RAPID RATE-ESTIMATION FOR CELL PHONES, SMART WATCHES, OCCUPANCY, AND WEARABLES

• US 20160113503A1
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: JB IP Acquisitions LLC
• Original Assignee: AliphCom, Inc. (AliphCom Corp.)
• Inventors: Benaron, David A.
• Application Number:
  US14/864,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20160113503A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0247 for compensation or correction of the measured physiological value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• 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 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0806 by whole-body plethysmography measuring blood flow using plethysmography A61B5/0295; impedance plethysmography A61B5/053; measuring volume of the body or parts thereof A61B5/1073
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/083 Measuring rate of metabolism by using breath test, e.g. measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/085 Measuring impedance of respiratory organs or lung elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 : Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 : of noise induced by motion artifacts
• 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 5/7253 : characterised by using transforms

Abstract

Techniques for respiratory and metabolic monitoring in mobile devices, wearable computing, security, illumination, photography, and other applications may use a phosphor-coated broadband white LED to produce broadband light, which may be transmitted along with ambient light to a target (e.g., ear, face, wrist, or the like). Some scattered light returning from a target may be passed through a spectral filter to produce multiple detector regions sensitive to a different waveband and/or wavelength range, and the detected light may be analyzed to determine a measure of a respiratory rate or effort. In the absence of LED light, ambient light may be sufficient illumination for analysis. The disclosed techniques may provide identifying features of type or status of a tissue target (e.g., respiratory rate, heart rate, heart rate variability, heart function, lung function, fat content, hydration status, confirmation of living tissue, and the like).

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect light, and

a processor with a machine-readable hardware code, said code when executed by the processor generating, based upon said detected light, an output measure that is a function of an estimated rate of at least one repetitive event, said output based at least in part on one or more intervals of time elapsed between occurrences of said at least one said repetitive event.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the light detected is backscattered from a subject.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the light detected is transmitted through a subject.

4. A device, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect broadband ambient light, the sensor having a filter configured to produce a sensor region, the sensor region configured to sense a predetermined waveband of the broadband ambient light detected; and

a processor being configured to process an instruction, the instruction, when executed by the processor, generating, based upon the detected light, an output measure that is a function of an estimated rate of a repetitive event, the output measure being based at least in part on a time interval elapsed between an occurrence of the repetitive and another repetitive event.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the broadband ambient light detected is backscattered from a subject.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the broadband ambient light detected is transmitted through a subject.

7. A device, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect broadband ambient light, the sensor having a filter configured to produce a sensor region configured to be sensitive to a predetermined waveband of the broadband ambient light;

a processor having one or more program instructions that, when executed by the processor and based upon the broadband ambient light detected by the sensor, is configured to perform a waveform analysis of the broadband ambient light to determine a timing associated with a repetitive event using the broadband ambient light detected by the sensor; and

generating an output measure that is a function of an estimated rate of the repetitive event and another repetitive event, the output measure being based on the waveform analysis.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the broadband ambient light is backscattered from a subject.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the broadband ambient light is transmitted through a subject.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a mobile health monitor.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a mobile phone.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a wearable device.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is wearable clothing.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a wearable glasses.

15. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a wearable bracelet.

16. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a wearable earphone.

17. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a wearable contact lens.

18. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a security system, a room occupancy sensor.

19. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a room occupancy sensor.

20. The device of claim 7, further comprising a spectral filter deposited directly on the sensor, wherein the sensitivity of the detector to a wavelength band uses a filter.

21. The device of claim 7, wherein the sensor is configured to operate in a non-contact manner with the subject.

22. A device, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect broadband ambient light after the ambient light is transmitted through a subject, the sensor having a filter configured to produce a sensor region configured to be sensitive to a predetermined waveband of the broadband ambient light detected;

a processor having one or more program instructions that, when executed by the processor and based upon the broadband ambient light detected by the sensor, performing a waveform analysis of the broadband ambient light to determine a timing or frequency associated with at least one repetitive event using the broadband ambient light detected by the sensor; and

generating an output measure that is a function of an estimated rate of the repetitive event and a subsequent repetitive event, the output being based on the waveform analysis.