Wearable medical (wm) system monitoring ecg signal of ambulatory patient for heart condition

Abstract

In embodiments, a wearable medical (WM) system includes ECG electrodes, and a support structure that can be worn by an ambulatory patient so as to maintain the ECG electrodes on the patient's body. When thus maintained, the ECG electrodes can be configured to sense an ECG signal of the ambulatory patient. The WM system further includes a memory that stores a reference template, and an output device. The reference template can be made from one or more early portions of the ECG signal of the patient. Then later portions of the ECG signal are sensed and compared against the reference template, to determine if there is a specific problem. If it is so determined, the output device can output an alert.

1 - 137 . (canceled) 
     
     
         138 . A sensor for detecting sweating by a person who is wearing a support structure, the sensor comprising:
 a tube having a cavity, a person opening and a ventilation opening opposite the person opening, in which air in the cavity communicates with air outside the tube by the person opening and by the ventilation opening; and   a hygrometer coupled to the tube and configured to sense a humidity of air within the cavity, and   in which the support structure is configured to maintain the tube on a body of the person such that the person opening is placed against the body of the person.   
     
     
         139 . The sensor of  claim 138 , in which
 the only openings of the cavity are the person opening and the ventilation opening.   
     
     
         140 . The sensor of  claim 138 , in which
 the tube has a length between 1.25 cm and 5 cm.   
     
     
         141 . The sensor of  claim 138 , in which
 the tube has a length, and a substantially constant cross section throughout the length.   
     
     
         142 . The sensor of  claim 138 , in which
 the tube has a substantially circular cross section.   
     
     
         143 . The sensor of  claim 138 , in which
 the hygrometer is located wholly within the tube.   
     
     
         144 . The sensor of  claim 143 , further comprising:
 a support member across the tube and within the cavity, and   in which the hygrometer is attached to the support member.   
     
     
         145 . The sensor of  claim 143 , further comprising:
 a grid between the hygrometer and the ventilation opening.   
     
     
         146 . The sensor of  claim 138 , further comprising:
 a grid at ventilation opening.   
     
     
         147 . The sensor of  claim 146 , in which
 the hygrometer is attached to the grid.   
     
     
         148 . The sensor of  claim 138 , further comprising:
 an output component configured to communicate a notification signal to a processor.   
     
     
         149 . A component, comprising:
 a tube having a cavity, a person opening and a ventilation opening opposite the person opening, in which air in the cavity communicates with air outside the tube by the person opening and by the ventilation opening; and   a hygrometer coupled to the tube and configured to sense a humidity of air within the cavity.   
     
     
         150 . The component of  claim 149 , in which
 the only openings of the cavity are the person opening and the ventilation opening.   
     
     
         151 . The component of  claim 149 , in which
 the tube has a length between 1.25 cm and 5 cm.   
     
     
         152 . The component of  claim 149 , in which
 the tube has a length, and a substantially constant cross section throughout the length.   
     
     
         153 . The component of  claim 149 , in which
 the tube has a substantially circular cross section.   
     
     
         154 . The component of  claim 149 , in which
 the hygrometer is located wholly within the tube.   
     
     
         155 . The component of  claim 154 , further comprising:
 a support member across the tube and within the cavity, and   in which the hygrometer is attached to the support member.   
     
     
         156 . The component of  claim 154 , further comprising:
 a grid between the hygrometer and the ventilation opening.   
     
     
         157 . The component of  claim 149 , further comprising:
 a grid at the ventilation opening.   
     
     
         158 . The component of  claim 157 , in which
 the hygrometer is attached to the grid.