METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND ANALYZING MOVEMENTS OF A HUMAN OR AN ANIMAL USING SOUND SIGNALS

• US 20090227888A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northcube AB
• Original Assignee: Smart Valley Software Oy
• Inventors: Salmi, Aino, Virtanen, Väinö, Salmi, Seppo
• Granted Patent: US 8,540,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/006 Detecting skeletal, cartilage or muscle noise A61B7/003 and A61B7/008 take precedence

Abstract

A method, an arrangement and a computer application for conducting measurements of sleep disorders by capturing and analyzing the sounds associated with movements of the subject during a long-term or overnight monitoring session. A small-sized consumer apparatus such as an MP3 recorder may be attached to the subject for capturing the emanating sounds. Specially selected materials can be used to alter the spectral content of the sound so as to optimize the reception at the recording apparatus.

Claims

1-56. -56. (canceled)

57. A method for conducting a sound-based measurement of sleep related physiological phenomena or abnormal phenomena related to sleep disorders, wherein the subject of the measurement is either a human or an animal, comprising:

obtaining an equipment for conducting the measurement including an electronic consumer apparatus capable of digital sound recording,

positioning the equipment including the apparatus at a measurement location so that at least one microphone thereof situates within a predetermined distance of a predetermined sound source relating to the subject so as to capture the sounds associated with the movements of the subject, and so that the sounds associated with the movements of the subject relate to at least one element selected from the group consisting of;

respiratory movement, body movement, tissue movement, and limb movement,

initiating a continuous sound recording function at the apparatus,

recording the sound signal as captured by said at least one microphone during a measurement period,

terminating the recording function at the expiry of the measurement period, and

sending the recorded sound signal to a remote entity.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising conducting analysis of the sleep disorder based on the recorded sound signal and the presence or lack of movements detected therein.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising conducting analysis of the sleep disorder based on the recorded sound signal and the presence or lack of movements detected therein, wherein said analysis includes detecting the periods of movements from the background activity according to a number of predetermined or adaptive criteria and determining at least one attribute selected from the group consisting of:

number, shape, amplitude, distribution, duration, and frequency of the detected movements or pauses between them.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein said equipment further includes predetermined material that is positioned on a sound path so as to intentionally alter the spectral content of the sound according to a predetermined condition prior to receipt by the at least one microphone.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein said electronic consumer apparatus is a digital dictation machine, a mobile terminal, a personal digital assistant, or a music or sound recorder such as an MP3 device with recording capability.

62. The method of claim 57, wherein said measurement period is at least one hour.

63. The method of claim 57, wherein said sound signal is stored in a raw format.

64. The method of claim 57, wherein said sound signal is stored in a compressed form.

65. The method of claim 57, wherein said sending takes place substantially simultaneously with the recording.

66. The method of claim 57, wherein the sound signal is sent via wireless or wired communication means, or on a physical carrier medium like a memory card carrying the stored sound signal.

67. The method of claim 57, wherein the equipment includes a plurality of microphones for capturing sounds with spatial separability.

68. The method of claim 57, wherein the equipment comprises a plurality of consumer apparatuses, each comprising at least one microphone, positioned to a different location.

69. The method of claim 57, wherein the equipment comprises an attaching means and at least one consumer apparatus or a microphone wirelessly connected thereto is attached to the subject via the attaching means.

70. The method of claim 57, wherein the equipment comprises an attaching means and at least one consumer apparatus or a microphone wirelessly connected thereto is attached to the subject via the attaching means, and said attaching means comprises at least one of the following:

a strap, a hook, a clasp, an indent, a projection, tape, an adhesive surface, an elastic band, a pocket, a stand, a mount, and a recess.

71. The method of claim 57, wherein the equipment comprises an attaching means and at least one consumer apparatus or a microphone wirelessly connected thereto is attached to the subject via the attaching means and the equipment comprises textile material such as a garment or a blanket comprising said attaching means.

72. The method of claim 57, wherein said recording is initiated or terminated in response to receiving, at the consumer apparatus, control information from the subject via a user input means thereof.

73. The method of claim 57, wherein said recording is initiated or terminated in response to receiving, at the consumer apparatus, remote control information via a communication means thereof.

