US 10,206,621 B2 · Instrumented wearable device for measurement of physiological parameters

Abstract

This disclosure describes devices, system, and a method for the prediction and prevention of acute decompensated heart failure or other patient conditions involving fluid accumulation in legs or hands. In one example, a wearable device contains a drift-free leg-size sensor and a tissue-elasticity sensor. Both sensors may be relatively inexpensive and developed using innovative new sensing ideas. Preliminary tests with the sensor prototypes show promising results: the leg-size sensor is capable of measuring 1 mm changes in leg diameter and the tissue-elasticity sensor can detect 0.15 MPa differences in elasticity. In another example, a wearable system includes sensors for measuring a variety of physiological parameters, a processing module, and a communication module. A low-profile instrumented sock, e.g., a wearable device, with multiple sensors can provide an indication of heart failure status for a patient.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A system for measuring a dimension of a sample, the system comprising:

one or more magnetic sensors configured to detect a magnetic field;
an electromagnet configured to produce the magnetic field detectable by one or more magnetic sensors;
a controller module configured to control delivery of an alternating electrical signal to the electromagnet and receive, from each of the one or more magnetic sensors, a respective signal indicative of the magnetic field, the controller module further configured to average multiple peak-to-peak ranges measured by the one or more magnetic sensors as an indicator of the dimension of the sample;
and
a stretchable material, wherein the electromagnet and the one or more magnetic sensors are coupled to respective portions of the stretchable material.

2 more elements

A system for measuring a status of physiological fluid accumulation of a patient, the system including a wearable material and a size measurement sensor configured for measuring the static size of a sample of the patient;

wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of a portion of a leg and a portion of an arm, further including an elasticity sensor configured to determine an elasticity of the sample, the elasticity sensor comprising:
a first member comprising a first portion configured to deform a first area of the sample;
a second member comprising a second portion configured to deform a second area of the sample different from the first area, wherein application of an external force to the first member causes the first portion to extend further into the sample than the second portion;
a first force sensor coupled to the first member and configured to sense a first force to the first portion during deformation of the first area of the sample;
and
a second force sensor disposed between the first member and the second member and configured to sense a second force representative of contact between the first member and the second member when the second portion deforms the second area of the sample.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Instrumented wearable device for measurement of physiological parameters

Life of this patent

Instrumented wearable device for measurement of physiological parameters

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15