Device and method to improve dependability of physiological parameter measurements

• US 9,936,920 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2013
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Muehlsteff, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Flory, Christopher A
• Application Number:
  US14/426,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20150250426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 600300, 600301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• 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 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/02 Stethoscopes acoustic details thereof G10K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Self measurements of physiological parameters such as blood pressure are prone to errors and artifacts since they are often not done according to established and standardized protocols i.e., such that predetermined conditions for a reliable measurement are not met. To determine whether the predetermined conditions for a reliable measurement are met one or more physiological and environmental sensors are used to determine a measurement context. The obtained sensor data is compared with predetermined thresholds to determine whether the context allows a reliable self test. In case the predetermined conditions are not met based on the obtained sensor data instructions are given to guide the subject that wants to do a self test.

Claims

1. A device for determining if predetermined conditions for measuring a first physiological parameter of a subject are met, the device comprising:

one or more physiological sensors for measuring one or more second physiological parameters of the subject;

one or more environmental sensors for measuring one or more environmental parameters from the environment of the subject;

a decision unit for;

determining if the predetermined conditions are met based on the values of the one or more second physiological parameters and the values of the one or more environmental parameters; and

if the predetermined conditions for measuring the first physiological parameter are not met, discarding automatically acquired measurements of the first physiological parameter; and

an output unit for outputting that the predetermined conditions for measuring the first physiological parameter of the subject are met, wherein the output unit is further arranged to give instructions to guide the subject in case the predetermined conditions are not met.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more physiological sensors for measuring the one or more physiological parameters include one or more of ECG electrodes, skin temperature sensors, skin electrical resistance sensors, heart sound sensors, thoracic impedance sensors, infrared Photoplethysmography sensors, near-infrared Photoplethysmography sensors, Respiratory Inductance Plethysmography sensors, three-axis accelerometers, microphones and cuff-based sphygmomanometer sensors.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more environmental sensors includes accelerometer sensors.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the first physiological parameter is a blood pressure.

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a blood pressure sensor for measuring the blood pressure, and the device being arranged to acquire the blood pressure values from the blood pressure sensor during a period in which the output unit outputs that the predetermined conditions for a blood pressure measurement of the subject are met;

and

wherein the output unit is further arranged for outputting the blood pressure values for further use.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more environmental sensors further include a microphone.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more environmental sensors comprise:

a first microphone configured to sense an environmental noise; and

a second microphone configured to measure a voice of the subject.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined conditions are based on at least one of:

a sex of the subject;

an age of the subject;

a level of fitness of the subject; and

a medical history of the subject.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined conditions are based on:

a sex of the subject;

an age of the subject;

a level of fitness of the subject; and

a medical history of the subject.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more environmental sensors include:

an air temperature sensor;

a microphone; and

a humidity sensor.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more environmental sensors includes an atmospheric pressure sensor.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein more than one type of physiological sensors are used for measuring either the first physiological parameter or the second physiological parameter.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the more than one physiological sensors for measuring the one or more physiological parameters include all of ECG electrodes, skin temperature sensors, skin electrical resistance sensors, heart sound sensors, thoracic impedance sensors, infrared Photoplethysmography sensors, near-infrared Photoplethysmography sensors, Respiratory Inductance Plethysmography sensors, three-axis accelerometers, microphones and cuff-based sphygmomanometer sensors.

15. A garment for being worn by the subject, the garment comprising the device of claim 1, the device being integrated in the garment such that in use the sensors are applied to predetermined locations on the subject'"'"'s body for sensing the physiological signal corresponding to each of said predetermined locations.

16. The garment of claim 15 wherein the one or more environmental sensors are disposed on the garment for sensing the environmental parameter corresponding to each sensor.

14. A device for measuring a subject'"'"'s blood pressure, comprising:

one or more physiological sensors for measuring the one or more physiological parameters including one or more of ECG electrodes, skin temperature sensors, skin electrical resistance sensors, heart sound sensors, thoracic impedance sensors, infrared Photoplethysmography sensors, near-infrared Photoplethysmography sensors, Respiratory Inductance Plethysmography sensors, three-axis accelerometers, microphones and cuff-based sphygmomanometer sensors;

an accelerometer configured to measure a posture of the subject;

a blood pressure sensor configured to measure the subject'"'"'s blood pressure;

one or more processors configured to;

determine if predetermined conditions for measuring the subject'"'"'s blood pressure are met based on the values of the one or more physiological parameters and the posture of the subject;

if the predetermined conditions for measuring the subject'"'"'s blood pressure are met, control the blood pressure sensor to measure the subject'"'"'s blood pressure; and

if the predetermined conditions for measuring the subject'"'"'s blood pressure are not met;

determine which one or more of the physiological parameters and/or posture of the subject need to change for the decision unit to determine that the predetermined conditions are met; and

output one or more predetermined instructions in response to the determination that one or more of the physiological parameters and/or posture of the subject need to change, the predetermined instructions instructing the subject to take an action for effecting the determined changes.

17. A method of determining if predetermined conditions for measuring a first physiological parameter of a subject are met, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring a second physiological parameter with more than one type of physiological sensor;

measuring an atmospheric pressure with an atmospheric pressure sensor;

determining that the predetermined conditions for measuring the first physiological parameter are not met based on the values of the one or more second physiological parameters and the atmospheric pressure; and

in response to the determination that the predetermined conditions are not met;

(i) providing instructions to guide the subject; and

(ii) discarding automatically acquired measurements of the first physiological parameter.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first physiological parameter is a blood pressure.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein:

the determining further includes determining a second physiological parameter of the one or more second physiological parameters whose value needs to change to meet the predetermined conditions; and

the outputting further includes outputting predetermined instructions to the subject, based on the first physiological parameter and the values of one or more of the second physiological parameters, for taking actions for effecting a change in the value of the second physiological parameter whose value need to change, such that the predetermined conditions are met.

20. A system for determining if predetermined conditions for measuring a first physiological parameter of a subject are met, the system comprising:

one or more physiological sensors for measuring one or more second physiological parameters of the subject;

an atmospheric pressure sensor for measuring an atmospheric pressure;

one or more processors configured to;

determine if the predetermined conditions for measuring the first physiological parameter are met based on the values of the one or more second physiological parameters and the value of the atmospheric pressure;

output that the predetermined conditions for measuring the first physiological parameter of the subject are met; and

if the predetermined conditions are not met;

(i) give instructions to guide the subject; and

(ii) discard automatically acquired measurements of the first physiological parameter.