Oh, patents! Interface for Rain Bird® wireless rain/freeze sensor

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Rain Bird® irrigation systems are foremost concerned with water conservation. “Every drop counts” guides the company’s philosophy and its line of products that includes drip irrigation, and root watering systems, sprinkler systems, timers and sensors, as well as the Watersense program, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A program designed to label products that have been certified water-efficient, according to a series of efficiency and performance criteria.

The Rain Bird® wireless rain/freeze sensor is one such significant water conservation product. Connected to an irrigation system controller, the Rain Bird® wireless rain/freeze sensor immediately interrupts the irrigation cycle when certain temperature, and/or rainfall conditions have been met. Then, once the rainfall and/or temperature conditions are no longer met, the irrigation system resets to start.

The Rain Bird® wireless rain/freeze sensor interface is a patented invention. The US design patent USD623194S1, titled Graphics interface for the wireless rain sensor, was awarded on September 7th, 2010, to Carl Dennell Cook, William John Leach, and Charles S. Curbbun. The patent was assigned to Rain Bird Corporation.

The patent Figure 1 below depicts the graphical interface of the Rain Bird® wireless rain/freeze sensor interface. The Figure 1 interface displays both the rainfall cloud and the temperature ice-crystal trip indicator icons. The temperature ice-crystal trip indicator icon is displayed because the temperature has dropped below the selected threshold level. The rainfall cloud trip indicator icon is displayed because the rainfall exceeds the selected threshold level. Thus, both temperature and rainfall conditions are met, resulting in an interruption of the irrigation cycle. Rainfall settings range from 1/8” (3 mm) to 1/2” (13 mm). A setting closer to the top allows more precipitation to occur before the irrigation shuts off. Three temperature settings: 33°F (0.5°C), 37°F (3°C), or 41°F (5°C) may be selected. Selecting a lower temperature allows irrigation at lower temperatures.

An image of the marketed Rain Bird® wireless rain/freeze sensor interface is also included below. The interface in this image does not display the rainfall cloud or temperature ice-crystal trip indicator icons, as neither the rain nor the temperature conditions have been met, and irrigation is still working.

On the patent Figure 1, the broken lines for the battery indicator values, the signal strength indicator, as well as the 72-hour irrigation override indicator, correspond to unclaimed portions of the design.

References

Rain Bird® (website)

https://www.rainbird.com/

Rain Bird® Watersense Program

https://www.rainbird.com/watersense 

Rain bird® W2 Rain/Freeze sensor

https://store.rainbird.com/wr2rfc-wr2-wireless-rain-freeze-sensor-combo.html

Oh, patents! Amazon One, pay with the palm of your hand!

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the advent of a new era of contactless payment. In 2022, welcome contactless cardless payment with the palm of your hand! Just provide your mobile phone number and Amazon Prime QR Code, when you first enroll with the Amazon One service to activate both palms on the sensor. A fast procedure, somewhat reminiscent of activating the biometrics of your face on a new Iphone. Thereafter, all you need to do to pay, is to hover and let the Amazon One sensor recognize and identify one of your palms, for example, at a cash register, equipped with the biometric device. No more credit cards. No more searching for your Prime QR code with your phone app, or via Amazon.com. Checking out is as easy as a hover, effortless, and incredibly streamlined, not to mention safe, and truly contactless. You can even check out and pay, if you forget your purse (or wallet) in the car.

Needless to say that this invention is patented. The Amazon One, palm-powered contactless payment service is recited in the US utility patent application US20200302147A1, titled Biometric input device. The patent discloses the means for acquiring images of the user’s palms, while determining surface and subcutaneous features relevant to contactless identification of the user. The patent also discloses the means of processing recognition of the user's palm, for each new use of the service, whether for payment, entry, or other biometric identification purposes.

The patent Figure 1 below, together with an image of the Amazon One biometric device, both show a user hovering within the device's Field Of View (FOV) for identification of their palm. Hovering for Identification at the cash registers of Amazon-owned Whole Foods supermarkets, for example, or at other points of sale, or entry portals, such as libraries, hospitals, apartments, and offices, according to the extended scope of the invention.

