Systems, devices, and methods for tracking abdominal orientation and activity

• US 9,918,673 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Human Dynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Smart Human Dynamics, Inc.
• Inventors: Dugan, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US14/663,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20150289822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/02 Foetus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02411 of foetuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/067 using accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1072 measuring distances on the body, e.g. measuring length, height or thickness A61B5/1076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1073 Measuring volume, e.g. of limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1075 for measuring dimensions by non-invasive methods, e.g. for determining thickness of tissue layer A61B8/0858 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 : for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 : Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4343 : Pregnancy and labour monitoring, e.g. for labour onset detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4356 : Assessing uterine contractions A61B5/033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4362 : Assessing foetal parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 : Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 : Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 : Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6832 : using adhesives A61B5/259 takes precedence
• 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: 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: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

The various embodiments herein relate to systems, devices, and methods for tracking abdominal orientation and activity for purposes of preventing or treating conditions of pregnancy or other types of medical conditions. In certain specific embodiments, the system, device, or method relates to identifying abdominal orientation risk values, calculating and updating a cumulative risk value, comparing the cumulative risk value to a threshold, and outputting a warning when the cumulative risk value crosses the threshold.

Claims

1. A device for inhibiting preeclampsia in a woman, the device comprising:

a. a sensor configured to generate orientation data;

b. a support configured to couple the sensor to the torso of the woman such that the orientation data is indicative of an orientation of the abdomen; and

c. a processor coupled to the sensor so as to receive the orientation data, the processor configured to calculate a time series of values in response to the data and a cumulative risk value in response to the values, the processor having an output for transmitting a warning in response to the risk value such that preeclampsia risk is mitigated.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a respiration sensor configured to generate respiration data of the user, the respiration sensor coupled with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to identify and assess risk associated with types of sleep disordered breathing based on the respiration data and output a warning when the risk level crosses a threshold.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive blood pressure data of the user, and wherein the processor raises or lowers the risk score in response to the received blood pressure data.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the warning in response to the risk values is configured to include at least one additional risk notification selected from the group consisting of:

hypertension, preterm birth, premature birth, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), stillbirth and small for gestational age (SGA).

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor in operational communication with the processor and configured to generate sleep data, wherein the processor raises or lowers the risk score in response to the received sleep data.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a time series of sleep values in response to the sleep data and a cumulative sleep risk value in response to the sleep values, the processor having an output for transmitting a warning in response to the sleep risk value such that sleep disordered breathing risk is mitigated.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein sleep disordered breathing includes of at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

snoring, central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor configured to generate orientation data is also configured to generate respiration data.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein respiration data includes at least one measurement selected from the group consisting of:

movement of chest, sound of snoring or gasping, electrical ECG signals and oxygen saturation.

10. A device for inhibiting preeclampsia in a woman, the device comprising:

a. a sensor configured to generate orientation data; and

b. a processor coupled to the sensor so as to receive the orientation data, the processor configured to calculate a time series of values in response to the data and a cumulative risk value in response to the values, the processor having an output for transmitting a warning in response to the risk value such that preeclampsia risk is mitigated,

wherein the orientation data comprises a recline angle (pitch) and a sideways tilt angle (roll) and wherein the orientation risk values are a function of the recline angle and the sideways tilt angle.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a sensor configured to generate maternal respiration data.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a time series of respiration values in response to the maternal respiration data and a cumulative risk value in response to the respiration values.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein respiration data includes at least one measurement selected from the group consisting of:

movement of chest, sound of snoring or gasping, electrical ECG signals and oxygen saturation.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the warning in response to the risk values is configured to include at least one additional risk notification selected from the group consisting of:

hypertension, preterm birth, premature birth, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), stillbirth and small for gestational age (SGA).

15. A device for inhibiting pregnancy complications in a woman, the device comprising:

a. a sensor configured to generate orientation data;

b. a support configured to couple the sensor to the torso or abdomen of the woman such that the orientation data is indicative of an orientation of the abdomen; and

c. a processor coupled to the sensor so as to receive the orientation data, the processor configured to calculate a time series of values in response to the data and a cumulative risk value in response to the values, the processor having an output for transmitting a warning in response to the risk value such that at least one pregnancy risk is mitigated.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the pregnancy risk is selected from the group consisting of:

hypertension risk, preterm birth risk, premature birth risk, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) risk and small for gestational age (SGA) risk.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising a sensor configured to generate maternal respiration data.