Thermal imaging system

• US 9,398,856 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brain Tunnelgenix
• Original Assignee: Geelux Holdings, Ltd.
• Inventors: Abreu, Marcio Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): KAPLAN VERBITSKY, GAIL
• Application Number:
  US14/479,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20150150453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 374/120, 374/121, 374/170, 600/549, 600/474, 250/338.1, 702/135
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0042 for the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0046 Arrangements of imaging apparatus in a room, e.g. room provided with shielding or for improved access to apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0079 using mirrors, i.e. for self-examination
• 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 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1176 Recognition of faces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1491 Heated applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 : Eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 : Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 : Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 : using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• 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: G01J 2005/0077 : Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/10 : using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/23 : from thermal infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 : provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 : Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Support structures for positioning sensors on a physiologic tunnel for measuring physical, chemical and biological parameters of the body and to produce an action according to the measured value of the parameters. The support structure includes a sensor fitted on the support structures using a special geometry for acquiring continuous and undisturbed data on the physiology of the body. Signals are transmitted to a remote station by wireless transmission such as by electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared, sound and the like or by being reported locally by audio or visual transmission. The physical and chemical parameters include brain function, metabolic function, hydrodynamic function, hydration status, levels of chemical compounds in the blood, and the like. The support structure includes patches, clips, eyeglasses, head mounted gear and the like, containing passive or active sensors positioned at the end of the tunnel with sensing systems positioned on and accessing a physiologic tunnel.

Claims

1. A sensing device system for measurements at an external skin surface at a brain temperature tunnel, the external skin surface at the brain temperature tunnel being located between an eyebrow and an eye of an individual, said sensing device system comprising

a sensor assembly mounted on a support structure for capturing spectral information contained in radiation exiting the external skin surface from the brain temperature tunnel,

said sensor assembly including a light source for directing radiation at the external skin surface at the brain temperature tunnel and generating a reflected radiation from the external skin surface at the brain temperature tunnel, said reflected radiation from the external skin surface at the brain temperature tunnel including a radiation signature, said sensor assembly also including a detector for detecting the reflected radiation from the skin surface at the brain temperature tunnel and generating an electrical signal representative of said radiation signature,

a processing circuit operatively coupled with a display, said processing circuit receiving said electrical signal and analyzing said electrical signal and displaying results of the analysis of the electrical signal on said display.

2. The sensing device system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly is slidably mounted on the support structure to accommodate individuals of different height.

3. The sensing device system according to claim 1, wherein said support structure is a wall.

4. The sensing device system according to claim 1, wherein said support structure is an electronic device.

5. The sensing device system according to claim 4, wherein said electronic device is a refrigerator.

6. The sensing device system according to claim 4, wherein said electronic device is one of a television, a microwave oven, an oven, a cellular telephone and a camera.

7. The sensing device system according to claim 1, further comprising another light source mounted on the support structure for aligning the eye of an individual with the another light source and when the eye of the individual is aligned with the another light source, the skin surface of the brain temperature tunnel of the individual is aligned with respect to the sensor assembly.

8. The sensing device system according to claim 1, further comprising an iris scanner mounted on the support structure for identifying the individual while the detector detects the reflected radiation.

9. The sensing device system according to claim 8, wherein an identity of the individual and the detected reflected radiation are transmitted to a memory.

10. The sensing device system according to claim 9, further comprising a camera for recording a picture of the individual at the sensor assembly, the camera also recording a display of a temperature corresponding to the reflected radiation as analyzed by the processing circuit.

11. The sensing device system according to claim 10, wherein the processing circuit identifies whether the temperature is outside of a range stored in the memory.

12. The sensing device system according to claim 11, wherein an alarm is activated when the temperature is outside of the range.

13. The sensing device system according to claim 1, wherein an arm interconnects and mounts said sensor assembly on the support structure.

14. The sensing device system according to claim 1, further comprising a mirror located on said support structure, said mirror is located adjacent to the sensor assembly.

15. The sensing device system according to claim 13, wherein a compressible material is located between said sensor assembly and said arm.

16. The sensing device system according to claim 1, wherein the light source and the detector are positioned adjacent to each other.

17. The sensing device system according to claim 1, wherein the support structure is an eyeglass frame.

18. The sensing device system according to claim 1, wherein the support structure is a head mounted structure.

19. The sensing device system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly is a non-contact sensor assembly.