspects of sleep quality based on the heart rate, the respiratory rate, a variability of the heart rate, a variability of the respiratory rate and a subject restlessness rate.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein at least part of the system is incorporated in one of a mattress pad, bed, couch, or chair. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the human-readable data comprises an obstructive sleep apnea count.