Abstract

A vital signal monitoring system for monitoring the vital signs of a patient, particularly prior to and during anesthesiology, during and after operational procedures, includes first sensor unit including a microphone for mounting on the patient's chest for picking up breath and heart sounds with a filter and automatic gain control circuit, second sensor unit including a microphone for positioning beneath the blood pressure cuff for picking up the blood flow sounds with a filter and automatic gain control circuit, both connected into a system of electronic components with selection means for selecting either of these sound systems and transmitting the sounds by way of an audio IR transmitter to a portable audio IR receiver carried by a monitoring physician, including an earphone for monitoring the selected sounds. Each sensor unit also includes a thermnistor for measuring the patient's external temperature. This system is combined into a patient monitoring system including an esophageal stethoscope for monitoring a patient's vital signs during surgery with the system including electronics processing circuitry and a microprocessor unit programmed to initiate test procedures, control multiple vital signsl displays and for initiating one or more alarms in response to deviation from normal vital signs conditions. The overall system includes a switch selector bank permitting the monitoring physician to select one of the three sensing systems to monitor with the portable receiver enabling the attending physician to move freely about an operating room during the monitoring procedures.