  

 The patent Figure 1 specifically depicts the biometric input device 102, according to the invention. A user’s hand 104 is hovering over the device 102 sensor window 106. A sensor assembly beneath the sensor window 106, comprises a camera with a field of view (FOV) 108. The sensor assembly (not depicted in Figure 1) might further comprise illuminators and polarizers used to obtain biometric data, in cooperation with the camera. Likewise, a mainboard assembly (not depicted in Figure 1) might additionally comprise a card reader, one or more processors, memory, output devices, controllers, and additional input devices. The patent Figure 1 additionally depicts an optional liquid crystal display device 110, able to display text, images and other information. The display device 110 might further comprise a touchscreen together with a haptics sensor. The device 102 also depicts a card reader 112, able to cooperate with a magnetic card 114. Finally, the device 102 also includes a stand 116, supporting the device, and possibly attached to a countertop. 

Below, the abstract of the Amazon One biometric input device invention. 

A biometric input device includes a sensor assembly that generates images of a user's palm that is within a field of view (FOV) using an image sensor behind a polarizer with a first polarization. The palm within the FOV is illuminated at different times with light having the first polarization and the second polarization. The images are acquired using polarized light and provide images of surface and subcutaneous features. The images may then be processed to identify the user. The device may include a touchscreen to provide information to the user or receive input from the user. The device may include a stand to mount the device at a convenient location, such as at an entry portal, point of sale, and so forth. [US20200302147A1]

References

Amazon One 

https://one.amazon.com/ 

Amazon One - How it works

https://one.amazon.com/how-it-works

Oh, patents! HOPES

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

HOPES, an acronym for Home Eye Pressure E-skin Sensor, is a wearable sensor device that enables users to self-monitor Intraocular Pressure (IOP). Elevated IOP is the highest modifiable risk factor of glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness, affecting more than 2 million people in the US alone (Glaucoma Research Foundation).

 

The gold standard procedure for measuring IOP is Goldman Applanation Tonometry (GAT), a procedure routinely performed at optometry offices, requiring the use of fluorescein dye and local anesthesia drops. Beyond costs and relative intrusiveness of the GAT procedure performed on the cornea, the GAT test is punctual, whereas IOP fluctuates. Thus, GAT IOP in-office testing, offering a 2 to 4-second window of measurements, might not capture maximum IOP, occurring outside the office, at another point. In contrast, HOPES would offer means for self-testing, repeated during a 24-hour period, while avoiding both discomforts and risks to the cornea, since the test is performed on the eyelid. HOPES self-tonometry was also conceived as Bluetooth®-enabled, connected to a mobile device, including tele-health capacity to share data with clinicians (see image below).

Currently undergoing clinical trials, within the National University of Singapore (NUS) Clinical Research Centers, the HOPES sensors and algorithms are patented. The United Nations Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent, WO2020036537A1, titled Method and device for self-measurement of intra-ocular pressure, recites the details of the array sensor technology. A technology designed to capture a plurality of intra-ocular pressures at different positions of an eye, in cooperation with a processor designed to receive the plurality of measures. Measures, which in turn are fed as input to an artificial intelligence learning module, designed to compute an IOP for the eye. The patent also includes results of the reliability testing that was performed to train the artificial intelligence learning module.

Below, the patent Figure 1B depicts a side view of an eye 10, including eyebrow 17 and eyelashes 19.  The array of sensors 20, of the self-testing tonometry device 30, are contacting an eyelid 15 for measuring IOP, according to various embodiments of the invention. More specifically, the Figure 1B shows a finger 35, pressing on the force-transfer assembly 25 of the self-testing tonometry device 30, equipped with a flexible member 23, enabling the array of sensors 20 to come into contact with the eyelid 15. When the finger 35 applies force, the array of sensors 20 takes pressure measurements, though the eyelid 15, at the pressure points marked 40 on the eyeball 12.

An image of a marketable embodiment of the invention, being used to self-measure IOP, is included below. The image also shows IOP measurement results posted on a mobile device screen.

The abstract of the HOPES sensor and algorithm invention appears below. The HOPES invention won the International James Dyson Award in 2021.

