Contactless respiration monitoring of a patient

US8870785B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KONINIKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V. · NL

Inventors

• Jens Muehlsteff · Aachen, DE
• Robert Pinter · Wulfen, DE
• Geert Guy Georges Morren · Tienen, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 4, 2009
• Grant date: Oct 28, 2014
• Expiry date: Feb 22, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B5/05
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Respiration of a patient is detected by emitting an electromagnetic signal towards the patient; receiving a reflected electromagnetic signal reflected from the patient; converting the reflected electromagnetic signal, yielding a first signal; phase-shifting the reflected electromagnetic signal and converting the phase-shifted reflected electromagnetic signal, yielding a second signal; determining a first vector being defined by the time derivatives of the first signal and the second signal, for a common first point in time; determining a second vector being defined by the time derivatives of the first signal and the second signal, for a common second point in time; and calculating the scalar product of the normalized first vector and the normalized second vector as an indicator value for a change from expiration to inspiration of the patient or vice versa. A change from expiration to inspiration of the patient or vice versa is preferably indicated if the indicator value is below a threshold value, preferably below a value of 0. In this way, respiration is monitored contactlessly and remotely based on the Doppler radar principle which is reliable and easy to handle.