Personalized nutritional and wellness assistant

• US 9,820,656 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifeq Global Limited
• Original Assignee: Lifeq Global Limited
• Inventors: Olivier, Laurence Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Stice, Paula J
• Application Number:
  US14/128,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20140128691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• 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 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0833 Measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4869 Determining body composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7235 Details of waveform analysis A61B5/349 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 : with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

The invention pertains to the establishment, implementation and management of a personalized information system pertinent to a user'"'"'s general health, wellness and/or sport performance. Disclosed is a system capable of transcutaneous measurement of a subject including at least one light source, at least one light detector, and at least one component for generating or storing at least one value of VC02 or at least one value of V02 from the detected signal. Further, disclosed is a portable device for analyzing the composition of the respired gasses of a subject including at least one air flow conduit through which the subject can inspire or expire air through the body of the device, at least one sampling portal, an oxygen sensor, and at least one flow sensor. A dual-battery system is also provided by which an uninterrupted power supply can be provided for electronic components.

Claims

1. A system capable of transcutaneous measurement of a subject, wherein the system comprises:

(a) at least one light source for shining light onto or through tissues of and under skin of the subject;

(b) at least one light detector for receiving light reflected from the tissues of the subject'"'"'s skin or from the tissues underlying the subject'"'"'s skin and converting the reflected light into a detected signal; and

(c) at least one component adapted to generate and store at least one value for each of VCO₂ and VO₂ from the detected signal, wherein VO₂ corresponds to an instantaneous rate of oxygen consumption of the subject and wherein VCO₂ corresponds to an instantaneous rate of carbon dioxide production by the subject, wherein the at least one component is further adapted to continuously calculate a real-time respiratory quotient of the subject from real-time values of VCO₂ and VO₂ and to use the real-time respiratory quotient to determine a real-time energy uptake of the subject.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources that simultaneously or sequentially direct light of different wavelengths onto or through the tissues of and under the skin of the subject.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light detector comprises a plurality of light detectors, each of which receives light of at least one wavelength.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system incorporates at least one operational amplifier or at least one microprocessor by means of which at least one digital potentiometer may be iteratively adjusted in order to obtain optimal amplification of the at least one detected signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one component stores, executes, transmits or receives a digital value, at least one mathematical function, at least one parameter of the at least one mathematical function, or any combination for generating at least one value of at least one parameter of physiology for the purpose of further mathematical calculation or for informing the subject of its physiological status.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the at least one parameter of physiology may be selected from the group consisting of heart rate (HR), breathing rate (BR), hemoglobin concentration (H_b) oxyhemoglobin concentration (H_bO₂), carbaminohemoglobin concentration (H_bCO₂), oxygen saturation (SpO), oxygen consumption rate (VO₂), carbon dioxide production rate (VCO₂), Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER), Food Quotient (FQ), Metabolic Fuel Composition (i.e. the macronutrient that a subject is utilizing as metabolic fuel at a given instance), Total Energy Expenditure (TEE), Resting Energy Expenditure (REE), Physical Activity Energy Expenditure (PAEE), Energy Balance (EB), Excess Postexercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC), Body Fat Percentage (% BF) and Current Body Composition (CBC).

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one component is further used for storing or transmitting or receiving data of pertinence to the at least one mathematical function by which the physiological status of a subject may be determined.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one receiver for receiving data from at least one other electronic device, where the data is of pertinence to the at least one mathematical function by which the physiological status of a subject may be determined.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a second component stores, executes, transmits or receives a digital value, at least one mathematical function, at least one parameter of the at least one mathematical function, or any combination thereof for generating at least one value of at least one parameter of physiology for the purpose of further mathematical calculation or for informing the subject of its physiological status.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one parameter of physiology may be selected from the group consisting of heart rate (HR), breathing rate (BR), hemoglobin concentration (H_b), oxyhemoglobin concentration (H_bO₂), carbaminohemoglobin concentration (H_bCO₂), oxygen saturation (SpO), oxygen consumption rate (VO₂), carbon dioxide production rate (VCO₂) Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER), Food Quotient (FQ), Metabolic Fuel Composition (i.e. the macronutrient that a subject is utilizing as metabolic fuel at a given instance), Total Energy Expenditure (TEE), Resting Energy Expenditure (REE), Physical Activity Energy Expenditure (PAEE), Energy Balance (EB), Excess Postexercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC), Body Fat Percentage (% BF) and Current Body Composition (CBC).

