Method for biosensor usage with pressure compensation

• US 8,396,530 B1
• Filed: 11/12/2012
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Affectiva, Inc. (Smart Eye AB)
• Original Assignee: Affectiva, Inc. (Smart Eye AB)
• Inventors: Wilder-Smith, Oliver Orion, Picard, Rosalind Wright, Zhang, Tao
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANTISKAY, BRIAN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/674,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20130072766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 120 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/382, 600/384, 600/386, 600/388, 600/390, 600/393
• US Class Current: 600/382
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6825 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

A biosensor is described which can obtain physiological data from an individual. The biosensor may collect electrodermal activity, skin temperature, and other information. The biosensor may be attached to the body through the use of a garment which may be fastened in multiple locations on the human body. The biosensor includes compensation for electrodermal activity measurements based on the amount of pressure applied to the electrodes that are in contact with the skin. As pressure is increased the electrodermal activity values typically increase. By compensating for the influence that pressure changes have on electrodermal activity, more accurate analysis of physiology and therefore mental state analysis may be performed.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method for measuring physiology comprising:

capturing electrodermal activity readings from a body via electrodes which are in contact with skin;

collecting pressure information on an amount of pressure applied to the electrodes by a pressure sensing means, which are in contact with the skin; and

compensating the electrodermal activity readings based on the pressure information which was collected.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the pressure sensing means comprises one or more of force sensitive resistors, piezoelectric devices, piezoelectric polymers, pressure sensitive materials, and pressure sensitive gels.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the compensating is accomplished using one or more of circuitry, a processor, software, and firmware.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the compensating is accomplished in real time as the electrodermal activity readings are captured.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising correcting electrodermal activity evaluations based on temperature of the skin.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising correcting electrodermal activity evaluations based on sensed humidity.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising evaluating skin temperature.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising compensating skin temperature evaluation based on pressure applied to the electrodes.

9. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium for measuring physiology, the computer program product comprising:

code for capturing electrodermal activity readings from a body via electrodes which are in contact with skin;

code for collecting pressure information on an amount of pressure applied to the electrodes by a pressure sensing means, which are in contact with the skin; and

code for compensating the electrodermal activity readings based on the pressure information which was collected.

10. The computer program product according to claim 9 wherein the pressure sensing means comprises one or more of force sensitive resistors, piezoelectric devices, piezoelectric polymers, pressure sensitive materials, and pressure sensitive gels.

11. The computer program product according to claim 9 wherein the compensating is accomplished using one or more of circuitry, a processor, software, and firmware.

12. The computer program product according to claim 9 wherein the compensating is accomplished in real time as the electrodermal activity readings are captured.

13. The computer program product according to claim 9 further comprising code for correcting electrodermal activity evaluations based on temperature of the skin.

14. The computer program product according to claim 9 further comprising code for correcting electrodermal activity evaluations based on sensed humidity.

15. The computer program product according to claim 9 further comprising code for evaluating skin temperature.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15 further comprising code for compensating skin temperature evaluation based on pressure applied to the electrodes.

17. A system for measuring physiology comprising:

a memory which stores instructions;

one or more processors coupled to the memory wherein the one or more processors, when executing the instructions which are stored, are configured to;

capture electrodermal activity readings from a body via electrodes which are in contact with skin;

collect pressure information on an amount of pressure applied to the electrodes, which are in contact with the skin; and

compensate the electrodermal activity readings based on the pressure information which was collected.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein compensating is accomplished in real time as the electrodermal activity readings are captured.

19. The system according to claim 17 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to correct electrodermal activity evaluations based on temperature of the skin.

20. The system according to claim 17 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to correct electrodermal activity evaluations based on sensed humidity.