User interactions for a bandage type monitoring device

• US 10,201,295 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Wasson, Jaclyn Leverett, Liu, Zenghe, Otis, Brian, Biederman, William James
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liu, Chu Chuan (JJ)
• Application Number:
  US14/657,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20160262670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• 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 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0033 Features or image-related aspects of imaging apparatus classified in A61B5/00, e.g. for MRI, optical tomography or impedance tomography apparatus; arrangements of imaging apparatus in a room image data processing or generation G06T
• 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 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• 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 5/1125 Grasping motions of hands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1451 for interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150969 Low-profile devices which resemble patches or plasters, e.g. also allowing collection of blood samples for testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 : using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 : characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation

Abstract

A body-mountable device includes a flexible substrate configured for mounting to a skin surface. The device includes an input component configured to receive inputs from a user, e.g., finger presses, swipes, motions of the sensing platform, or gestures. Received inputs could include calibration data, for example, known values of a sensed property to compare with corresponding values obtained by a sensor of the device. The device can additionally include an output component configured to provide outputs to a user. Outputs could include indications of sensor readings, medical alerts, or operational states of the device. The flexible substrate of the device is configured to be adhered or otherwise mounted to the skin in a manner that minimally impacts activities of the body.

Claims

1. A body-mountable device comprising:

a flexible substrate, wherein the flexible substrate has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first side of the flexible substrate comprises an adhesive configured to adhere the flexible substrate to a skin surface;

a sensor coupled to the first side of the flexible substrate, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a physiological property;

an input component disposed on the second side of the flexible substrate, wherein the input component comprises a further sensor, wherein the input component is flexible such that the input component curves according to the skin surface to which the flexible substrate is adhered, and wherein the input component comprises an electrode directly formed on the second side of the flexible substrate; and

one or more electronic components, disposed on the flexible substrate, configured to;

(i) use the sensor to obtain data related to the physiological property;

(ii) use the input component to receive an input, wherein operating the input component to receive an input comprises (a) operating the further sensor to detect a physical variable and (b) detecting a change in the detected physical variable; and

(iii) perform one or more actions based on the received input.

2. The body-mountable device of claim 1, wherein the electrode is configured as a capacitive touch sensor.

3. The body-mountable device of claim 1, wherein the input component comprises a temperature sensor.

4. The body-mountable device of claim 1, wherein the input component comprises a pressure sensor.

5. The body-mountable device of claim 1, further comprising a flexible display disposed on the flexible substrate, and wherein the one or more electronic components are further configured to use the display to provide an indication related to the physiological property.

6. The body-mountable device of claim 1, further comprising a haptic device, and wherein the one or more electronic components are further configured to use the haptic device to provide an indication related to the physiological property.

7. The body-mountable device of claim 1, further comprising an acoustical element, and wherein the one or more electronic components are further configured to use the acoustical element to provide an indication related to the physiological property by generating a sound.

8. The body-mountable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor probe, wherein a first end of the sensor probe is attached to the first side of the flexible substrate, wherein a second end of the sensor probe is configured to extend beneath the skin surface to contact interstitial fluid, wherein the sensor is disposed at the second end of the sensor probe, and wherein the physiological property comprises a property of an analyte in the interstitial fluid.

9. The body-mountable device of claim 1, further comprising:

an output component, wherein the output component is disposed on the flexible substrate, and wherein the processor is further programmed to operate the output component to provide an indication in response to the received input.

10. The body-mountable device of claim 1, wherein the input component comprises an ambient light sensor.

11. The body-mountable device of claim 1, wherein the one or more electronic components are further configured to:

(iv) determine a calibration value of the physiological property based on the received input;

(v) determine calibration data for the sensor based on the calibration value and the data related to the physiological property;

(vi) operate the sensor to obtain subsequent data related to the physiological property; and

(vii) determine a property of the physiological property based on the determined calibration data and the subsequent data related to the physiological property.

12. A method comprising:

operating a body-mountable device mounted to a skin surface, wherein the body mountable device comprises;

a flexible substrate, wherein the flexible substrate has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first side of the flexible substrate comprises an adhesive configured to adhere the flexible substrate to a skin surface;

a sensor coupled to the first side of the flexible substrate, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a physiological property;

one or more electronic components disposed on the flexible substrate; and

an input component disposed on the second side of the flexible substrate, wherein the input component comprises a further sensor, wherein the input component is flexible such that the input component curves according to the skin surface to which the flexible substrate is adhered, and wherein the input component comprises an electrode directly formed on the second side of the flexible substrate;

wherein the operating comprises;

obtaining, by the one more electronic components, data related to the physiological property using the sensor;

receiving, by the one more electronic components, an input via the input component, wherein receiving an input via the input component comprises (i) operating the further sensor to detect a physical variable and (ii) detecting a change in the detected physical variable; and

performing, by the one more electronic components, one or more actions based on the received input.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein obtaining data related to the physiological property using the sensor is performed in response to the received input.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrode is configured as a capacitive touch sensor, wherein receiving an input via the input component comprises detecting a direction of motion proximate the capacitive touch sensor using the input component.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining, by the one more electronic components, a calibration value of the physiological property based on the received input;

determining, by the one more electronic components, calibration data for the sensor based on the calibration value and the data related to the physiological property obtained using the sensor;

obtaining, by the one more electronic components, subsequent data related to the physiological property using the sensor;

determining, by the one more electronic components, a property of the physiological property based on the determined calibration data and the subsequent data related to the physiological property obtained using the sensor.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the body-mountable device further comprises an output component, wherein the output component is disposed on the flexible substrate, and further comprising:

providing, via the output component, an indication related to the physiological property.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining, based at least on the data related to the physiological property obtained using the sensor, an alert state, wherein the indication is provided responsive to determining the alert state.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the body-mountable device is configured to communicate with a remote system, and wherein the operating further comprises communicating with the remote system in response to the received input.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the body-mountable device further comprises:

a sensor probe, wherein a first end of the sensor probe is attached to the first side of the flexible substrate, wherein a second end of the sensor probe is configured to extend beneath the skin surface to contact interstitial fluid, wherein the sensor is disposed at the second end of the sensor probe, and wherein the physiological property comprises a property of an analyte in the interstitial fluid.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more actions based on the received input comprise recording information about the received input in a memory.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the body-mountable device further comprises an output component, wherein the output component is disposed on the flexible substrate, and further comprising:

providing, via the output component, an indication in response to the received input.