MOBILE VASCULAR HEALTH EVALUATION DEVICES

• US 20130053655A1
• Filed: 08/29/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander Francis Castellanos 2002 Trust
• Original Assignee: Alexander F. Castellanos
• Inventors: CASTELLANOS, ALEXANDER F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,925,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/485 involving measuring strain or elastic properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A mobile measurement device comprising a computing device; one or more sensors that are coupled to the computing device using one or more corresponding compatible digital interfaces; and logic encoded with instructions which when executed perform determining and storing vascular function information and one or more of: values of metrics or parameters; physiological analysis of the parameters and the vascular function information; recommendations for actions that an individual or healthcare provider should take in response to the recommendations or parameters. Embodiments further include processes for using vascular function information collected from a mobile measurement device to generate the parameters, analysis, and recommendations.

Claims

1. A mobile measurement device comprising:

a computing device;

one or more sensors that are coupled to the computing device using one or more corresponding compatible digital interfaces;

logic encoded with instructions which when executed perform determining and storing vascular function information and one or more of;

values of metrics or parameters;

physiological analysis of the parameters and the vascular function information;

recommendations for actions that an individual or healthcare provider should take in response to the recommendations or parameters.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the computing device comprises any of:

a smartphone;

a tablet computer;

a laptop computer or other personal computer;

a workstation;

a watch computer;

a ring-mounted computer;

an active steering wheel of a motor vehicle;

a hat-mounted computer;

a helmet-mounted computer;

an eyewear-mounted computer.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensors comprise at least one ultrasound sensor configured to acoustically measure structure, performance or other metrics associated with a blood vessel or other element of the vascular system and to cooperate with the program logic to provide output waveform data representing acoustic measurements of blood flow in a blood vessel, and provide vascular structure or performance metrics based on bidirectional vascular waveform analysis.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the sensor or the program logic perform bidirectional waveform Doppler ultrasound analysis that can measure or indicate the elasticity of one or more blood vessels.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the vascular function information comprises or is based on the bidirectional waveform Doppler ultrasound analysis.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensors comprise one or more of an infrared, crystal technology, or light-based physiological monitor;

a blood pressure sensor;

a pulse sensor;

a respiratory rate sensor comprising, for example, one or more chest patches, wrist patches, and/or chest straps;

a body temperature sensor;

an oxygen absorption sensor;

a carbon dioxide sensor;

a nitric oxide sensor;

a blood glucose sensor;

a sensor of electrolytes, nutrients in the circulation, or other metrics;

one or more contact lenses configured to measure capillary blood flow;

a flow meter;

a spirometer;

a mouthpiece. In an embodiment, at least one of the sensors is configured to sense and store at least one measurement relating to vascular structure, status or performance.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the logic comprises one or more of non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM);

flash memory;

an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC);

a field programmable gate array;

read-only memory (ROM) including any of electrically erasable ROM (EEROM) or electrically programmable ROM (EPROM);

disk storage.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the vascular function information provides metrics, reports, or values that indicate overall health attributes of blood vessels or other components of the vascular system, or particular attributes of blood vessels or other components of the vascular system.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the vascular function information is used to generate, using other program logic, one or more reports, recommendations, or protocols based on the vascular function information.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the reports, recommendations or protocols may comprise any of:

a status report on vascular function;

a list of options for medical intervention in the patient based on medical standards of practice based on one or more medical indications represented in the vascular function information;

reports or recommendations suggesting sepsis, hypertension, hypotension, or respiratory dysfunction;

a protocol for exercise;

a protocol for sports performance;

a protocol for patient lifestyle or changes in lifestyle;

a protocol for patient stress management;

a report of recommendations, or the expected effects of, any of several aspects of treatment including but not limited to nutrition, exercise, supplements, and medications.

