SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING VITAL SIGN INFORMATION OF A SUBJECT

• US 20150126872A1
• Filed: 10/23/2014
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: DUBIELCZYK, Alexander, NEUMANN, Rolf, EPPING, Christian Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,602,962 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3945 Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3979 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3991 having specific anchoring means to fixate the marker to the tissue, e.g. hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0873 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0876 using means deflected by the fluid stream, e.g. flaps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6819 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

A system and method for determining vital sign information of a subject are presented. The system comprises a marker for application to the subject, wherein the marker is configured to change an optical property due to a mechanical manipulation of the marker caused by a physiological process of the subject, a detection unit for detecting radiation from the marker, and an analysis unit for determining the vital sign information of the subject from the detected radiation.

Claims

1. A system for determining vital sign information of a subject comprising

a marker configured for application to the subject, wherein the marker is configured to change an optical property due to a mechanical manipulation of the marker caused by a physiological process of the subject,

a detection unit configured to detect radiation from the marker, and

an analysis unit configured to determine the vital sign information of the subject from the detected radiation.

2. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the marker is configured to change an optical property in response to a volume flow due to respiration, wherein the gas volume flow causes a mechanical manipulation of the marker.

3. The system according to claim 1,

wherein said changing optical property of the marker is a reflectivity and/or color.

4. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the marker is a patch, in particular a patch for application to a skin of the subject.

5. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the marker is configured for application to a nasal and/or oral region of the subject.

6. The system according to claim 1,

wherein a surface of the marker comprises filaments protruding from said surface.

7. The system according to claim 6,

wherein the filaments are configured to be moved by an airflow.

8. The system according to claim 6,

wherein the filaments comprise a first surface having a first optical property and a second surface having a second optical property.

9. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the detection unit comprises an image sensor or a camera.

10. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the detection unit is configured to detect non-visible radiation, in particular near infrared and/or near ultraviolet.

11. The system according to claim 10,

wherein the marker is configured to change an optical property in the non-visible part of the spectrum.

12. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the detection unit is configured to detect radiation in a spectral range, wherein the spectral range lies in a wavelength range between 300 nm and 1400 nm, preferably between 400 nm and 1100 nm.

13. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the analysis unit is configured to evaluate the detected radiation over time.

14. The system according to claim 13,

wherein the marker is configured to change an optical property in response to a respiration of the subject, and wherein the analysis unit is configured to derive information about the tidal volume.

15. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the marker is further configured to visualize a physiological property of the subject by the optical property.

16. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the marker comprises one or more additional optical features for detection by the detection unit of a group of features comprising an optical feature for tracking the marker, for reference, for measurement at night, and for information coding.

17. A marker for use in a system according to claim 1,

wherein the marker is configured for application to the subject, and wherein the marker is configured to change an optical property due to a mechanical manipulation of the marker caused by a physiological process of the subject.

18. A method for determining vital sign information of a subject comprising the steps of:

detecting radiation from a marker, wherein the marker is applied to the subject, and wherein the marker is configured to change an optical property due to a mechanical manipulation of the marker caused by a physiological process of the subject, and

determining the vital sign information of the subject from the detected radiation.