Stress-measuring system

• US 10,758,179 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Bruekers, Alphons Antonius Maria Lambertus, Bulut, Murtaza, Mihajlovic, Vojkan, Ouwerkerk, Martin, Westerink, Joanne Henriette Desiree Monique
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuo, Jonathan T
• Application Number:
  US14/435,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20150265212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,512 Days
• Field of Search: 600301, 34053911-53912, 340540, 3405731-5737, 702 19, 702189-194, 703 11, 705 2- 3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/029 adapted for auto-initiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• 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 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4884 inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• 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 5/7405 : using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 : characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stress-measuring system for determining a level of stress of a user, in particular for monitoring an upcoming burnout, the system (10) comprising: an alarm clock (12) for initiating an alarm at an arbitrary preset time, wherein the system (10) comprises an interface (14) for switching off the alarm; a vital sign sensor (16) for measuring a first vital sign of the user while the user operates the interface (14); and a processing unit (18) for determining the level of stress of the user based on the sensed first vital sign.

Claims

1. A stress-measuring system for forecasting a burnout condition of a user comprising:

an alarm clock configured to;

generate an alarm at a preset time;

an interface, in communication with the alarm clock, said interface configured to switch off an alarm signal generated by the alarm clock;

a first vital sign sensor configured to measure a first vital sign of the user while the user operates the interface;

a second vital sign sensor configured to measure a second vital sign of the user obtained during a sleep period; and

a processor configured to;

receive measurements associated with the first vital sign;

determine whether a period of time the interface is operated is greater than a threshold time (Δ

t);

cancel generation of the alarm after the period of time the interface is operated exceeds the threshold time;

determine an overall restoration value from a combination of at least two of a sleep fragmentation condition, a wake-sleep ratio and a minimum heart rate during a sleep condition; and

forecast a burnout condition based on the overall restoration value and a tendency of the overall restoration value to not increase over time.

2. The stress-measuring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a guiding unit configured to output at least one of;

an audible, a visual and a tactile guiding signal upon operation of the interface, wherein the guiding signal is configured to guide the user to operate the interface for the threshold time (Δ

t).

3. The stress-measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the first vital sign sensor comprises:

a PPG sensor integrated into the interface, said PPG sensor configured to measure a heart rate at a fingertip of the user.

4. The stress-measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the first vital sign sensor comprises:

a camera using remote PPG to determine a heart rate of the user.

5. The stress-measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the first vital sign sensor comprises:

an ECG sensor, wherein at least one ECG electrode is integrated into the interface of the alarm clock.

6. The stress-measuring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fingerprint sensor integrated into the interface.

7. The stress-measuring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storage unit for storing the measured first vital signs.

8. The stress-measuring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a feedback unit configured to;

indicate the burnout status in at least one of;

an audible, a visual and a tactile form, and

provide said indication to the user upon request of the user.

9. The stress-measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the second vital sign sensor is arranged in or around a bed of the user.

10. The stress-measuring system according to claim 9, wherein the second vital sign sensor is furthermore configured to:

measure a movement of the user;

derive a sleep-wake pattern as the second vital sign from the measured movement.

11. The stress-measuring system according to claim 9, wherein the second vital sign sensor comprises:

at least one of;

a pressure sensor and a piezoelectric sensor.

12. The stress-measuring system according to claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine a minimum of the measured second vital sign of the user during a sleep period.

13. The stress-measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

include at least one of the following information into the determination of the stress level;

a time information, a calendar information, an information about a family history of the user and an information about a physical activity of the user.

14. The stress-measuring system of claim 13, wherein the calendar information is one of:

a weekday, a weekend and a holiday.

15. The stress-measuring system of claim 1, further comprising:

continue generation of the alarm when the interface has been operated for a period less than the threshold time period.

16. The stress-measuring system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine whether the overall restoration value is consistently outside a boundary associated with a normal population; and

generate an alert when the overall restoration value is consistently outside said boundary.