# US 11,998,383 B2 · Enhanced stethoscope device and method for blood pressure measurement via plurality of ultrasound transducers and optical sensors to determine time series blood values using autoencoders

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- Number: US 11,998,383 B2
- Document ID: US11998383B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/927,911
- Filed: 2020-07-13
- Published: 2021-06-10
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-17
- Assignees: California Institute of Technology
- Applicants: California Institute of Technology
- Inventors: Aditya Rajagopal; Alaina Ann Brinley Rajagopal
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998383B2

## CPC

- A61B 7/04: Electric stethoscopes
- A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet}
- A61B 5/02055: {Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature}
- A61B 5/7257: {using Fourier transforms}
- A61B 5/726: {using Wavelet transforms}
- A61B 5/7264: {Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems}
- A61B 8/4416: {related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions}
- A61B 8/4477: {using several separate ultrasound transducers or probes}
- G01S 15/8952: {using discrete, multiple frequencies}
- G01S 15/899: {Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment}
- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- A61B 5/021: Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels
- A61B 5/0816: {Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency (measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00)}
- A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement}
- A61B 5/14542: {for measuring blood gases (A61B5/14551 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/7253: {characterised by using transforms}
- A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)}
- A61B 8/02: Measuring pulse or heart rate
- A61B 8/06: Measuring blood flow
- A61B 8/085: {for locating body or organic structures, e.g. tumours, calculi, blood vessels, nodules}
- A61B 8/4209: {by using holders, e.g. positioning frames}
- A61B 8/461: {Displaying means of special interest}
- A61B 8/565: {involving data transmission via a network}
- A61B 2560/0214: of power generation or supply
- G16H 50/20: for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

An enhanced stethoscope device and method for operating the enhanced stethoscope are provided. The enhanced stethoscope device generally operates by providing stethoscope sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and other sensors to obtain a series of measurements about a subject. The series of measurements may be correlated, such as by machine learning, to extract clinically relevant information. Also described are systems and methods for ultrasonic beamsteering by interference of an audio signal with an ultrasonic signal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An enhanced stethoscope device comprising:
a first ultrasonic transducer for transmitting a first ultrasonic imaging signal to a blood vessel of a subject and receiving a second ultrasonic imaging signal from the blood vessel;
a second ultrasonic transducer for transmitting a third ultrasonic imaging signal to the blood vessel and receiving a fourth ultrasonic imaging signal from the blood vessel; and
an optic sensor directed toward the blood vessel;
wherein the blood pressure measurement device is configured to:
reconstruct, using the second ultrasonic imaging signal and the fourth ultrasonic imaging signal, an ultrasonic image;
obtain a first time series of sensor values associated with one or more signals received by the first ultrasonic transducer;
obtain a second time series of sensor values associated with one or more signals received by the second ultrasonic transducer;
obtain a third time series of sensor values associated with one or more signals received by the optic sensor;
pass the first time series of sensor values, the second time series of sensor values, and the third time series of sensor values to an autoencoder;
determine, based at least on the first time series of sensor values, the second time series of sensor values, and the third time series of sensor values, using the autoencoder, a physiometric parameter associated with the subject; and
correlate the second ultrasonic imaging signal received from the blood vessel and a first optical signal received from the blood vessel to determine a blood pressure,
wherein a first velocity measurement of a blood bolus in the blood vessel is obtained using the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer, and a second velocity measurement of the blood bolus in the blood vessel is obtained by the optic sensor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The enhanced stethoscope device of claim 1, wherein the blood pressure measurement device is configured to correlate the first velocity measurement and the second velocity measurement to determine a blood pressure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The blood pressure measurement device of claim 1, wherein the optic sensor comprises a light source for transmitting a second optical signal to the blood vessel, and a light detector for receiving the first optical signal from the blood vessel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The enhanced stethoscope measurement device of claim 3, wherein the second optical signal is scattered, dispersed, or reflected from the blood bolus to form the first optical signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The enhanced stethoscope device of claim 3, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The enhanced stethoscope device of claim 3, wherein the light source comprises a laser.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The enhanced stethoscope device of claim 3, wherein the light detector comprises a photodiode.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The enhanced stethoscope device of claim 3, wherein the light detector comprises a camera.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The enhanced stethoscope device of claim 3, wherein the optical sensor measures a blood oxygenation saturation level.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The enhanced stethoscope device of claim 1, wherein the blood pressure measurement device is further configured to correlate the second ultrasonic imaging signal with the fourth ultrasonic imaging signal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The enhanced stethoscope device of claim 1, wherein the blood pressure measurement device is further configured to correlate the fourth ultrasonic imaging signal with the second ultrasonic imaging signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The enhanced stethoscope device of claim 1, wherein the first and second ultrasonic transducers are configured to transmit and receive simultaneously with one another.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The enhanced stethoscope device of claim 12, wherein the first and second ultrasonic imaging signals correspond to a first frequency, and the third and fourth ultrasonic imaging signals correspond to a second frequency different from the first frequency.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The enhanced stethoscope device of claim 1, wherein the first and second ultrasonic imaging signals correspond to a first frequency, and the third and fourth ultrasonic imaging signals correspond to a second frequency different from the first frequency.