Wireless Physiology Monitor

Abstract

The present invention provides a new non-invasive technique for organ, e.g., heart and lung, monitoring. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a subject is radiated with a non-harmful and relatively low power electromagnetic source diagnostic signal normally associated with a communications protocol such as, but not limited to a version of the IEEE 802.11(x) family of protocols in the 2.4, 3.6, or 5 GHz spectrum bands. After passing through the patient, a return signal is acquired from the patient and compared to the original source signal. The differences between the source and modified signals are then analyzed to monitor the heart, e.g., measure heart rate and detect defects within the heart, and the lung. For example, using Doppler Effect principles, heart rate and motion can be measured from the differences in frequency, phase, and/or wavelength between the source signal and the modified signal reflected back from the heart moving within the patient.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for non-invasive physiology monitoring of a living subject, the method implemented on a physiology monitoring device and comprising the steps of:
 acquiring, at the physiology monitoring device, a first modulated signal, wherein the first modulated signal is generated by a source other than the physiology monitoring device and has passed through tissue of the living subject,   combining, at the physiology monitoring device, the first modulated signal with itself to form a combined signal, and   processing, at the physiology monitoring device, the combined signal to monitor a physiological function of an organ of the living subject.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the organ is a moving organ and the first modulated signal is subject to a Doppler effect due to the moving organ of the living subject. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the combined signal comprises a bandwidth that is substantially double of the first modulated signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the physiological function is selected from the group consisting of: heart rate; respiratory or pulmonary rate; ventricular contraction; ventricular relaxation; atrial contraction; atrial relaxation; arrhythmia; and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A non-invasive device for physiology monitoring of a living subject comprising:
 a mixer for receiving a modulated signal from a remote source and having passed through tissue of the living subject, wherein an output signal is generated by the mixer, wherein the output signal comprises the modulated signal combined with itself,   a filter coupled to the mixer for receiving the output signal, and   circuitry to determine and monitor a physiological function of an organ of the living subject, wherein the circuitry processes the output signal.   
     
     
         21 . The device for physiology monitoring of  claim 20 , wherein the output signal comprises a bandwidth that is substantially double of the modulated signal. 
     
     
         22 . The device for physiology monitoring of  claim 20 , wherein the modulated signal is attributed to a Doppler effect reflected from the organ of the living subject. 
     
     
         23 . The device for physiology monitoring of  claim 20 , wherein the circuitry comprises a digital signal processing unit to measure, convert and analyze the output signal for determining and monitoring a physiological function of an organ of the living subject. 
     
     
         24 . The device for physiology monitoring of  claim 20 , wherein the filter comprises a low pass filter or a bandpass filter.