Apparatus and Method for Detecting at Least One Vital Parameter of a Person; Vital Parameter Detection System

• US 20100210926A1
• Filed: 02/10/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Original Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Inventors: Hofmann, Christian, Couronne, Robert, Ciancitto, Fabio, Tobola, Andreas
• Application Number:
  US12/703,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20100210926A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02433 for infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6819 Nose

Abstract

What is described is an apparatus for detecting at least one vital parameter of a person, including: an optoelectronic sensor arrangement for detecting the at least one vital parameter by means of light transmission or light remission, the optoelectronic sensor arrangement including a light source and a light-sensitive element, wherein for detecting the vital parameter by means of light transmission, the light source is arranged in a first side part of a support frame of a pair of spectacles, and the light-sensitive element is arranged in a second side part of the support frame which is opposite the first side part, and wherein for detecting the at least one vital parameter by means of light remission, the light source and the light-sensitive element are arranged in the same side part of the support frame of the pair of spectacles.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting at least one vital parameter of a person, comprising:

an optoelectronic sensor arrangement for detecting the at least one vital parameter by means of light transmission, the optoelectronic sensor arrangement comprising a light source and a light-sensitive element, the light source being arranged in a first side part of a support frame of a pair of spectacles, and the light-sensitive element being arranged in a second side part of the support frame which is opposite the first side part.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support frame of the pair of spectacles is rigid, and the light source and the photosensor comprise a fixed mutual geometric arrangement defined by the support frame.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is arranged in the first side part of the support frame such that a direction of a maximum light output of the light source corresponds to a shortest path of the light from the light source to the light-sensitive element.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a controller,

wherein the optoelectronic sensor arrangement comprises a first number of light sources, which may be operated within the same wavelength range, and a second number of light-sensitive elements,

wherein for the transmission measurement, the first number of light sources are arranged in the first side part of the support frame, and the second number of light-sensitive elements are arranged in the second side part of the support frame;

and wherein the controller is configured to select, for detecting the at least one vital parameter, a light source of the first number of light sources and a light-sensitive element, among the second number of light-sensitive elements, which is allocated to the former.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first number of light sources comprise a first subset of light sources configured to generate a light of a first wavelength range, and comprise a second subset of light sources configured to generate a light of a second wavelength range, which is different from the first one.

6. An apparatus for detecting at least one vital parameter of a person, comprising:

an optoelectronic sensor arrangement for detecting the at least one vital parameter by means of light remission, the optoelectronic sensor arrangement comprising a light source and a light-sensitive element, the light source and the light-sensitive element being arranged in the same side part of the support frame of the pair of spectacles.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a controller,

wherein the optoelectronic sensor arrangement comprises a first number of light sources which may be operated within the same wavelength range, and a second number of light-sensitive elements,

wherein for the light remission measurement, the first number of light sources and the second number of light-sensitive elements are arranged in the same side part of the support frame;

and wherein the controller is configured to select, for detecting the at least one vital parameter, a light source of the first number of light sources and a light-sensitive element, among the second number of light-sensitive elements, which is allocated to the former.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first number of light sources comprise a first subset of light sources configured to generate a light of a first wavelength range, and comprise a second subset of light sources configured to generate a light of a second wavelength range, which is different from the first one.

9. A method of detecting at least one vital parameter of a person by means of an optoelectronic sensor arrangement, wherein the optoelectronic sensor arrangement comprises a first number of light sources and a second number of light-sensitive elements, a light source of the first number of light sources being allocated to a light-sensitive element of the second number of light-sensitive elements in each case and forming with same a selectable measurement allocation of a third number of selectable measurement allocations, the method comprising:

performing at least one optoelectronic measurement for the selectable measurement allocations so as to generate at least one measurement result in each case;

determining an amplitude-dependent measurement quality for each of the selectable measurement allocations on the basis of the at least one respective measurement result;

