Metabolic and cardiopulmonary monitor
Inventors
Toth, Landy • Schwartz, Robert • Martin, Roy
Assignees
Publication Number
US-10390733-B2
Publication Date
2019-08-27
Expiration Date
2032-11-05
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring and/or assessing metabolic and/or cardiopulmonary parameters of a subject are disclosed. Systems and methods for high speed monitoring of metabolic parameters of a subject in a substantially unrestricted setting are disclosed. Further disclosed are wearable systems and methods for substantially unobtrusive monitoring of a breath stream from a subject. Also disclosed are wearable systems and methods for real-time monitoring of the respiratory function and/or one or more disease states of a subject. Data systems to coordinate simultaneous monitoring of one or more metabolic and/or cardiopulmonary parameters of a plurality of subjects are also disclosed.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a wearable system for monitoring metabolic and/or cardiopulmonary parameters of a subject. The system includes a control unit adapted to be worn by the subject and configured to analyze a breath gas sample obtained from the breath stream. A sampling module is provided to operably communicate the breath gas sample from the subject's breath stream to the control unit, allowing the collection and analysis of physiological data in real time. The sampling module is designed to be at least partially unobtrusive and is suitable for use in substantially unconstrained settings.
The system employs an interfacing component for placement at least partially within the nasal or oral cavity of the subject, equipped with sensory elements to measure physiological or dimensional parameters. The breath gas sample passes through a tube with a lumen containing one or more sensing membranes arranged to detect specific properties, such as concentrations of gas constituents or physical parameters like temperature or humidity. An emitter within the control unit excites the sensing membranes, and a detector measures resulting fluorescent signals, which reflect the analyzed metabolic or cardiopulmonary parameter.
Problems addressed include the limitations of current bulky, complex, and expensive cardiopulmonary assessment systems requiring professional oversight, which are unsuitable for widespread, real-time, and unsupervised monitoring outside clinical environments. The disclosed solution offers a discreet, wearable, and user-friendly device for everyday, unrestricted monitoring of metabolic and cardiopulmonary parameters, enabling subjects to be monitored conveniently during various daily activities without specialist supervision.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three main inventive features relating to wearable systems and methods for monitoring metabolic and/or cardiopulmonary parameters.
Wearable system with integrated breath sampling and sensor module
A wearable system comprises: - A control unit adapted to be worn by the subject and configured to analyze a breath gas sample from the subject’s breath stream. - A sampling module operably communicating the breath gas sample from the subject to the control unit, including: - An interfacing component for at least partial insertion in a nasal or oral cavity. - Sensory elements coupled to the interfacing component for measuring physiological or dimensional parameters of the cavity. - A tube with a lumen containing one or more sensing membranes. - Shrouds surrounding the tube to reduce ambient light to the sensing membranes. - An identification component storing identification markers and calibration information. - The control unit comprises: - An emitter delivering an excitation signal to the sensing membranes to cause fluorescent emission. - A detector collecting the emitted fluorescent signal. - A system for reading identification and calibration information from the sampling module to estimate properties of the sensing membranes and calibrate the fluorescent signal output.
Method for disease monitoring using breath gas sensing and calibration
A method includes: - Utilizing a sampling module to communicate a breath gas sample from the subject’s breath stream to a wearable control unit. - Monitoring and analyzing the breath gas sample with the control unit. - Generating one or more signals reflective of metabolic and/or cardiopulmonary parameters. - The sampling module includes a tube with lumen, sensing membranes, shrouds to shield from ambient light, and an identification component for calibration. - The control unit includes an emitter, detector, micropump (to draw the breath sample), and adjunct sensors (e.g., flow or differential pressure sensors) for compensating and maintaining designated operable flow rate. - The analysis with the control unit uses identification markers and calibration from the sampling module to estimate properties of the membranes and calibrate the output.
Wearable system with respiratory flow analysis and physiological measurement
A wearable system includes: - A control unit for analyzing a breath gas sample obtained from the subject and generating signals indicative of metabolic and/or cardiopulmonary parameters. - A sampling module featuring an interfacing component for at least partial insertion into the nasal or oral cavity, with sensory elements measuring physiological or dimensional parameters. - Sensing membranes are positioned within the lumen of the tube, providing a path for inbound and outbound breath gas samples. - The control unit comprises an emitter to excite sensing membranes and a detector to capture fluorescent signals. - The system performs physiological or dimensional measurement in addition to breath gas analysis.
In summary, the claims protect wearable systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, and calibrating breath gas samples and physiological parameters in a subject, employing sensing membranes, ambient shielding, calibration mechanisms, and integrated data processing within a user-wearable device.
Stated Advantages
Enables real-time, wearable, and unobtrusive monitoring of metabolic and cardiopulmonary parameters in substantially unrestricted, daily-use environments.
Can be utilized by non-specialists in unsupervised settings, increasing accessibility outside of traditional hospital or clinical settings.
Integrates calibration and identification of sensing modules, supporting accurate, repeatable, and reliable signal analysis over device use or across different modules.
Allows quantitative assessment of physiological changes during daily activities, exercise, therapy, or medication, supporting improved disease management and program optimization.
Documented Applications
Monitoring disease states such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and pulmonary hypertension.
Use in gaming and/or sporting environments for real-time assessment and feedback of metabolic or cardiopulmonary parameters.
Monitoring metabolic and/or cardiopulmonary parameters of a subject just prior to, during, and after taking a dose of medication.
Monitoring subjects enrolled in a clinical trial, including reporting subject data to a clinical trial coordinator.
Simultaneous monitoring of multiple subjects in sporting, training, hospice, or clinical trial environments using external coordination devices and data aggregation.
Interested in licensing this patent?