# US 8,923,941 B2 · Methods and apparatus for generating data output containing physiological and motion-related information

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- Number: US 8,923,941 B2
- Document ID: US8923941B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/184,396
- Filed: 2014-02-19
- Published: 2014-06-19
- Granted: 2014-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 2009-02-25
- Assignees: Valencell, Inc.
- Applicants: Valencell, Inc.
- Inventors: Steven Francis LeBoeuf; Jesse Berkley Tucker; Michael Edward Aumer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8923941B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/0205: Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
- A61B 5/00: Measuring for diagnostic purposes (radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00); Identification of persons
- A61B 5/0013: {Medical image data (A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/002: {Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building (A61B5/0017 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet}
- A61B 5/0024: {for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network}
- A61B 5/0059: {using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence (photoacoustic A61B5/0093; optical measurement of heart rate A61B5/02416; optical measurement of blood flow A61B5/0261; optical measurement of analytes A61B5/1455)}
- A61B 5/0082: {adapted for particular medical purposes}
- A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20)
- A61B 5/02055: {Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature}
- A61B 5/021: Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels
- A61B 5/02427: {Details of sensor}
- A61B 5/02433: {for infrared radiation}
- A61B 5/0261: {using optical means, e.g. infrared light}
- A61B 5/0816: {Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency (measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00)}
- A61B 5/11: Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb {(A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721)}
- A61B 5/1107: {Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ or muscle}
- A61B 5/1118: {Determining activity level}
- A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement}
- A61B 5/1455: using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
- A61B 5/14551: {for measuring blood gases}
- A61B 5/165: {Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety}
- A61B 5/418: {lymph vessels, ducts or nodes}
- A61B 5/4812: {Detecting sleep stages or cycles}
- A61B 5/4845: {Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products (A61B5/4848 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/4848: {Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication}
- A61B 5/486: {Biofeedback (using electroencephalography [EEG] A61B5/375)}
- A61B 5/4866: {Evaluating metabolism (using breath test A61B5/083)}
- A61B 5/4875: {Hydration status, fluid retention of the body}
- A61B 5/4884: {inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing}
- A61B 5/6803: {Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles}
- A61B 5/6815: {Ear}
- A61B 5/6816: {Ear lobe}
- A61B 5/6817: {Ear canal}
- A61B 5/6819: {Nose}
- A61B 5/6826: {Finger}
- A61B 5/6838: {Clamps or clips}
- A61B 5/721: {using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured}
- A61B 5/7214: {using signal cancellation, e.g. based on input of two identical physiological sensors spaced apart, or based on two signals derived from the same sensor, for different optical wavelengths}
- A61B 5/7221: {Determining signal validity, reliability or quality (preventing, reducing or removing noise induced by motion artefacts A61B5/7207; noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus A61B5/7217)}
- A61B 5/725: {using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters (specific diagnostics methods using using bioelectric or biomagnetic signals A61B5/316)}
- A61B 5/7278: {Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesizing signals from measured signals}
- A61B 5/7282: {Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition (cough events A61B5/0823; seizures A61B5/4094; sleep apnoea A61B5/4818)}
- A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)}
- A61B 5/7475: {User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick}
- G02B 6/0001: {specially adapted for lighting devices or systems (lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00)}
- G16H 20/30: relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
- G16H 30/40: for processing medical images, e.g. editing
- G16H 40/63: for local operation
- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- G16H 50/20: for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
- H04R 1/028: {associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles}
- H04R 1/105: {Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335)}
- H04R 1/1091: {Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083}
- A61B 5/024: Measuring pulse rate or heart rate
- A61B 5/02405: {Determining heart rate variability}
- A61B 5/02416: {using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation (A61B5/14552 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/026: Measuring blood flow {(A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/0295: using plethysmography, i.e. measuring the variations in the volume of a body part as modified by the circulation of blood therethrough, e.g. impedance plethysmography
- A61B 5/091: Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
- A61B 5/411: {Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance}
- A61B 5/415: {the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus}
- A61B 5/7207: {of noise induced by motion artifacts}
- A61B 2560/0242: adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
- A61B 2560/0425: Ergonomically shaped housings (A61B2560/0418 takes precedence)
- A61B 2560/0443: Modular apparatus
- A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
- A61B 2562/0233: Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
- Y02A 90/10: Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

