DEVICE AND METHOD HAVING AUTOMATIC USER RECOGNITION AND OBTAINING IMPEDANCE-MEASUREMENT SIGNALS

• US 20150359492A1
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physiowave, Inc. (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Physiowave, Inc. (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Giovangrandi, Laurent B., Kovacs, Gregory T., Darling, Robert Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 9,949,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02125 of pulse wave propagation time
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0535 Impedance plethysmography for measuring blood flow A61B5/0295
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1102 Ballistocardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/50 having additional measuring devices, e.g. for height

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a CPU and a memory circuit that has user-corresponding data stored on the memory circuit, and a platform over which a plurality of electrodes are interleaved, and configured for engaging the user. While the plurality of electrodes is concurrently contacting a limb or other extremity of the user, measurement signals are obtained from the plurality of electrodes. Based on a plurality of impedance-measurement signals being obtained from the electrodes, signals are generated that correspond to cardiovascular timings of the user. In such aspects of the present disclosure, pulse characteristic signals are determined based on the plurality of impedance-measurement signals. One of the pulse characteristic signals is extracted, and used as a timing reference to extract and process another pulse characteristic signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a CPU and a memory circuit with user-corresponding data stored in the memory circuit, and a platform over which a plurality of electrodes are interleaved and configured and arranged for engaging a user;

while the plurality of electrodes are concurrently contacting a limb of the user, obtaining a plurality of measurement signals from the plurality of electrodes; and

based on the plurality of measurement signals obtained from the plurality of electrodes, using the CPU to access the user-corresponding data stored in the memory circuit and thereby automatically recognizing the user; and

based on a plurality of impedance-measurement signals being obtained from the electrodes while contacting the user, generating signals corresponding to cardiovascular timings corresponding to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of measurement signals from the plurality of electrodes are, or correspond to, the plurality of impedance-measurement signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the platform, over which the plurality of electrodes are interleaved and configured and arranged for engaging the user, is a housing enclosing a circuit configured and arranged for permitting the user to stand on the platform.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the plurality of impedance-measurement signals includes obtaining at least two impedance-measurement signals between one foot of the user and another location of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the plurality of impedance-measurement signals includes obtaining at least two impedance-measurement signals between one foot of the user and another location, and wherein the plurality of interleaved electrodes are connected to a CPU circuit which is configured and arranged to assess physiological attributes measured and indicated by the stored data as corresponding to the one foot.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the plurality of impedance-measurement signals includes obtaining at least two impedance-measurement signals between one foot of the user and another location of the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interleaved electrodes are configured to provide measurement results that indicate one or more of the following as being indicative or common to the user:

foot impedance, foot length, and type of arch.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the plurality of impedance-measurement signals includes obtaining at least two impedance-measurement signals between one foot of the user and another location of the user, and wherein the plurality of interleaved electrodes are configured to provide measurement results that indicate one or more of the following as being indicative or common to the user:

foot impedance, foot length, and type of arch.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the platform, over which the plurality of electrodes are interleaved and configured and arranged for engaging the user, is a housing enclosing a circuit and a weighing scale configured and arranged for permitting the user to stand on the platform, wherein obtaining the plurality of impedance-measurement signals includes obtaining at least two impedance-measurement signals between one foot of the user and another location of the user, and wherein the plurality of interleaved electrodes are configured to provide measurement results that indicate one or more of the following as being indicative or common to the user:

foot impedance, foot length, and type of arch.

10. The method of claim 1, further including obtaining a signal, based on a timing reference obtained from the plurality of interleaved electrodes, that is indicative of synchronous information obtained from the user and that corresponds to information in a ballistocardiogram (BCG).

11. The method of claim 1, further including conveying modulated current between selected ones of the plurality of electrodes and wherein obtaining a plurality of impedance-measurement signals includes obtaining the impedance-measurement signals in response to the modulated current.

12. The method of claim 1, further including providing an impedance plethysmography (IPG) measurement within one foot of the user, while the one foot is engaging the electrodes.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a CPU and memory circuit being configured and arranged to store user-corresponding data in the memory circuit;

a platform, electrically coupled with the CPU and memory circuit, over which a plurality of electrodes are interleaved and configured and arranged for engaging a user; and

the CPU and memory circuit and the plurality of electrodes being configured and arranged to;

while the plurality of electrodes are concurrently contacting a limb of the user to obtain a plurality of measurement signals from the plurality of electrodes, and based on the plurality of measurement signals, access the user-corresponding data stored in the memory circuit and therefrom automatically indicating recognition of the user, and

based on a plurality of impedance-measurement signals being obtained from the plurality of electrodes while contacting the user, generating signals corresponding to cardiovascular timings of the user.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of measurement signals from the plurality of electrodes are, or correspond to, the plurality of impedance-measurement signals.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the platform is a housing enclosing a circuit and a weighing scale configured and arranged for permitting the user to stand on the platform.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein obtaining the plurality of impedance-measurement signals includes obtaining at least two impedance-measurement signals between one foot of the user and another location of the user, and wherein the plurality of interleaved electrodes are configured to provide measurement results that indicate one or more of the following as being indicative or common to the user:

foot impedance, foot length, and type of arch.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein obtaining the plurality of impedance-measurement signals includes obtaining at least two impedance-measurement signals between one foot of the user and another location of the user.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of interleaved electrodes are connected to a CPU circuit which is configured and arranged to assess physiological attributes measured and indicated by the stored data as corresponding to the one foot of the user.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further including obtaining a signal, based on a timing reference obtained from the plurality of interleaved electrodes, that is indicative of synchronous information obtained from the user and that corresponds to information in a ballistocardiogram (BCG).