Noninvasive Body Chemistry Monitor and Method

• US 20110034792A1
• Filed: 08/05/2009
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Diabetes Alarm System, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Diabetes Alarm System, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Ronald L., Nasburg, Robert Edwin
• Application Number:
  US12/536,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20110034792A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/365
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1477 non-invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses

Abstract

There is disclosed a noninvasive body chemistry monitor and method. A sensor may be disposed in close gaseous communication with the subject'"'"'s skin. The sensor may be configured to provide a sensor output signal indicative of a level of at least one gaseous material released through the subject'"'"'s skin. An event detector may detect a body chemistry event based on the sensor output signal.

Claims

1. A noninvasive body chemistry monitor, comprising:

a sensor disposed in close gaseous communication with a subject'"'"'s skin, the sensor configured to provide a sensor output signal indicative of a level of at least one gaseous material released through the subject'"'"'s skin

an event detector to detect a body chemistry event based on the sensor output signal.

2. The body chemistry monitor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide gas sensor, a conductive polymer gas sensor, an optical gas sensor, a spectrographic gas sensor, an electrochemical gas sensor, and an electronic nose.

3. The body chemistry monitor of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a metal oxide gas sensor configured to detect acetone the body chemistry event is at least one of a high blood glucose level and a low blood glucose level.

4. The body chemistry monitor of claim 1, further comprising:

an alarm coupled to the event detector, wherein the event detector is configured to activate the alarm when a body chemistry event is detected.

5. The body chemistry monitor of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transmitter coupled to the event detector, wherein the event detector sends an event message via the wireless transmitter when a body chemistry event is detected.

6. The body chemistry monitor of claim 5, wherein

the wireless transmitter sends the event message to a predetermined destination via a network.

7. The body chemistry monitor of claim 5, wherein

the wireless transmitter sends the event message to a remote unit configured to perform, upon receipt of the message, at least one of activating an alarm and sending a relayed event message to a predetermined destination via a network.

8. The body chemistry monitor of claim 7, wherein

at least one of the body chemistry monitor and the remote unit includes a GPS receiver to provide the location of the subject.

9. The body chemistry monitor of claim 7, wherein

the remote unit is a portable device configured for wireless communications via a network

the wireless transmitter sends the event message to the portable device via a Bluetooth connection.

10. The body chemistry monitor of claim 9, wherein the portable device contains an application which, upon receipt of the message, causes the portable device to send a relayed event message to a predetermined destination via the network.

11. The body chemistry monitor of claim 1, wherein the event detector detects a body chemistry event based on one or more of the level of the sensor output signal and the rate of change of the sensor output signal.

12. The body chemistry monitor of claim 1, wherein

the sensor is a plurality of sensors

the event detector detects a body chemistry event based on a corresponding plurality of sensor output signals from the plurality of sensors.

13. The body chemistry monitor of claim 12, wherein the event detector detects a body chemistry event based a difference or a ratio of two sensor output signals from two sensors.

14. The body chemistry monitor of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the event detector are disposed within a housing adapted to be worn in contract with a subject'"'"'s skin.

15. The body chemistry monitor of claim 14, wherein the housing is configured generally in the form of a wristwatch.

16. A method for monitoring body chemistry, comprising:

disposing a sensor in close gaseous communication with a subject'"'"'s skin, the sensor configured to provide a sensor output signal indicative of a level of at least one gaseous material released through the subject'"'"'s skin

detecting a body chemistry event based on the sensor output signal.

17. The method for monitoring body chemistry of claim 16, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide gas sensor, a conductive polymer gas sensor, an optical gas sensor, a spectrographic gas sensor, an electrochemical gas sensor, and an electronic nose.

18. The method for monitoring body chemistry of claim 17, wherein

the sensor is a metal oxide gas sensor configured to detect acetone

the body chemistry event is at least one of a high blood glucose level and a low blood glucose level.

19. The method for monitoring body chemistry of claim 16, further comprising:

activating an alarm to notify the subject when a body chemistry event has been detected.

20. The method for monitoring body chemistry of claim 16, further comprising:

sending a wireless event message when a body chemistry event has been detected.

21. The method for monitoring body chemistry of claim 20, wherein

the event message is transmitted to a predetermined destination via a cell phone network.

22. The method for monitoring body chemistry of claim 20, wherein

the event message is a message to a remote unit

upon receipt of the event message, the remote unit performing one or more of activating an alarm and sending a relayed event message to a predetermined destination via a network.

23. The method for monitoring body chemistry of claim 22, wherein

the remote unit includes a GPS receiver

upon receipt of the event message, the remote unit sending the relayed event message including the location of the subject to a predetermined destination via a network.

24. The method for monitoring body chemistry of claim 23, wherein

the remote unit is a portable device configured for wireless communications with the network

the wireless transmitter sends the event message to the portable device via a Bluetooth connection.

25. The method for monitoring body chemistry of claim 16, wherein detecting a body chemistry event based on the sensor output signal further comprises:

detecting the body chemistry event based on one or more of the level of the sensor output signal and the rate of change of the sensor output signal.

26. The method for monitoring body chemistry of claim 16, wherein

the sensor is a plurality of sensors

detecting a body chemistry event further comprises detecting the body chemistry event based on a difference or a ratio of two sensor output signals from two sensors.