Optical sensor device and image processing unit for measuring chemical concentrations, chemical saturations and biophysical parameters

Inventors

Segman, Yosef

Assignees

CNOGA Medical Ltd

Abstract

Optical sensor devices, image processing devices, methods and computer readable code computer-readable storage media for detecting biophysical parameters, chemical concentrations, chemical saturations, vital signs and physiological information such as a malignant condition are provided. In some embodiments, the optical sensor includes an array of photodetectors, where each photodetector is configured to detect a spectrum of light. In some embodiments, the image processing device receives a live still or video electronic image, or alternatively, the electronic image is provided from an electronic storage media. Exemplary physiological parameters include but are not limited to a pulse rate, a biophysical or physiological property of skin, a cardiovascular property, a property related to an organ such as the liver or the kidneys, and a temperature fluctuation. In some embodiments, the physiological parameter is indicative of a malady including but not limited to an autoimmune disease, a cancer, a nutritional deficiency, a malignant condition of bone marrow, a present of an infectious microbe such as a fungus, a present of hepatitis, and a cardiovascular disorder a pulmonary disorder. Exemplary chemical concentrations include but are not limited to a chemical saturation, a pH level, a pH level in blood vessels such as capillaries or in skin, a glucose level such as a blood glucose level, a urea nitrogen level such as a blood urea nitrogen level, a CO2 level such as a blood CO2 level or a CO2 saturation level, and an oxygen level such as a blood oxygen level or a blood oxygen saturation level. In some embodiments, the biophysical parameter, physiological parameter or chemical concentration is obtained from reflecting light from tissue from a mammalian subject. Alternatively one or more of these parameters are detected from a food item such as food tissue, a consumable beverage such as an alcoholic beverage, a dairy product, wine, a baked good, a fruit and a vegetable. Exemplary parameters related to food items include but are not limited to a parameter indicative of cooking or spoilage, a pH, a concentration of an antioxidant, and a concentration of an anti-inflammatory agent.

Core Innovation

An image processing system obtains biophysical information about a mammalian subject by receiving a video electronic color image of a first tissue. The electronic color image includes spatial temporal per pixel information for visible red, green, and blue color spaces, and it is derived from light reflected from and/or traversing the tissue. The light incident from a light source has a wavelength between near UV and near IR, and the system is adapted to obtain the biophysical information regardless of whether the incident light is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, and natural or artificial.

The image processing unit electronically processes the received image by transforming per pixel information for the red, green and blue visible colors to transformed per pixel information for the red, green and blue visible colors. Using the transformed per pixel information of at least one of the red, green and blue visible colors, the system produces a histogram of intensity for each color, or produces both a histogram and an averaging of spatial per pixel information for each color. The system extracts measurement data from the histogram or from both the histogram and the averaging to obtain the biophysical information using an iterative process.

The system further supports obtaining chemical concentration or saturation by the same overall flow of image reception, per-pixel RGB transformation, histogram and/or spatial averaging, and iterative extraction of measurement data. The chemical concentration or saturation is obtained for at least one of a tissue of a mammalian subject, a food item, a liquid, or an environmental item, using light incident from a light source between near UV and near IR. The system remains adapted to obtain the chemical concentration or saturation regardless of whether the incident light is filtered or unfiltered, continuous or discontinuous, and natural or artificial.

Claims Coverage

The provided independent claims include four inventive claim scopes (biophysical information for mammalian tissue; chemical concentration or saturation for mammalian tissue/food/liquid/environmental items; a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with corresponding instructions; and an additional biophysical-information system using spatial averaging). Each scope features per-pixel transformation of visible red/green/blue color information, histogram and/or spatial averaging generation, and iterative extraction of measurement data to obtain the targeted biophysical information or chemical concentration/saturation.

Across the independent claims, the main inventive features consistently include receiving visible red/green/blue video color information derived from near UV to near IR light interacting with tissue (or other items for chemical concentration/saturation), transforming per-pixel RGB information, generating histogram and/or spatial averaging outputs, and extracting measurement data using an iterative process to obtain biophysical information and/or chemical concentration or saturation. The system is explicitly adapted to operate irrespective of filtered/unfiltered, continuous/discontinuous, and natural/artificial illumination.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications