Tissue hydration monitor
AssigneeHydrostasis, Inc.
InventorDebbie K. Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tissue hydration monitor and method includes a sensor module having a plurality of LEDs positioned to emit a plurality of different wavelengths of light toward the user's skin and a detector that detects light transmitted and reflected through the user's skin to generate signals corresponding to an intensity of detected light at each of the different wavelengths. A processor/controller module generates a baseline hydration level based on the received signals, calculates a relative hydration level, and generates an output indicative of relative hydration personalized to the user. The housing is secured against the user's skin by an adhesive patch or a strap.
Claims17
A hydration monitoring system, comprising:
- a sensor assembly configured to be disposed within a housing having a contact surface configured to be secured against a wearer's skin, the sensor assembly comprising:
- a plurality of LEDs configured to sequentially emit pulses of light through one or more light transmissive windows disposed within the contact surface toward the wearer's skin, each LED emitting at a discrete wavelength corresponding to one of a plurality of chromophores of interest;
- at least one detector configured to sequentially detect pulses of light emitted by each LED, wherein the light is transmitted into, partially absorbed and reflected through the wearer's skin over a period of time, and generate signals corresponding to an intensity of detected light at each wavelength, wherein the detected light is received via the one or more light transmissive windows;
- a processor/controller module configured for receiving signals from the at least one detector, at time points within the period of time;
- a communication module in electrical communication with the processor/controller module;
- and
- a power supply disposed within the housing and configured to provide power to the sensor assembly;
- and
- an application configured to receive the signals and determine a personal hydration index (PHI) for the wearer at the time points by:
- calculating average hydrated intensity values for the plurality of LEDs over an initial calibration period after wearer hydration;
- collecting intensity values over a full calibration period;
- normalizing the collected intensity values using the average hydrated intensity values;
- and
- calculating average normalized collected intensity values to establish a baseline PHI for the wearer;
- wherein the PHI at the time points is determined relative to the baseline PHI, and wherein the application is further configured to display the PHI at a user interface associated with the application.
A method for monitoring hydration in a subject, the method comprising:
- disposing a sensor device against the skin of the subject, the sensor device comprising a plurality of LEDs configured to sequentially emit pulses of light, each LED emitting at a discrete wavelength corresponding to one of a plurality of chromophores of interest;
- sequentially detecting light from each of the plurality of LEDs transmitted and reflected through the user's skin over a period of time and generating intensity signals corresponding to light at each of the different wavelengths;
- calculating a personal hydration index (PHI) for the subject at a plurality of time points within the period of time by:
- calculating average hydrated intensity values for the plurality of LEDs over an initial calibration period after subject hydration;
- collecting intensity values over a full calibration period;
- normalizing the collected intensity values using the average hydrated intensity values;
- and
- calculating average normalized collected intensity values to establish a baseline PHI;
- wherein the PHI at the time points is determined relative to the baseline PHI;
- and
- displaying the PHI at a user interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.