METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REAL-TIME NON-INVASIVE OPTICAL MONITORING OF DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS STATE

• US 20180035932A1
• Filed: 08/07/2016
• Published: 02/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Irina Massova
• Original Assignee: Irina Massova
• Inventors: Massova, Irina
• Application Number:
  US15/230,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20180035932A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/186 Mouthpieces

Abstract

Described herein is a device and system and method for the detection of naturally occurring gas bubbles in the bloodstream; in one embodiment, a wireless optical device may be placed on various parts of the body including a finger or earlobe or is coupled with the SCUBA mouthpiece and detects certain vital signs such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and respiration rate by analyzing the photoplethysmogram (PPG) from a miniature sensor. There is also a method and apparatus for real-time non-invasive optical monitoring of actual state of decompression sickness are presented. The method is based on simultaneous measurements of PPG signals in different locations of human body and analysis of such a factor as phase shifts between various locations, change the shape of PPG signal between different locations, existence and modification of slow trends and low frequency modulations and angular distributions of the out-coming light.

Claims

1. A method of determining an initiation or progression of decompression sickness in an individual using an in-vivo measurement of time-dependence of optical density of at least one irradiated body part, the method comprising:

irradiating a portion of at least one body part with a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor wherein the irradiating step is performed using at least one light source with the wavelength belonging to the red-near infrared (RNIR) spectral range or the yellow green spectral range;

collecting a time dependent optical signal from the sensor; and

analyzing the collected system to determine the initiation or progression of decompression sickness in the individual.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the analyzing step is performed to determine an indicia of an optical scattering characteristic indicating the presence of a gas.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising irradiating another portion of a body part spaced apart from the portion of at least one body part and wherein the analyzing step is performed by comparing a blood velocity measurement at the portion and the another portion to determine an indicia of the presence of a gas influencing blood velocity.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the irradiated portions are spaced apart by a distance of 6 inches to 12 inches.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the portion or the another portion of at least one body part is within the mouth, on a lip, on a cheek, on a forehead, on a face, on an ear, on a wrist, on an elbow, on an arm, on a leg, on a finger or on a hand.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the irradiating step or the collecting step are performed using a PPG sensor wherein at least one element of an emitter or a detector is mounted on, in or within a respirator or SCUBA mouth piece or a diving mask.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the irradiating step or the collecting step is performed using a PPG sensor configured as one emitter and multiple detectors.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the irradiating step or the collecting step is performed using a PPG sensor configured as one detector and multiple emitters.

11. The method of claim 1 performed using at least one PPG sensor is configured for transmission mode operation.

12. The method of any of claim 1 performed using at least one PPG sensor is configured for reflectance mode operation.

14. The diving mask of claim 11 wherein the at least one PPG sensor is adapted and configured to irradiate a desired portion using a light in the yellow-green region.

15. The diving mask of claim 11 wherein the at least one PPG sensor is adapted and configured to irradiate a desired portion using a light in the near infrared region.

16. The diving mask of claim 11 wherein the at least one PPG sensor is configured as one emitter and multiple detectors.

17. The diving mask of claim 11 wherein the at least one PPG sensor is configured as one detector and multiple emitters.

18. The diving mask of claim 11 wherein the at least one PPG sensor is configured for transmission mode operation.

19. The diving mask of claim 11 wherein the at least one PPG sensor is configured for reflectance mode operation.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

13. A PPG sensor enabled diving mask, comprising:

a face piece having a lens and a seal or skirt; and

at least one PPG sensor on, in or within a portion of the seal or the skirt such that in use on a diver the at least on PPG sensor is positioned to irradiate a desired portion of a region of blood perfusion on the diver;

20. A PPG sensor enabled respirator mouthpiece, comprising:

a respirator mouthpiece having a connector to attachment to a respirator supply and a portion for placement within the mouth of a user having an inner surface and an outer surface; and

at least one PPG sensor on, in or within a portion of the respirator mouthpiece positioned to irradiate a desired portion of a region of blood perfusion on the user having the mouthpiece in his mouth.