Apparatus and method for assessing peripheral circulation to evaluate a physiological condition
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for evaluating blood flow within a digit of a subject, said apparatus comprising:
- an image-capturing device that is operable to acquire digital representations of the blood flow within said digit; and
a processor configured to receive digital representations from the image-capturing device and generate a signal that is representative of blood flow, wherein the signal can be used to determine a physiological condition of a subject.
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Abstract
Peripheral blood flow signals of a feature can be acquired and analyzed to determine blood flow characteristics for evaluating a physiological condition. Paradigmatic characteristics of blood flow of the feature can be used to associate a physiological condition with a subject. Upon determination that a blood flow characteristic is associated with a physiological condition, action can be taken. For example, the physiological condition can be monitored and given early treatment.
137 Citations
104 Claims
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1. An apparatus for evaluating blood flow within a digit of a subject, said apparatus comprising:
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an image-capturing device that is operable to acquire digital representations of the blood flow within said digit; and
a processor configured to receive digital representations from the image-capturing device and generate a signal that is representative of blood flow, wherein the signal can be used to determine a physiological condition of a subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. One or more computer readable media comprising computer-readable instructions for performing:
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receiving a plurality of digital representations of blood flow within a feature over time;
analyzing the digital representations to determine a signal representative of the blood flow.
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11-23. -23. (canceled)
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24. An apparatus for evaluating blood flow within a digit of a subject, said apparatus comprising:
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a force measuring device for measuring force applied to the digit;
a blood flow detector for generating a blood flow signal representative of blood flow in the digit; and
a signal processor configured to;
receive signals from the force measuring device and the blood flow detector;
generate at least one blood flow characteristic based on at least one of;
the signal from the blood flow detector and the signal from the force measuring device;
the signal from the blood flow detector;
orthe signal from the force measuring device;
evaluate at least one physiological condition of the subject based on the at least one blood flow characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for evaluating blood flow within a feature of a subject, the method comprising:
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applying a force to the feature so as to cause a change in the blood flow of the digit;
measuring blood flow within the feature;
determining at least one blood flow characteristic from the measured blood flow corresponding to the change in blood flow; and
analyzing the at least one characteristic to evaluate a physiological condition of the subject.
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44-79. -79. (canceled)
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80. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions for performing:
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receiving a photoplethysmograph signal from a subject;
determining the stability of the signal; and
using the signal for analysis in evaluating a physiological condition of a subject if the stability of the signal is acceptable.
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81-92. -92. (canceled)
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93. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions for performing:
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receiving a photoplethysmograph signal from a resting subject;
determining a mean pulse of the signal based on linear associations between pulses within the signal; and
based on at least the mean pulse of the signal, evaluating a physiological condition of a subject.
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94-102. -102. (canceled)
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103. A system for evaluating a physiological condition of a subject, the system comprising:
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means for applying a force to a digit of the subject so as to cause a change in the blood flow of the digit;
means for measuring blood flow within the digit;
means for calculating one or more characteristics of the measured blood flow corresponding to the change in blood flow;
means for evaluating a physiological condition of a subject based at least on the one or more characteristics.
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104-105. -105. (canceled)
Specification