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Publication Number
US-8915869-B2
Publication Date
2014-12-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
A patient monitoring device to be worn on a limb of a patient. Some embodiments of the patient monitoring device include at least one sensor assembly configured to detect a measurement indicating a distance around the patient's limb and a communications subassembly configured to transmit the measurement to at least one external computing device. Other embodiments of the patient monitoring device include at least one sensor assembly configured to detect a measurement indicating a distance around the patient's limb and at least one processor configured to detect whether the distance around the patient's limb has increased indicating edema. Some embodiments include an accelerometer configured to detect device orientation and/or patient activity information. The patient activity information may be analyzed by an external computing device and/or the patient monitoring device to determine whether the patient's activity level has declined indicating a medical problem.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a reflective gradient measurement device configured to reflect radiation, where reflectivity of the reflective gradient varies along a gradient direction. One or more sensors are positioned relative to the reflective gradient along the gradient direction, each sensor including an emitter and a corresponding detector positionable along the gradient direction. The processor instructs each emitter to emit radiation such that a portion of the radiation emitted adjacent a portion of the reflective gradient is reflected toward the corresponding detector.
For each sensor, the processor instructs the detector to detect a reflected amount of radiation. The reflected amount of radiation indicates where along the reflective gradient the sensor is positioned. The processor then instructs the communication mechanism to transmit measurement information based on the reflected amount of radiation detected by the detector of each sensor to one or more external devices.
In dependent implementations described, measurement information is computed using radiation measurement correction that includes ambient radiation, for example by determining an ambient amount of radiation and using it in the measurement information. The device further includes system features such as stable power from a voltage regulator providing substantially stable voltage to one or more sensors and digitizing detector analog signals via an analog-to-digital converter using a reference voltage.
In additional dependent implementations, optional sensing and contextual inputs are included, such as detecting motion using an accelerometer and transmitting activity information, or detecting heart rate and transmitting heart rate information to the one or more external devices.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers the core measurement-device architecture using a reflective gradient with varying reflectivity along a gradient direction and emitter/detector sensor pairs positioned along the gradient direction to determine sensor position from detected reflected radiation, followed by transmission of measurement information to external devices. Dependent claims further introduce inventive features including ambient radiation correction, stable voltage regulation for sensors, ADC digitization with a regulator-provided reference voltage, and optional motion/activity or biomedical sensing with transmission to external devices.
Reflective gradient varying reflectivity along gradient direction with emitter/detector positioning
A reflective gradient configured to reflect radiation, with reflectivity of the reflective gradient varying along a gradient direction, and one or more sensors each comprising an emitter and a corresponding detector positionable relative to the reflective gradient along the gradient direction.
Detecting where sensors are positioned using reflected radiation
The processor instructs each emitter to emit radiation and instructs each corresponding detector to detect a reflected amount of radiation indicating whereat along the reflective gradient the sensor is positioned.
Transmitting measurement information based on reflected amount of radiation
The processor instructs the communication mechanism to transmit, to the one or more external devices, measurement information based on the reflected amount of radiation detected by the detector of each of the one or more sensors.
Ambient radiation correction using ambient amount of radiation
Each sensor detects ambient radiation when its corresponding emitter is not emitting, and the processor calculates measurement information as a function of the reflected amount of radiation and the ambient amount of radiation for each sensor.
Voltage regulator providing substantially stable voltage
A power source and a voltage regulator configured to obtain power from the power source and provide substantially stable voltage to the one or more sensors.
ADC conversion using reference voltage from the voltage regulator
A detector producing analog signals encoding the reflected amount of radiation, and an analog-to-digital converter that uses a reference voltage from the voltage regulator to scale the analog signals, convert them to digital signals, and transmit them to the processor.
Motion detection with accelerometer and transmission of activity information
A circuit including a memory and an accelerometer, where the processor stores information about any detected motion and transmits that activity information to the one or more external devices via a communication mechanism.
Heart rate sensing and transmission of heart rate information
A heart rate sensor configured to detect heart rate, and the processor instructs the communication mechanism to transmit heart rate information to the one or more external devices based on the heart rate detected by the heart rate sensor.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on a reflective gradient with varying reflectivity to enable determining sensor position from detected reflected radiation, and transmitting measurement information to external devices. Dependent features add ambient radiation correction, substantially stable voltage regulation, ADC digitization using a regulator-provided reference voltage, and optional transmission of activity or heart-rate information.
Stated Advantages
Enables transmission of measurement information to one or more external devices based on detected reflected radiation and indicated sensor position along the reflective gradient.
Provides ambient radiation correction using an ambient amount of radiation for calculation of measurement information.
Provides substantially stable voltage to the one or more sensors using a voltage regulator.
Converts detector analog signals into digital signals using an analog-to-digital converter with a reference voltage.
Supports motion/activity information detection using an accelerometer and transmission of activity information.
Supports heart rate detection and transmission of heart rate information to external devices.
Documented Applications
Use with one or more external devices for transmitting measurement information based on reflected radiation.
Motion/activity information logging and transmission to one or more external devices.
Heart rate sensing and transmission of heart rate information to one or more external devices.
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