Sensing circuit with cascaded reference

• US 10,368,756 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2016
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biopause LLC
• Original Assignee: Biopause LLC
• Inventors: Felix, Jason, Chertok, Leslie Ann, Shimayo, Laureli, Verma, Vandana
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kuo, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US15/396,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0255 Recording instruments specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/308 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7214 using signal cancellation, e.g. based on input of two identical physiological sensors spaced apart, or based on two signals derived from the same sensor, for different optical wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/725 using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters A61B5/316 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002

Abstract

This disclosure provides cascaded reference circuits and low amplitude signal sensing circuits that are useful in wearable devices. Circuits for measuring electrovesselgram (EVG) and subdermal spectrogram (SSG) are provided, as well as methods for using these circuits to determine quantities and qualities of a person'"'"'s moods, such as how much and what kinds of stress they experience. The provided devices are useful on limbs and appendages, such as in a smart watch that is worn on the wrist. Methods are provided for using the devices of this disclosure to privately alert wearers to an increase in bad stress in the moment when they can take actions to reduce their stress and physiological stress responses. These devices are useful for measuring and increasing the effectiveness of relaxation techniques. As a result of using methods and devices of this disclosure, people are healthier, they make more response-able decisions, and relationships improve.

Claims

1. A circuit for sensing an electrovesselgram (EVG) signal comprising:

a. a first circuit for providing a cascaded reference comprising;

i. a first reference generator comprising;

a first pair of resistors configured to inject a driven first reference containing a DC voltage and noise selected from the group comprising;

power supply noise, system noise, and both power supply noise and system noise, to a second reference generator;

ii. said second reference generator comprising;

a second pair of resistors configured to inject a driven second reference containing the combined output of the first reference generator and an arbitrary input into an organism;

b. a second circuit for acquiring EVG signals, electrically connected to said first circuit, comprising;

i. one or more sensing electrodes configured to receive a signal from said organism;

ii. a low-pass filter configured to receive said organism signal from said one or more sensing electrodes;

iii. a first amplifier configured to receive the low-pass filter output;

iv. a high-pass filter configured to receive said the first amplifier output; and

v. a second amplifier configured to receive the high-pass filter output and configured to output an amplified and filtered EVG signal;

wherein said first circuit is, independently of said organism, electrically connected to said second circuit.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said low pass filter and said second amplifier is referenced to said first reference generator output or said second reference generator output or said second reference generator output.

3. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said second circuit is also configured to be electrically connected to said first circuit through said organism at two points that are:

on an appendage selected from the group comprising of;

wrist, forearm, finger, thumb, upper arm, ear, calf, ankle, knee, foot, toe, neck, and tail.

4. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said first circuit is configured to provide said cascaded reference within 5 inches to where said one or more sensing electrodes receive said organism signal.

5. The circuit of claim 1 that is configured to be body worn and configured to be isolated from earth ground.

6. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising one or more of the group comprising:

a second circuit protection resistor configured to be in series with said one or more sensing electrodes, a second circuit AC coupling capacitor configured to be in series with said one or more sensing electrodes, and a second low-pass filter connected to the output of said second circuit.

7. The circuit of claim 1 that is configured to be contained on a flexible band.

8. The system of claim 7 that is configured to be worn on an appendage selected from the group comprising of:

wrist, forearm, finger, thumb, upper arm, ear, calf, ankle, knee, foot, toe, neck, and tail.

9. The system of claim 7 that is configured with two sensing electrodes.