WO2011120524A1

WO2011120524A1 - Sound device for indications of health condition

Info

Publication number: WO2011120524A1
Application number: PCT/DK2011/050100
Authority: WO
Inventors: Torben Dalgaard; Lars Storper
Original assignee: DALGAARD HEALTH TECH APS
Current assignee: DALGAARD HEALTH TECH APS
Priority date: 2010-03-28
Filing date: 2011-03-28
Publication date: 2011-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-28

Abstract

System for personal health check, where said system comprises: - one or more sensors either wirelessly or by wire connected to - a USB device, where circuitry on the USB device recognises and translates input from the one or more sensors and communicates the recognised input to a - software programme stored on a PC, lap-top or other personal computing device; - where said software receives input data from the one or more sensors via the USB device, where said input contains a string of characters identifying the type of device - where the software compares the input to pre-stored data relating to the same type of input, and where the software generates an output having one of three possible messages depending on how the input compares to the pre-stored data for that specific type of input.

Description

Sound device for indications of health condition

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for personal health check as well as a method for carrying out a personal health check with the system.

In broad terms the present invention may be defined as a user-driven, personal diagnostic unit consisting of a USB-connected sensor device and appropriate software which gives an elementary analysis of the appropriate measured input by the sensor device and analyzes this input for abnormalities, irregularities. The system does not require medical expertise to diagnose elementary symptoms whether everything seems normal or there are signs of disease/abnormality.

Background of the Invention

For many years stethoscopes have been commonly used by doctors and nurses in auscultation, i.e. listening to sounds made within the body to diagnose any abnormal condition present in the body. An acoustic stethoscope is within the context of the present invention an example of one sensor type which may be used with the system. Below the system will be described in more detail with reference to a centre of the stethoscope type, but as will also be evident from the description a wide variety of sensors are usable with the system.

Electronic stethoscopes were introduced to isolate and make audible auscultatory sounds to make diagnosis easier. One such electronic stethoscope is described in US 3525810. The electronic stethoscope disclosed in this document is designed to detect sounds induced by stenosis. Stenosis is a narrowing of a diameter of a body tube. The stethoscope is made up of a sophisticated microphone, a preamplifier, and pre-filter and an output amplifier as well as a set of headphones. The electronic stethoscope increases sounds relating to stenosis, whereas other sounds are filtered away by the pre-filter. In order to interpret the information the stethoscope has as output it is necessary to have a qualified doctor interpreting the sounds and thereby formulating the diagnosis.

In US 4783813 a stethoscope is described with a sound pick-up head and an earpiece. A relatively advanced construction of the sound pick-up head clarifies the sound and introduces it to an electronic amplifier whereby it is possible to visualize for example the heart beat on a visual heart beat indicator. In short, the stethoscope is a traditional stethoscope attached to an electronic amplifier. In US 5832093 is described a system for modifying an ordinary acoustic stethoscope into an electrically amplified stethoscope.

On the internet there are a number of simple devices available dedicated to listening to and sharing the sounds of an unborn baby's heartbeat. Those prenatal listening systems are a way to hear and share the sounds of unborn babies' heartbeat. The systems are not provided with any type of analysing support software, and their only purpose is to amplify the sound of the unborn baby's heart.

Excluding the above baby device all the other stethoscopes mentioned above provide input to a qualified listener, typically a doctor, who based on his training and experience will identify the systems and formulate a diagnosis.

Other similar devices are available for checking blood pressure where for example an inflatable armband is to be arranged in a certain position around the patient's arm in- flated such that it is possible to electronically detect the blood pressure. Similar devices are available for detecting a person's pulse, temperature, weight etc.

Common for these devices and sensors is the fact that they do not give an indication to the user whether or not there is an abnormality or irregularity, but solely produces a measurement, for example the body temperature is 39°or the weight is 63 kg. Object of the Invention

It is consequently an object of the present invention to provide an easy to use and easy to understand intuitative personal diagnostic unit which not only registers the input, but also indicates to the user whether or not the input is normal or not. Description of the Invention

The present invention addresses this by providing a system for personal health check, where said system comprises:

- one or more sensors either wirelessly or by wire connected to

- a USB device, where circuitry on the USB device recognises and translates input from the one or more sensors and communicates the recognised input to a

- software programme stored on a PC, lap-top or other personal computing device;

- where said software receives input data from the one or more sensors via the USB device, where said input contains a string of characters identifying the type of device

- where the software compares the input to pre-stored data relating to the same type of input, and where the software generates an output having one of three possible messages depending on how the input compares to the pre-stored data for that specific type of input.

