Rollable biometric measuring device

• US 10,181,072 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2016
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Healthcare Informatics Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Baek, David Boettcher, Abdel-Malek, Aiman, Sezan, Muhammed, Lading, Lars, Dantsker, Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Tejani, Ankit D
• Application Number:
  US15/077,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20170277937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02233 Occluders specially adapted therefor tourniquets A61B17/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0295 using plethysmography, i.e. measuring the variations in the volume of a body part as modified by the circulation of blood therethrough, e.g. impedance plethysmography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0535 Impedance plethysmography for measuring blood flow A61B5/0295
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/14 Vascular patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/15 Biometric patterns based on physiological signals, e.g. heartbeat, blood flow

Abstract

A biometric measuring device for obtaining biometric measurements on a limb or digit, such as a finger. The biometric measuring device may include a rollable sleeve that is rollable along a longitudinal axis of the limb or digit and multiple biometric sensors attached to the rollable sleeve such that the biometric sensors are positioned on the rollable sleeve to enable the sleeve to be rolled.

Claims

1. A biometric measuring device for obtaining biometric measurements on a limb or digit of a subject, comprising:

a rollable sleeve, wherein the rollable sleeve is rollable along a longitudinal axis of the limb or digit; and

a plurality of biometric sensors attached to the rollable sleeve, wherein;

one or more of the plurality of biometric sensors are positioned on the rollable sleeve within a rollable portion of the rollable sleeve,

the one or more of the plurality of biometric sensors;

are positioned on an interior surface of the rollable sleeve, and

comprise an ultrasonic sensor, the ultrasonic sensor having a surface on which an acoustic matching layer is disposed; and

the rollable sleeve is configured to roll out over the limb or digit starting from an at least partially rolled up state in which at least a portion of the rollable sleeve containing the plurality of biometric sensors is at least partially rolled up defining an annular opening.

2. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of biometric sensors are positioned to further enable the plurality of biometric sensors to be in proximity with the limb or digit when the rollable sleeve is rolled out over the longitudinal axis of the limb or digit.

3. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of biometric sensors are positioned to further enable biometric information to be captured regardless of orientation of the rollable sleeve on the limb or digit.

4. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a fingerprint sensor attached to the rollable sleeve at a location that enables fingerprint data of the subject to be captured when the rollable sleeve is rolled out on a digit.

5. The biometric measuring device of claim 4, further comprising a processor coupled to the fingerprint sensor and configured to:

verify an identity of the subject based on the fingerprint data captured by the fingerprint sensor; and

associate the obtained biometric measurements with the identity of the subject.

6. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the plurality of biometric sensors include one or more pressure sensors comprising one or more of a capacitive material strip, a piezo resistive film, or a strain gauge.

7. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, wherein the rollable sleeve is made of an elastic material and at least one of the plurality of biometric sensors is embedded within the elastic material of the rollable sleeve.

8. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, wherein the rollable sleeve comprises a moulded structure and the plurality of biometric sensors are embedded in or attached to the moulded structure of the rollable sleeve.

9. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, wherein the rollable sleeve is made of a material that provides a constant counter pressure when the rollable sleeve is rolled out on the limb or digit.

10. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, wherein the rollable sleeve is waterproof.

11. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of biometric sensors further comprises an optical sensor, a pressure sensor, a bio-impedance sensor, or any combination thereof.

12. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to the plurality of biometric sensors, wherein the processor is configured to determine one or more biometric measurements based on outputs received from the plurality of biometric sensors.

13. The biometric measuring device of claim 12, further comprising:

one or more transceivers coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the one or more biometric measurements to a remote device.

14. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a Faraday cage attached to the rollable sleeve, wherein the Faraday cage is configured to electrically shield the plurality of biometric sensors.

15. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of biometric sensors include a row of biometric sensors forming an at least partial ring extending around a circumference of the rollable sleeve, to enable the rollable sleeve to be rolled.

16. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of biometric sensors comprises one or more pressure sensors attached to the rollable sleeve, wherein the one or more pressure sensors are configured to determine a counter pressure applied to the limb or digit by the rollable sleeve.