A method of generating a data string containing physiological and motion-related information includes sensing physical activity of a subject via at least one motion sensor attached to the subject, sensing physiological information from the subject via at least one photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor attached to the subject, and processing signals from the at least one motion sensor and signals from the at least one PPG sensor into a serial data string of physiological information and motion-related information. A plurality of subject physiological parameters can be extracted from the physiological information, and a plurality of subject physical activity parameters can be extracted from the motion-related information. The serial data string is parsed out such that an application-specific interface can utilize the physiological information and motion-related information for an application that generates statistical relationships between subject physiological parameters and subject physical activity parameters in the physiological information and motion-related information.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of generating data output containing physiological and motion-related information, the method comprising:
sensing physical activity and physiological information from a subject via a single monitoring device attached to the subject, wherein the monitoring device comprises at least one motion sensor for sensing the physical activity and at least one photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor for sensing the physiological information; and
processing signals from the at least one motion sensor and signals from the at least one PPG sensor via a processor of the monitoring device into a serial data output of physiological information and motion-related information, wherein the serial data output is configured such that a plurality of subject physiological parameters comprising subject heart rate and subject respiration rate can be extracted from the physiological information and such that a plurality of subject physical activity parameters can be extracted from the motion-related information.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of subject physiological parameters that can be extracted from the physiological information further includes one or more of the following: blood flow, blood pulse volume, blood analyte levels, breathing rate or volume, blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, VO2max, the 1st derivative of at least one blood pulse, and the 2nd derivative of at least one blood pulse.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the serial data output is parsed out such that an application-specific interface (API) can utilize the physiological information and motion-related information for an application.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the application is configured to generate statistical relationships between subject physiological parameters and subject physical activity parameters in the physiological information and motion-related information.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the application is configured to generate statistical relationships between subject physiological parameters and subject physical activity parameters via at least one of the following: principal component analysis, multiple linear regression, machine learning, and Bland-Altman plots.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to processing signals from the at least one motion sensor and signals from the at least one PPG sensor into the serial data output, removing frequency bands from the PPG signals that are outside of a range of interest using at least one band-pass filter to produce pre-conditioned PPG signals, and filtering the pre-conditioned PPG signals to reduce motion artifacts and noise artifacts from the pre-conditioned PPG signals to produce cleaner physiological information.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the subject motion noise comprises subject footstep noise.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein filtering the preconditioned PPG signals comprises at least one of the following: FIR (Finite Impulse Response) filtering, IIR (Infinite Impulse Response) filtering, adaptive filtering, phase filtering, and frequency filtering.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion sensor comprises at least one of the following: an optical sensor, an inertial sensor, an electrically conductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, an accelerometer, and a blocked channel sensor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one PPG sensor comprises at least one optical emitter, at least one optical detector, and at least one light guide.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion sensor and the at least one PPG sensor are integrated into a wearable device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the wearable device is configured to be attached to the subject at one or more of the following body locations: an ear, a limb, the nose, and a digit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the physiological information and/or motion-related information comprises information on data integrity.

### Claim 14

A wearable device, comprising:
a housing; and
a chipset enclosed within the housing, the chipset comprising at least one PPG sensor, at least one motion sensor, and at least one signal processor configured to process signals from the at least one motion sensor and signals from the at least one PPG sensor to reduce motion artifacts from the PPG signals;
wherein the housing comprises at least one window that optically exposes the at least one PPG sensor to a body of a subject wearing the device, and wherein the housing comprises non-air light transmissive material in optical communication with the at least one PPG sensor and the window.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The device of claim 14, wherein the non-air light transmissive material comprises at least one light guide in optical communication with the at least one PPG sensor and the window.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The device of claim 14, wherein the wearable device is an earbud.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The device of claim 14, wherein the wearable device is a headset.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The device of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to reduce motion artifacts by removing frequency bands from the signals that are outside of a range of interest using at least one band-pass filter to produce pre-conditioned signals.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The device of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is configured to filter the preconditioned signals via at least one of the following: FIR (Finite Impulse Response) filtering, IIR (Infinite Impulse Response) filtering, adaptive filtering, phase filtering, and frequency filtering.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The device of claim 14, wherein the subject motion artifacts comprises subject footstep-related motion artifacts.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The device of claim 14, wherein the at least one motion sensor comprises at least one of the following: an optical sensor, an inertial sensor, an electrically conductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, an accelerometer, and a blocked channel sensor.