Apparatus, method and computer program for detecting physiological parameters

• US 10,413,241 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: White, Richard, Borini, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US14/904,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20160143587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 600307, 600309, 600345-366
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/06 Arrangements of multiple sensors of different types
• 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 5/4266 sweat secretion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6844 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue

Abstract

An apparatus, method and computer program where the apparatus comprises: a plurality of sensors (3, 5) configured to detect a physiological parameter: wherein at least one first (5) sensor is configured to have a first sensitivity to the physiological parameter and at least one second sensor (3) is configured to have a second sensitivity to the physiological parameter; such that a parameter profile, comprising a plurality of measurements of the physiological parameter at different is provided by the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured to detect a physiological parameter;

wherein at least one first sensor is configured to have a first sensitivity to the physiological parameter and at least one second sensor is configured to have a second sensitivity to the physiological parameter;

a permeable layer located between the at least one first sensor and a user'"'"'s skin, the permeable layer being configured to enable moisture exchange between the at least one first sensor and the user'"'"'s skin;

a parameter profile sensor, wherein the parameter profile sensor, with the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor, provides a parameter profile comprising a plurality of measurements of the physiological parameter at different sensitivities;

wherein the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor each provide a different response for a production of the physiological parameter; and

wherein the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor are arranged in a stack and overlay each other.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the parameter profile provided using the apparatus is configured to be compared to one or more known parameter profiles of the parameter to enable the physiological parameter to be quantified.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured so that the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor are positioned at different distances from the user'"'"'s skin.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a temperature sensor.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one third sensor is configured to have a third sensitivity to the physiological parameter.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors comprises a two dimensional material.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors comprises at least one of graphene oxide, graphene, functionalised graphene, boron nitride, and molybdenite.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the physiological parameter gives an indication of sweat gland activity of the user.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to be worn by a user.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim wherein the apparatus comprises at least one proximity sensor configured to detect the distance between the user'"'"'s skin and at least one of the plurality of sensors.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a first sensing material and the at least one second sensor comprises a second different sensing material.

12. A method comprising:

detecting a physiological parameter using a plurality of sensors, wherein at least one first sensor is configured to have a first sensitivity to the physiological parameter and at least one second sensor is configured to have a second sensitivity to the physiological parameter, wherein a permeable layer is located between the at least one first sensor and a user'"'"'s skin, the permeable layer being configured to enable moisture exchange between the at least one first sensor and the user'"'"'s skin; and

obtaining a parameter profile using a parameter profile provider, wherein the parameter profile comprises a plurality of measurements of the physiological parameter at different sensitivities detected using the plurality of sensors;

wherein the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor each provide a different response for a production of the physiological parameter; and

wherein the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor are arranged in a stack and overlay each other.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising comparing the obtained parameter profile with one or more known parameter profiles of the parameter to enable the physiological parameter to be quantified.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor are positioned at different distances from the user'"'"'s skin.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising detecting the distance between the user'"'"'s skin and at least one of the plurality of sensors using a proximity sensor.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising determining a temperature of the plurality of sensors using a temperature sensor.

17. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least one third sensor is configured to have a third sensitivity to the physiological parameter.

18. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the at, least one first sensor comprises a first sensing material and the at least one second sensor comprises a second different sensing material.

19. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors comprise a two dimensional material.

20. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors comprises at least one of graphene oxide, graphene, functionalised graphene, boron nitride, and molybdenite.

21. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the physiological parameter gives an indication of sweat gland activity of the user.

22. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the plurality of sensors are provided in an apparatus configured to be worn by a user.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform;

detecting a physiological parameter using a plurality of sensors, wherein at least one first sensor is configured to have a first sensitivity to the physiological parameter and at least one second sensor is configured to have a second sensitivity to the physiological parameter, wherein a permeable layer is located between the at least one first sensor and a user'"'"'s skin, the permeable layer being configured to enable moisture exchange between the at least one first sensor and the user'"'"'s skin; and

obtaining a parameter profile using a parameter profile sensor, wherein the parameter profile sensor, with the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor, provides a parameter profile comprising a plurality of measurements of the physiological parameter at different sensitivities detected using the plurality of sensors;

wherein the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor each provide a different response for a production of the physiological parameter; and

wherein the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor are arranged in a stack and overlay each other.