Combined wearable electrocardiogram and electronic stethoscope

• US 10,172,556 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Kang-Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): HULBERT, AMANDA K
• Application Number:
  US15/274,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20180085062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0209 Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R

Abstract

A wearable patch system includes an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor having electrodes configured to contact a subject. An electronic stethoscope has a diaphragm structure responsive to sounds from the subject. The ECG sensor and the electronic stethoscope are co-located to measure respective parameters concurrently from a same position. A housing is configured to support the diaphragm structure and the electrodes. The housing includes a mechanical interface configured to mount on the subject. A communications circuit is disposed on or in the housing to communicate with a remote component.

Claims

1. A wearable patch system, comprising:

an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor having a plurality of electrodes configured to contact a subject;

an electronic stethoscope having a diaphragm structure responsive to sounds from the subject, the ECG sensor and the electronic stethoscope being co-located to measure respective parameters concurrently from a same position;

a housing configured to support the diaphragm structure and the plurality of electrodes formed on the diaphragm structure, the housing including a mechanical interface on a rim of the housing configured to mount on the subject; and

a communications circuit disposed on or in the housing to communicate with a remote component.

2. The patch system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are separated from one another and covered by the diaphragm structure when mounted on the subject.

3. The patch system as recited in claim 1, wherein the diaphragm structure includes a conductive surface that faces a second conductive surface to form a capacitive component.

4. The patch system s recited in claim 1, further comprising a pulse oximeter mounted on the housing and having a light source and a light sensor.

5. The patch system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a motion sensing device configured to measure motion of the subject.

6. The patch system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the subject.

7. The patch system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communications circuit includes a protocol for communicating with a local hub device to report data measured by the patch.

8. The patch system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mechanical interface includes a replaceable adhesive.

9. A wearable patch system, comprising:

an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor having a plurality of electrodes configured to contact a subject;

an electronic stethoscope having a diaphragm structure responsive to sounds from the subject, the ECG sensor and the electronic stethoscope being co-located to measure respective parameters concurrently from a same position;

a housing configured to support the diaphragm structure and the plurality of electrodes formed on the diaphragm structure, the housing including a mechanical interface on a rim of the housing configured to mount on the subject;

electronic circuitry disposed on or in the housing and including;

a transceiver to conduct communications with a local hub device;

a processor coupled to the transceiver to receive commands and in response to the commands make measurements of the subject; and

memory coupled to the processor to store the measurements for transmission by the transceiver to the local hub.

10. The patch system as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of electrodes are separated from one another and covered by the diaphragm structure when mounted on the subject.

11. The patch system as recited in claim 9, wherein the diaphragm structure includes a conductive surface that faces a second conductive surface to form a capacitive component.

12. The patch system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a pulse oximeter mounted on the housing and having a light source and a light sensor.

13. The patch system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a motion sensing device configured to measure motion of the subject.

14. The patch system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the subject.

15. The patch system as recited in claim 9, wherein the communications circuit includes a protocol for communicating with a local hub device to report data measured by the patch.

16. The patch system as recited in claim 15, wherein the local hub device communicates with a network computer to compute cardiovascular parameters based on a plurality of measurements taken from the subject.

17. The patch system as recited in claim 9, wherein the mechanical interface includes a replaceable adhesive.

18. A wearable patch system, comprising:

an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor having a plurality of electrodes configured to contact a subject,

an electronic stethoscope having a diaphragm structure responsive to sounds from the subject, the ECG sensor and the electronic stethoscope being co-located to measure respective parameters concurrently from a same position, wherein the diaphragm structure includes;

a flexible diaphragm having a conductive coating forming a first conductive plate; and

a second conductive plate disposed apart from the first conductive plate such that movement of the flexible dielectric diaphragm responsive to motion of the subject alters a capacitance between the first and second conductive plates;

a housing configured to support the diaphragm structure and the plurality of electrodes formed on the diaphragm structure, the housing including a mechanical interface on a rim of the housing configured to mount on the subject; and

a communications circuit disposed on or in the housing to communicate with a remote component.

19. The patch system as recited in claim 18, wherein the first and second conductive plates are separated by spacers to prevent shorts.

20. The patch system as recited in claim 18, further comprising one or more of a pulse oximeter, a motion sensing device and/or a temperature sensor.