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a second component is used for storing or transmitting or receiving data of pertinence to the at least one mathematical function by which the physiological status of a subject may be determined.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one transmitter for transmitting the at least one value of VCO₂ or the at least one value of VO₂ to at least one other electronic device for storage, further mathematical processing, analysis, or for informing the subject of its physiological status.

13. The system of claim 7 or 8, wherein the data of pertinence may pertain to the at least one digital signal, at least one mathematical function, at least one parameter, at least one subject input or any combination thereof.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one power source for powering the system.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one part of the system may be embodied in the form of a wearable device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the wearable device comprises a connector for positioning the wearable device on a subject'"'"'s body, such that the at least one light source and the at least one light detector are positioned in close enough proximity to the subject'"'"'s skin to allow the at least one light detector to receive light reflected from molecules inside, or in the tissues underlying the subject'"'"'s skin or on the subject'"'"'s skin.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the wearable device comprises a disposable or reusable patch that can be stuck directly onto the skin of the subject.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the wearable device is incorporated into textiles or other material worn in close proximity to the subject'"'"'s body.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein VCO₂ corresponds to the instantaneous rate of carbon dioxide production by the subject'"'"'s total aerobic metabolic activity.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein VCO₂ is determined from resting and real-time heart rate data measured from the detected signal and at least one mathematical function describing cellular carbon dioxide production rate globally across the subject'"'"'s whole body, the parameters of which are determined using a parameter estimation approach.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein VO₂ corresponds to the instantaneous oxygen consumption rate by the subject'"'"'s total aerobic metabolic activity.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein VO₂ is determined from resting and real-time heart rate data measured from the detected signal and at least one mathematical function describing oxygen consumption rate globally across the subject'"'"'s whole body, the parameters of which are determined using a parameter estimation approach.

23. A method for transcutaneous measurement of a subject, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) shining light onto or through tissues of and under skin of the subject;

(b) receiving light reflected from tissues of the subject'"'"'s skin or from the tissues underlying the subject'"'"'s skin and converting the reflected light into a detected signal;

(c) generating at least one value for each of VCO₂ and VO₂ from the detected signal, wherein VO₂ corresponds to an instantaneous rate of oxygen consumption of the subject and wherein VCO₂ corresponds to an instantaneous rate of carbon dioxide production by the subject; and

(d) continuously calculating a real-time respiratory quotient of the subject from real-time values of VCO₂ and VO₂ and using the real-time respiratory quotient to determine a real-time energy uptake of the subject.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the generating step comprises storing, executing, transmitting or receiving a digital value, at least one mathematical function, at least one parameter of the at least one mathematical function, or any combination thereof for generating at least one value of at least one parameter of physiology for the purpose of further mathematical calculation or for informing the subject of its physiological status.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the generating step stores or transmits or receives data of pertinence to the at least one mathematical function by which the physiological status of a subject may be determined.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of storing, executing, transmitting or receiving a digital value, at least one mathematical function, at least one parameter of the at least one mathematical function, or any combination thereof for generating at least one value of at least one parameter of physiology for the purpose of further mathematical calculation or for informing the subject of its physiological status.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the generating step is used for storing or transmitting or receiving data of pertinence to the at least one mathematical function by which the physiological status of a subject may be determined.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of transmitting the at least one value of VCO₂ or the at least one value of VO₂ to at least one other electronic device for storage, further mathematical processing, analysis, or for informing the subject of its physiological status.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of receiving data from at least one other electronic device, where the data is of pertinence to the at least one mathematical function by which the physiological status of a subject may be determined.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the data of pertinence may pertain to the at least one digital signal, at least one mathematical function, at least one parameter, at least one subject input or any combination thereof.

31. The method of claim 23, where VCO₂ corresponds to the instantaneous rate of carbon dioxide production by the subject'"'"'s total aerobic metabolic activity.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein VCO₂ is determined from resting and real-time heart rate data measured from the detected signal and at least one mathematical function describing cellular carbon dioxide production rate globally across the subject'"'"'s whole body, the parameters of which are determined using a parameter estimation approach.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein VO₂ corresponds to the instantaneous oxygen consumption rate by the subject'"'"'s total aerobic metabolic activity.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein VO₂ is determined from resting and real-time heart rate data measured from the detected signal and at least one mathematical function describing oxygen consumption rate globally across the subject'"'"'s whole body, the parameters of which are determined using a parameter estimation approach.