Biological information processing method, biological information processing apparatus, computer system, and wearable apparatus

• US 10,039,478 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2015
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kasahara, Hirokazu, Eguchi, Tsukasa, Ishiguro, Hideto
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US14/608,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20150216458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots

Abstract

In a biological information processing apparatus, a variation index value calculation section calculates a variation index value on the basis of a plurality of measured values obtained by measuring biological information of a subject. A display data generation section generates display data which is used to display a measurement result and undergoes identification display corresponding to the variation index value.

Claims

1. A biological information processing method comprising:

calculating, by a processor in communication with an image sensor, a variation index value on the basis of a plurality of measured values obtained by measuring biological information of a subject with the image sensor; and

determining, by the processor, whether the variation index value is at or above a threshold value;

in response to the variation index value being at or above the threshold value, performing, with the image sensor, measurements conducted at positions on the subject where blood vessel biological measurements cannot be performed due to the lack of a blood vessel detected by the image sensor, and calculating an updated variation index value on the basis of non-blood vessel type biological measurements; and

generating display data on a display screen, including a measurement result and an identification display corresponding to the variation index value.

2. The biological information processing method according to claim 1, wherein

the measured value is obtained by applying irradiation waves toward a living body and measuring a predetermined living tissue state or a component in extracellular fluid,

a plurality of measured values are obtained through a single measurement, and

the calculating of the variation index value includes calculating the variation index value related to the single measurement.

3. The biological information processing method according to claim 2, further comprising:

storing a measurement result and the variation index value related to each measurement in correlation with a measurement time,

wherein the generating of the display data includes generating data for displaying a graph which indicates a time-series change in a range corresponding to the variation index value and the measurement result related to each measurement.

4. The biological information processing method according to claim 2, further comprising:

acquiring the plurality of measured values by performing a measurement using either one of a first measurement method and a second measurement method in which at least measurement object sites are different from each other.

5. The biological information processing method according to claim 4, wherein the measurement includes:

performing a measurement using one of the first measurement method and the second measurement method according to a priority which is set in advance, and

switching to the other measurement method on the basis of the variation index value.

6. The biological information processing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

acquiring the plurality of measured values by measuring the biological information.

7. A biological information processing apparatus comprising:

an image sensor on a wearable apparatus, the image sensor configured to detect biological measurements of a subject, the biological measurements in the form of blood vessel biological measurements and non-blood vessel biological measurements, the non-blood vessel biological measurements being measurements conducted at positions on the subject where blood vessel biological measurements cannot be performed due to the lack of a blood vessel detected by the image sensor;

a processor that;

calculates a variation index value on the basis of a plurality of measured values obtained by the blood vessel biological measurements; and

calculates an updated variation index value based on the non-blood vessel biological measurements in response to the variation index value being at or above a threshold value; and

a display that displays a measurement result and an identification display corresponding to the variation index value.

8. A computer system which is connected to a wearable apparatus so as to perform communication therewith, the system comprising:

an image sensor, the image sensor configured to detect biological measurements of a user of the wearable apparatus, the biological measurements in the form of blood vessel biological measurements and non-blood vessel biological measurements, the non-blood vessel biological measurements being measurements conducted at positions on the user where blood vessel biological measurements cannot be performed due to the lack of a blood vessel detected by the image sensor;

a processor configured to;

calculate a variation index value on the basis of a plurality of measured values obtained by measuring biological information of the user of the wearable apparatus; and

calculate an updated variation index value based on the non-blood vessel biological measurements in response to the variation index value being at or above a threshold value

a display configured to generate display data which is used to display a measurement result and an identification display corresponding to the variation index value; and

a transmission control section that performs control for transmitting the display data to the wearable apparatus.

9. A wearable apparatus comprising:

an image sensor;

a processor in communication with the image sensor, the processor configured to;

calculate a variation index value on the basis of a plurality of measured values obtained by measuring biological information of a user; and

determine whether the variation index value is at or above a threshold value,

wherein in response to the variation index value being at or above the threshold value;

the image sensor performs measurements conducted at positions on the user where blood vessel biological measurements cannot be performed due to the lack of a blood vessel detected by the image sensor, and

the processor calculates an updated variation index value on the basis of non-blood vessel type biological measurements; and

a display configured to display an identification display corresponding to the variation index value on a measurement result and the measurement result.

10. The wearable apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

the image sensor being configured to obtain the measured value by applying irradiation waves toward a living body of a user and measuring a predetermined living tissue state or a component in extracellular fluid.

11. A biological information processing method comprising:

performing, with an image sensor on a wearable apparatus, blood vessel biological measurements of a subject;

calculating, by a processor in communication with the image sensor, a variation index value on the basis of the blood vessel biological measurements;

determining, by the processor, whether the variation index value is at or above a threshold value;

in response to the variation index value being at or above the threshold value, performing, with the image sensor, non-blood vessel type biological measurements of the subject, the non-blood vessel type biological measurements being measurements conducted at positions on the subject where blood vessel biological measurements cannot be performed due to the lack of a blood vessel detected by the image sensor, and calculating an updated variation index value on the basis of non-blood vessel type biological measurements; and

generating display data on a display screen, including a measurement result and an identification display corresponding to the variation index value or the updated variation index value.