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Publication Number
US-11232866-B1
Publication Date
2022-01-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
A vein thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment system that includes a casing having a shape adapted to secure a plurality of components with the casing. The casing includes a microphonic sensor, a Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor, a diaphragm, and a microcontroller. The microphonic sensor captures VTE audio signals indicative of the VTE risk of the user. The PPG sensor measures blood volume changes in a skin area in response to venous hemodynamic changes in a lower limb. The IMU sensor captures seismic signals indicative of the VTE risk of the user. The diaphragm enhances auscultation signals. The microcontroller transmits data to a computing device.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a vein thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment system that uses a handheld electronic device with a casing adapted to secure multiple components. The handheld electronic device includes a microphonic sensor to capture audio signals indicative of VTE risk, a Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor configured to measure blood volume changes in a skin area in response to venous hemodynamic changes in a lower limb, and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor to capture seismic signals indicative of VTE risk. A diaphragm enhances auscultation signals.
The microcontroller transmits data received from the microphonic sensor, the PPG sensor, and the IMU sensor to a computing device. The computing device receives the sensor data as representations in one or more temporal windows and detects features from portions of the received representations within each temporal window. The computing device identifies patterns in the detected features based on a classification model and a regression model and calculates a probability of whether the identified patterns corresponds to the VTE risk of the user.
A further aspect specifies that the system uses a handheld electronic device for capturing additional electrode data indicative of VTE risk. A plurality of electrodes includes a first ECG electrode on an outer surface of the casing and a second ECG electrode and a third electrode placed on each side of the casing to facilitate thumb and fingers contact. A circuit board electrically connected with the plurality of electrodes integrates a microphonic sensor, a diaphragm to enhance auscultation signals, a PPG sensor for blood volume changes in a skin area, and an IMU sensor with IMU sensor signal-enhancing material to amplify seismic and auscultation signals, and provides the data to at least one of the handheld electronic device and a computing device for feature detection and pattern identification in temporal windows.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims, which together cover a multi-sensor handheld device with temporal-window feature detection using classification and regression to calculate a VTE probability, and a handheld-device-use configuration emphasizing ECG electrodes and integration of microphonic, diaphragm-enhanced auscultation, PPG blood-volume changes, and IMU signals amplified by IMU sensor signal-enhancing material for feature detection and pattern identification leading to a VTE probability.
Temporal-window multi-sensor VTE probability calculation
The computing device receives, in one or more temporal windows, a representation of data from one or more of the IMU sensor, the PPG sensor signals, and the microphonic sensor signals; detects features from portions of the received representations within each temporal window; identifies patterns in the detected features based on a classification model and a regression model; and calculates a probability of whether the identified patterns corresponds to the VTE risk of the user.
Handheld device with microphonic sensor, PPG sensor for venous hemodynamic blood-volume changes, IMU for seismic signals, and diaphragm-enhanced auscultation
A handheld electronic device with a casing includes a microphonic sensor to capture audio signals indicative of VTE risk; a PPG sensor configured to measure blood volume changes in a skin area in response to venous hemodynamic changes in a lower limb; an IMU sensor to capture seismic signals indicative of VTE risk; and a diaphragm to enhance auscultation signals, where a microcontroller transmits data received from the microphonic sensor, the PPG sensor, and the IMU sensor to a computing device.
ECG electrodes on casing and multi-sensor integration with IMU signal-enhancing material
A VTE risk assessment system for use with a handheld electronic device includes a plurality of electrodes with a first ECG electrode placed on an outer surface of the casing and a second ECG electrode and a third electrode placed on each side of the casing to facilitate a thumb and fingers of a user to be placed on the casing, and a circuit board electrically connected with the plurality of electrodes that comprises a microphonic sensor, a diaphragm to enhance auscultation signals, a PPG sensor for blood volume changes in a skin area in response to venous hemodynamic changes in a limb, and an IMU sensor to capture seismic and auscultation signals indicative of VTE risk, where the IMU sensor comprises an IMU sensor signal-enhancing material to amplify seismic and auscultation signals.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage combines a handheld device that captures microphonic audio signals, PPG venous blood-volume changes, and IMU seismic/auscultation signals, with a computing device that analyzes temporal-window sensor representations to detect features, identify patterns using classification and regression models, and calculate a probability corresponding to the user's VTE risk, with additional emphasis on casing electrodes and IMU signal-enhancing material.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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