Apparatus and methods for prevention of syncope

US9403000B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• National University of Ireland, Galway · IE
• Declan Lyons · IE
• Colin Quinn · IE

Inventors

• Declan Lyons · Limerick, IE
• Colin Quinn · Galway, IE
• Gearóid Ó'LAIGHIN · Ennis, IE
• Paul Breen · Emly, IE
• Brian Deegan · Dublin, IE
• Fabio Quondamatteo · Ballyconnell, IE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 9, 2012
• Grant date: Aug 2, 2016
• Expiry date: Nov 9, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/36031
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A monitoring system has biomechanical sensors, physiological sensors and a controller which receive sensory inputs from the sensors to provide output signals for the output device, and it detects from the sensory inputs risk of a syncopal event The bio-mechanical sensors include sensors arranged to allow the processor to detect a user postures and posture transitions. The processor operates a finite state machine, in which there is a state corresponding to each of a plurality of user physical postures and to each of a plurality of transitions between said postures, and the processor determines a relevant state depending on the sensory inputs. A device output may be muscle stimulation to prevent syncope, and there are stimulation permissions associated with the finite state machine states.