102. A computer program for analyzing the audio signal obtainable by the method of claim 57, said program comprising code means adapted, when run on a computer, to execute the steps of:

receiving and optionally decoding the audio signal,

detecting the periods of movements or pauses, irregularities or lack of movements in regular movement patterns of the subject in the audio signal from the background activity according to preferably adaptive criteria,

conducting statistical or mathematical analysis of the detected movements and/or pauses between the detected movements, said analysis comprising determination of a number of attributes including at least one attribute selected from the group consisting of;

a number, shape, amplitude, distribution, duration, and frequency of the detected movements and/or pauses, and

rendering the signal, a part thereof, or at least one analysis result for visualization on a display to enable further analysis and visual investigation of the medical condition of the subject by trained personnel operating the computer.

103. The computer program of claim 102, adapted to determine a detection level indicating a signal level below which the audio signal substantially comprises only background activity with a high likelihood.

104. The computer program of claim 103, adapted to represent the audio signal via a plurality of epochs the temporal resolution of which being lower than the original temporal resolution of the audio signal.

105. The computer program of claim 103, adapted to determine a detection level indicating a signal level below which the audio signal substantially comprises only background activity with a high likelihood and further adapted to identify an event to be analyzed when the signal exceeds the detection level.

106. The computer program of claim 103, adapted to represent the audio signal via a plurality of epochs the temporal resolution of which being lower than the original temporal resolution of the audio signal, further adapted to calculate a median value for a number of epochs to represent the noise level therein or a basic level of a continuous regular movement pattern.

107. The computer program of claim 103, adapted to visualize different, detected event types with different colors.

108. The computer program of claim 103, adapted to filter, via a low-pass or median filter, the audio signal or a portion thereof to eliminate isolated snoring sounds therein.

109. The computer program of claim 103, adapted to process at least portion of the audio signal so as to enable real-time or accelerated playback thereof.

110. A carrier medium comprising the computer program as defined by claim 103.

74. A portable electronic arrangement for conducting sound-based measurements of sleep disorders, wherein the subject of the measurements is either a human or an animal, said arrangement comprising at least one microphone for capturing a sound signal, a processing unit for processing instructions, a memory for storing instructions and data, an attaching means for facilitating physical positioning to a predetermined measurement location such as a chest or a limb of the subject or a nearby object, and a user input means for receiving control information,

wherein said arrangement is configured to initiate continuous, digital sound recording utilizing said at least one microphone in response to obtained control information so as to capture ambient sounds emanating from the vicinity of the measurement location during a measurement period and comprising sounds associated with the movements of the subject, wherein said arrangement is configured to capture sounds especially relating to at least one element selected from the group consisting of:

respiratory movement, body movement, tissue movement and limb movement,

configured to store at least part of the recorded sound data in said memory, and

configured to stop the recording, upon termination of the measurement period, in response to a n expiry of a timer or receipt of control information.

75. The arrangement of claim 74, comprising at least one portable electronic consumer apparatus including said microphone, said processing unit, said memory, and said user input means.

76. The arrangement of claim 74, comprising at least one portable electronic consumer apparatus including said microphone, said processing unit, said memory, and said user input means, and said apparatus further includes a communication means for transmitting sound data to a remote entity.

77. The arrangement of claim 74, wherein said control information is obtained via the user input means.

78. The arrangement of claim 74, comprising at least one portable electronic consumer apparatus including said microphone, said processing unit, said memory, and said user input means, and said apparatus further includes a communication means for transmitting sound data to a remote entity, wherein said control information is obtained via said communication means.

79. The arrangement of claim 74, comprising a digital dictation machine, a mobile terminal, a personal digital assistant, or a music or sound recorder such as an MP3 device with recording capability.

80. The arrangement of claim 74, wherein said attaching means includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of:

a strap, a hook, a clip, a clasp, an indent, a projection, tape, an adhesive surface, an elastic band, a pocket, a stand, a mount, and a recess.

81. The arrangement of claim 74, comprising textile material such as a garment or a blanket comprising said attaching means.

82. The arrangement of claim 74, comprising textile material including a garment comprising said attaching means and wherein said garment comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of:

a shirt, a vest, a sock, trousers, a glove, and a wristband.

83. The arrangement of claim 74, further comprising sound-modifying material to be positioned on a sound path so as to intentionally alter the spectral content of the sound associated with the movement of the subject according to a predetermined criterion prior to receipt by the microphone.