17. The biometric measuring device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises a thin film transistor (TFT) layer interposed between two piezoelectric film layers.

18. A method of measuring a biometric property of a subject using a biometric measuring device comprising a rollable sleeve and a plurality of biometric sensors attached to the rollable sleeve, wherein one or more of the plurality of biometric sensors are positioned on the rollable sleeve within a rollable portion of the rollable sleeve, and the one or more of the plurality of biometric sensors are positioned on an interior surface of the rollable sleeve, and comprise an ultrasonic sensor, the ultrasonic sensor having a surface on which an acoustic matching layer is disposed, and wherein the rollable sleeve is rolled out over the limb or digit starting from an at least partially rolled up state in which at least a portion of the rollable sleeve containing the plurality of biometric sensors is at least partially rolled up defining an annular opening, the method comprising:

receiving output signals from the plurality of biometric sensors attached to the rollable sleeve when the rollable sleeve is deployed on a limb or digit of the subject the output signals including output signals from the ultrasonic sensor; and

processing the output signals to obtain one or more biometric measurements.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein processing the output signals to obtain one or more biometric measurements comprises processing the output signals in a processor coupled to the plurality of biometric sensors.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein processing the output signals to obtain one or more biometric measurements comprises:

transmitting the output signals to a computing device separate from the biometric measuring device; and

processing the output signals on the computing device to obtain the one or more biometric measurements.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the biometric measuring device includes a fingerprint sensor attached to the rollable sleeve at a location that enables fingerprint data of the subject to be captured when the rollable sleeve is deployed on a digit of the subject, the method further comprising:

capturing the fingerprint data of the subject by the fingerprint sensor when the rollable sleeve is deployed on the digit of the subject.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

verifying an identity of the subject based on the fingerprint data captured by the fingerprint sensor; and

associating the obtained biometric measurements with the identity of the subject.

23. A biometric measuring device for obtaining biometric measurements on a limb or digit of a subject, comprising:

a rollable sleeve, wherein the rollable sleeve is rollable along a longitudinal axis of the limb or digit; and

a plurality of means for obtaining biometric measurements attached to the rollable sleeve, wherein;

one or more of the plurality of means for obtaining biometric measurements are positioned on the rollable sleeve within a rollable portion of the rollable sleeve,

the plurality of means for obtaining biometric measurements;

are positioned on an interior surface of the rollable sleeve, and

comprise an ultrasonic sensor, the ultrasonic sensor having a surface on which an acoustic matching layer is disposed; and

the rollable sleeve is configured to roll out over the limb or digit starting from an at least partially rolled up state in which at least a portion of the rollable sleeve containing the plurality of means for obtaining biometric measurements is at least partially rolled up defining an annular opening.

24. The biometric measuring device of claim 23, wherein the plurality of means for obtaining biometric measurements are positioned on the rollable sleeve to further enable the plurality of means for obtaining biometric measurements to be in proximity with the limb or digit when the rollable sleeve is rolled out over the longitudinal axis of the limb or digit.

25. The biometric measuring device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for capturing fingerprint data when the biometric measuring device is deployed on a digit of the subject.

26. The biometric measuring device of claim 25, further comprising:

means for verifying an identity of the subject based on captured fingerprint data; and

means for associating obtained biometric measurements with the identity of the subject.

27. The biometric measuring device of claim 23, further comprising means for determining a counter pressure applied to the limb or digit of the subject by the rollable sleeve.

28. The biometric measuring device of claim 23, wherein the rollable sleeve is made of an elastic material and the plurality of means for obtaining biometric measurements are embedded within the elastic material of the rollable sleeve.

29. The biometric measuring device of claim 23, wherein the plurality of means for obtaining biometric measurements comprise:

means for obtaining biometric measurements using light;

means for obtaining biometric measurements using ultrasound;

means for obtaining biometric measurements using bio-impedance;

or any combination thereof.

30. The biometric measuring device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for transmitting biometric measurements to a remote computing device.