The essence of the system is that it generates an output having one of three possible messages. The first message will typically be equal to a "green light", i.e. nothing is wrong, no abnormalities or irregularities have been detected with the type of sensor in question. The second possible message is a "yellow light" indicating that the measured property is on the edge or just outside the edge of what may be considered normal, and it is advisable to seek professional medical advice. The third message is a "red light" indicating that the input is seriously different from what may be considered normal, and as such the measuring cycle, i.e. placing the sensor in the right position on the body and restarting the programme should be carried out in order to verify the "red light", and if the same result appears again, it is strongly advisable to seek professional medical advice as soon as possible.

The system as such does therefore not indicate or give predictions as to which symptoms and therefore which illnesses might be in play, but simply indicates to the user that an abnormality has been registered. Furthermore, by being able to cooperate more sensors, for example a thermometer in combination with a stethoscope, more certainty may be obtained in the advice given by the system, i.e. the red, green or yellow light. The USB device as such may have one, two or more USB jacks or wireless ports such that it is possible to obtain readings from more than one sensor at a time, where the sensor will identify itself in the USB device such that the input which is served to the software will have a string of characters identifying that particular type of reading, i.e. for example that a thermometer is identified as a thermometer and a blood pressure sensor is identified as a blood pressure sensor and vice versa. In addition to providing the user with a simple indication of the current condition the input may also be stored in the system for further reference.

In a further advantageous embodiment the system using the sensors where the sensor is one or more of the following:

- a stethoscope;

- a blood pressure sensor;

- a thermometer, preferably an ear thermometer;

- a non-invasive or invasive glucose and/or cholesterol sensor

- a breath analyser (spirometer), comprising means for for example determining amount of air intake/output, oxygen content, oxygen saturation;

- non-invasive liquid flow sensor;

- weighing scale/ weighing machine;

- weighing scale/ weighing machine including BMI measurement

- ECG electrodes

- puis oximeter (finger clips).

As is evident from the selection of sensors they are all non-invasive and as such do not interfere with the body. The measurement obtained, i.e. the input transmitted to the system, is therefore obtained in a harmless manner which ordinary people will be able to perform in their own homes.

On the other hand, the range of possible measurements will give a very good data collection for diagnosing the general health condition of a person and as such the system provides a relatively comprehensive health overlook without any specifics, but with the clear indications of whether or not there are any common abnormalities at present.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the system the pre-stored data comprise pre- stored data relating to gender, age, BMI, and where the software receives input relating to the users gender, age and optionally height.

Some weighing scales are equipped with an integrated software package, as well as electrodes arranged in the position where a user will place the feet during weighing. These devices will be able to roughly indicate BMI (on the premise that the user enters height and gender) and fat/water content relating to body mass. These readings may naturally be used as input into the system according to the invention.

Statistically, males and females will have different "normal" values, for example relating to blood pressure, air intake and output, oxygen saturation etc., which data is also relating to the person's age and BMI (Body Mass Index) . Therefore, if a user initially enters and stores information relating to gender, age and optionally height, the system will when it is started up, ask for identification of the user, for example the user may select A as his or her personal section in the software, such that the already stored gender, age and height is used in order to evaluate the input and compare it to the pre- stored data relating to a person's age, specific age group, BMI and gender. In this manner the output becomes more personalized and more specific to that particular user, and as such the simple system of three possible messages becomes more reliable and predictable in view only of very little input, i.e. gender, age and height.

In a further advantageous embodiment the sensors are wireless devices where the USB device has means for receiving and determining the type of sensor in its vicinity, and relating input to the software.

For a number of the sensors mentioned above they are readily available as wireless devices, for example weighing scales, thermometer, blood pressure sensor etc. whereas other devices such as the stethoscope may be made very cheaply with a wire connection. It is therefore the user's choice whether or not a particular sensor should be wire- less or not, but it is obvious that advantages are provided with wireless sensors in that it gives the user more freedom to move in relation to the USB device which is usually connected to a computer such that wireless devices provide a greater degree of freedom.

In this connection the USB protocol is advantageous in that USB devices are very widespread and it is fairly simple to programme the USB device to the particular purpose, i.e. to either operate as a USB docking station where one or more wires may be docked by USB jack means, or where a wireless receiver is installed on the PCB of the USB device.