84. The arrangement of claim 74, further comprising sound-modifying material to be positioned on a sound path so as to intentionally alter the spectral content of the sound associated with the movement of the subject according to a predetermined criterion prior to receipt by the microphone, and wherein said microphone or at least part of said electronic consumer apparatus is coated with said sound-modifying material.

85. The arrangement of claim 74, further comprising sound-modifying material to be positioned on a sound path so as to intentionally alter the spectral content of the sound associated with the movement of the subject according to a predetermined criterion prior to receipt by the microphone, and comprising an object coated with, comprising a layer of, or being made of said sound-modifying material.

86. The arrangement of claim 74, further comprising sound-modifying material to be positioned on a sound path so as to intentionally alter the spectral content of the sound associated with the movement of the subject according to a predetermined criterion prior to receipt by the microphone, and comprising an object coated with, comprising a layer of, or being made of said sound-modifying material, wherein said object is an element selected from the group consisting of:

a sheet, a blanket, a sock, trousers, a vest, a shirt, a belt, and a pillowslip.

87. The arrangement of claim 74, further comprising sound-modifying material to be positioned on a sound path so as to intentionally alter the spectral content of the sound associated with the movement of the subject according to a predetermined criterion prior to receipt by the microphone, and comprising an object coated with, comprising a layer of, or being made of said sound-modifying material, said object comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of:

a metal wire figure, a rivet, a folio sheet, and a plastic pearl.

88. The arrangement of claim 74, further configured to process the captured sound signal and render at least part thereof for visualization, or further comprising a computer for storing the captured sound signal and for transferring it over a communications network to a remote system for analysis.

89. The arrangement of claim 74, further comprising a vest adapted to accommodate a sound recording apparatus and comprising a number of layers configured to elastically adapt to the respiratory movements of the subject.

90. The arrangement of claim 74, comprising a remote server configured to analyze the sound signal for sleep disorders.

91. The arrangement of claim 74, comprising at least one portable electronic consumer apparatus including said microphone, said processing unit, said memory, and said user input means, wherein at least part of said user input means is positioned in the apparatus so as to reduce the risk of accidental activation thereof.

92. Method of using a portable, electronic consumer apparatus capable of sound recording in conducting sound-based measurements of sleep-related physiological phenomena or abnormal phenomena related to sleep disorders, wherein said apparatus is positioned within a predetermined distance of a subject, said subject being a human or an animal, and said apparatus being configured to continuously record, over the measurement period, a digital sound signal obtained utilizing at least one microphone so as to capture sounds associated with the movements of the subject.

93. The method as defined by claim 92, wherein said portable electronic consumer apparatus is selected from the group consisting of:

a dictation machine, a sound or music recorder such as MP3 recorder, a mobile terminal, and a personal digital assistant.

94. The method as defined by claim 92, wherein sound-modifying material is positioned on a sound path so as to intentionally alter the spectral content of the sound according to a predetermined condition prior to receipt by the microphone.

95. The method as defined by claim 92, wherein at least part of user input means of the apparatus for initiating or terminating the recording are positioned so as to reduce the risk of accidental activation thereof.

96. The method as defined by claim 92, wherein said portable electronic consumer apparatus is further configured to process the digital sound signal and render at least part thereof for visualization on a display.

97. Method of using a garment comprising predetermined sound-modifying material in measuring sleep-related physiological phenomena or sleep disorders of a subject, said subject being a human or an animal and a microphone being utilized for capturing sounds associated with the movements of the subject, wherein said garment comprising said predetermined material is positioned on a sound path so as to intentionally alter the spectral content of the sound according to a predetermined condition prior to receipt by the microphone.

98. The method as defined by claim 97, wherein said garment comprises said microphone or an apparatus comprising said microphone, having at least part thereof coated with or made of said sound-modifying material.

99. The method as defined by claim 97, wherein said garment comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of:

a sock, trousers, a vest, a shirt, a belt, a cover, a metal wire figure, a rivet, a folio sheet, and a plastic pearl.

100. The method as defined by claim 97, wherein said material is selected so as to shift, widen, or narrow the frequency content of the sound to hit a desired, predetermined range.

101. The method as defined by claim 97, wherein the spectral content is altered due to a physical contact taking place between said sound-modifying material and another material, said contact creating the sound associated with the movement of the subject and captured by the microphone.