Health monitoring systems and methods

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for reducing noise in health monitoring including monitoring systems, methods and/or devices receiving a health signal and/or having at least one electrode or sensor for health monitoring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of measuring oxygen saturation in an individual, the method comprising the steps of:
 measuring an electrocardiogram signal over multiple heart beats;   measuring one or more pulse oximetry signals over multiple heart beats such that the electrocardiogram signal and the one or more pulse oximetry signals are in time concordance over one or more heart beats;   comparing a portion of the electrocardiogram signal and the one or more pulse oximetry signals in time concordance over one or more heart beats to determine a constant component and a primary periodic component of each of the one or more pulse oximetry signals; and   determining oxygen saturation from the constant components and primary periodic components of the one or more pulse oximetry signals.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said pulse oximetry signals include a reflective infrared signal and a reflective red light signal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of comparing includes defining intervals of said pulse oximetry signal based on characteristics of said electrocardiogram signal and averaging values of said pulse oximetry signal over a plurality of such intervals. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said constant components and said primary periodic components of said pulse oximetry signals are determined from said average values. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said electrocardiogram signal includes an R wave signal each with a peak value in each of said heart beats and said intervals are determined with respect to the peak values of the R wave signals. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said electrocardiogram signal and said pulse oximetry signal are measured from a chest location on said individual. 
     
     
         7 . A device for monitoring a physiological parameter, the device being adapted to be adhered to the skin of a subject for the physiological parameter monitoring; the device comprising:
 a substrate;   a conductive sensor connected to the substrate, and one or both of:   a plurality of pulse oximetry sensors connected to the substrate, and,   a plurality of light sources for one or more wavelengths.   
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7  wherein the plurality of pulse oximetry sensors and/or light sources provide for interrogation of a wider area of capillary bed in order to reduce local motion artifact effects. 
     
     
         9 . A device for monitoring a physiological parameter, the device being adapted to be adhered to the skin of a subject for the physiological parameter monitoring; the device comprising:
 a substrate;   a conductive sensor connected to the substrate, and   circuitry for reducing errors caused by ambient light using a correlated double sampling technique; comprising:
 a light sensor; 
 first and second switches and; 
 first and second capacitors, 
 wherein the first capacitor is in series with the light sensor, and the second capacitor is in parallel with the output, and the first and second switches are disposed between the output and ground to alternatively provide output or shunt to ground. 
   
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 9  further including a resistor in parallel with the other circuit elements. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 9  wherein the first capacitor is C 1 , the second capacitor is C 2 , the first switch is S 1 , the second switch is S 2  and
 wherein when the light sources are turned off, and switch S 1  is closed, and switch S 2  is open; charge proportional to the noise signal accumulates on C 1 , and then switch S 1  is opened and, then, the voltage on C 1  is equal to the noise signal voltage; and, 
 wherein, next, the light signal may be measured; switch S 2  is closed, and charge is allowed to flow through C 1  and C 2  in series; and, then, S 2  is opened, and the voltage is held on C 2  until the next measurement cycle when the whole process is repeated; and, 
 if C 1  is much larger than C 2 , nearly all the voltage will appear on C 2 , and the voltage on C 2  will be equal to the noise-free signal (s); or, otherwise, the voltage on C 2  will be a linear combination of the previous C 2  voltage (p) and the noise-free signal: (C 2 *s+C 1 *p)/(C 1 +C 2 ). 
 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 11  wherein either one of:
 the effect is of applying a first-order, low-pass, IIR discrete-time filter to the signal; or, 
 if this filtering effect is not desired, the voltage on C 2  may be discharged to zero before the signal is measured each cycle, the signal being held on C 2  is: (C 2 *s)/(C 1 +C 2 ). 
 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 10 ; wherein one or more of: a trans-impedance amplifier is used in place of resistor R, a phototransistor in place of the light sensor, and FETs in place of the first and second switches; or the output may be followed by one or more of additional buffering, amplification, filtering and processing stages. 
     
     
         14 . A device for reducing noise in health monitoring including a wearable health monitoring device having at least one sensor for health monitoring; the wearable health monitoring device having a composite adhesive having at least one conductive portion applied adjacent the sensor; and, including adaptations for the at least one sensor to have increased effectiveness in receiving signals with reduced noise; wherein the adaptations include a convex lens. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 14  wherein the convex lens is adapted to be disposed in operative contact with a wearer's/user's skin. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 14  wherein the convex lens is adapted to be disposed in operative contact with a wearer's/user's skin at or adjacent the wearer's/user's forehead or chest. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 14  wherein the convex lens is an encapsulant. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 17  wherein the convex lens encapsulant encapsulates the sensor. 
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 17  wherein the convex lens encapsulant encapsulates the sensor and is in operative contact with the sensor not allowing an interference airgap between the sensor and the encapsulant. 
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 17  further comprising one or more LEDs wherein the convex lens encapsulant encapsulates the one or more LEDs. 
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 17  wherein the convex lens encapsulant encapsulates the one or more LEDs and is in operative contact with at least one of the one or more LEDs not allowing an interference airgap between the at least one of the one or more LEDs and the encapsulant. 
     
     
         22 . A device according to  claim 14  wherein the convex lens is one or more of clear, colorless, silicone and medical grade silicone. 
     
     
         23 . A device according to  claim 14  wherein the adaptations are used for pulse oximetry. 
     
     
         24 . A device according to  claim 14  further comprising one or more functionalities including one or more of EKG, PPG and wearer acceleration. 
     
     
         25 . A device according to  claim 14  further comprising one or more functionalities including one or both of driven right leg and/or proxy driven right leg. 
     
     
         26 . A device according to  claim 14  further comprising a driven or proxy driven electrode on a wearer chest or a wearer forehead. 
     
     
         27 . A device according to  claim 26  wherein the adaptation is disposed for and configured for maintained indented operative contact with the wearer's/user's skin. 
     
     
         28 . A device according to  claim 14  providing for transmission of LED waves therethrough to the wearer's/user's skin without interfering transmission thereinto. 
     
     
         29 . A device according to  claim 28  providing for reception of reflected transmissions of LED waves therethrough from the wearer's/user's skin to the sensor without interfering transmission therethrough. 
     
     
         30 . A device according to  claim 22  that is made from medical grade silicone that is one or more of substantially clear, substantially colorless, substantially soft, substantially low durometer, tacky gel, or has very high-tack adhesives embedded on both sides. 
     
     
         31 . A device according to  claim 30  wherein the silicone with double-sided adhesive provides one or both
 conformance of the lens to one or both the electronic sensors and skin, or 
 exhibition of motion artifact reduction by limiting movement between the skin-lens-sensor interface. 
 
     
     
         32 . A device according to  claim 30  that is specially configured such that it can be trapped between layers of the composite adhesive strip of a wearable health monitoring device, with a raised portion the size of the rectangular opening in the adhesive strip that allows the lens to protrude slightly on the patient side of the adhesive strip. 
     
     
         33 . A device for a health sensor; comprising a lens being
 configured for operative contact with the wearer's/user's skin; and   configured for providing noninterfering light pipe transmission of energy waves therethrough.