A self-tonometry device for measuring intra-ocular pressure in an eye of a subject, may include a plurality of sensors and a processor for executing a machine learning module. The plurality of sensors may be arranged in an array for measuring a plurality of pressures at respective positions on an eye of a subject, when the plurality of sensors in the array apply a force to the eye at the respective positions through an eyelid of the subject. The processor may be configured to receive the plurality of pressures at the respective location from the plurality of sensors, and to compute using the machine learning module, an intra-ocular pressure in the eye based on the plurality of pressures measured at the respective positions through the eyelid of the subject. [Abstract WO2020036537A1]

References

Glaucoma Research Foundation – About
https://glaucoma.org/learn-about-glaucoma/

HOPES
https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/en-US/2021/project/hopes/

Oh, patents! Beddit® sleep monitor

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Want to sleep better? Not alone in your bed? Beddit® was specifically designed for sleepers sharing beds, considering that other sleep trackers will pick up information from another person sharing the same bed.

The Beddit® monitor was designed as a very sensitive sensor strip that is placed on the mattress, rather than worn by individual users. Beddit® continuously sends the data it collects to a mobile device, via Bluetooth® connection,. In turn, the Beddit® app executes to analyze the data, in view of providing users with feedback, and tips on how to improve their sleep.

In particular, Beddit® provides users with feedback on whether they are meeting their sleep goals, for example, in terms of the amount of sleep and their bedtime. Beddit® also monitors the amount of time before falling asleep, user heart and breathing rates, during sleep; ambient room temperature and humidity, and the amount of time spent snoring, or out of bed. Users, for their part, are able to rate their sleep with a “morning feeling” rating. The collected data appears to users as results, viewable daily, or as trends. In turn, using suitable algorithms, the results are converted to indicators, for example, of good health, or of poor sleep, which are then returned to the user, in the form of tips.

In 2017, Apple purchased Beddit® from the Finnish company that designed the monitor. The Beddit® invention sensors, together with the Beddit® app, were granted several US utility patents. In particular, the US utility patent US11298075B2, titled Physiological Monitoring Method and System, was recently granted, on April 12, 2022, to the Finnish inventors, and assigned to Apple Inc.

The patent particularly addresses the issue of simultaneously monitoring the sleep physiology of two subjects, sharing the same bed, considering that the problems of prior art sleep sensors relate to picking up signals from more than one person, when there is more than one person in the bed. A problematic situation of the prior art, which is also compounded by the need for unobtrusiveness. Indeed, sophisticated prior art physiological monitoring systems exist, subsuming the use of radars, cameras and multiple sensors. However, such systems are hardly feasible, especially under normal sleep conditions without light.

The abstract of the invention is included below, together with the Figure 1 patent drawing, showing an embodiment of the system components of the invention. In particular, the Figure 1 drawing depicts the system 100, comprising a control unit 150, and at least a first and second, unobtrusive, elongated sensor strips 120a and 120b, on the bed 110, used for monitoring two, non-depicted, subjects. The two, unobtrusive, sensor strips 120a and 120b are multichannel force sensors, comprising several separate sensor elements, designed to measure breathing, heart rate and movement, respectively of the persons in the bed.

The control unit 150 comprises, non-depicted, items such as processors, memory units, communication circuits, I/O (input/output) units, user interface units, connectors and antennas. The control unit 150 further comprises means of communicating with the unobtrusive sensor strips, using a wireless Bluetooth® local area network (WLAN). Finally, the control unit 150 is implemented as an app on devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers or televisions.

An image of the marketed Beddit® system components, the sensor strip and app executing on mobile devices, is also included below.

A method, and system of physiological monitoring, include measuring a quantity relating to a first subject with a first sensor positioned in or in proximity of the first subject and configured to provide a first signal , measuring a quantity relating to a second subject with a second sensor positioned in or in proximity of the second subject and configured to provide a second signal , and analyzing the first and the second signal and the interrelation of the first and second signal in order determine at least one event relating to the first and/or the second subject. [Abstract US11298075B2]

Reference
Beddit® - https://www.beddit.com/

Oh, patents! Apple Yoga fitness tracker

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Some people might cringe at the idea of a fitness tracker associated with Yoga. A 5000 year old body and mind practice, meaning “unity” in Sanskrit, the sacred language of India, where the true names of the “asanas” (poses) are found. According to Forbes, a yoga fitness tracker might also be especially troubling for those practitioners, who turn to yoga to precisely disconnect from all of their electronic bits and bytes. At the end of the day, however, the Apple Yoga fitness tracker perhaps testifies to the beauty of yoga, its capacity to transcend the ages through the human body, to become relevant in 2022, in new ways, new cultures, new languages, and in new conversations that also celebrate health.

