Localized physiologic status from luminosity around fingertip or toe

• US 9,560,987 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2012
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TSI Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Epic Research & Diagnostics, Inc.
• Inventors: Rizzo, Nancy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Tse
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOFFMAN, JOANNE M
• Application Number:
  US14/125,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20140350413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0093 Detecting, measuring or recording by applying one single type of energy and measuring its conversion into another type of energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/201 Assessing renal or kidney functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4842 Monitoring progression or stage of a disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6825 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• 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: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/70 for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

Spatial light response around a fingertip or toe of a subject in response to electrical stimulation can be associated to a specified remote particular body anatomy, location, component, or system such as for providing a particularized physiological status indicator or other particularized response indication that is particular to the specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a signal processor circuit, configured to;

obtain at least two-dimensional spatial response information of visible or other light around a finger or toe of a subject, the spatial response information obtained at a light detector configured to provide information regarding at least first and second spatial dimensions that are orthogonal to each other, the light obtained in response to electrical stimulation of the finger or toe sufficient to produce the light around the finger or toe; and

associate the spatial response information to a specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system that is remote from the finger or toe at which the spatial response information was obtained, the associating including;

radially sectoring the at least two-dimensional spatial response information;

computing a plurality of parameters, including using the radially sectored at least two-dimensional spatial response information to compute at least one of the parameters;

adjusting or comparing at least one of the parameters using information from a clinical knowledge base representative of a population of patients including using at least some patients other than the subject; and

using the at least one adjusted parameter for using the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication that is particular to the specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system;

an electrode, configured to provide the electrical stimulation to the finger or toe;

wherein

the electrical stimulation includes AC electrical stimulation, the electrode is transparent enough to pass at least a portion of the visible or other light around the finger or toe;

the light detector is configured to receive through the electrode the passed portion of the visible or other light around the finger or toe; and

the light detector is configured to provide to the signal processor circuit th two-dimensional spatial response information of visible or other light around the finger or toe; and

a removable dielectric barrier, between (1) the finger or toe of the subject and (2) the electrode, wherein the dielectric barrier is configured to be transparent enough to pass the portion of the visible or other light around the finger or toe;

wherein the particularized response indication is exclusive to the specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system, and is exclusive of other particular body anatomy, locations, components, or systems;

wherein the associating further includes computing the particularized response indication using both at least two-dimensional spatial light intensity aggregate and density information; and

wherein the spatial response information includes a first at least two-dimensional spatial response information and a second at least two-dimensional spatial response information, and wherein the associating includes computing the particularized response indication using differential or other relative information determined between (1) the first spatial response information, obtained with the presence of a dielectric barrier between the finger or toe and the electrode; and

(2) the second spatial response information, obtained without the presence of the dielectric barrier after the dielectric barrier is removed from between the finger or toe and the electrode.

8. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the signal processor circuit is configured such that the particularized response indication indicates a relative risk of an abnormal physiological state of the specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system relative to at least one of (1) at least one other particular body anatomy, location, component, or system or (2) a normal physiological state of the specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system.

9. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the signal processor circuit is configured such that the at least two-dimensional spatial response information is pre-processed, before computing the plurality of parameters, to attenuate or ignore one or more spatial response artifacts within at least one designated area of the at least two-dimensional spatial response information.

10. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the signal processor circuit is configured such that the at least two-dimensional spatial response information is pre-processed, before computing the plurality of parameters, to automatically orient the at least two-dimensional spatial response information at least one of rotationally or translationally.

11. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to determine the particularized response indication including trending over time both at least two-dimensional spatial light intensity aggregate and density information.

12. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to determine the particularized response indication using a polynomial relationship of an area and an average intensity of spatial light intensity information.

13. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to:

determine a physiological status indicator using the particularized response information; and

provide the physiological status indicator to a user or automated process.

14. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication that is particular to a selected particular one of:

a cardiovascular system, a gastrointestinal/endocrine system, a respiratory system, a renal system, or a hepatic system.

15. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a physiological status indicator that is particular to a selected particular one of:

a cardiovascular system, a gastrointestinal/endocrine system, a respiratory system, a renal system, or a hepatic system.

16. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication including using a determining of an Entropy parameter of the spatial response information.

17. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication including determining a Form-One parameter of the spatial response information that is within a specified centered first annulus region between an inner first radius of the annulus and an outer second radius of the annulus, wherein the Form-One parameter is calculated using a ratio of the perimeter length of the region and pixel intensity within the region above a background noise level.

18. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication including determining a Form-One parameter of the spatial response information that is within a specified centered first annulus region between an inner first radius of the annulus and an outer second radius of the annulus, wherein the Form-One parameter is calculated using a ratio of the perimeter length of the region and pixel intensity within the region above a background noise level;

and the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing the particularized response indication including also determining a Form-Two parameter of the spatial response information that is within a specified centered second annulus region between the inner first radius of the annulus and an outer third radius of the annulus, wherein the third radius exceeds the second radius, wherein the Form-Two parameter is calculated using a ratio of the perimeter length of the second region and pixel intensity within the second region above a background noise level.

19. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing the particularized response indication including determining a Fractal parameter of the spatial response information using (1) a perimeter of spatial response pixels exceeding a specified threshold value and (2) a spatial variation in the perimeter of spatial response pixels exceeding the specified threshold value.

20. The apparatus of any one of claim 1, 2, 5, 6, or 7, further comprising:

a display, configured to display a visual illustration of the subject; and

wherein the display is configured to label a displayed indication of the specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system with information about the particularized response indicator that is particular to the specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system.

21. The apparatus of any of claim 1, 2, 6, or 7 wherein the spatial response information includes a first spatial response information and a second spatial response information, and wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication including computing the particularized response indication using a Reference-Subjective parameter determined from (1) an average intensity of a sector of an image (2) an average intensity of a sector of a calibration image and (3) a spatial extent of active pixels, as determined for each of (1) the first spatial response information, obtained with the presence of a removable dielectric barrier between the finger or toe and the electrode;

and (2) the second spatial response information, obtained without the presence of the dielectric barrier after the dielectric barrier is removed from between the finger or toe and the electrode.

22. The apparatus of any of claim 1, 2, or 7 wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication including computing the physiological status indicator using a Reference-Subjective parameter determined from (1) an average intensity of a sector of an image (2) an average intensity of a sector of a calibration image and (3) a spatial extent of active pixels.

23. The apparatus of any of claim 1, or 2 wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to:

sample the spatial response information repeatedly over sampling period of interest at a sampling rate exceeding twice a frequency bandwidth of a parameter of interest;

determine a frequency characteristic of the parameter of interest; and

determine a physiological status indication using the frequency characteristic of the parameter of interest.

2. An apparatus comprising:

a signal processor circuit, configured to;

obtain at least two-dimensional spatial response information of visible or other light around a finger or toe of a subject, the spatial response information obtained at a light detector configured to provide information regarding at least first and second spatial dimensions that are orthogonal to each other, the light obtained in response to electrical stimulation of the finger or toe sufficient to produce the light around the finger or toe; and

associate the spatial response information to a specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system that is remote from the finger or toe at which the spatial response information was obtained, the associating including;

radially sectoring the at least two-dimensional spatial response information;

computing a plurality of parameters, including using the radially sectored at least two dimensional spatial response information to compute at least one of the parameters;

adjusting or comparing at least one of the parameters using information from a clinical knowledge base representative of a population of patients including using at least some patients other than the subject; and

using the at least one adjusted parameter for using the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication that is particular to the specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system;

wherein the spatial response information includes a first at least two-dimensional spatial response information and a second at least two-dimensional spatial response information, and wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication including using first differential information determined between (1) the first spatial response information, obtained with the presence of a removable dielectric barrier between the finger or toe and the electrode; and

(2) the second spatial response information, obtained without the presence of the dielectric barrier after the dielectric barrier is removed from between the finger or toe and the electrode; and

wherein the spatial response information further includes a third at least two-dimensional spatial response information and a fourth at least two-dimensional spatial response, and wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication further including using second differential information determined between (1) the third spatial response information, obtained as a calibration spatial response with the presence of a dielectric barrier between the finger or toe and the electrode; and