11. A mobile measurement device comprising:

a computing device;

a radio-frequency transceiver coupled to the computing device;

a computer display unit coupled to the computing device;

one or more sensors that are coupled to the computing device using one or more corresponding compatible digital interfaces;

logic encoded with instructions which when executed perform determining and storing;

vascular function information;

one or more of;

values of metrics or parameters;

physiological analysis of the parameters and the vascular function information;

recommendations for actions that an individual or healthcare provider should take in response to the recommendations or parameters.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the computing device comprises a smartphone;

a tablet computer;

a laptop computer or other personal computer;

a workstation;

a watch computer;

a ring-mounted computer;

an active steering wheel of a motor vehicle;

a hat-mounted computer;

a helmet-mounted computer;

an eyewear-mounted computer.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the sensors comprise at least one ultrasound sensor configured to acoustically measure structure, performance or other metrics associated with a blood vessel or other element of the vascular system and to cooperate with the program logic to provide output waveform data representing acoustic measurements of blood flow in a blood vessel, and provide vascular structure or performance metrics based on bidirectional vascular waveform analysis.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the sensor or the program logic perform bidirectional waveform Doppler ultrasound analysis that can measure or indicate the elasticity of one or more blood vessels.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the vascular function information comprises or is based on the bidirectional waveform Doppler ultrasound analysis.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the sensors comprise one or more of an infrared, crystal technology, or light-based physiological monitor;

a blood pressure sensor;

a pulse sensor;

a respiratory rate sensor comprising, for example, one or more chest patches, wrist patches, and/or chest straps;

a body temperature sensor;

an oxygen absorption sensor;

a carbon dioxide sensor;

a nitric oxide sensor;

a blood glucose sensor;

a sensor of electrolytes, nutrients in the circulation, or other metrics;

one or more contact lenses configured to measure capillary blood flow;

a flow meter;

a spirometer;

a mouthpiece. In an embodiment, at least one of the sensors is configured to sense and store at least one measurement relating to vascular structure, status or performance.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein the logic comprises one or more of non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM);

flash memory;

an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC);

a field programmable gate array;

read-only memory (ROM) including any of electrically erasable ROM (EEROM) or electrically programmable ROM (EPROM);

disk storage.

18. The device of claim 11 wherein the vascular function information provides metrics, reports, or values that indicate overall health attributes of blood vessels or other components of the vascular system, or particular attributes of blood vessels or other components of the vascular system.

19. The device of claim 11 wherein the vascular function information is used to generate, using other program logic, one or more reports, recommendations, or protocols based on the vascular function information;

wherein the reports, recommendations or protocols may comprise any of;

a status report on vascular function;

a list of options for medical intervention in the patient based on medical standards of practice based on one or more medical indications represented in the vascular function information;

reports or recommendations suggesting sepsis, hypertension, hypotension, or respiratory dysfunction;

a protocol for exercise;

a protocol for sports performance;

a protocol for patient lifestyle or changes in lifestyle;

a protocol for patient stress management;

a report of recommendations, or the expected effects of, any of several aspects of treatment including but not limited to nutrition, exercise, supplements, and medications.

20. The device of claim 11 further comprising detecting elevated levels of one or more of blood pressure, pulse, respiration;

detecting increased nitric oxide as measured in blood or respiration;

detecting a severe Doppler vascular waveform;

in response, generating recommendations for exercise, water consumption, and aspirin consumption.

21. A data processing system comprising:

a portable physiological measuring device configured for temporary attachment to a human body for receiving and storing data representing one or more physiological parameters of the body;

one or more Doppler vascular sensors configured for temporary attachment to peripheral artery locations of the body and a portable Doppler vascular signal measuring device coupled to the Doppler vascular sensors;

a mobile computing device configured to interface to the Doppler vascular signal measuring device and to the physiological measuring device;

a network interface in the mobile computing device configured to couple to a data network for communication of patient data from the physiological measuring device and the one or more Doppler vascular sensors to a data collection computer;