Consequently, for those interested in electronically monitoring their yoga practice, as part of an overall health and fitness program—or for any other reason, Apple created a native Apple Watch yoga app, with the capacity to measure energy expenditure during a yoga session. The app measures heart rate in beats per minute (BPM), active calories (generated in movement), and total calories (combining active and resting calories.)

A new and non-obvious device, since unlike fitness trackers for aerobic exercise routines, like biking, running or swimming, where heart rate is correlated to calories burned in repetitive, high intensity movement, many different sorts of yoga exists, combining both movement and pause. An apparent inactivity between yoga asanas, where regular aerobic fitness trackers might also pause, until activity is resumed. Not to menton the confounding variable of increased ambient temperature, causing increased heart rate, during some types of yoga sessions, without increased intensity of movement. Thus, the Apple watch yoga fitness tracking app qualified as an invention, earning the US utility patent US10709933B2, titled Pose and heart rate energy expenditure for yoga.

The Figures 4 and 6 are included below, together with the patent abstract.

The patent Figure 4 depicts exemplary yoga poses, in view of reciting four yoga movement models, deemed relevant in the calculation of yoga energy expenditure. The first model recited as Power yoga (e.g.,Vinyassa, Ashtanga or Acro yoga) is one where each of the poses 402, 404, 406 and 408 are continuous, flowing from one to the other. The second model, recited as Wellness yoga (e.g., Hatha, Iyengar Anasura, Jivamukti, Forrest, Sivananda or Svaroopa yoga), is one where movement from one pose to another is disconnected. In other words each of the poses 402, 404, 406 and 408 might be held for a given amount of time. The third model recited as Hot yoga (e.g. Bikram® yoga) is a version of the second model, performed under much higher ambient temperatures. The fourth model, recited as  Meditative yoga (e.g., representing Vini, Kundalini, Integra or Tantra yoga), is depicted with pose 410, which invokes little, or no movement.

The patent Figure 6 shows the app flowchart. The flowchart recites means 602 to detect the beginning of a yoga session, means 604 to detect the ambient temperature of the session, in view of determining 606 whether the session is Hot yoga, and of scaling 608 Heart rate measurements accordingly. Most importantly, the flowchart depicts means 610 of determining the sort of ongoing yoga session, based on motion sensing and a pose–detection algorithm, so that a corresponding energy expenditure model 612 might be applied to the incoming motion sensor data.

A method and a system for determining an energy expenditure of a user while practicing yoga are described. A heart rate sensing module can measure the user's heart rate. A temperature sensing module can measure ambient temperature. A motion sensing module can collect user's motion data. In some embodiments, a hot yoga session can be detected based on measured ambient temperature. In some embodiments, a yoga type can be detected based on the motion data. In some embodiments, an energy expenditure model can be applied based on the determined yoga type. [Abstract US10709933B2]

References

Bell, L (Dec. 31, 2018). How to use Yoga App on the Apple watch to track your practice.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/leebelltech/2018/12/31/how-to-use-the-yoga-app-on-the-apple-watch-to-track-your-practice/?sh=364d6a1d1669

Turlington, K. (2002). Living yoga: Creating a life practice. Hyperion: New York, NY. 

Oh, patents! UV sanitizing light with integrated motion detection (2)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The award-winning invention recited in US2015343104A1 titled Radiated energy sterilization device and associated method relates to an electromagnetic UV radiation-emitting lighting system for sanitizing the frequently-used surfaces of a room, while also detecting the presence of occupants in the room. The UV radiation-emitting lighting system is designed to detect occupants in a the room, because UV radiation is generally considered harmful to skin and eyes. This invention is used in hospital settings for decontamination purposes, within the context of the prevention of HAIs (hospital-acquired infections).  However, much renewed interest for this invention now also exists within the context of the COVID 19 pandemic, currently phasing-in the re-opening of economic activity.  

