Patent ID: 8738118

Claim:
A system for measuring vital signs from a patient, comprising: (a) a sensor configured to detect a first time-dependent physiological waveform indicative of one or more contractile properties of the patient's heart; (b) a cable system comprising: a cable comprising a cable span terminating in a first terminal end and a second terminal end, the first terminal end comprising a housing integral with the cable and enclosing an integrated circuit configured to operably connect to at least two electrodes and to determine from signals obtained therefrom time dependent digitized ECG waveforms, and a first accelerometer configured to generate a first time-dependent digitized motion waveform, the second terminal end comprising a connector configured to operably connect the cable to a processing component, at least two electrodes configured to detect electrical signals from the patient's body and to operably connect to the integrated circuit, and, a second accelerometer positioned along the cable span and integral with the cable, the second accelerometer configured to generate a second time-dependent motion waveform, the cable being operably connected to the integrated circuit, the first accelerometer, and the second accelerometer to transmit the time dependent digitized ECG waveforms and the first and second time-dependent digitized motion waveforms to the processing component; and, (c) the processing component, wherein the processing component is configured to be worn on the patient's body and comprising a microprocessor and a first electrical connector for operably connecting the microprocessor to the sensor and a second electrical connector for receiving the second terminal end to operably connect the microprocessor to the cable, said processing component configured to receive the time-dependent ECG waveforms, the time-dependent physiological waveform, and the first and second time-dependent motion waveforms transmitted via the cable and determine therefrom: (i) at least one vital sign calculated using at least one of the time-dependent physiological waveform and the time-dependent ECG waveforms, and (ii) at least one motion parameter selected from the patient's posture, activity level, arm height, and degree of motion calculated using the first and second time-dependent motion waveforms.