Data acquisition quality and data fusion for personal portable wireless vital signs scanner

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, an interactive vital signs scanning method is disclosed including concurrently scanning for a plurality of vital signs with a portable vital signs scanner; detecting movement of the portable vital signs scanner during the scanning for the plurality of vital signs; and determining a measure of quality of the scanning for the plurality of vital signs with the portable vital signs scanner. In another embodiment, a method of improving the quality of vital signs data is disclosed including concurrently sensing data from a plurality of vital signs sensors over a period of time with a portable vital signs scanner; determining a plurality of vital sign values for a respective plurality of vital signs in response to the sensed data from the plurality of vital signs sensors over the period of time; and fusing at least two vital sign values of the plurality of vital sign values for the respective plurality of vital signs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 concurrently scanning for a plurality of vital signs with a portable vital signs scanner to obtain scan data;   detecting movement of the portable vital signs scanner during the scanning for the plurality of vital signs; and   determining a measure of quality of the concurrent scan for the plurality of vital signs in response to the scan data and the detected movement of the portable vital signs scanner.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating user feedback to present to a user in response to the determined measure of quality of the concurrent scan for the plurality of vital signs.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating user feedback to present to a user in response to determining an invalid or poor measure of quality of the concurrent scan for the plurality of vital signs.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating user feedback to present to a user in response to determining a good measure of quality of the concurrent scan for the plurality of vital signs and minor movement of the portable vital signs scanner.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating user feedback to present to a user in response to determining significant movement of the portable vital signs scanner, regardless of the measure of quality of the concurrent scan for the plurality of vital signs.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating user feedback to present to a user in response to repeatedly determining a good measure of quality of the concurrent scan for the plurality of vital signs without movement of the portable vital signs scanner.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein
 the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs during the period of time is good if the scan data for a pulse oximeter vital sign and the scan data for an electrocardiogram (ECG) vital sign is evaluated to be good scan data.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein
 the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs during the period of time is good if the scan data for a pulse oximeter vital sign is evaluated to be good scan data, the scan data for an electrocardiogram (ECG) vital sign is evaluated to be good scan data, and if scan data for a temperature vital sign is within an expected range.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein
 the user feedback that is generated is a scan progress bar that is filled in as a fraction of progress is made in generating measurements for the plurality of vital signs.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein
 the fraction is each tenth of progress made in generating measurements for the plurality of vital signs.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein
 during a second period of time, the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs becomes poor; and   the scan progress bar is paused or reset in response to the poor measure of scan quality.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein
 the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs during the period of time is poor if either the scan data for a pulse oximeter vital sign or the scan data for an electrocardiogram (ECG) vital sign is evaluated to be poor scan data.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein
 the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs during the period of time is poor if scan data for a temperature vital sign is within an expected range and either the scan data for a pulse oximeter vital sign is evaluated to be poor scan data or the scan data for an electrocardiogram (ECG) vital sign is evaluated to be poor scan data.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining that significant motion of the portable vital signs scanner was detected during a period of time; and   wherein the user feedback is generated to inquire of a user if he is playing with the portable vital signs scanner.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining that the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs during a period of time is invalid; and   wherein the user feedback is generated to instruct a user to make contact with the portable vital signs scanner to the user's body.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein
 the measure of quality of the of the scan for the plurality of vital signs during the period of time is invalid if either scan data for a pulse oximeter vital sign or scan data for an electrocardiogram (ECG) vital sign is evaluated to be invalid scan data.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein
 the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs during the period of time is invalid if either scan data for a pulse oximeter vital sign is evaluated to be invalid scan data, scan data for an electrocardiogram (ECG) vital sign is evaluated to be invalid scan data, or scan data for a temperature vital sign is outside an expected range.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining that the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs during a period of time is poor with minor motion; and   wherein the user feedback is generated to inquire if a user is pressing the scanner too lightly and instruct the user to press the portable vital signs scanner tighter against the user's body.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining that the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs during a period of time is poor without motion; and   wherein the user feedback is generated to inquire if a user is pressing the scanner too tightly and instruct the user to press the scanner with less force against the user's body.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining that the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs during a period of time is good with motion; and   wherein the user feedback is generated to instruct a user to hold still for a good scan.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining that the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs transitions between levels of quality from good to poor or poor to invalid; and   the user feedback is generated to instruct a user that the portable vital signs scanner is losing good contact.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein
 determining that the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs transitions between levels of quality from invalid to poor or poor to good; and   the user feedback is generated to instruct a user that the portable vital signs scanner is making better contact.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining that the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs transitions between from good with motion to good without motion; and   the user feedback is generated to instruct a user that he/she has done a great job reaching the good scan state.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein
 determining that the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs transitions between from a still super state to a minor motion super state; and   the user feedback is generated to instruct a user to please hold still.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining that the measure of quality of the scan for the plurality of vital signs transitions between from a still super state to a big motion state or from a minor motion super state to the big motion state; and   the user feedback is generated to inquire of a user if he/she is shaking the portable vital signs scanner.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the concurrent scanning for the plurality of vital signs with the portable vital signs scanner generates a plurality of data samples of each vital sign; and   the determining of the measure of quality of the scanning for the plurality of vital signs includes
 detecting an envelope curve of amplitude from the plurality of data samples for each vital sign. 
   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein
 the detecting of the movement of the portable vital signs scanner includes
 detecting acceleration of the portable vital signs scanner to obtain a plurality of data samples associated with movement of the portable vital signs scanner, and 
 detecting an envelope curve of amplitude from the plurality of data samples associated with the movement of the portable vital signs scanner. 
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein
 the detecting of the movement of the portable vital signs scanner further includes determining a level of movement of the portable vital signs scanner.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein
 the level of movement of the portable vital signs scanner is big motion if the detected acceleration is greater than or equal to a first fraction of gravitational force.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein
 the level of movement of the portable vital signs scanner is minor motion if the detected acceleration is greater than or equal to a second fraction of gravitational force and less than the first fraction of gravitational force.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein
 the level of movement of the portable vital signs scanner is no motion or absence of motion if the detected acceleration is less that the second fraction of gravitational force.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein
 the determining of the measure of quality of the scanning for at least one vital sign includes
 comparing an amplitude of a data sample of the at least one vital sign with a first threshold level to determine an invalid scan data quality. 
   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein
 the determining of the measure of quality of the scanning for at least one vital sign further includes
 comparing the amplitude of the data sample of the at least one vital sign with a second threshold level to discriminate between a poor scan data quality and a good scan data quality for the at least one vital sign. 
   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein
 the at least one vital sign is body temperature, and   the normal average body temperature taken at a forehead of an adult is ninety-seven and seven-tenths degrees Fahrenheit (97.7 F) with an expected range of plus and minus twelve degrees Fahrenheit (12 F) such that the expected temperature range is between one-hundred nine and seven-tenths degrees Fahrenheit (109.7 F) and eighty-five and seven-tenths degrees Fahrenheit (85.7 F).   
     
