System and method for remotely monitoring physiological functions

• US 20060074326A1
• Filed: 09/21/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aeva, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digital Signal Corporation (StereoVision Imaging, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sebastian, Richard L., Belsley, Kendall L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,507,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing

Abstract

A system and method for remotely monitoring an individual, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. More particularly, one or more physiological functions and/or physical activities of the individual may be monitored. In order to monitor the individual, a range to, and/or a range rate (i.e., velocity) of, one or more points on one or more surfaces of the individual (e.g., skin, clothing, lips, etc.) may be determined over time. Based on the determinations of the range and/or range rate of the points on the surfaces of the individual, the one or more physiological functions and/or physical activities of the individual may be monitored. This may enable the physiological functions and/or physical activities to be monitored remotely from the individual without access or proximity to the individual.

Claims

1. A system for remotely monitoring an individual, the system comprising:

a laser radar system that determines ranges and range rates of one or more points on one or more surfaces of the individual over a period of time; and

a monitor module that monitors one or more physiological functions or physical activities of the individual based on the ranges and range rates determined by the laser radar system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor module determines one or more general trends in the ranges and range rates and one or more residual deviations in the ranges and range rates, and monitors the one or more physiological functions or physical activities of the individual based on the general trends in the ranges and range rates and/or the residual deviations in the ranges and range rates.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the monitor module estimates body motion of the individual from the general trends in the ranges and range rates, estimates surface vibrations of the surfaces of the individual from the residual deviations from the general trends in the ranges and range rates, and monitors the one or more physiological functions or physical activities of the individual based on the estimated body motion and/or the estimated surface vibrations.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physiological functions or physical activities comprise at least one of a cardiovascular function or a respiratory function.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more physiological functions or physical activities comprise at least one of a heart rate, a heart rate variability, a pulse transit time, a pulse shape, a respiration rate, or a respiratory effort.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physiological functions or physical activities comprise at least one of speaking, coughing, sneezing, walking, or running.

7. A method of remotely monitoring an individual, the method comprising:

emitting a beam of radiation sequentially toward one or more points on one or more surfaces of the individual;

receiving a portion of the beam of radiation reflected from the points on the surfaces of the individual;

determining ranges and range rates of the points on the surfaces of the individual based on one or more aspects of the beam of radiation; and

monitoring one or more physiological functions or physical activities of the individual based on the ranges and range rates of the points on the surfaces of the individual.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining one or more general trends in the ranges and range rates and one or more residual deviations in the ranges and range rates, and wherein and monitoring the one or more physiological functions or physical activities of the individual comprises monitoring the one or more physiological functions or physical activities of the individual based on the general trends in the ranges and range rates and/or the residual deviations in the ranges and range rates.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

estimating body motion of the individual from the general trends in the ranges and range rates; and

estimating surface vibrations of the surfaces of the individual from the residual deviations from the general trends in the ranges and range rates, and wherein monitoring the one or more physiological functions or physical activities of the individual comprises monitoring the one or more physiological functions or physical activities of the individual based on the estimated body motion and/or the estimated surface vibrations.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more physiological functions or physical activities comprise at least one of a cardiovascular function or a respiratory function.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more physiological functions or physical activities comprise at least one of a heart rate, a heart rate variability, a pulse transit time, a pulse shape, a respiration rate, or a respiratory effort.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more physiological functions or physical activities comprise at least one of speaking, coughing, sneezing, walking, or running.

13. A system for monitoring an individual, the system comprising:

a first coherent laser radar section including;

a laser source that generates a first laser beam, an interferometer that splits the first laser beam into a first target beam that is directed toward the individual and a first local oscillator beam, and generates a first combined target beam from a first reflected portion of the first target beam returning from the individual and the first local oscillator beam;

a second coherent laser radar section including;

a laser source that generates a second laser beam, an interferometer that splits the second laser beam into a second target beam that is directed toward the individual with the first target beam and a second local oscillator beam, and generates a second combined target beam from a second reflected portion of the second target beam returning from the individual and the second local oscillator beam;

a processor that determines ranges and range rates of one or more points on one or more surfaces of the individual over a period of time from the first combined target beam and the second combined target beam, and

wherein the processor monitors one or more physiological functions or physical activities of the individual based on the ranges and range rates determined by the processor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor determines one or more general trends in the ranges and range rates and one or more residual deviations in the ranges and range rates, and monitors the one or more physiological functions or physical activities of the individual based on the general trends in the ranges and range rates and/or the residual deviations in the ranges and range rates.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor estimates body motion of the individual from the general trends in the ranges and range rates, estimates surface vibrations of the surfaces of the individual from the residual deviations from the general trends in the ranges and range rates, and monitors the one or more physiological functions or physical activities of the individual based on the estimated body motion and/or the estimated surface vibrations.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more physiological functions or physical activities comprise at least one of a cardiovascular function or a respiratory function.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more physiological functions or physical activities comprise at least one of a heart rate, a heart rate variability, a pulse transit time, a pulse shape, a respiration rate, or a respiratory effort.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more physiological functions or physical activities comprise at least one of speaking, coughing, sneezing, walking, or running.