selecting that measurement allocation of the third number of measurement allocations which exhibits the highest amplitude-dependent measurement quality; and

performing at least one optoelectronic measurement by means of the selected measurement allocation so as to detect the at least one vital parameter on the basis thereof.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

continually determining the amplitude-dependent measurement quality for the selected measurement allocation;

comparing the amplitude-dependent measurement quality with a quality threshold value; and

selecting another selectable measurement allocation of the third number of measurement allocations, or again performing at least one optoelectronic measurement for each of the third number of measurement allocations, and determining the measurement quality for each of the multitude of measurement allocations so as to again select that measurement allocation which exhibits the highest measurement quality, when the amplitude-dependent measurement quality of the currently selected measurement allocation is lower than the quality threshold value.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, comprising:

following determining an amplitude-dependent measurement quality for each of the measurement allocations, putting at least some of the third number of measurement allocations into an order of priority in accordance with their amplitude-dependent measurement quality;

selecting that measurement allocation of the multitude of measurement allocations which exhibits the highest amplitude-dependent measurement quality;

performing at least one optoelectronic measurement by means of the selected measurement allocation so as to detect the at least one vital parameter on the basis thereof; and

monitoring the quality of, and selecting, that measurement allocation which exhibits the next highest amplitude-dependent measurement quality in accordance with the order of priority when the amplitude-dependent measurement quality of the currently selected measurement allocation is lower than the quality threshold value.

12. A vital parameter detection system comprising:

an apparatus for detecting at least one vital parameter of a person, comprising;

an optoelectronic sensor arrangement for detecting the at least one vital parameter by means of light transmission, the optoelectronic sensor arrangement comprising a light source and a light-sensitive element, the light source being arranged in a first side part of a support frame of a pair of spectacles, and the light-sensitive element being arranged in a second side part of the support frame which is opposite the first side part; and

a controller configured to perform a method of detecting at least one vital parameter of a person by means of an optoelectronic sensor arrangement, wherein the optoelectronic sensor arrangement comprises a first number of light sources and a second number of light-sensitive elements, a light source of the first number of light sources being allocated to a light-sensitive element of the second number of light-sensitive elements in each case and forming with same a selectable measurement allocation of a third number of selectable measurement allocations,

the method comprising;

performing at least one optoelectronic measurement for the selectable measurement allocations so as to generate at least one measurement result in each case;

determining an amplitude-dependent measurement quality for each of the selectable measurement allocations on the basis of the at least one respective measurement result;

selecting that measurement allocation of the third number of measurement allocations which exhibits the highest amplitude-dependent measurement quality; and

performing at least one optoelectronic measurement by means of the selected measurement allocation so as to detect the at least one vital parameter on the basis thereof.

13. A vital parameter detection system comprising:

an apparatus for detecting at least one vital parameter of a person, comprising;

an optoelectronic sensor arrangement for detecting the at least one vital parameter by means of light remission, the optoelectronic sensor arrangement comprising a light source and a light-sensitive element, the light source and the light-sensitive element being arranged in the same side part of the support frame of the pair of spectacles; and

a controller configured to perform a method of detecting at least one vital parameter of a person by means of an optoelectronic sensor arrangement, wherein the optoelectronic sensor arrangement comprises a first number of light sources and a second number of light-sensitive elements, a light source of the first number of light sources being allocated to a light-sensitive element of the second number of light-sensitive elements in each case and forming with same a selectable measurement allocation of a third number of selectable measurement allocations,

the method comprising;

performing at least one optoelectronic measurement for the selectable measurement allocations so as to generate at least one measurement result in each case;

determining an amplitude-dependent measurement quality for each of the selectable measurement allocations on the basis of the at least one respective measurement result;

selecting that measurement allocation of the third number of measurement allocations which exhibits the highest amplitude-dependent measurement quality; and

performing at least one optoelectronic measurement by means of the selected measurement allocation so as to detect the at least one vital parameter on the basis thereof.