SYSTEMS AND DEVICES FOR REAL TIME HEALTH STATUS CREDENTIALING

• US 20140207405A1
• Filed: 10/21/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan C. Heller
• Original Assignee: Alan C. Heller
• Inventors: Heller, Alan C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,618,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/165 for application in zero heat flux sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/22 the element being a non-linear resistance, e.g. thermistor G01K7/26 takes precedence

Abstract

The technology provides an external device for estimating a core body temperature of a human subject. The wrist monitor device includes a casing sized and shaped to fit onto a wrist of a human subject. The casing has a first face and a second face. In addition there is a cavity in the casing that houses a heat trap. The heat trap has an opening oriented to receive incoming thermal energy from the skin and a shell of a thermal-insulation material that has an inner thermal energy-reflective surface. Detected temperature data is compiled in a database and used to estimate whether an identified individual has a core body temperature indicative of a fever.

Claims

1. An external device for estimating a core body temperature of a human subject, the device comprising:

a casing sized and shaped to fit onto a wrist of a human subject, the casing having;

a first face and a second face;

a heat trap located in a cavity in the first face of the casing, the heat trap located adjacent to the first face of the casing and having an opening oriented to receive incoming thermal energy, the heat trap having a shell comprising a thermal-insulation material, the shell having an inner thermal energy-reflective surface;

a first temperature sensor extending into or along the shell to measure a temperature within the heat trap;

a second temperature sensor at a peripheral region of the casing;

a transmitter in communication with the first and second temperature sensors to transmit temperature data.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a graphic user interface in the second face of the casing, the graphic user interface displaying information, including sensor-detected temperature information.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the shell is dome-shaped.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the inner thermal energy-reflective surface of the shell comprises a metallic foil.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wrist band extending from the casing and configured to secure the casing to a human wrist such that the first face interfaces with an inner side of the wrist.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is selected from a radio-frequency transmitter, a WiMax transmitter and a Bluetooth transmitter.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor receiving input from the first and second temperature sensors, converting the input to a form of digital information, and relaying the digital information to the transmitter.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a shield comprised of a thermal energy transmissive material covering the opening of the heat trap.

10. An external device for estimating a core body temperature of a human subject, the device comprising:

a casing sized and shaped to fit onto a wrist of a human subject, the casing having;

a first face and a second face;

a heat trap located in the casing, the heat trap located adjacent to the first face of the casing and having an opening oriented to receive thermal energy from a wrist of a wearer, the heat trap having a domed shell comprising a thermal-insulation material, the shell having an inner thermal energy-reflective surface;

a first temperature sensor extending into or along the domed shell to measure a temperature within the heat trap;

a second temperature sensor at a peripheral region of the casing;

a microprocessor receiving inputs from the first and second sensors at preset intervals and converting the inputs to digital form;

a transmitter in receiving digital inputs from the microprocessor and transmitting temperature data.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a graphic user interface in the second face of the casing, the graphic user interface displaying information, including sensor-detected temperature information.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the transmitter is selected from a radio-frequency transmitter, a WiMax transmitter and a Bluetooth transmitter.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the first temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

13. The device of claim 13, wherein the inner thermal energy-reflective surface of the shell comprises a metallic foil.