Systems and methods for obtaining and analyzing biological data

• US 10,231,652 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2018
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Combobutronics LLC
• Original Assignee: Combobutronics LLC
• Inventors: Mauro, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Eun Hwa
• Application Number:
  US15/918,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20180303423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• 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 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6839 Anchoring means, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 : in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/12 : using variable magnetic fields obtained by mechanical movement
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/00 : ICT specially adapted for medical diagnosis, medical simulation or medical data mining; ICT specially adapted for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 : for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for obtaining and analyzing biological data are described. In some embodiments, a local user system may perform steps such as receiving a first message including an indication of a stimulus to be applied, applying the stimulus, detecting a biological response to the stimulus, generating first data including an indication of the detected biological response, and transmitting a second message comprising the first data.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining biological data, the method being performed by a local user system comprising a user device that is associated with a user, the method comprising:

transmitting first data, the first data indicating an identity of the user;

receiving a first message comprising an indication of a stimulus to be applied to the user, wherein the indication of the stimulus to be applied to the user is based on a value having a timestamp, the timestamp indicating that the value was generated after the first data was transmitted;

in response to receiving the first message, applying the stimulus to the user, the stimulus being applied based on the indication in the first message;

detecting a biological response to the stimulus;

generating second data comprising an indication of the detected biological response, the indication of the detected biological response being related to the indication in the first message such that the second data is configured to be analyzed to assess whether the second data was generated after receipt of the first message; and

transmitting a second message comprising the second data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device comprises a first electrode, and the step of detecting a biological response to the stimulus comprises using the first electrode to record the user'"'"'s brainwaves.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user device further comprises a second electrode, and the step of applying the stimulus to the user comprises applying an electrical signal to a portion of the user'"'"'s head.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the value upon which the stimulus indication is based is at least partially randomly generated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is received by the user device from a wireless device associated with the user, and the second message is transmitted to the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is received from a network node, and the second message is transmitted to the network node.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the local user system determines the stimulus to be applied to the user by inputting the indication into a function, wherein the function generates a single output for any given indication within a range of possible values.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the local user system further comprises a wireless device, and the step of applying the stimulus to the user is performed by the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of detecting a biological response comprises using a microphone and/or a camera located on the wireless device to record voice and/or facial data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device comprises a speaker and the step of applying the stimulus to the user comprises using the speaker to apply an audio stimulus.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected biological response comprises indications of both:

(i) the applied stimulus; and

(ii) a biometric characteristic of the user, the biometric characteristic being configured to be analyzed to assess the user'"'"'s identity.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the biological response is performed within one second or less of applying the stimulus.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the value upon which the stimulus indication is based is retrieved from a blockchain, and the timestamp is publicly verifiable.

14. A system for obtaining biological data, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory, wherein the system is configured to;

transmit first data, the first data indicating an identity of the user;

receive a first message comprising an indication of a stimulus to be applied to the user, wherein the indication of the stimulus to be applied to the user is based on a value having a timestamp, the timestamp indicating that the value was generated after the first data was transmitted;

in response to receiving the first message, apply the stimulus to the user, the stimulus being applied based on the indication in the first message;

detect a biological response to the stimulus;

generate second data comprising an indication of the detected biological response, the indication of the detected biological response being related to the indication in the first message such that the second data is configured to be analyzed to assess whether the second data was generated after receipt of the first message; and

transmit a second message comprising the second data.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the system comprises a first electrode, and the system is configured to detect a biological response to the stimulus by using the first electrode to record the user'"'"'s brainwaves.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the system further comprises a second electrode, and the system is configured to apply the stimulus to the user by applying an electrical signal to a portion of the user'"'"'s head.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the value upon which the stimulus indication is based is at least partially randomly generated.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the first message is received by the user device from a wireless device associated with the user, and the second message is transmitted to the wireless device.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the first message is received from a network node, and the second message is transmitted to the network node.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the system is further configured to determine the stimulus to be applied to the user by inputting the indication into a function, wherein the function generates a single output for any given indication within a range of possible values.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the system comprises a wireless device, and the step of applying the stimulus to the user is performed by the wireless device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the system is configured to detect a biological response using a microphone and/or a camera located on the wireless device to record voice and/or facial data.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the user device comprises a speaker and the step of applying the stimulus to the user comprises using the speaker to apply an audio stimulus.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the detected biological response comprises indications of both:

(i) the applied stimulus; and

(ii) a biometric characteristic of the user, the biometric characteristic being configured to be analyzed to assess the user'"'"'s identity.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the system is configured to perform the step of detecting the biological response within one second or less of applying the stimulus.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the value upon which the stimulus indication is based is retrieved from a blockchain, and the timestamp is publicly verifiable.