The disclosed UV radiation-emitting lightbulb system with an integrated motion detection sensor was invented by the LightingScience Group Corp. A company with a large portfolio of patents and awards-winning products, connected to NASA collaborations and circadian rhythm research.

The abstract of this invention is included below, below together with the patent Figure 5, illustrating the inventive UV radiation-emitting, sanitizing lightbulb with integrated motion control. sensor. Specifically, Figure 5 depicts: the sterilization device 100, the UV emitting device 101, the detector 102, and a source of visible light 103 (on a different spectrum), so that the sterilization device 100 might function both as lighting, when the room is occupied, and as a sanitizing device when the room is vacated. This particular embodiment of the invention also includes a titanium dioxide (TiO2) dispersal system (104) for added photocatalysis, found most reactive in combination with 265 nm wavelength UV light.  

In general, the description of the invention provided in the patent is unlimited to the specified embodiments. Many different variations of the specification remain within the scope of the invention. Variations in terms of the configuration of the light bulbs, the types of sensors and objects or persons detected, the modes, intesity and duration or timing of light emission, as well as the integrated processors to control emission and detection, as well as TiO2 dispersal, when such an option is included.  

 A sterilization device comprising an ultraviolet (UV) electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitting device, a detector configured to detect occupancy of a room associated with the sterilization device, and a controller operably connected to each of the UV EMR emitting device and the detector. The detector is configured to send a signal indicating occupancy to the controller upon a detection of occupancy. The controller is configured to operate the UV EMR emitting device to emit UV EMR only upon receiving a signal indicating no occupancy. [Abstract US2015343104A1]

References

Lighting Science Group Corp. : https://lsgc.com/

LightFair Internation 2012 (May 11, 2012) Lighting Science Group Ushers In The Light Ages With Advanced LED Lighting Intelligence, Control And Design  https://www.ledinside.com/showreport/2012/5/lsg_201205_lfi

Unveiled at CES 2019 – Owlet® Fetal heart monitor

Copyright  © Françoise Herrmann

In 2019, Owlet® Baby Care Inc., also launched the Owlet® Band, a prenatal garment enabling to monitor the unborn child’s heart rate, using miniaturized electrocardiogram (ECG) technology, as well as mother health data, using additional miniaturized sensors. 

The Owlet® Band invention aims to supplement regular prenatal care with a mother and fetal health monitoring system, ultimately designed to gather vital sign data that may prevent stillbirths. For example, monitoring of the mother’s blood flow or pressure may serve to detect changes, and signs of preeclampsia, a potentially dangerous condition for both mother and fetus. 

The Owlet® Band invention, recited in the US patent application US20170281087A1 titled Fetal health monitoring, comprises a band garment designed to cover the belly of the pregnant mother. The band garment comprises 4 miniaturized sensor modules in direct contact with the skin on the mother’s belly.  Specifically, one or several sensor modules may be configured to comprise: accelerometer sensors able to detect mother and fetus movement, a pulse oximeter able to measure the blood oxygen level of the mother and/or blood flow or pressure, one or two ECG electrodes to measure the fetus’ heartbeat, alternatively a Doppler sensor able to measure the fetus’s heartbeat, or one or two ultrasound sensors to measure the duration of contractions and the fetus heartbeat, a microphone, a thermometer, or any other number of possible sensors. The sensor modules are removable to enable laundering of the garment.

The invention also comprises a transmitter module suited to receive the collected sensor data and to send it via WIFI or Bluetooth® to a computer or mobile computing device, such as a telephone. The transmitter module is even suited to transmit data directly to hospital-based health data monitoring systems, thus saving time, otherwise used to reconnect the mother to the hospital equipment. The transmitter also includes means of encrypting all the data transmitted.

The processing algorithms of the sensor modules are designed to separate the data captured. For example, the algorithms are able to separate the captured mother’s heartbeat data from the fetus heartbeat data. The processors are also designed to enable storage of data for subsequent analysis of patterns. For example, fetus movement data is processed across time to determine fetus position. 

