Method and apparatus for triage and subsequent escalation based on biosignals or biometrics

• US 10,390,758 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2016
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Wiggins, Matthew C., Thomson, Euan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US15/145,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20170273620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• 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 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• 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 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick

Abstract

Provided is an electronic device to monitor a user'"'"'s biological measurements in two stages, where the first stage determines whether to make measurements and/or appraisals in the second stage.

Claims

1. A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing machine executable instructions that when executed causes a computing system to control operations comprising:

acquiring first signals in a first mode from a user via a first sensor of a user-wearable device;

processing the first signals to determine whether to enter a second mode to provide further information to the user; and

upon determining to enter the second mode;

providing, on a display, at least one instruction to the user appropriate for the second mode;

determining whether to acquire second signals with a second sensor based on determining that the user has complied with the at least one instruction; and

upon determining to acquire the second signals;

acquiring the second signals; and

providing, on the display, at least one follow-up instruction to the user based on processing the acquired second signals.

2. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising machine executable instructions for acquiring the first signals periodically in the first mode.

3. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising machine executable instructions for acquiring the first signals continuously in the first mode.

4. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising machine executable instructions for instructing the user to perform at least one of:

have the user-wearable device in a specific position and/or orientation, and pose in a specific position.

5. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising machine executable instructions for using a second sensor in the user-wearable device to acquire second signals in the second mode.

6. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the second sensor compared to the first sensor has at least one of:

greater sensitivity, greater specificity, and greater use acceptance for acquiring the second signals.

7. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising machine executable instructions for, upon determining to enter the second mode, providing at least one question to the user to appraise a cognitive state of the user based on the user answering the at least one question.

8. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein determining whether to acquire the second signals does not depend on an input from the user.

9. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first mode comprises monitoring the first signals to determine whether to enter a triage state in the second mode.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second mode comprises one or more of:

acquiring the second signals with improved signal quality compared to a signal quality of the first signals, changing a type of signal acquisition for acquiring the second signals, changing processing of the acquired first signals and/or the second signals, and performing an advanced method of physiological monitoring of the user.

11. A system comprising:

a first sensor of a user-wearable device configured to acquire first signals in a first mode from a user;

a display configured to output visual information to the user; and

a diagnostic processor configured to;

process the first signals to determine whether to enter a second mode to provide further information to the user; and

upon determining to enter the second mode;

provide, on the display, at least one instruction to the user appropriate for the second mode;

determine whether to acquire second signals with a second sensor based on determining that the user has complied with the at least one instruction; and

upon determining to acquire the second signals;

acquire the second signals; and

provide, on the display, at least one follow-up instruction to the user based on processing the acquired second signals.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first signals are acquired periodically in the first mode.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first signals are acquired continuously in the first mode.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic processor is configured to instruct the user to perform at least one of:

have the user-wearable device in a specific position and/or orientation, and pose in a specific position.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the user-wearable device consumes more power in the second mode than in the first mode.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a second sensor in the user-wearable device configured to acquire second signals in the second mode.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second sensor compared to the first sensor has at least one of:

greater sensitivity, greater specificity, and greater use acceptance for acquiring the second signals.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic processor is configured to, upon determining to enter the second mode, provide at least one question to the user to appraise a cognitive state of the user based on the user answering the at least one question.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic processor is further configured to, upon determining to not acquire the second signals, enter a standby mode until the user indicates via an input to enter the first mode to continue to acquire a new set of the first signals.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the first sensor is further configured to, upon the diagnostic processor determining to not enter the second mode, continue to acquire the first signals.

21. A method comprising:

acquiring first signals in a first mode from a user by a first sensor of a user-wearable device;

processing the first signals by a diagnostic processor to determine whether to enter a second mode to provide further information to the user; and

upon determining to enter the second mode;

providing, on a display, at least one instruction to the user appropriate for the second mode;

determining whether to acquire second signals with a second sensor based on determining that the user has complied with the at least one instruction; and

upon determining to acquire the second signals;

acquiring the second signals; and

providing, on the display, at least one follow-up instruction to the user based on processing the acquired second signals.