METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION

• US 20150094914A1
• Filed: 10/11/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brain Tunnelgenix Technologies Corp.
• Original Assignee: Geelux Holdings, Ltd.
• Inventors: ABREU, Marcio Marc
• Granted Patent: US 10,227,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/14 operated upon collapse of driver deadman's devices for electrically propelled vehicles B60L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity

Abstract

A medical device for monitoring biological parameters through an Abreu Brain Thermal Tunnel (ABTT) is provided. By monitoring and analyzing the temperature of the ABTT, it is possible to diagnosis changes in a patient or subject under a variety of conditions, including predicting the course of medical conditions. Furthermore, since the ABTT is predictive, analysis of the ABTT may be used to control mechanisms for safety when an impending medical condition makes such operation hazardous.

Claims

1-35. -35. (canceled)

36. A system for controlling an operation of a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor positioned to receive a thermal signal from a brain thermal tunnel of a human, the sensor configured to transmit a sensor signal representative of the thermal signal; and

a controller configured to receive the sensor signal, and to determine from the sensor signal a condition of the human, and the controller is configured to automatically operate at least one vehicle system in response to the condition.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the at least one vehicle system includes a climate control system.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the condition is indicative of the human being undesirably warm, and the climate control system is operated to decrease an operating temperature in response.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the condition is indicative of the human being undesirably cold, and the climate control system is operated to increase an operating temperature in response.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the condition is an impaired condition, and the at least one vehicle system includes a braking system.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the braking system is configured to bring the vehicle to a stop.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the condition is an impaired condition, and the at least one vehicle system includes an internal warning system that includes at least one of a group consisting of audible and visual warning devices.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein the condition is an impaired condition, and the at least one vehicle system includes a lighting system.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the lighting system is operated in pattern indicative of the impaired condition.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein a light of the lighting system is a light indicative of an impaired condition.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the light is one of a group consisting of lights displaying “

impaired,”

“

medical,”

a red cross, and a caduceus.

47. The system of claim 36, wherein the at least one vehicle system includes a communication system, and the communication system is configured to automatically call for help in response to the condition.

48. The system of claim 36, wherein the at least one vehicle system includes a sensor system positioned on an exterior of the vehicle and configured to provide information regarding the position of the vehicle and a steering control unit, and the controller is configured to receive signals from the sensor system and to use the signals to control the steering control unit to steer the vehicle out of traffic.

49. The system of claim 36, wherein the vehicle includes an override configured to disable the automatic operation of the vehicle.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the override is a switch operable by the vehicle operator.

51. A system for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor positioned to measure a temperature of a brain thermal tunnel terminus of a human, the sensor configured to transmit a sensor signal representative of the temperature; and

a controller configured to receive the temperature signal and to determine from the temperature signal a condition of the human, and the controller is configured to automatically operate at least one vehicle system in response to the condition.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the determination by the controller includes a frequency analysis of the temperature signal.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the frequency analysis provides a plurality of frequency peaks, and the peaks are analyzed to provide the determination of the condition of the human.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein a slope is determined from the plurality of frequency peaks, and when the slope exceeds a predetermined non-zero slope, the condition of the human is determined to be a medical condition.

55. The system of claim 51, wherein the condition is indicative of the human being in an undesirable temperature environment, and the at least one vehicle system includes a climate control system, and the climate control system is automatically operated by the controller to modify the temperature environment in response to the condition of being in an undesirable temperature environment.

56. The system of claim 51, wherein the condition is an impaired condition.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the at least one vehicle system includes a warning system.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein at least a portion of the warning system is external to the vehicle.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein at least a portion of the warning system is internal to the vehicle.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein the warning system includes a visual warning.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the visual warning includes a light indicative of an impaired condition.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the light is one of a group consisting of lights displaying “

impaired,”

“

medical,”

a red cross, and a caduceus.

63. The system of claim 56, wherein the at least one vehicle system includes a braking system, and the braking system is configured to automatically stop the vehicle in response to the impaired condition.

64. The system of claim 56, wherein the at least one vehicle system includes a steering system, and the steering system is configured to automatically steer the vehicle in response to the impaired condition.

65. The system of claim 63, wherein the at least one vehicle system includes a sensor system, and signals from the sensor system are used by the steering system to steer the vehicle.

66. The system of claim 51, wherein the vehicle includes an override configured to disable the automatic operation of the vehicle.

67. The system of claim 67, wherein the override is a switch operable by the vehicle operator.

68. A method of automatically operating a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a sensor signal from a sensor positioned to receive a thermal signal from a brain thermal tunnel of a human operating the vehicle, the signal being representative of the thermal signal;

determining from the sensor signal a condition of the human operating the vehicle; and

operating, in response to the determination of the condition, a vehicle system to provide an indication to others external to the vehicle the condition of the human.

69. The method of claim 68, further including automatically communicating by an external communication system in response to the determination of the condition.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the communication by the external communication system is with at least one of a group consisting of emergency services and roadside assistance.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein the condition is an impaired condition.

72. A method of automatically operating a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a sensor signal from a sensor positioned to receive a thermal signal from a brain thermal tunnel of a human operating the vehicle, the signal being representative of the thermal signal;

determining from the sensor signal a condition of the human operating the vehicle; and

operating, in response to the determination of the condition, a vehicle system to stop the vehicle.

73. The method of claim 72, further including automatically communicating by an external communication system in response to the determination of the condition.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the communication by the external communication system is with at least one of a group consisting of emergency services and roadside assistance.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the condition is an impaired condition.