METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A SUBJECT FOR BLOOD OXYGEN SATURATION
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a subject of interest for functional blood oxygen saturation, the method comprising:
- activating an apparatus comprising at least one emitter/detector pair with at least two illuminators each emitting source light at a different wavelength band, and fixed to an inner side of a band worn circumferentially around an area of exposed skin by a subject of interest being monitored for functional blood oxygen saturation, each detector comprising at least one sensor that is sensitive to a wavelength band of a respective illuminator, each detector measuring an intensity of received light emitted by a respective illuminator, said measurements comprising a continuous photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal for said subject, each illuminator being separated from its paired detector by a distance D; and
analyzing said continuous PPG signal for a determination of functional blood oxygen saturation.
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Abstract
What is disclosed is a system and method for monitoring a subject of interest for functional blood oxygen saturation using an apparatus that can be comfortably worn by the subject around an area of exposed skin where a photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal can be registered. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a reflective or transmissive wrist-worn device with emitter/detector pairs fixed to an inner side of a band with at least two illuminators, each emitting source light at a different wavelength band. Each photodetector comprises sensors that are sensitive to a wavelength band of its respective illuminator. Each photodetector measures an intensity of sensed light emitted by a respective illuminator. The signal obtained by the sensors comprises a continuous PPG signal. The continuous PPG signal analyzed for functional blood oxygen saturation levels and communicated to a remote device. Various embodiments are disclosed.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a subject of interest for functional blood oxygen saturation, the method comprising:
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activating an apparatus comprising at least one emitter/detector pair with at least two illuminators each emitting source light at a different wavelength band, and fixed to an inner side of a band worn circumferentially around an area of exposed skin by a subject of interest being monitored for functional blood oxygen saturation, each detector comprising at least one sensor that is sensitive to a wavelength band of a respective illuminator, each detector measuring an intensity of received light emitted by a respective illuminator, said measurements comprising a continuous photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal for said subject, each illuminator being separated from its paired detector by a distance D; and analyzing said continuous PPG signal for a determination of functional blood oxygen saturation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for monitoring a subject of interest for functional blood oxygen saturation, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one emitter/detector pair with at least two illuminators each emitting source light at a different wavelength band, and fixed to an inner side of a band worn circumferentially around an area of exposed skin by a subject of interest being monitored for functional blood oxygen saturation, each detector comprising at least one sensor that is sensitive to a wavelength band of a respective illuminator, each detector measuring an intensity of received light emitted by a respective illuminator, said measurements comprising a continuous photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal for said subject, each illuminator being separated from its paired detector by a distance D; and a processor executing machine readable program instruction for analyzing said continuous PPG signal for a determination of functional blood oxygen saturation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification