Monitoring and treating pain with epidermal electronics

• US 10,279,201 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C., Malamud, Mark A., McKnight, Gary L., Pan, Tony S., Sharadin, Katherine E., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Tegreene, Clarence T., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Jr., Lowell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abouelela, May A
• Application Number:
  US15/361,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20170136265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 600300, 600301, 600587, 600557, 128920
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/06 Arrangements of multiple sensors of different types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0036 including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating
• 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 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• 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 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/45 For evaluating or diagnosing the musculoskeletal system or teeth A61B5/1036, A61B5/1074, A61B7/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 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 5/7282 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 5/7455 : characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 : Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 : Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 : of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 : for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 : using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0073 : using multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 : with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0625 : Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2274/00 : Thermoplastic elastomer material thermoplastic elastomer fibres B32B2262/0215, thermoplastic elastomer particles B32B2264/0221, thermoplastic elastomer foam B32B2266/0292
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/546 : Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7166 : Water-soluble, water-dispersible
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/724 : Permeability to gases, adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/20 : comprising silicone rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2535/00 : Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses, catheter medical patches B32B2556/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/08 : characterised by added members at particular parts layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• 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

Systems and methods are described for monitoring, treating, and preventing a pain state of an individual. In an aspect, a system includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including a motion sensor and a physiological sensor, the sensor assembly configured to generate one or more sense signals based on detection of a movement of the body portion by the motion sensor and a physiological parameter of the body portion by the physiological sensor; a processor including circuitry configured to identify a physiological state of the individual subject based on at least one of the movement of the body portion or the physiological parameter; and an effector operably coupled to the processor and configured to affect the body portion responsive to control by the processor.

Claims

1. A pain therapy device, comprising:

a deformable substrate configured to interface with a skin surface of a first body portion of an individual subject;

a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including a motion sensor and a physiological sensor, the motion sensor including a proximity sensor configured to detect a movement of the first body portion relative to a second body portion of the individual subject proximate the first body portion, the sensor assembly configured to generate one or more sense signals based on detection of the movement of the first body portion relative to the second body portion by the proximity sensor and a physiological parameter of at least one the first body portion or the second body portion by the physiological sensor;

a processor operably coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive the one or more sense signals, the processor including circuitry configured to identify a pain state of the individual subject based on at least one of the movement of the first body portion relative to the second body portion or the physiological parameter; and

an effector operably coupled to the processor and configured to affect the first body portion responsive to control by the processor upon identification of the pain state of the individual subject based on at least one of the movement of the first body portion relative to the second body portion or the physiological parameter.

2. The pain therapy device of claim 1, wherein the effector includes at least one ultrasound transducer.

3. The pain therapy device of claim 2, wherein the at least one ultrasound transducer is configured to generate ultrasound signals according to at least a first treatment pattern and a second treatment pattern.

4. The pain therapy device of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to direct the at least one ultrasound transducer to alternate generation of the ultrasound signals according to the first treatment pattern and the second treatment pattern on a dynamic basis.

5. The pain therapy device of claim 2, wherein the at least one ultrasound transducer includes a first ultrasound transducer configured for placement on a first location on the first body portion of the individual subject and a second ultrasound transducer configured for placement on a second location on the first body portion of the individual subject.

6. The pain therapy device of claim 1, wherein the physiological sensor includes a chemical sensor.

7. The pain therapy device of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to sense a device interfacing with another portion of the skin surface.

8. The pain therapy device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to activate the effector to affect the first body portion responsive to the pain state of the individual subject exceeding a threshold pain state.

9. The pain therapy device of claim 1, further including at least one of a receiver or a transceiver configured to receive one or more communication signals from an external device.

10. The pain therapy device of claim 2, wherein the at least one ultrasound transducer includes at least one of an array of ultrasound transducers, an ultrasound transducer configured to generate low intensity ultrasound signals, an ultrasound transducer configured to generate high intensity focused ultrasound signals, an ultrasound transducer configured to generate ultrasound signals as low dose, high frequency ultrasound signals, an ultrasound transducer configured to generate ultrasound signals on a pulsed basis, an ultrasound transducer configured to generate ultrasound signals on a continuous basis, or an ultrasound transducer configured to generate ultrasound signals according to a plurality of ultrasound frequencies.

11. The pain therapy device of claim 1, wherein the effector includes at least one of an electrode, a magnetic stimulator, an optical stimulator, a thermal stimulator, an acoustic stimulator, a mechanical stimulator, or a vibration stimulator.

12. The pain therapy device of claim 1, wherein the physiological sensor includes at least one of an electrophysiological sensor, an electrocardiograph, an electrooculography, a microneurograph, a myograph, an electromyograph (EMG), a surface electromyograph configured for positioning proximate the skin surface of the first body portion, an acoustic myography sensor, a mechanomyography sensor, an accelerometer myography sensor, a strain sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an optical sensor, a light emitting diode (LED), a fiber optic sensor, an oximeter, a near infrared sensor, a skin conductance sensor, a bioimpedance sensor, a pH sensor, or an acoustic sensor.

13. The pain therapy device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to activate the effector to affect the first body portion responsive to at least one of a predetermined amount of movement of the first body portion, a predetermined type of movement of the first body portion, or a predetermined velocity of movement of the first body portion.

14. The pain therapy device of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly is configured to generate one or more identity sense signals associated with at least one physical characteristic of the individual subject, wherein the at least one physical characteristic includes at least one of a skin topography feature, a pattern of a skin surface, a follicle pattern, an electric current pattern, a photovoltaic current pattern, a vascular pattern, or a skin resistivity measurement, and wherein the processor is configured to permit operation of one or more of the sensor assembly or the effector only when the one or more identity sense signals correspond to an authorized individual.

15. The pain therapy device of claim 1, further including a user interface, wherein the processor is operably coupled to the user interface and is configured to generate one or more communication signals for display by the user interface, wherein the one or more communication signals include a request for user input regarding an operation state of the effector, and wherein the processor is configured to at least one of prevent activation of the effector responsive to a user command via the user interface or activate the effector responsive to a user command via the user interface.

16. The pain therapy device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to stop activation of the effector responsive to at least one of a duration of treatment by the effector or an intensity of treatment by the effector.

17. The pain therapy device of claim 6, wherein the chemical sensor is configured to detect at least one of a saccharide, a salt, lactate, an electrolyte, a hormone, a neuropeptide, a peptide, a protein, a nucleotide, an inflammatory mediator, or a pro-inflammatory cytokine.