(2) the fourth spatial response information, obtained as a calibration image without the presence of the dielectric barrier between the finger or toe and the electrode.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first spatial response, the second spatial response, the third spatial response, and the fourth spatial response are obtained from the same subject and same day calibration spatial response.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first spatial response and the second spatial response are obtained from the same subject, and wherein the third spatial response and the fourth spatial response are obtained by composite information from different subjects.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a signal processor circuit, configured to;

obtain at least two-dimensional spatial response information of visible or other light around a finger or toe of a subject, the spatial response information obtained at a light detector configured to provide information regarding at least first and second spatial dimensions that are orthogonal to each other, the light obtained in response to electrical stimulation of the finger or toe sufficient to produce the light around the finger or toe; and

associate the spatial response information to a specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system that is remote from the finger or toe at which the spatial response information was obtained, the associating including;

radially sectoring the at least two-dimensional spatial response information;

computing a plurality of parameters, including using the radially sectored at least two-dimensional spatial response information to compute at least one of the parameters;

adjusting or comparing at least one of the parameters using information from a clinical knowledge base representative of a population of patients including using at least some patients other than the subject; and

using the at least one adjusted parameter for using the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication that is particular to the specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system;

wherein the spatial response information includes a first spatial response information and a second spatial response information, and wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication including computing the particularized response indication using a Reference-Subjective parameter determined from (1) an average intensity of a sector of an image (2) an average intensity of a sector of a calibration image and (3) a spatial extent of active pixels, as determined for each of (1) the first spatial response information, obtained with the presence of a removable dielectric barrier between the finger or toe and the electrode; and

(2) the second spatial response information, obtained without the presence of the dielectric barrier after the dielectric barrier is removed from between the finger or toe and the electrode.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a signal processor circuit, configured to;

obtain at least two-dimensional spatial response information of visible or other light around a finger or toe of a subject, the spatial response information obtained at a light detector configured to provide information regarding at least first and second spatial dimensions that are orthogonal to each other, the light obtained in response to electrical stimulation of the finger or toe sufficient to produce the light around the finger or toe; and

associate the spatial response information to a specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system that is remote from the finger or toe at which the spatial response information was obtained, the associating including;

radially sectoring the at least two-dimensional spatial response information;

computing a plurality of parameters, including using the radially sectored at least two-dimensional spatial response information to compute at least one of the parameters;

adjusting or comparing at least one of the parameters using information from a clinical knowledge base representative of a population of patients including using at least some patients other than the subject; and

using the at least one adjusted parameter for using the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication that is particular to the specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system;

wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication including computing the physiological status indicator using a Reference-Subjective parameter determined from (1) an average intensity of a sector of an image and (2) an average intensity of a sector of a calibration image and (3) a spatial extent of active pixels wherein the spatial response information includes a first at least two-dimensional spatial response information and a second at least two-dimensional spatial response information, and wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication including using first differential information determined between (1) the first spatial response information, obtained with the presence of a removable dielectric barrier between the finger or toe and the electrode; and

(2) the second spatial response information, obtained without the presence of the dielectric barrier after the dielectric barrier is removed from between the finger or toe and the electrode.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a signal processor circuit, configured to;

obtain at least two-dimensional spatial response information of visible or other light around a finger or toe of a subject, the spatial response information obtained at a light detector configured to provide information regarding at least first and second spatial dimensions that are orthogonal to each other, the light obtained in response to electrical stimulation of the finger or toe sufficient to produce the light around the finger or toe; and

associate the spatial response information to a specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system that is remote from the finger or toe at which the spatial response information was obtained, the associating including;

radially sectoring the at least two-dimensional spatial response information;

computing a plurality of parameters, including using the radially sectored at least two-dimensional spatial response information to compute at least one of the parameters;

adjusting or comparing at least one of the parameters using information from a clinical knowledge base representative of a population of patients including using at least some patients other than the subject; and

using the at least one adjusted parameter for using the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication that is particular to the specified particular body anatomy, location, component, or system;

wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to;

sample the spatial response information repeatedly over a sampling period of interest at a sampling rate exceeding twice a frequency bandwidth of a parameter of interest;

determine a frequency characteristic of the parameter of interest; and

determine a physiological status indication using the frequency characteristic of the parameter of interest wherein the spatial response information includes a first at least two-dimensional spatial response information and a second at least two-dimensional spatial response information, and wherein the signal processor circuit is configured to use the spatial response information for providing a particularized response indication including using first differential information determined between (1) the first spatial response information, obtained with the presence of a removable dielectric barrier between the finger or toe and the electrode; and

(2) the second spatial response information, obtained without the presence of the dielectric barrier after the dielectric barrier is removed from between the finger or toe and the electrode.