Wearable device for taking symmetric thermal measurements

• US 9,867,546 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2016
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Facense Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Facense Ltd.
• Inventors: Tzvieli, Arie, Frank, Ari M, Thieberger, Gil
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOOSALIS, FANI POLYZOS
• Application Number:
  US15/182,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20160363483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0276 comprising a thermosensitive compound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• 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 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• 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 5/7282 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 5/748 Selection of a region of interest, e.g. using a graphics tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/12 using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/485 Temperature profile

Abstract

Wearable devices for taking symmetric thermal measurements. One device includes first and second thermal cameras physically coupled to a frame worn on a user'"'"'s head. The first thermal camera takes thermal measurements of a first region of interest that covers at least a portion of the right side of the user'"'"'s forehead. The second thermal camera takes thermal measurements of a second ROI that covers at least a portion of the left side of the user'"'"'s forehead. Wherein the first and second thermal cameras are not in physical contact with their corresponding ROIs, and as a result of being coupled to the frame, the thermal cameras remain pointed at their corresponding ROIs when the user'"'"'s head makes angular movements.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

first and second thermal cameras physically coupled to a frame configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s head;

the first thermal camera is configured to take thermal measurements of a first region of interest (TH_ROI1), wherein ROI₁ covers at least a portion of the right side of the user'"'"'s forehead, the first thermal camera is located below ROI₁, and the first thermal camera does not occlude ROI₁; and

the second thermal camera is configured to take thermal measurements of a second ROI (TH_ROI2), wherein ROI₂ covers at least a portion of the left side of the user'"'"'s forehead, the second thermal camera is located below ROI₂, and the second thermal camera does not occlude ROI₂;

wherein the overlap between ROI₁ and ROI₂ is below 80% of the smallest area from among the areas of ROI₁ and ROI₂, and as a result of being coupled to the frame, the thermal cameras remain pointed at their corresponding ROIs when the user'"'"'s head makes angular movements.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second thermal cameras are based on thermopile sensors.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second thermal cameras are based on pyroelectric sensors.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to forward TH_ROI1 and TH_ROI2 to a processor configured to identify a physiological response based on TH_ROI1 and TH_ROI2.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the physiological response is indicative of at least one of the following:

stress, mental workload, fear, sexual arousal, anxiety, pain, pulse, headache, and stroke.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the right side of the user'"'"'s forehead covers at least 30% of ROI₁, and the left side of the user'"'"'s forehead covers at least 30% of ROI₂.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the right side of the user'"'"'s forehead covers at least 80% of ROI₁, and the left side of the user'"'"'s forehead covers at least 80% of ROI₂.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second thermal cameras measure temperatures at ROI₁ and ROI₂, respectively;

and further comprising a circuit configured to;

receive a series of temperature measurements at ROI₁ and calculate temperature changes at ROI₁ (Δ

T_ROI1), receive a series of temperature measurements at ROI₂ and calculate temperature changes at ROI₂ (Δ

T_ROI2), and utilize Δ

T_ROI1 and Δ

T_ROI2 to identify a physiological response.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the system'"'"'s nominal measurement error of the temperatures at ROI₁ is at least twice the system'"'"'s nominal measurement error of the temperature changes at ROI₁ when the user'"'"'s head makes angular movements above 0.02 rad/sec.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the system'"'"'s nominal measurement error of the temperatures at ROI₁ is at least five time the system'"'"'s nominal measurement error of the temperature changes at ROI₁ when the user'"'"'s head makes angular movements above 0.2 rad/sec.

11. A system comprising:

first and second thermal cameras physically coupled to a frame configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s head;

the first thermal camera is configured to take thermal measurements of a first region of interest (TH_ROI1), wherein ROI₁ covers at least a portion of the right side frontal superficial temporal artery of the user; and

the second thermal camera is configured to take thermal measurements of a second region of interest (TH_ROI2), wherein ROI₂ covers at least a portion of the left side frontal superficial temporal artery of the user;

wherein the first and second thermal cameras are not in physical contact with their corresponding ROIs, and as a result of being coupled to the frame, the thermal cameras remain pointed at their corresponding ROIs when the user'"'"'s head makes angular movements.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is configured to forward TH_ROI1 and TH_ROI2 to a processor configured to identify a physiological response based on TH_ROI1 and TH_ROI2.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the physiological response is indicative of the user'"'"'s arterial pulse.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the physiological response is indicative of at least one of the following:

stress, mental workload, fear, anxiety, pain, headache, and stroke.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second thermal cameras are based on thermopile sensors.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second thermal cameras are based on pyroelectric sensors.

17. A system comprising:

first and second thermal cameras physically coupled to a frame configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s head;

the first thermal camera is configured to take thermal measurements of a first region of interest (TH_ROI1), wherein ROI₁ covers at least a portion of the right side superficial temporal artery of the user; and

the second thermal camera is configured to take thermal measurements of a second region of interest (TH_ROI2), wherein ROI₂ covers at least a portion of the left side superficial temporal artery of the user;

wherein the first and second thermal cameras are not in physical contact with their corresponding ROIs, and as a result of being coupled to the frame, the thermal cameras remain pointed at their corresponding ROIs when the user'"'"'s head makes angular movements.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the system is configured to forward TH_ROI1 and TH_ROI2 to a processor configured to identify a physiological response based on TH_ROI1 and TH_ROI2.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the physiological response is indicative of the user'"'"'s arterial pulse.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the physiological response is indicative of at least one of the following:

stress, mental workload, fear, anxiety, pain, headache, and stroke.