US 12,186,072 B2
Techniques for quantifying respiration using a wearable device and related systems and methods
Daniel Hurtado, Santiago (CL); Angel Abusleme, Santiago (CL); and Javier Chavez, Octava Region (CL)
Assigned to Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago (CL); and Fundación Copec Universidad Católica, Santiago (CL)
Appl. No. 16/960,269
Filed by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago (CL); and Fundación Copec Universidad Católica, Santiago (CL)
PCT Filed Jan. 11, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/050229
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 6, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/138372, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 18, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/616,919, filed on Jan. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0106254 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 5/08 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/087 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/0826 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0816 (2013.01); A61B 5/0878 (2013.01); A61B 5/682 (2013.01); A61B 5/6832 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wearable device configured to be worn between a subject's mouth and the subject's nose, the device comprising:
a housing comprising:
a first heat spreader arranged within the housing and comprising a first plate, the first plate at least partially exposed through an upper surface of the housing, wherein the upper surface is configured to be arranged proximate to the subject's nose when the wearable device is worn by the subject, wherein the first plate forms an uppermost surface of the housing and is configured to extend across two nostrils of the subject's nose and to absorb heat of exhaled air from both of the two nostrils, wherein the first plate is configured to be positioned between a first temperature sensor and the subject's nose;
the first temperature sensor, wherein the first temperature sensor is thermally coupled to the first heat spreader and configured to produce a first signal indicating a first temperature reading, wherein the first temperature reading is indicative of a temperature associated with both of the two nostrils of the subject's nose;
a second heat spreader arranged within the housing and comprising a second plate, the second plate at least partially exposed through a lower surface of the housing, wherein the lower surface is configured to be arranged proximate to the subject's mouth when the wearable device is worn by the subject, wherein the second plate is configured to be positioned between a second temperature sensor and the subject's mouth;
the second temperature sensor, wherein the second temperature sensor is thermally coupled to the second heat spreader and configured to produce a second signal indicating a second temperature reading, distinct from the first temperature reading; and
at least one controller coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, the at least one controller configured to receive the first signal from the first temperature sensor and the second signal from the second temperature sensor, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to determine a respiration of the subject based on the received first signal indicating the first temperature reading and the received second signal indicating the second temperature reading.