The abstract of this invention is included below, together with the patent Figure 1. The drawing shows a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention 100, on an exemplary belly 110 of a pregnant mother 130. The invention comprises the belly-covering garment 140, able to hold the removable sensor modules 140 (a-d), in direct contact with the skin on the mother’s belly. 

A system for monitoring fetal health data and mother health data comprises a belly - covering garment that is configured to at least partially cover a belly and to hold one or more sensor modules directly adjacent to the belly. One or more sensor modules disposed within the belly - covering garment. The one or more sensor modules comprise a pulse – oximeter sensor that gathers pulse oximetry data from the mother through contact with the belly. The one or more sensor modules also comprise an accelerometer sensor that gathers movement data from the mother. Additionally, the one or more sensor modules comprise a fetal sensor that gathers health data from a fetus within the belly. [Abstract US20170281087A1] 

References 
CES 2019
https://www.ces.tech/About-CES.aspx
Owlet®
https://owletcare.com/

At CES 2019! Owlet® infant smart sock

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Winner of three CES 2019 Innovation awards and Best start-up award at CES 2016, Owlet® Baby Care, Inc., is a pioneering company in the domain of wearable infant care monitoring systems. In particular, Owlet® has targeted Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) which claims the lives of approximately 2000 babies between the ages of 1 and 12 months, in the US, each year.

The invention comprises in a wireless smart sock, which includes a miniaturized pulse oximeter and processor. A pulse oximeter is a non-invasive method of measuring blood oxygen saturation (SpO­₂). When an abnormal trend in blood oxygen levels is recorded and processed, a transmitter sounds an alert and sends the information to a remote server via Internet gateway, enabling the alert to also be retrieved and read on a mobile device. This invention resolves issues with the prior art of infant monitoring devices since previous infant monitors are intercom-type monitors. Intercom-type monitors include video and sound recording, designed to inform parents if there is no motion sensed or sound heard in the infant’s room.  The pulse oximeter smart sock thus offers much more precise data, and an opportunity for much faster intervention, in case of an alert.

In 2018, the Owlet® sock had measured more than 1 trillion baby heartbeats! Although the device is not cleared as a medical device by the FDA, it has been tested for accuracy of readings in a clinical trial (Owlet®, Clinicaltrials.gov). The measurements of blood oxygen levels using SpO­₂ (Pulse oximeter saturation), compared to SaO­₂ (Arterial oxygen saturation, using a continuous arterial line), are in fact well correlated, and generally considered sufficiently accurate, especially for pediatric patients, considering the benefits of costs, convenience, and non-invasiveness. Pulse oximeters are also standard of care under many medical circumstances, such as anesthesia, since the 1980s. Finally, the prime motivation for the design of the Owlet® invention is highly personal. One of the founder wives was afflicted with congenital heart disease and was rescued from SIDS on intuition, resulting in emergency open heart surgery. Since such conditions are hereditary, the founder felt compelled to find a way of monitoring his own son’s health, when the couple started their own family.  

This invention is recited in the WIPO patent application WO2014035836A1 titled Wireless infant health monitor and the design of the sock is patented in the US design patent USD781568S1, titled Infant sock. The abstract of the WIPO patent is included below together with the patent Figure 1, illustrating all the components of an embodiment of the invention: the sock comprising the sensing module (100), the receiving station (110) in communication with an Internet gateway (120) (e.g.; a cable modem, router, DSL modem or Ethernet port), and the mobile device (130), which can show in real time heart rate and oxygen level data captured by the sensing device (100). The sock (200) also depicted in the drawing is designed to receive the sensor, which can be used with increasingly larger socks, and removed for laundering the sock. An image of the marketed smart sock in three different colors is also included above. 

