FLOORMAT PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSOR

• US 20170188960A1
• Filed: 01/05/2016
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: OtoSense, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OtoSense, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Banet, Matthew, DHILLON, Marshal Singh, PEDE, Susan Meeks, DEPTALA, Arthur, HAYWARD, Lauren Nicole Miller, COCHRAN, Jonas Dean
• Application Number:
  US14/988,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20170188960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/02125 of pulse wave propagation time
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/50 having additional measuring devices, e.g. for height
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/52 Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture with walking sticks A45B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A stand-on physiological sensor (e.g. floormat) measures vital signs and various hemodynamic parameters, including blood pressure and ECG waveforms. The sensor is similar in configuration to a common bathroom scale and includes electrodes that take electrical measurements from a patient'"'"'s feet to generate bioimpedance waveforms, which are analyzed digitally to extract various other parameters, as well as a cuff-type blood pressure system that takes physical blood pressure measurements at one of the patient'"'"'s feet. Blood pressure can also be calculated/derived from the bioimpedance waveforms. Measured parameters are transmitted wirelessly to facilitate remote monitoring of the patient for heart failure, chronic heart failure, end-stage renal disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and other degenerative diseases.

Claims

1. A system for measuring a blood pressure value from a patient, comprising:

a base comprising a bottom surface configured to rest on or near a substantially horizontal surface, and a top surface configured to receive at least one of the patient'"'"'s feet;

a pressure-delivery system connected to the top surface and comprising an opening which covers a portion of at least one of the patient'"'"'s feet when they are in contact with the top surface, the pressure-delivery system comprising a flexible member configured to apply pressure to a portion of at least one of the patient'"'"'s feet, and a pressure sensor configured to measure a first set of signals representative of pressure applied to the portion of at least one of the patient'"'"'s feet;

an optical system connected to the top surface and comprising at least one light source that emits optical radiation, and a photodetector, the photodetector configured to receive the optical radiation after it irradiates a portion of the patient'"'"'s feet to generate a second set of signals representative of a photoplethysmogram from the patient; and

a processing system in electrical contact with the pressure sensor and optical system, and configured to;

     1) receive the first set of signals from the pressure-delivery system and convert them into a set of pressure values;

     2) receive the second set of signals from the optical system and convert them into a set of pulsatile signals; and

     3) collectively analyze the set of pressure values and the set of pulsatile signals to determine the blood pressure value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible member is a bladder.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the pressure-delivery system further comprises a pump.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the pump connects to the bladder and is configured to pump air into the bladder when the pump is powered on.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the pressure-delivery system further comprises a valve connected to the pump.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the valve connects to the bladder and is configured to pump air into the bladder when the pump is powered on.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the pressure sensor connects to the bladder and is configured to measure a pressure within the bladder.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the bladder is formed as a strap, with a first distal end of the strap connected to the top surface, and a second distal end of the strap connected to the top surface and comprising an opening configured to receive air from the pump.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system comprises computer code configured to control both the pressure-delivery system and the optical system so that the second set of signals representative of a photoplethysmogram are generated while the pressure-delivery system applies pressure to a portion of at least one of the patient'"'"'s feet.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing system comprises computer code configured to analyze an amplitude and a pressure corresponding to at least one of the pulsatile signals.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing system comprises computer code configured to analyze a set of amplitudes corresponding to the set of pulsatile signals, each corresponding to a unique pressure value.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer code is configured to determine an amplitude in the set of amplitudes having a minimum value.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer code is configured to estimate systolic blood pressure (SYS) from the amplitude having the minimum value.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer code is configured to approximate amplitude values in the set of amplitudes with a mathematical function.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer code is configured to estimate SYS from a minimum value of the mathematical function.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer code is configured to determine an amplitude in the set of amplitudes having a maximum value.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer code is configured to estimate mean arterial pressure (MAP) from the amplitude having the maximum value.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer code is configured to approximate amplitude values in the set of amplitudes with a mathematical function.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the computer code is configured to estimate MAP from a maximum value of the mathematical function.

20. A system for measuring a blood pressure value from a patient, comprising:

a base comprising a bottom surface configured to rest on or near a substantially horizontal surface, and a top surface configured to receive at least one of the patient'"'"'s feet;

a pressure-delivery system connected to the top surface and comprising an opening which covers a portion of at least one of the patient'"'"'s feet when they are in contact with the top surface, the pressure-delivery system comprising a flexible member configured to apply pressure to a portion of at least one of the patient'"'"'s feet, and a pressure sensor configured to measure a first set of signals representative of pressure applied to the portion of at least one of the patient'"'"'s feet;

an optical system connected to the top surface and comprising at least one light source that emits optical radiation, and a photodetector, the photodetector configured to receive the optical radiation after it irradiates a portion of the patient'"'"'s feet to generate a second set of signals representative of a photoplethysmogram from the patient;

a weight-measuring system connected to the top surface, the weight-measuring system comprising an electrical system that measures a set of voltages that correlates with a force applied to the top surface; and

a processing system in electrical contact with the pressure sensor, and configured to;

     1) receive the first set of signals from the pressure-delivery system and convert them into a set of pressure values;

     2) receive the second set of signals from the optical system and convert them into a set of pulsatile signals;

     3) collectively analyze the set of pressure values and the set of pulsatile signals to determine the blood pressure value.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the electrical system comprises a Wheatstone Bridge.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the Wheatstone Bridge connects electrically with an amplifier system.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processing system is further configured to receive the set of voltages, and analyze them to determine a value of weight corresponding to the force applied on the top surface.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the flexible member is a bladder.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the pressure-delivery system further comprises a pump.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the pump connects to the bladder and is configured to pump air into the bladder when the pump is powered on.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the pressure-delivery system further comprises a valve connected to the pump.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the valve connects to the bladder and is configured to pump air into the bladder when the pump is powered on.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the pressure sensor connects to the bladder and is configured to measure a pressure within the bladder.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the bladder is formed as a strap, with a first distal end of the strap connected to the top surface, and a second distal end of the strap connected to the top surface and comprising an opening configured to receive air from the pump.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein the processing system comprises computer code configured to control both the pressure-delivery system and the optical system so that the second set of signals representative of a photoplethysmogram are generated while the pressure-delivery system applies pressure to a portion of at least one of the patient'"'"'s feet.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the processing system comprises computer code configured to analyze an amplitude and a pressure corresponding to at least one of the pulsatile signals.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the processing system comprises computer code configured to analyze a set of amplitudes corresponding to the set of pulsatile signals, each corresponding to a unique pressure value.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the computer code is configured to determine an amplitude in the set of amplitudes having a minimum value.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the computer code is configured to estimate systolic blood pressure (SYS) from the amplitude having the minimum value.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the computer code is configured to approximate amplitude values in the set of amplitudes with a mathematical function.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the computer code is configured to estimate SYS from a minimum value of the mathematical function.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the computer code is configured to determine an amplitude in the set of amplitudes having a maximum value.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the computer code is configured to estimate mean arterial pressure (MAP) from the amplitude having the maximum value.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein the computer code is configured to approximate amplitude values in the set of amplitudes with a mathematical function.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the computer code is configured to estimate MAP from a maximum value of the mathematical function.