Biosensor device and method

• US 20080208016A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Galvanic Limited, Vyro Games Ltd., Vyros Games, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Galvanic Limited
• Inventors: McDarby, Phil, Hughes, Darran, McDonnell, Daragh
• Granted Patent: US 8,679,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• 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 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/164 Lie detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

In part, one aspect of the invention relates to a portable, handheld biosensor device that is held between two fingers of the same hand or otherwise contacts two points on a user'"'"'s skin. The sensor device includes a pair of conductive or semi-conductive electrodes and associated circuitry designed to sense, amplify and digitize the electrical conductance of the skin between the electrodes. The device can additionally be configured to sense additional biometrics from the fingers, including blood oxygenation and skin temperature. Digitized biometric values are transmitted wirelessly (or via direct wire connection, such as a USB cable) to a computing device where the data is utilized to generate a control parameter in a software application whose purpose is to provide anxiety biofeedback or entertainment.

Claims

1. A portable biometric apparatus, the apparatus comprising a housing, the housing comprising an insulator material;

a power source disposed within the housing;

a first electromagnetic wave transmitting surface disposed proximate to the housing;

a first electromagnetic wave receiving surface disposed proximate to the housing, the first receiving surface insulated from the first transmitting surface by a portion of the housing; and

a sensing element disposed within the housing and in electrical communication with the power source and both the first electromagnetic wave receiving surface and the first electromagnetic wave transmitting surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first wave transmitting surface is a surface electrode and the first wave receiving surface is a surface electrode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first wave transmitting surface comprises a light source and the first wave receiving surface comprises a photodetector.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first wave receiving surface comprises a temperature sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first wave transmitting surface transmits an electrodermal signal to the sensing element when in contact with skin.

6. A biometric sensor comprising:

an ergonomically shaped device housing, the housing shaped to fit between a first digit and a second digit of a user'"'"'s hand;

a first sensor surface disposed proximate to the housing to contact the first digit;

a second sensor surface disposed proximate to the housing to contact the second digit; and

a signal receiving element disposed within the housing and in electrical communication with the first sensor surface and the second sensor surface, and

the signal receiving element designed to sense a physiological characteristic of the user.

7. The biometric sensor of claim 6 wherein the first digit is a thumb and the second digit is a forefinger.

8. The biometric sensor of claim 6 wherein the sensor surfaces are disposed on opposite faces of the housing.

9. The biometric sensor of claim 8, where the sensor surfaces are substantially parallel and face away from each other.

10. The biometric sensor of claim 6 wherein the housing has a substantially teardrop shape.

11. The biometric sensor of claim 6 further comprising a circuit that either amplifies, filters or digitizes a received biometric signal.

12. The biometric sensor of claim 6 wherein the longest dimension of the housing ranges from 1 cm about to about 6 cm.

13. A biometric apparatus, the apparatus comprising

a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes sufficiently conductive to transduce electrodermal activity, the first electrode and the second electrode disposed proximate to a housing;

an amplifier in electrical communication with the first and second electrodes, the amplifier adapted to amplify a transduced signal;

a converter in electrical communication with the amplifier, wherein the converter converts analog signals to digital signals;

a processor, the processor in electrical communication with the converter, the processor capable of controlling a flow of digitized data, the processor disposed within the housing; and

a transmitter, the transmitter adapted to transmit data generated by the processor.

14. The biometric apparatus of claim 13 wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter.

15. The biometric apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a filter that passes more of a phasic component of the electrodermal signal than a tonic component of the electrodermal signal.

16. The apparatus of claims 15 wherein the processor is programmed to track variations in the tonic component of an electrodermal signal over time.

17. The apparatus of claims 13 further comprising a detector element in communication with the processor.

18. The apparatus of claims 17 wherein the detector element is selected from the group consisting of a photodetector, a thermocouple, a temperature sensor, and a blood oxygen level sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the data is transmitted to a client computing device including, but not limited to a personal computer, a handheld device, a mobile phone, a home entertainment system, a game console, wherein the client device performs the majority of the processing of the user data and audiovisual presentation to the user.

20. A method of determining the anxiety level of a user from an electrodermal signal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving electrodermal data from the user;

filtering the data to remove high frequency components;

calculating the slope of the filtered data;

thresholding the filtered data;

accumulating a number of events within a threshold value; and

determining a number of accumulated events for a given time period.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of generating inputs for a controllable system in response to the number of events.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the high frequency components correspond to an electrodermal response.