In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention the software generates an output presented on a screen, where the output graphically illustrates the sensors' input as an overlay to the pre-stored data for the particular input, and where optionally the output is stored in a designated memory, and optionally printed out in hard copy. Typically, the output will as already mentioned above be in the shape of one of three possible messages, i.e. a message corresponding to red, green or yellow light, but it is also possible for example if the sensor is a stethoscope to illustrate the progression of the heartbeat on the computer screen. For other measurements the history, i.e. previous measure results, may be graphically illustrated, where also the levels for normality are arranged such that it is clear for a user in which part of the normal bandwidth the recent readings are placed. As en example the BMI index for a normal-weight person might be between 22 and 27 for a given age group, and if the person using the system uses the weighing scale sensor which will be indicated as pure weight, but may also be used in calculating the BMI, the BMI is illustrated graphically between two lines where the upper line illustrates the upper limit and the lower line illustrates the lower limit of the normal BMI index, and as such it is very easy for a user to see where in the normal interval the current reading is placed. The provision of a designated memory facilitates the storing of data for a plurality of users who will each have their own dedicated memory relating to their specific measurements using the sensors as input devices. Naturally, the data may also be printed out in hard copy, i.e. on paper and brought along, for example to the doctor's office, if a message of the red or yellow light type has been generated.

In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention the input from the sensor triggers a support output from the software, where the support output displays the correct position on the body to install the identified sensor or sensors.

As a computer is involved, there is also a computer screen involved, and the software programme is provided with a tutorial indicating to the user where the sensors shall be used relating to specific measurements. For example when using a stethoscope in order to monitor the heartbeat, the stethoscope shall be placed fairly accurately in relation to the heart, and in this instance the screen will typically indicate a person's torso correctly. Similar figures may be generated for other sensors, for example an indication on the torso on where to put the ECG electrodes in order to measure ECG diagram data.

Description of the Drawing

The invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 illustrates schematically a very simple arrangement of the invention,

Figure 2 illustrates a person's torso with an indication 10 of there correction to place the stethoscope

Figure 3 illustrates the dialogue between the user and the software

Figure 4 illustrates a screen dump generated by the system where three differ- ent sensors have been used

Figure 5 A to C illustrates the collection of input compared to pre-stored data

Detailed Description of the Invention

In figure 1 is schematically illustrated a very simple arrangement of the invention. A stethoscope 1 is by means of a wire 2 connected to a USB device 3. The USB is inserted into a PC which PC comprises the computing unit 4 and a screen 5. A further sensor device in the shape of a weighing scale 6 is wirelessly connected to a receiver in the USB device 3 such that the weighing scale 6 comprises means 7 for wirelessly transmitting the input of a user's weight to the USB device 3 which in turn will forward this information as input to the software installed on the computing unit 4. The software platform installed in the computing unit 4 will receive the input from the stethoscope 1 and the weighing scale 6 and together with input relating to the specific user indicate on the screen whether or not the collected input falls within what may be considered normal, almost normal or that there is reason to seek further advice. Initially, when the programme is started up, the screen 5 will display a picture, for example as illustrated in figure 2. In figure 2 is illustrated a person's torso with an indication 10 of there correction to place the stethoscope 1 in order to get the best measurement of the heart rhythm. Once the stethoscope is recognized by the system, the screen may for example provide the information to the user in dialogue form as illustrated with reference to figure 3. In the action column 11 is indicated that the system in addition to the messages appearing in the dialogue column 12 also will transmit any sound collected by the stethoscope if a loudspeaker is connected to the computing system 4. The dialogue column 12 guides the user through the process of obtaining a reliable reading of the heart sound by informing the user how to perform the test.

