Method and apparatus for generating assessments using physical activity and biometric parameters

• US 10,413,250 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2018
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valencell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valencell, Inc.
• Inventors: LeBoeuf, Steven F., Aumer, Michael Edward, Romesburg, Eric Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowtin, Jewel V
• Application Number:
  US16/221,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20190117163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02108 from analysis of pulse wave characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/352 Detecting R peaks, e.g. for synchronising diagnostic apparatus; Estimating R-R interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4205 Evaluating swallowing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7235 Details of waveform analysis A61B5/349 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7239 : using differentiation including higher order derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7242 : using integration
• 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 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

The methods and apparatuses presented herein determine and/or improve the quality of one or more physiological assessment parameters, e.g., response-recovery rate, based on biometric signal(s) and/or motion signal(s) respectively output by one or more biometric and/or motion sensors. The disclosed methods and apparatuses also estimate a user'"'"'s stride length based on a motion signal and a determined type of user motion, e.g., walking or running. The speed of the user may then be estimated based on the estimated stride length.

Claims

1. An assessment generation system configured to determine a physiological assessment parameter associated with a user via at least one biometric sensor and at least one motion sensor comprised in an activity monitoring device disposed proximate the user such that at least the biometric sensor contacts a user'"'"'s skin, the assessment generation system comprising:

a motion processing circuit configured to process a motion signal output by the at least one motion sensor over a first period of time to determine a physical activity parameter for the user over the first period of time;

a biometric processing circuit configured to process a biometric signal output by the at least one biometric sensor over the first period of time to determine a biometric parameter for the user over the first period of time; and

an assessment processing circuit configured to;

process the physical activity parameter to determine one or more time periods wherein the physical activity parameter is within a specific range of values; and

process the biometric parameter during the time periods wherein the physical activity parameter is within the specific range of values to determine the physiological assessment parameter for the user.

2. The assessment generation system of claim 1 wherein the biometric parameter comprises a breathing rate.

3. The assessment generation system of claim 2 wherein assessment processing circuit processes the biometric parameter during the time periods where the physical activity parameter is within the specific range of values by calculating an average breathing rate using the breathing rate during the time periods where the physical activity parameter is within the specific range of values.

4. The assessment generation system of claim 3 wherein the physiological assessment parameter generated for the user comprises an estimation of VO₂max.

5. The assessment generation system of claim 4 wherein the specific range of values comprises a speed less than or equal to 2.3 miles per hour.