logic in the data collection computer encoded with instructions which when executed perform;

determining values of patient physiological metrics or parameters based on data received from the portable physiological measuring device;

determining vascular function information for the patient based on data received from the Doppler vascular signal measuring device;

determining medical condition data indicating one or more medical conditions of the patient based on analysis and correlations of the vascular function information and the patient physiological metrics;

generating and providing output records specifying one or more of;

recommendations for actions that an individual or healthcare provider should take in response to the recommendations or parameters;

or one or more reports, animations or figures.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the mobile computing device comprises any of:

a smartphone;

a tablet computer;

a laptop computer or other personal computer;

a workstation;

a watch computer;

a ring-mounted computer;

an active steering wheel of a motor vehicle;

a hat-mounted computer;

a helmet-mounted computer;

an eyewear-mounted computer.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the sensors comprise at least one ultrasound sensor configured to acoustically measure structure, performance or other metrics associated with a blood vessel or other element of the vascular system and to cooperate with the program logic to provide output waveform data representing acoustic measurements of blood flow in a blood vessel, and provide vascular structure or performance metrics based on bidirectional vascular waveform analysis.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the sensor or the program logic perform bidirectional waveform Doppler ultrasound analysis that can measure or indicate the elasticity of one or more blood vessels.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the vascular function information comprises or is based on the bidirectional waveform Doppler ultrasound analysis.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the sensors comprise one or more of any of the following:

an infrared, crystal technology, or light-based physiological monitor;

a blood pressure sensor;

a pulse sensor;

a respiratory rate sensor comprising, for example, one or more chest patches, wrist patches, and/or chest straps;

a body temperature sensor;

an oxygen absorption sensor;

a carbon dioxide sensor;

a nitric oxide sensor;

a blood glucose sensor;

a sensor of electrolytes, nutrients in the circulation, or other metrics;

one or more contact lenses configured to measure capillary blood flow;

a flow meter;

a spirometer;

a mouthpiece. In an embodiment, at least one of the sensors is configured to sense and store at least one measurement relating to vascular structure, status or performance.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein the one or more Doppler vascular sensors are configured for temporary attachment to a body part.

28. The system of claim 21 wherein the vascular function information provides metrics, reports, or values that indicate overall health attributes of blood vessels or other components of the vascular system, or particular attributes of blood vessels or other components of the vascular system.

29. The system of claim 21 wherein the vascular function information is used to generate, using other program logic, one or more reports, recommendations, or protocols based on the vascular function information.

30. The system of claim 21 wherein the output records comprise any of:

a status report on vascular function;

a list of options for medical intervention in the patient based on medical standards of practice based on one or more medical indications represented in the vascular function information;

reports or recommendations suggesting sepsis, hypertension, hypotension, or respiratory dysfunction;

a protocol for exercise;

a protocol for sports performance;

a protocol for patient lifestyle or changes in lifestyle;

a protocol for patient stress management;

a report of recommendations, or the expected effects of, any of several aspects of treatment including but not limited to nutrition, exercise, supplements, and medications.

31. The system of claim 21 wherein the output records comprise any of:

Protocols for disease intervention, Protocols for nutrition, Protocols for exercise, Protocols for sports performance, Protocols for patient lifestyle or changes, Protocols for stress management, Protocols for patient lifestyle or changes, Protocols for supplements/medications.

32. The system of claim 21 wherein the output records comprise assessments of vascular circulation based on stored indication data that correlates particular Doppler vascular signals with any one or more of heart failure, cardiac myopathy, cardiac hypertrophy;

enlarged heart, or use of ventricular assisted devices.

33. The system of claim 21 wherein the output records comprise assessments of cardiac arrhythmia, extra beats or premature ventricular contractions.

34. The system of claim 21 wherein the physiological measuring device comprises an electrocardiogram (ECG) apparatus and wherein the correlation comprises correlating ECG data with Doppler vascular data.