Patent ID: 8506480

Claim:
A system configured to be worn on the body of a patient and comprising: a sensor array comprising a first ECG electrode configured to contact the patient's skin to detect a first electrical signal representing activity of the patient's heart; a second ECG electrode configured to contact the patient's skin to detect a second electrical signal representing activity of the patient's heart; an adhesive patch sensor comprising a third ECG electrode and an acoustic sensor configured to detect a third electric signal representing activity of the patient's heart and an acoustic signal for the patient's heart; a first cable configured to operably connect the first ECG electrode, second ECG electrode, and adhesive patch sensor to a controller unit via a first terminal connector; an optical sensor comprising a light source and a photodetector configured to be proximal to the patient's skin to generate an optical signal representing a flow of blood within the patient; and a second cable configured to operably connect the optical sensor to the controller unit via a second terminal connector; the controller unit, wherein the controller unit is configured to be worn on the patient's body, and further configured to operably connect to the first ECG electrode, second ECG electrode, and adhesive patch sensor by receiving the first terminal connector and to the optical sensor by receiving the second terminal connector, the controller unit comprising: an analog-signal processing circuit comprising a first amplifier configured to receive the electrical signals from the first ECG electrode, second ECG electrode, and third ECG electrode and generate an analog electrical waveform therefrom, a second amplifier configured to receive the acoustic signal from the acoustic sensor and generate an analog acoustic waveform therefrom, and a third amplifier configured to receive the optical signal from the photodiode and generate an analog optical waveform therefrom; analog-to-digital converter circuitry configured to receive the analog electrical waveform and generate a digital electrical waveform therefrom, to receive the analog acoustic waveform and generate a digital acoustic waveform therefrom, and to receive the analog optical waveform and generate a digital optical waveform therefrom; and a processing circuit programmed to use the digital electrical waveform to determine a value for a vital sign for the patient, to use the digital acoustic waveform to determine a first respiratory rate, and to use the digital optical waveform to determine a second respiratory rate, the processing circuit further programmed to analyze at least one of the digital acoustic waveform and the digital optical waveform and, based on said analysis, select either the first respiratory rate or the second respiratory rate to determine a respiratory rate for the patient.