Method and apparatus for biological evaluation

Abstract

A medical device for monitoring biological parameters through an Abreu Brain Thermal Tunnel (ABTT) is provided. By monitoring and analyzing the temperature of the ABTT, it is possible to diagnosis changes in a patient or subject under a variety of conditions, including predicting the course of medical conditions. Furthermore, since the ABTT is predictive, analysis of the ABTT may be used to control mechanisms for safety when an impending medical condition makes such operation hazardous.

1 . A system for cooling a human, comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to transmit a signal representative of temperature positioned on skin of the human on, over, or adjacent the brain thermal tunnel terminus;   a cooling apparatus positioned to provide cooling to the human;   at least one of an alarm and a display; and   a controller configured to receive the temperature signal, to determine from the temperature signal a first temperature representative of an uncooled condition of the human, to determine when the temperature signal is indicative of a second temperature that is at least one degree Celsius less than the first temperature, and to transmit a signal to at least one of the alarm and the display to present an indication that the second temperature has been reached.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine when the temperature signal is indicative of a third temperature that represents a dangerously low temperature for the human and to transmit a signal to actuate the alarm. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the third temperature is approximately 34° C. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an anti-shiver mechanism is provided to the human prior to the beginning of cooling. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the anti-shiver mechanism is heat applied to one or more extremity. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the anti-shiver mechanism is one or more drugs. 
     
     
         7 . A system for modifying a core temperature for a human, comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to transmit a signal representative of temperature positioned on skin of the human on, over, or adjacent the brain thermal tunnel terminus;   a temperature modifying apparatus positioned to provide temperature modification for the human;   at least one of an alarm and a display; and   a controller configured to receive the temperature signal, to determine from the temperature signal a first temperature representative of a baseline condition of the human, to determine when the temperature signal is indicative of a second temperature that is at least 0.5 degrees Celsius different from the first temperature, and to transmit a signal to at least one of the alarm and the display to present an indication that the second temperature has been reached.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature modifying apparatus provides cooling to the human. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the human is provided with an anti-shiver drug prior to the beginning of cooling. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature modifying apparatus provides heating to the human. 
     
     
         11 . A system for analyzing the brain thermal tunnel temperature of a human, the system comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to transmit a signal representative of temperature positioned on skin of the human on, adjacent, or over the brain thermal tunnel;   a controller positioned to receive the temperature signal and configured to provide a frequency analysis of the temperature signal, the frequency analysis having a plurality of frequency peaks;   the controller being configured to determine from an amplitude of each frequency peak a slope; and   the controller being configured to determine when the slope exceeds a predetermined non-zero slope indicative of a medical condition in the human.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined slope is 0.03/Hz. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the amplitude of the frequency peaks is measured in a predetermined range. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined range is 0.015 Hz to 0.05 Hz. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further including a spectrum analyzer, wherein the controller transmits temperature signal information to the spectrum analyzer. 
     
     
         16 . A system for analyzing the brain thermal tunnel temperature of a human, the system comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to transmit a signal representative of temperature positioned on skin of the human on, over, or adjacent the brain thermal tunnel terminus;   a controller positioned to receive the temperature signal and configured to provide a frequency analysis of the temperature signal, the frequency analysis having a plurality of frequency peaks;   the controller being configured to determine when the average spacing of the plurality of frequency peaks in a predetermined frequency range exceeds a predetermined spacing indicative of a medical condition in the human.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined frequency range is 0.015 Hz to 0.05 Hz. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined spacing of the plurality of frequency peaks is 0.007 Hz. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , further including a spectrum analyzer, wherein the controller transmits temperature signal information to the spectrum analyzer for frequency analysis. 
     
     
         20 . A system for detecting a sleep condition of a human, comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to transmit a signal representative of temperature positioned on skin of the human on, over, or adjacent the brain thermal tunnel terminus; and   a controller configured to receive the temperature signal, to determine from the temperature signal a temperature decline of at least 0.2° C. in a period of one minute, so as to identify a sleep condition when the temperature decline of 0.2° C. in a period of one minute occurs.   
     
     
         21 . A method of detecting a sleep condition of a human, comprising:
 measuring the temperature of skin of the human on, over, or adjacent the brain thermal tunnel terminus; and   identifying a sleep condition by identifying a temperature decline of at least 0.2° C. in a period of one minute.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein awakening is identified by a temperature increase of at least 0.7° C. in a period of five minutes. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein sleep arousal is identified by an increase in temperature of at least 0.2° C. in a one minute period. 
     
     
         24 . An temperature measuring apparatus, comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to measure temperature and transmit a signal representing the measured temperature to a controller;   at least one indicator having a variable output; and   a controller configured to receive the temperature signal, to identify a peak temperature in a predetermined region of a human or animal subject, and to vary the indicator in proportion to the measured temperature in comparison to the peak temperature.   
     
     
         25 . The temperature measuring apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the indicator is audible, and the frequency is changed in proportion to a level of the measured temperature in comparison to the peak temperature, with the peak temperature having the highest frequency. 
     
     
         26 . The temperature measuring apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the indicator is audible, and the intensity of the audible indicator is increased as the temperature increases. 
     
     
         27 . The temperature measuring apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the controller initially measures all temperatures, and after identification of the peak temperature, the controller no longer varies the indicator for any temperature outside a first predetermined temperature range that includes the peak temperature. 
     
     
         28 . The temperature measuring apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the first predetermined temperature range begins at 50% of the peak temperature. 
     
     
         29 . The temperature measuring apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the controller sets a second predetermined temperature range after a period, and the second predetermined temperature range is less than the first predetermined temperature range. 
     
     
         30 . The temperature measuring apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the second predetermined temperature range begins at 10% of the peak temperature value. 
     
     
         31 . The temperature measuring apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the indicator is visible, and the intensity of the visible indicator is varied in proportion to the temperature. 
     
     
         32 . The temperature measuring apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the indicator is a plurality of lights, and at least one of the plurality of lights is operated when the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined percentage of the peak temperature. 
     
     
         33 . An temperature measuring apparatus, comprising:
 a skin contact temperature sensor configured to measure temperature and transmit a signal representing the measured temperature to a controller;   a plurality of indicators; and   a controller configured to receive the temperature signal, to identify a peak temperature in a predetermined region of a human or animal subject, and to vary the plurality of indicators to indicate a direction towards or away from the peak temperature.   
     
     
         34 . The temperature measuring apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of indicators is a plurality of lights. 
     
     
         35 . The temperature measuring apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the predetermined area is skin adjacent, on, or over the BTT terminus.