SENSING AT LEAST ONE BIOLOGICAL PARAMETER, E.G., HEART RATE OR HEART RATE VARIABILITY OF A SUBJECT

• US 20180146870A1
• Filed: 01/25/2018
• Published: 05/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CardiacSense Ltd
• Original Assignee: CardiacSense Ltd
• Inventors: SHEMESH, Eldad, KOUPERMAN, Igor
• Granted Patent: US 10,849,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6844 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns a device for sensing at least one biological parameter (e.g., heart rate, heart rate variability) of a subject, the device comprising a contact surface configured for being brought into a contact with a skin surface of the subject. The device has at least one light source for illuminating the skin surface through the contact surface along an illumination source optical axis with illumination including at least one sensing wavelength, and at least one detector for detecting a response of said illumination at least at said wavelength, from the skin surface through the contact surface along a detector optical axis, and providing signals configured for determining said biological parameter based thereon, said illumination optical axis forming with said contact surface an acute included angle.

Claims

1. A device for sensing at least one biological parameter of a subject, the device comprising:

a contact surface configured for being brought into a contact with a skin surface of the subject;

at least one light source for illuminating the skin surface through the contact surface along an illumination source optical axis with illumination including at least one sensing wavelength, said illumination optical axis forming an acute included angle with said contact surface; and

at least one detector for detecting a response of said illumination at least at said wavelength, from the skin surface through the contact surface along a detector optical axis, and providing signals configured for determining said biological parameter based thereon.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the acute included angle is in a range between 10 degrees to 80 degrees.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the acute included angle is in a range between 30 degrees to 60 degrees.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector optical axis forms an angle with the contact surface that is smaller than that of the light source optical axis.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector optical axis is perpendicular to the contact surface.

6. The device of claim 1, the device has a pre-determined operational distance from the contact surface, such that at a distance exceeding said operational distance said response at said wavelength is essentially lower than at a distance not exceeding said operational distance.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said operational distance is in a range between 1 mm to 3 mm

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said acute included angle and a distance between points of intersection between the detector optical axis and the illumination optical axis with the contact surface are of such pre-determined values that said response at said wavelength is greater than said response would be with at least one of the values being different from the corresponding pre-determined value.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional light source identical to said light source, the at least one light source and the at least one additional light source being disposed symmetrically relative to said at least one detector.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one different light source providing illumination including a wavelength different from said wavelength;

wherein said at least one detector is configured for detecting a response of illumination from said different light source at said different wavelength.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for sensing a movement and/or pressure applied on the contact surface, the sensor including:

at least one flexible member coupling the contact surface and the housing for allowing movement of the contact surface at least in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface;

a light source coupled to said contact surface and configured to illuminate a reflection surface formed in the housing; and

a detector configured to detect the illumination response of said illumination;

wherein the illumination response is indicative of a movement and/or pressure applied on the contact surface.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising at least one biological sensor for sensing the at least one biological parameter, wherein at least a portion of the sensor is on the same axis with at least a portion of one of the light source and detector, said axis is perpendicular to the contact surface.

11. A device for sensing a biological parameter from a skin surface of a subject, the device comprising:

a housing having a contact surface facing towards an exterior of the housing and configured for being brought into a contact with a skin surface of the subject, and a flexible membrane movable in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface;

at least one light source for illuminating the skin surface through the contact surface; and

at least one detector for detecting a response of the illumination from the skin surface through the contact surface, and providing signals configured for determining said biological parameter based thereon, said at least one detector being fixedly mounted at least indirectly to said flexible membrane so as to be movable therewith in said direction.