Wearable Spectroscopic Sensor to Measure Food Consumption Based on Interaction Between Light and the Human Body

• US 20160073886A1
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medibotics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Medibotics, LLC
• Inventors: Connor, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,314,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• 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 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition

Abstract

This is a wearable device to measure a person'"'"'s food consumption based on the interaction between light energy and body tissue comprising: a wearable spectroscopic sensor that collects data concerning the spectrum of light energy reflected from body tissue or having passed through body tissue; a data processing unit; and a power source. Spectroscopic sensor data is analyzed to measure consumption of selected types of food, ingredients, and/or nutrients. This device can be embodied in a finger ring, smart watch, wrist band, wrist bracelet, armlet, cuff, or sleeve with close-fitting spectroscopic sensors.

Claims

1. A wearable device to measure a person'"'"'s food consumption based on the interaction between light energy and the person'"'"'s body comprising:

at least one wearable spectroscopic sensor that collects data concerning the spectrum of light energy reflected from a person'"'"'s body tissue, absorbed by the person'"'"'s body tissue, and/or having passed through the person'"'"'s body tissue, wherein this data is used to measure the person'"'"'s consumption of one or more selected types of food, ingredients, and/or nutrients;

a data processing unit; and

a power source.

2. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises an attachment member selected from the group consisting of:

finger ring, smart watch, wrist band, wrist bracelet, armlet, cuff, and sleeve.

3. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device is configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s finger, hand, wrist, and/or arm.

4. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

white light spectroscopic sensor, infrared light spectroscopic sensor, near-infrared light spectroscopic sensor, and ultraviolet light spectroscopic sensor.

5. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic sensor is selected from the group consisting of spectrometer, spectrophotometer, ion mobility spectroscopic sensor, and backscattering spectrometry sensor.

6. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a first spectroscopic sensor at a first location on the device and a second spectroscopic sensor at a second location on the device, wherein the distance along a circumference of the device from the first location to the second location is at least a quarter inch.

7. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic sensor can be moved along the circumference of the device and wherein moving the spectroscopic sensor along the circumference of the device is configured to change the location of the spectroscopic sensor relative to the person'"'"'s body.

8. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a first spectroscopic sensor which is configured to project a beam of light onto the surface of a person'"'"'s body at a first angle and a second spectroscopic sensor which is configured to project a beam of light onto the surface of the person'"'"'s body at a second angle, wherein the first angle differs from the second angle by at least 10 degrees.

9. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic sensor can be rotated relative to the rest of the device and wherein rotating the spectroscopic sensor is configured to change the angle at which the spectroscopic sensor projects a beam of light onto the surface of the person'"'"'s body.

10. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises an elastic member filled with a flowable substance such as a gas or liquid and wherein this elastic member is configured to push the spectroscopic sensor toward the surface of the person'"'"'s body.

11. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises an elastic strap or band spanning less than 60% of the circumference of the device and wherein this elastic strap or band is configured to push or pull the spectroscopic sensor toward the surface of the person'"'"'s body.

12. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a spring which is configured to push or pull the spectroscopic sensor toward the surface of the person'"'"'s body.

13. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises:

(a) an attachment member which is configured to span at least 60% of the circumference of a person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm, wherein this attachment member further comprises one or more elastic portions which are configured to span the anterior surface of the person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm and one or more inelastic portions which are configured to span the posterior surface of the person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm; and

(b) an enclosure which is connected to the elastic portions of the attachment member, wherein the spectroscopic sensor is part of the enclosure.

14. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises:

(a) an attachment member which is configured to span at least 60% of the circumference of a person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm, wherein this attachment member further comprises one or more anterior inelastic portions which are configured to span the anterior surface of the person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm, one or more posterior inelastic portions which are configured to span the posterior surface of the person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm, and one or more elastic portions which connect the anterior and posterior inelastic portions; and

(b) an enclosure which is configured to be worn on the anterior portion of the wrist and/or arm, wherein the spectroscopic sensor is part of the enclosure.

15. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises:

(a) an attachment member which is configured to span at least 60% of the circumference of a person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm, wherein this attachment member further comprises a first elastic portion with a first elasticity level, a second elastic portion with a second elasticity level, and an inelastic portion with a third elasticity level, wherein the third elasticity level is less than each of the first and second elasticity levels; and

(b) an enclosure which is connected between the first and second elastic portions, wherein the spectroscopic sensor is part of the enclosure.

16. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises:

(a) an outer inelastic band which is configured to span a first percentage of a person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm and which has a first elasticity level;

(b) an inner elastic band which is configured to span a second percentage of the person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm and which has a second elasticity level, wherein the inner elastic band is configured to be closer to the surface of the wrist and/or arm than the outer inelastic band, wherein the second percentage is less than the first percentage, and wherein the second elasticity level is greater than the first elasticity level, and wherein the spectroscopic sensor is part of the inner elastic band.

17. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises:

(a) an outer arcuate inelastic band which is configured to span at least 60% of the circumference of a person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm and which has a first elasticity level;

(b) an inner arcuate elastic band which is located on the concave side of the outer arcuate band and which has a second elasticity level, wherein the second elasticity level is greater than the first elasticity level, and wherein the spectroscopic sensor is part of the inner arcuate elastic band.

18. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a clam shell structure which is configured to span the circumference of a person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm, wherein this clam shell structure further comprises:

(a) an upper half-circumferential portion, (b) a lower half-circumferential portion, (c) a joint between these portions on a first side of these portions, and (d) a connector which reversibly connects these portions on a second side of these portions; and

(e) an inward-facing undulating member which is part of or attached to the clam shell structure, wherein the spectroscopic sensor is part of or attached to the undulating member.

19. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises:

(a) circumferentially-undulating attachment member which is configured to span at least a portion of the circumference of a person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm; and

(b) a plurality of spectroscopic sensors which collect data concerning wrist and/or arm tissue, wherein each sensor is located at the proximal portion of an undulation, and wherein the proximal portion of an undulation is the portion of an undulating wave which is closest to the circumferential center of the device.

20. The wearable device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises:

(a) an attachment member which is configured to span at least 60% of the circumference of a person'"'"'s wrist and/or arm;

(b) an enclosure, wherein the spectroscopic sensor is part of the enclosure; and

(c) a plurality of elastic, stretchable, and/or springy suspension members, wherein these suspension members flexibly connect the enclosure to the attachment member, wherein each of these suspension members is connected at one end to a location on the circumference of the enclosure and connected at its other end to the attachment member, and wherein the longitudinal axis of each of the suspension members is substantially parallel with a virtual radial spoke outward from the center of the enclosure.