 A system for wirelessly monitoring the health of an infant comprising a sensing module removably disposed within a wearable article. At least a portion of the sensing module can be in contact with an infant's foot. The sensing module can include a processing unit configured to receive and process health readings received by the sensing module. A wireless transmitter can also be in communication with the processing unit. The wireless transmitter can be configured to transmit the processed health readings to a receiving station. The receiving station can indicate an alarm if the processed health readings indicate a health trend that falls outside of a particular threshold. [Abstract WO2014035836A1]

References

CES 2019
https://www.ces.tech/  
Owlet®

https://owletcare.com

ClinicalTRials.gov - SpO­₂ Accuracy Comparison of Smart Sock V. 2 SpO­₂ to Arterial Blood CO-Oximetry

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03630016?term=Owlet&rank=1

FDA – Baby products with SIDS prevention claims

https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/productsandmedicalprocedures/sidspreventionclaims/default.htm

HSU, A (2011) Rethinking SIDS: Many deaths no longer a mystery

https://www.npr.org/2011/07/15/137859024/rethinking-sids-many-deaths-no-longer-a-mystery

NIHCD - Safe sleep for your baby: Reduce the causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant death

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pubs/Documents/NICHD_Safe_to_Sleep_brochure.pdf

Raven, R. (2018) SIDS - Sudden Infant and Early Childhood Death Syndrome: Past, Present and Future

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513390/

 Singh, Anupam Kumar et al. Comparative Evaluation of Accuracy of Pulse Oximeters and Factors Affecting Their Performance in a Tertiary Intensive Care Unit  DOI:  10.7860/JCDR/2017/24640.9961

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5535407/

CES 2019 Innovation Award – L’Oréal My Skin Track pH sensor

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The L’Oréal - La Roche-Posay My Skin Track pH sensor patch (with companion app) won a CES Innovation Awarded in the Wearable Technologies category. 

The sensor is designed to measure the skin’s pH level, using capacitance detection technology (e.g.; Touchchip®), in particular, though unlimited, to better customizing or evaluating skin product regimens. The sensor measures skin pH on a scale of 1 to 14. A high score, above 7 indicates an alkaline pH and a low score, below 7, indicates an acidic pH. Normal skin is slightly acidic with a pH ranging between 4.5 and 5.5. Skin with a pH below the normal acidic range is dry, and sometimes associated with conditions such as eczema and contact dermatitis. Skin with a pH higher than the normal acidic range is more oily, and is sometimes associated with conditions such as acne.

The L’Oréal - La Roche-Posay My Skin Track pH sensor invention is recited in the US patent application US20040171962A1, titled Apparatus and method to evaluate hydration of the skin or the mucous membranes. 

The invention invokes a sensor that measures pH in about 15 minutes, using an array of capacitative detection cells and a processor to convert the information obtained into an image, and/or into messages as congenial as “skin sufficiently (or insufficiently) hydrated” that are intelligible to an individual. The My Skin Track flexible pH sensor is a vast improvement on traditional methods of measuring skin pH, which are usually obtained via a skin care professional. It is also an improvement on rigid sensors of the prior art. 

The sensor has two dots which change color during the test, indicating when it is complete. The sensor delivers an image of the skin region analyzed, where the grayscale level of each pixel corresponds to the capacitance measurement taken by the capacitance detection cell. A grayscale of 0 on the image corresponds to black. A maximum grayscale of 225 corresponds to white. Everything in between corresponds to the varying shades of gray. 

In turn, the variation in grayscale of the image pixels is processed to indicate the level of hydration. The level of hydration possibly includes such information as the degree of hydration uniformity, which might conceivably vary according to the presence of microdroplets of sweat on the surface of the skin, and/or age spots. In this case, the degree of non-uniformity is processed as a standard deviation of non-intersecting mean gray scales. 

The L’Oréal - La Roche-Posay My Skin Track pH sensor will be rolled out this year, first to L’Oréal’s La Roche-Posay partner dermatologists, and then to the public. The My Skin Track pH sensor follows in the footsteps of the L’Oréal - La Roche-Posay My Skin Track UV sensor, unveiled at CES 2018, and available since Nov. 2018 at select Apple Store locations, and at Apple.com.

The abstract of the US patent reciting the pH sensor apparatus and method is included below together with Figure 1 extracted from the patent. Figure 1 shows a diagram of all the components of the pH sensing system, including the sensor (10) for measuring pH on a region of the skin, processing means on a microcomputer (20) or other interface device (30), enabling to transfer sensor data to the microcomputer (20). The microcomputer is connected via network (41), such as the Internet, to a remote server (40). Sensor data, including an image of the region analyzed, is displayed on the microcomputer screen (60) or other interface processing means, such as a mobile phone or tablet.