     
         35 . A portable vital signs scanning system comprising:
 a processor to execute instructions;   a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device to store the instructions for execution by the processor, the instructions when executed perform functions including
 concurrently scanning for a plurality of vital signs with a plurality of sensors; 
 detecting movement of the portable vital signs scanner during the scanning for the plurality of vital signs; and 
 determining a measure of quality of scan data associated with the plurality of vital signs. 
   
     
     
         36 . The portable vital signs scanning system of  claim 35 , wherein the storage device stores further instructions for execution by the processor and that when executed perform functions including:
 generating user feedback to present to a user in response to the determining of the measure of quality of the scan data associated with the plurality of vital signs.   
     
     
         37 . The portable vital signs scanning system of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 a speaker coupled to the processor, the speaker to announce the user feedback to a user.   
     
     
         38 . The portable vital signs scanning system of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 a display device coupled to the processor, the display device to display the user feedback to a user.   
     
     
         39 . A method comprising:
 with a portable vital signs scanner, concurrently sensing data from a plurality of vital signs sensors over a period of time;   determining a plurality of vital sign values for a respective plurality of vital signs in response to the sensed data from one or more vital sign sensors over the period of time; and   fusing together at least two vital sign values of the plurality of vital sign values.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein
 the fusing together of the at least two vital sign values of the plurality of vital sign values improves the quality of at least one of the at least two vital signs values.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein
 the fusing together of the at least two vital sign values of the plurality of vital sign values forms a value for another vital sign differing from the respective plurality of vital signs.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein
 electrocardiogram (ECG) scan data and photoelectric plethysmogram (PPG) scan data are combined together with user biometrics to derive a value for blood pressure.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein
 the user biometrics are one or more of the set of height, weight, sex, and age of a user.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein
 scan data for at least two vital sign values of the plurality of vital sign values can be fused together to form a value for respiration rate or heart rate.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein
 sensed data from one vital sign sensor is used to derive a plurality of different vital sign values.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein
 sensed data from a pulse oximeter (PulseOX) sensor is used to derive values for blood oxygenation (Sp02) and pulse rate.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein
 sensed data from an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor is used to derive heart rate and heart rate variability.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 sensing acceleration of the portable vital signs scanner;   determining movement of the portable vital signs scanner along a first axis in response to the sensed acceleration;   sensing sounds around the portable vital signs scanner; and   fusing the movement along the first axis with sounds around the portable vital signs scanner to form a value for respiration rate.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 determining pulse rate from photoelectric plethysmogram (PPG) sensor data;   sensing acceleration of the portable vital signs scanner;   comparing the pulse rate with the sensed acceleration and electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor data to form a value for heart rate.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 determining pulse blood volume from photoelectric plethysmogram (PPG) sensor data;   determining surface temperature from infrared temperature sensor data; and   fusing the pulse blood volume with the surface temperature to form a core body temperature.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 receiving epidemio biometrics information;   performing a pulse wave transit time (PWTT) on electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor data, and photoelectric plethysmogram (PPG) sensor data; and   fusing the PWTT data with the epidemio biometrics information using an algorithm to form high blood pressure or hypertension information.   
     
     
         52 . A method comprising:
 with a portable vital signs scanner, concurrently sensing data from a plurality of vital signs sensors over a period of time for a plurality of vital signs;   interactively screening the sensed data from the plurality of vital sign sensors for signal quality; and   calculating vital signs measurements in response to an overall signal quality in the sensed data from the plurality of vital sign sensors being a good signal quality.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 confirming the vital signs measurements are within range; and   displaying the vital signs measurements to a user in response to them being within range.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein
 the interactive screening includes
 determining a level of vital sign data quality for each of the plurality of vital signs in response to the sensed data from the plurality of vital signs sensors; and 
 fusing together at least two vital sign data qualities of a plurality of vital sign data qualities for the plurality of vital signs to determine a good signal quality. 
   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein
 the interactive screening includes
 generating user feedback in response to an overall signal quality of poor signal quality or invalid signal quality to instruct a user on how to use the scanner properly to improve signal quality. 
   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein
 the interactive screening includes
 generating positive user feedback in response to an improvement in overall signal quality; and 
 generating negative user feedback in response to a decrease in overall signal quality. 
   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein
 the interactive screening includes
 generating a scan progress bar in response to continuous good overall signal quality without motion of the scanner.