In figure 4 is depicted a screen dump generated by the system where three different sensors have been used. The sensors in this example are a stethoscope 1 , a blood pressure meter 13 and a weighing scale 6. The actual readings are depicted in graphical form such that the heart sound, the blood pressure variation 15 and the weight 16 are depicted graphically, very intuitively and easy to read. Furthermore, the system provides further information, namely that the pulse, arythmia and murmur are OK. The OK statement is illustrated with the number of the pulse being 63 depicted in green, the OK green and the murmur green as illustrated at 17. The same thing is naturally true for the indications relating to blood pressure, weight and BMI. Red indication would indicate to the user that there is something wrong and further advice as depicted in figure 3 should be sought. The BMI requires that the user has entered the user's height and gender in order to collect to correct reference date which has already been stored on the software platform in the computing unit in order to calculate the correct BMI. In table 1 is illustrated examples of various sensor types, for example a stethoscope 1 , a blood pressure meter 13, a thermometer 18, a blood glucose-meter 19, a spirometer 20, a cholesterol meter 21, electrodes 22 and a pulse oxymeter 23. Under the different sensor types are listed the types of measurements which may be carried out with the specific type of sensors, and in the column named "objective and diagnosis" the input received from the particular sensor is listed. Naturally, table 1 only suggest a few sensors; many more types of sensors may be used with the system without departing from the object of the present invention.

Turning to fig 5 A through C an illustration of the software platform is presented. In fig 5A is the area 20 representing the set of for example possible stethoscope readings for a given user, related to gender, age, etc. In fig. 5 Bl is the set of possible blood pressure readings represented as a curve 21, which in fig 5 B2 is translated into a set 22 of the same format as the stethoscope readings depicted in fig 5 A. A third set 24 (not explained) may also be obtained and store in the computer. The sets 20, 22, 24 represent the pre-stored data relating to various measurements (stethoscope - heart sound, pulse, weight, glucose etc). In each set 20, 22, 24 there is an area corresponding to "normal" for a given user age, height etc. Each "normal" area represents a sub-set. Any of the sets 20, 22, 24 will contain a plurality of sub-sets relating to "normal" for that particular measurement and user specific group (age, height, gender etc). Naturally the sets 20, 22 and 24 may represent input from other sensors as explained above, as more or less sets stemming from various sensors may be used.

In fig 5 C the software platform has correlated the input from the various sensors, by superposing the sets 20, 22, and 24.

If all the user's readings falls in the hatched area 25, the indications on the screen - the output, will be "green" - i.e. normal. If one or more readings falls outside the hatched area the output will be "yellow" or "red" depending on the levels entered in the soft- ware platform for that particular type of input. For example a weight reading outside the "normal" set is probably not as severe as a blood pressure reading outside the area, and consequently differentiated output shall be generated.

Claims

1. System for personal health check, where said system comprises:

- one or more sensors either wirelessly or by wire connected to

- where said software receives input data from the one or more sensors via the USB device, where said input contains a string of characters identifying the type of device - where the software compares the input to pre-stored data relating to the same type of input, and where the software generates an output having one of three possible messages depending on how the input compares to the pre-stored data for that specific type of input.

2. System according to claim 1 wherein the sensors is one or more of the following:

- a stethoscope;

- a blood pressure sensor;

- a thermometer, preferably an ear thermometer;

- a non-invasive glucose and/or cholesterol sensor

- a breath analyser (spirometer), comprising means for determining amount of air intake/output, oxygen content, oxygen saturation;

- non-invasive liquid flow sensor;

- weighing scale/ weighing machine; optionally including BMI;

- ECG electrodes

- puis oximeter (finger clips).

3. System according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the pre-stored data comprise pre-stored data relating to gender, age, BMI , and where the software receives input relating to the users gender, age and optionally height.

4. System according to claim 1 wherein the sensors are wireless devices, and where the USB device has means for receiving and determining the type of sensor in its vicinity, and relating input to the software.

5. System according to claim 1, wherein the software generates an output presented on a screen, where the output graphically illustrates the sensors' input as an overlay to the pre-stored data for the particular input, and where optionally the output is stored in a designated memory, and optionally printed out in hard copy.

6. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the input from the sensor triggers a support output from the software, where the support output displays the correct position on the body to install the identified sensor or sensors.

7. Method for obtaining an indication of a users' personal health:

- where a user selects one or more sensors corresponding to the desired body characteristics it is desired to measure;

- where a USB device is inserted into an appropriate available port in a computing device;

- where the USB automatically initiates a software programme previously stored/installed on the computing device;

- where the user initially enters personal information relating to one or more of the following: age, gender, height, unique identification code;

- where the software programme generates a guide on how to place the one or more sensors correctly, from data incorporated in the software, and displays said guide on a screen;

- where the sensor generates input which via the USB is transmitted to the software, which compares the input to previously stored data relating to the specific input received and the users unique identification data;

- where the software generates a graphical and/or audio output;

- where said output comprises one of three possible messages, and optionally a graphical representation of the input in relation to the previously stored data.