System for continuous monitoring of body sounds

• US 9,900,677 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hung, Li-Wen, Knickerbocker, John U.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ojo, Oyesola C
• Application Number:
  US14/974,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20170180870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 381113, 381 56, 381 58
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02444 Details of sensor A61B5/02427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/04 Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor in deaf-aid sets H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/016 for microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/003 Mems transducers or their use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

A wearable monitoring system includes a microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphone to receive acoustic signal data through skin of a user. An integrated circuit chip is bonded to and electrically connected to the MEMS microphone. A portable power source is connected to at least the integrated circuit chip. A flexible substrate is configured to encapsulate and affix the MEMS microphone and the integrated circuit chip to the skin of the user.

Claims

1. A wearable monitoring system, comprising:

a single microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphone configured to receive acoustic signal data through skin of a user;

an integrated circuit chip bonded to and electrically connected to the MEMS microphone;

a portable power source connected to at least the integrated circuit chip;

a flexible substrate configured to encapsulate and affix the MEMS microphone and the integrated circuit chip to the skin of the user, and forming one or more first sound chambers between the flexible substrate and the skin of the user; and

a second sound chamber forming a gap between a diaphragm and the skin of the user.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the MEMS microphone includes one of a condenser/electrostatic type device, a piezoelectric type device or piezo-resistive type device.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit chip is oxide bonded to the MEMS microphone.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable power source includes a battery-free tag formed on or in the flexible substrate for harvesting energy from radiofrequency signals.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a transmitter to transmit data from the system to a remote device.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit chip includes a signal processing circuit configured to condition the acoustic signal data.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit chip includes memory for storing the acoustic signal data.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an input/output port for programming the integrated circuit chip and for outputting data from the integrated circuit chip.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system fits within a volume of less than 5 mm by 5 mm by 1.5 mm.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein two or more systems are employed together at different locations on a user to collect acoustic waves and provide spatial information for the acoustic signal data.

11. A wearable monitoring system, comprising:

a single microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphone configured to receive acoustic signal data through skin of a user;

an integrated circuit chip bonded to and electrically connected to the MEMS microphone using flip chip technology;

a flexible substrate configured to encapsulate and affix the MEMS microphone and the integrated circuit chip to the skin of the user using an adhesive, and forming one or more first sound chambers between the flexible substrate and the skin of the user;

a portable power source connected to at least the integrated circuit chip including a battery-free tag formed on or in the flexible substrate for harvesting energy from radiofrequency signals; and

a second sound chamber forming a gap between a diaphragm and the skin of the user.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the MEMS microphone includes one of a condenser/electrostatic type device, a piezoelectric type device or piezo-resistive type device.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, further comprising a wireless transmitter to transmit data from the system to a remote device.

14. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the integrated circuit chip includes:

a signal processing circuit configured to condition the acoustic signal data;

memory for storing the acoustic signal data; and

an input/output port for programming the integrated circuit chip and for outputting data from the integrated circuit chip.

15. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the system fits within a volume of less than 5 mm by 5 mm by 1.5 mm.

16. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein two or more systems are employed together at different locations on a user to collect acoustic waves and provide spatial information for the acoustic signal data.

17. A method for monitoring body sounds, comprising:

adhering a monitoring system to skin of a user using a flexible substrate to encapsulate and affix a single microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphone configured to receive acoustic signal data and an integrated circuit chip, which is bonded to and electrically connected to the MEMS microphone, the flexible substrate forming one or more first sound chambers between the flexible substrate and the skin of the user;

forming a second sound chamber, the second sound chamber being formed by a gap between a diaphragm and the skin of the user;

powering the monitoring system using a portable power source disposed in or on the flexible substrate;

monitoring the acoustic signal data of the user through the skin of the user; and

storing the acoustic signal data on the integrated circuit chip.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the portable power source includes a battery-free tag for harvesting energy from radio frequency signals.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising conditioning the acoustic signal data using includes a signal processing circuit on the integrated circuit chip.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising determining a source of one or more body sounds by employing a plurality of the systems together by affixing each of the systems at different locations on the user, and triangulating a position of the source of the one or more body sounds based on the acoustic signal data from the plurality of systems.