System and method for automatically monitoring physiological parameters of a subject

Abstract

A method and assembly for monitoring physiological parameters of a subject is provided. The method includes measuring, with a physiological sensor, data that indicates a change in a value of a physiological parameter of a subject over a time period. The method further includes measuring, with a motion sensor, data that indicates a value of a motion of the subject over the time period. The method further includes determining, with a processor, whether the value of the motion of the subject over the time period is less than a motion threshold. The method includes determining, with the processor, whether the change in the value of the physiological parameter over the time period exceeds a change threshold. The method also includes performing an action based on the determination that the change in the value of the physiological parameter exceeds the change threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly comprising:
 a first physiological sensor configured to measure data that indicates a change in a value of a first physiological parameter of a subject over a time period;   a second physiological sensor configured to measure data that indicates a change in a value of a second physiological parameter of a subject over the time period;   at least one processor; and   at least one memory including one or more sequences of instructions,   the at least one memory and the one or more sequences of instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the assembly to perform at least the following, receive data from the first physiological sensor over the time period;
 determine whether the change in the value of the first physiological parameter exceeds a first change threshold; 
 receive data from the second physiological sensor over the time period if the change in the value of the first physiological parameter exceeds the first change threshold; 
 determine whether the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds a second change threshold; and 
 perform an action based on the determination that the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds the second change threshold. 
   
     
     
         2 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first physiological sensor is a heart rate sensor and wherein the first physiological parameter is a heart rate of the subject; and   wherein the second physiological sensor is a temperature sensor and wherein the second physiological parameter is a body temperature of the subject.   
     
     
         3 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a motion sensor configured to measure data that indicates a value of a motion of the subject over the time period;
 wherein the action performed is determining a level of physical activity of the subject over the time period based on the data from the motion sensor.   
     
     
         4 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 a haptic feedback device and wherein the action performed includes activation of the haptic feedback device to alert the subject of the determination that the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds the second change threshold; and   a display device and wherein the action performed includes outputting one or more characters on the display device based on the determination that the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds the second change threshold.   
     
     
         5 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first physiological sensor is one of:
 a heart rate sensor and wherein the first physiological parameter is a heart rate of the subject; and   a temperature sensor and wherein the first physiological parameter is a body temperature of the subject.   
     
     
         6 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the motion sensor is one of:
 an accelerometer, wherein the data indicates a value of an acceleration of the subject over the time period and wherein the memory and sequence of instruction is further configured to cause the assembly to determine the value of the motion of the subject over the time period based on the value of the acceleration of the subject over the time period; and   a position sensor, wherein the data indicates a value of a position of the subject over the time period and wherein the memory and sequence of instruction is further configured to cause the assembly to determine the value of the motion of the subject over the time period based on the value of the position of the subject over the time period.   
     
     
         7 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first physiological sensor and the second physiological sensor is worn on a body of the subject. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the first physiological sensor and the second physiological sensor is worn on a wrist of the subject. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a haptic feedback device and wherein the action performed includes activation of the haptic feedback device to alert the subject of the determination that the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds the second change threshold. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a display device and wherein the action performed is an output of one or more characters on the display device based on the determination that the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds the second change threshold. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable battery to provide electrical power to the at least one of the first physiological sensor, the second physiological sensor and the processor. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly for detecting a current or future panic attack, anxiety episode, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) flashback or fast breathing, comprising:
 a first physiological sensor configured to measure data that indicates a change in a value of a first physiological parameter of a subject over a time period;   a second physiological sensor configured to measure data that indicates a change in a value of a second physiological parameter of a subject over the time period;   a device configured to alert the subject of the current or future panic attack, anxiety episode, PTSD flashback or fast breathing;   at least one processor; and   at least one memory including one or more sequences of instructions,   the at least one memory and the one or more sequences of instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the assembly to perform at least the following, receive data from the first physiological sensor over the time period;
 determine whether the change in the value of the first physiological parameter exceeds a first change threshold; 
 receive data from the second physiological sensor over the time period if the change in the value of the first physiological parameter exceeds the first change threshold; 
 determine whether the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds a second change threshold, said determination being indicative of the current or future panic attack, anxiety episode, PTSD flashback or fast breathing; and 
 perform an action based on the determination that the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds the second change threshold comprising activation, of the device to prompt the subject to take action to treat the current panic attack, anxiety episode, PTSD flashback or fast breathing or prevent onset of the future panic attack, anxiety episode, PTSD flashback or fast breathing. 
   
     
     
         13 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 12 ,
 wherein the first physiological sensor is a heart rate sensor and wherein the first physiological parameter is a heart rate of the subject; and   wherein the second physiological sensor is a temperature sensor and wherein the second physiological parameter is a body temperature of the subject.   
     
     
         14 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a motion sensor configured to measure data that indicates a value of a motion of the subject over the time period;
 wherein the action performed is determining a level of physical activity of the subject over the time period based on the data from the motion sensor.   
     
     
         15 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device is at least one of:
 a haptic feedback device and wherein the action performed includes activation of the haptic feedback device; and   a display device and wherein the action performed includes outputting one or more characters on the display device.   
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 measuring, with a first physiological sensor, data that indicates a change in a value of a first physiological parameter of a subject over a time period;   measuring, with a second physiological sensor, data that indicates a change in a value of a second physiological parameter of a subject over the time period;   receiving, with a processor, data from the first physiological sensor over the time period;   determining, with the processor, whether the change in the value of the first physiological parameter exceeds a first change threshold;   receiving, with the processor, data from the at second physiological sensor over the time period if the change in the value of the first physiological parameter exceeds the first change threshold;   determining, with the processor, whether the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds a second change threshold; and   performing an action based on the determination that the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds the second change threshold.   
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising suppressing, with the processor, data from the second physiological sensor if the change in the value of the first physiological parameter is less than the first change threshold. 
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the performing the action comprises activating a haptic feedback device worn by the subject to alert the subject of the determination that the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds the second change threshold. 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the performing the action comprises outputting one or more characters on a display device based on the determination that the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds the second change threshold. 
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the performing the action comprises providing treatment to the subject. 
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 measuring, with a motion sensor, data that indicates a value of a motion of the subject over the time period;   wherein the performing step further comprises determining a level of physical activity of the subject over the time period based on the data from the motion sensor.   
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the method is for detecting a current or future panic attack, anxiety episode, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) flashback or fast breathing;
 wherein the determining that the change in the value of the second physiological parameter exceeds the second change threshold is indicative of the current or future panic attack, anxiety episode, PTSD flashback or fast breathing; and   wherein the performing the action comprises activating a device to prompt the subject to take action to treat the current panic attack, anxiety episode, PTSD flashback or fast breathing or prevent onset of the future panic attack, anxiety episode, PTSD flashback or fast breathing.