Body state classification

Abstract

A system for determining reference signatures for use in assisting identification of a body state in a biological subject, the system including at least one processing device that obtains reference data for each of a plurality of reference individuals, the reference data including at least one reference impedance indicator obtained by performing at least one impedance measurement on the reference individual, a body state indication indicative of any body states associated with the reference individual and characteristic data indicative of one or more physical characteristics of the reference individual and analyses the reference data to establish one or more reference signatures, each reference signature being indicative of at least one reference impedance indicator associated with a respective body state for respective physical characteristics.

1 ) (canceled) 
     
     
         2 ) A system for determining a body state indicator for a biological subject, the system including one or more processing devices configured to analyze at least one measured impedance value acquired by performing one or more impedance measurements on a subject by using reference signatures derived by mining aggregated reference impedance values acquired by performing one or more impedance measurements on a plurality of reference individuals. 
     
     
         3 ) A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the impedance measurements are performed at least one of:
 for each of a plurality of body segments;   at a number of different times; and   repeatedly over a time period.   
     
     
         4 ) A system according to  claim 2 , wherein each reference signature includes:
 at least one reference range, wherein the at least one reference range is one of:
 derived from a distribution of the reference impedance values; and, 
 derived from a distribution of reference impedance indicators, wherein the reference impedance indicators include at least one of:
 at least one impedance value measured for at least one body segment of the reference individual; 
 at least one impedance parameter value derived from at least one impedance value measured for at least one body segment of the reference individual; and 
 a fluid level indicator indicative of fluid levels in at least one body segment of the reference individual, the fluid level indicator being derived from at least one impedance value measured for at least one body segment of the reference individual; and 
 
   a plurality of reference ranges, each reference range being based on at least one of:
 a distribution of impedance values measured for a respective body segment; 
 a distribution of reference impedance indicators measured for a respective body segment; 
 a distribution of differences in reference impedance indicators measured for different respective body segments; and 
 a distribution of impedance indicators measured at a specific times derived from a distribution of respective reference impedance values. 
   
     
     
         5 ) A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to:
 generate at least one subject signature using the at least one measured impedance value;   compare the at least one subject signature to one or more reference signatures; and,   determine a body state of the subject based on results of the comparison.   
     
     
         6 ) A system according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to compare the at least one subject signature to one or more reference signatures by at least one of:
 comparing at least one measured impedance value to at least one reference range;   comparing a plurality of measured impedance values to a plurality of reference ranges;   comparing at least one impedance indicator derived from at least one measured impedance value to at least one reference range; and   comparing a plurality of impedance indicators derived from measured impedance values to a plurality of reference ranges.   
     
     
         7 ) A system according to  claim 2 , wherein each reference signature is indicative of a respective body state, and is derived from reference impedance values acquired by performing one or more impedance measurements on a plurality of reference individuals having the respective body state. 
     
     
         8 ) A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the body state is at least one of:
 healthy;   unhealthy;   normal hydration;   abnormal hydration;   a fitness state; and   a disease state including a presence, absence or degree of at least one of:
 cancer; 
 heart failure; 
 congestive heart failure; 
 oedema; and 
 lymphoedema. 
   
     
     
         9 ) A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to:
 generate at least one subject signature using the at least one measured impedance value;   compare the at least one subject signature to one or more reference signatures;   select a reference signature based on results of the comparison; and   determine a body state of the subject based on the body state of the selected reference signature.   
     
     
         10 ) A system according to  claim 2 , wherein each reference signature is associated with one or more characteristics, and is derived from reference impedance values acquired by performing one or more impedance measurements on a plurality of reference individuals having the respective characteristics, and wherein the characteristics are at least one of:
 one or more physical characteristics of the reference individual, including at least one of:
 a height; 
 a weight; 
 an age; 
 a sex; 
 an ethnicity; and 
 physical dimensions of at least one body segment of the reference individual; and, 
   environmental characteristics associated with the reference individual, the environmental characteristics including at least one of:
 a location; 
 an altitude; 
 a temperature; and 
 a humidity. 
   
