Control using connected biometric devices

• US 9,396,642 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2014
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert F. Dudley
• Original Assignee: Quanttus Inc
• Inventors: He, David Da, Bijjani, Richard Robehr, Azim, Shahid, Vargas, Bogart
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US14/522,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20150112452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02108 from analysis of pulse wave characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02125 of pulse wave propagation time
• 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 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0285 Measuring or recording phase velocity of blood waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/029 Measuring or recording blood output from the heart, e.g. minute volume A61B8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 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 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1102 Ballistocardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• 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 5/14542 : for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 : Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/363 : Detecting tachycardia or bradycardia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 : Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 : Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 : Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 : Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 : Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 : specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 : Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 : Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 : Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 : Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 : Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 : Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 : using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 : based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 : worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 : indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

The technology described in this document is embodied in a method that includes processing data in a first dataset that represents time-varying information about at least one pulse pressure wave propagating through blood in a subject acquired at a location of the subject. The method also includes providing information related to the data to a remote device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining, using a first sensor, a first dataset that represents time-varying information about at least one pulse wave propagating through blood in a subject, wherein the first dataset is obtained from a particular portion of the body of the subject;

determining, based at least in part on the data in the first dataset, two or more of a blood pressure, a heart rate, and a respiratory rate of the subject;

processing the first dataset to determine a condition of the subject, the condition comprising one or both of a stress level and an interest level; and

transmitting, using a wireless transmission module, a control signal related to the condition of the subject, the control signal configured to cause a parameter of a remote device to be changed based on one or both of the stress level and the interest level of the subject, wherein one or both of the stress level and the interest level is determined based on comparing two or more of the blood pressure, the heart rate, and the respiratory rate of the subject to corresponding baseline values associated with the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining, using a second sensor, a second dataset that represents time-varying information about motion of the subject, wherein the second dataset is obtained from the particular portion of the body of the subject.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information about at least one pulse wave propagating through blood in the subject comprises photoplethysmographic (PPG) data and the information about motion of the subject comprises one or both of motioncardiogram (MoCG) data and gross motion data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on the data in the first dataset, a heart rate variability of the subject, wherein the condition of the subject is based on one or more of the blood pressure, the heart rate, the heart rate variability, and the respiratory rate of the subject.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition of the subject is related to whether the subject is experiencing or has experienced one or more of hypertension, a stroke, abnormal heart function, tachycardia, arrhythmia, and a concussion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is transmitted to an intermediate device, and the intermediate device transmits a second signal to the remote device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is transmitted directly to the remote device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first dataset is acquired continuously.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first dataset is acquired by a device worn by the subject, and the device does not reduce a mobility of the subject.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular portion of the body of the subject is a wrist of the subject.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is configured to generate an alert on the remote device that indicates that the subject is experiencing or has experienced a health-related problem.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote device is a mobile phone.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a first point in the first dataset, the first point representing an arrival time of the pulse wave at a first body part of the subject;

identifying a second point in a second dataset that represents time-varying information about motion of the subject, the second point representing an earlier time at which the pulse wave traverses a second body part of the subject; and

computing a pulse transit time (PTT) as a difference between the first and second points, the PTT representing a time taken by the pulse wave to travel from the second body part to the first body part of the subject.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the blood pressure of the subject is determined based on the PTT.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second datasets are obtained from the first body part, and the second body part is an artery extending from the heart of the subject.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is further related to a location of the subject.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein information related to the location of the subject is obtained using a third sensor.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein

the remote device is a light,

the control signal causes the light to adjust a lighting setting at a time that is based on the location of subject, and

the lighting setting is adjusted when the subject is within a predefined distance from a location that is illuminated by the light.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is further related to a temperature of the subject.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein information related to the temperature of the subject is obtained using a fourth sensor.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein

the remote device is a thermostat,

the control signal causes the thermostat to adjust a temperature setting in accordance with a location and the temperature of the subject,

the time when the thermostat adjusts the temperature setting is based on the location of the subject, and

the temperature setting of the thermostat is adjusted when the subject is within a predefined distance from a location that is temperature-controlled by the thermostat.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is an entertainment device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the condition of the subject indicates whether the subject has exercised for a predetermined length of time, and the control signal prohibits the entertainment device from being turned on unless the subject has exercised for the predetermined length of time.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the control signal causes the entertainment device to provide content personalized for the subject based on the condition of the subject.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the condition of the subject comprises one or both of an interest level in the content and a stress level of the subject while the subject is experiencing the content.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the stress level of the subject is based on the first dataset and information that is obtained using an impedance sensor.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the control signal causes the entertainment device to provide content designed to excite the subject if the interest level in the content is below a threshold, or provide content designed to calm the subject if the stress level of the subject while the subject is experiencing the content is above a threshold.

28. A method comprising:

receiving, from a wireless device, a first dataset that represents time-varying information about at least one pulse wave propagating through blood in a subject, wherein the first dataset is obtained from a particular portion of the body of the subject;

determining, based at least in part on the data in the first dataset, two or more of a blood pressure, a heart rate, and a respiratory rate of the subject

processing the first dataset to determine a condition of the subject, the condition comprising one or both of a stress level and an interest level; and

transmitting, to a remote device, a control signal related to the condition of the subject, the control signal configured to cause a parameter of the remote device to be changed based on one or both of the stress level and the interest level of the subject, wherein one or both of the stress level and the interest level is determined based on comparing two or more of the blood pressure, the heart rate, and the respiratory rate of the subject to corresponding baseline values associated with the subject.

29. A system comprising:

a wireless device comprising;

a first sensor configured to obtain a first dataset that represents time-varying information about at least one pulse wave propagating through blood in a subject, wherein the first sensor is configured to obtain the first dataset from a particular portion of the body of the subject;

one or more processing devices configured to

determine, based at least in part on the data in the first dataset, two or more of a blood pressure, a heart rate, and a respiratory rate of the subject, and

process the first dataset to determine a condition of the subject, the condition comprising one or both of a stress level and an interest level; and

a transmission module configured to transmit a control signal related to the condition of the subject, the control signal configured to cause a parameter of a remote device to be changed based on one or both of the stress level and the interest level of the subject, wherein one or both of the stress level and the interest level is determined based on comparing two or more of the blood pressure, the heart rate, and the respiratory rate of the subject to corresponding baseline values associated with the subject.

30. A system comprising:

memory; and

one or more processors configured to;

receive a first dataset that represents time-varying information about at least one pulse wave propagating through blood in a subject, wherein the first dataset is obtained from a particular portion of the body of the subject;

determine, based at least in part on the data in the first dataset, two or more of a blood pressure, a heart rate, and a respiratory rate of the subject

process the first dataset to determine a condition of the subject, the condition comprising one or both of a stress level and an interest level; and

transmit, to a remote device, a control signal related to the condition of the subject, the control signal configured to cause a parameter of the remote device to be changed based on one or both of the stress level and the interest level of the subject, wherein one or both of the stress level and the interest level is determined based on comparing two or more of the blood pressure, the heart rate, and the respiratory rate of the subject to corresponding baseline values associated with the subject.