An image of the pH skin sensor patch, as marketed and worn is also included above.  

An apparatus enabling a person to evaluate the hydration of a region of the skin or the mucous membranes. The apparatus includes a sensor including an array of non-optical detection cells and processor apparatus arranged to deliver at least one piece of information relating to the hydration of the region on the basis of signals coming from the sensor. A method for evaluation of hydration is also provided. The apparatus and method can also be used for evaluating, e.g., aging or the effectiveness of a treatment regimen. 

[Abstract US20040171962A1]


References

L'Oréal

www.lorealparisusa.com 

L’Oréal Media Room – Sensor unveiled
https://mediaroom.loreal.com/en/loreal-unveils-prototype-of-first-ever-wearable-microfluidic-sensor-to-measure-skin-ph-levels/

My Skin Track UV @ Apple.com https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HML02ZM/A/la-roche-posay-my-skin-track-uv-sensor

Oh, patents! NeOse PRO™

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Do you have a digital nose? If you cannot imagine digitizing something as body-mediated as an odor, then take a peek at Aryballe Technologies’ NeOse PRO™. This is exactly what this technology does.  From the user's perspective, odorant VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) bind to 40 specific biosensors on a gold-covered prism. The pattern resulting from the way the VOCs bind is photographed, digitized and stored in a database of odorant patterns, on a remote server. When an odor is identified (pattern-matched in the database of digitized odorants), the information is sent back to the user’s mobile phone app. The reading of odors takes about 30 seconds. The technology invokes a combination of nanotech, biotech, IT, cognitive sciences and proprietary algorithms enabling to differentiate odors that are similar.  

Applications currently exist in the cosmetics, food and environmental industries, where the NeOse PRO™ can respectively: assist with standardization of sensory evaluations; assist with the evaluation of product conformity, and measure air quality indoors, almost in real time.

The technology designated Surface Plasmon Resonance imagery (SPRi) adapted to sensory analysis was initially developed in a partnership between the CNRS (France’s National Center for Scientific Research) and the CEA (France’s Center for Atomic Energy). Aryballe Technologies applied SPRi to the analysis of odorants, and then developed the handheld odor-detection device, together with the onboard mobile technology. 

The NeOse Pro™ technology was originally recited for both electronic nose and tongue applications in the following patent family:

• WO2013124810 - Capteurs de nez ou de langue électronique
• FR2987129A1 - Capteurs de nez ou de langue electronique
• KR20140132358A - 발명의 명칭 전자 코 또는 전자 혀 센서
• EP2817622A1 - Electronic nose and togue sensors
• EA201491561A1 - Electronic nose and tongue sensors
• AU2013223697A1 - Electronic nose and tongue sensors
• JP2015508175A - 電子鼻又は舌センサ
• CA2863894A1 -  Electronic nose and tongue sensors
• US2015037909A1 - Electronic nose and tongue sensors
• MX2014010070A - Sensores de nariz o lengua electronica

The abstract for WO2013124810 is included below.  An image of the odor detector, as it was presented at CES 2018 is also included. This device won a Smart Cities CES 2018 Innovation Award. 

The present invention relates to a sensor for an electronic tongue or nose for analysing a sample or detecting a target. The sensor comprises a support, on one surface of which a plurality of sensitive areas are located, each sensitive area comprising at least one receptor and being capable of transmitting a measurable signal generated by the interaction of at least one constituent of the sample or one target with at least one receptor. The sensor is characterised in that it comprises at least three sensitive areas that differ from one another in terms of their respective receptor compositions, at least one of the sensitive areas comprising a mixture of at least two different receptors, while the two other sensitive areas each comprise at least one of the two receptors. [Abstract WO2013124810]

Now, do you also have a digital tongue? If not... then you might keep an eye out on Aryballe Technologies for an electronic taste detector, capable of digitizing tastants! The scope of the invention covers both sensory experiences.

References

Aryballe Technologies – NeOse Pro™

http://www.minalogic.com/fr/produit/neose-pro

Aryballe Technologies

http://aryballe-technologies.com/
CNRS - Centre National de Rercherche Scientifique
http://www.cnrs.fr/ 
CEA - Centre d'Energie Atomique
http://www.cea.fr/