     
     
         11 ) A system according to  claim 10 , wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to:
 select multiple reference signatures using subject characteristic data indicative of at least one of:
 one or more physical characteristics of the subject; and 
 environmental characteristics associated with the subject; and 
   compare the at least one subject signature to the multiple reference signatures.   
     
     
         12 ) A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the reference signatures are further indicative of at least one other reference body parameter value obtained by performing at least one measurement on one or more other body parameters of the reference individual. 
     
     
         13 ) A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one other reference body parameter value is indicative of at least one of:
 a body parameter value;   a weight;   a cardiac parameter value;   a respiratory parameter value;   a blood potassium level;   a temperature;   a blood pressure;   a respiratory rate;   a heart rate; and,   a blood oxygenation level.   
     
     
         14 ) A system according to  claim 12 , wherein each reference signature includes at least one of:
 at least one reference range derived from a distribution of the reference body parameter values;   a plurality of reference ranges, each reference range being derived from a distribution of respective reference body parameter values;   at least one reference range derived from a distribution of reference body parameter indicators; and   a plurality of reference ranges, each reference range being derived from a distribution of reference body parameter indicators.   
     
     
         15 ) A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to generate at least one subject signature using the at least one measured body parameter value for the subject. 
     
     
         16 ) A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to:
 obtain user data for each of the plurality of reference individuals;   using the user data, determine for each reference individual:
 at least one reference impedance value obtained data by performing at least one impedance measurement on the reference individual; 
 at least one reference impedance indicator derived from at least one reference impedance value obtained data by performing at least one impedance measurement on the reference individual; 
 a reference body state indication indicative of any body states associated with the reference individual; and 
 reference characteristic data indicative of one or more characteristics for the reference individual; and, 
   mine aggregated user data to establish the one or more reference signatures.   
     
     
         17 ) A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to:
 obtain user data for the subject;   determine, at least in part using the user data for the subject:
 subject characteristic data indicative of one or more physical characteristics of the subject; 
 at least one measured impedance value obtained data by performing at least one impedance measurement on the subject; and 
 at least one subject impedance indicator derived from at least one measured impedance value obtained data by performing at least one impedance measurement on the subject; and 
   generate a signature using the user data.   
     
     
         18 ) A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to obtain user data indicative of:
 measurement data indicative of at least one measured impedance value acquired by performing an impedance measurement on the user;   a user identifier associated with the user;   body parameter data indicative of at least one other body parameter value obtained by performing at least one measurement on one or more other body parameters of the user; and   characteristic data indicative of at least one of:
 one or more physical characteristics of the user; and 
 environmental characteristics associated with the user. 
   
     
     
         19 ) A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the system includes at least one measuring device capable of performing impedance measurements on a user, the measurement device including:
 at least one signal generator electrically connected to drive electrodes to apply a drive signal to a user;   at least one sensor electrically connected to sense electrodes to measure a response signal in the user; and   a measuring device processor that at least in part:
 controls the at least one signal generator; 
 receives an indication of a measured response signal from the at least one sensor; and 
 generates measurement data indicative of at least one measured impedance value. 
   
     
     
         20 ) A system according to  claim 19 , wherein the system includes a client device in communication with the measuring device, wherein the client device:
 receives the measurement data;   generates user data indicative of the measurement data; and   communicates the user data via a communication network, and wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to:
 receive the user data; and 
 one of:
 upon a determination that the user is a subject, use the user data to determine the at least one measured impedance value; and 
 upon a determination that the user is a reference individual, use the user data to determine at least one reference impedance value. 
 
   
     
     
         21 ) A method for determining a body state indicator for a biological subject, the method including, in one or more processing devices, analyzing at least one measured impedance value acquired by performing one or more impedance measurements on a subject by using reference signatures derived by mining aggregated reference impedance values acquired by performing one or more impedance measurements on a plurality of reference individuals.