Infection risk detection using ear-wearable sensor devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12369857-B2
Application number	US-202217834569-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2022
Priority date	Jun 7, 2021
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

Embodiments herein relate to ear-wearable devices and systems that can detect a risk of infection in a device wearer. In a first aspect, an ear-wearable infection sensor device is included having a control circuit, a microphone, a sensor package, and an electroacoustic transducer, wherein the electroacoustic transducer is in electrical communication with the control circuit. The ear-wearable infection sensor device can be configured to analyze data from the sensor package to determine physiological parameters of a device wearer and evaluate the physiological parameters to detect the risk of an infection. Other embodiments are also included herein.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An ear-wearable infection sensor device comprising:
a control circuit;
a microphone, wherein the microphone is in electrical communication with the control circuit;
a sensor package, wherein the sensor package is in electrical communication with the control circuit; and
an electroacoustic transducer, wherein the electroacoustic transducer is in electrical communication with the control circuit;
wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to;
analyze data from the sensor package to determine physiological parameters of a device wearer, the physiological parameters comprising a temperature;
evaluate a duration of a temperature elevation; and
evaluate the physiological parameters to detect a risk of an infection.

2. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , the physiological parameters comprising at least one of a respiration rate, a heart rate, and SpO2.

3. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , the sensor package comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is configured for placement within the ear canal.

4. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , the sensor package comprising:
a pressure sensor; and
a motion sensor;
wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to detect orthostatic hypotension using data from the pressure sensor and the motion sensor.

5. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to compare the physiological parameters reflecting the device wearer in a resting state versus the device wearer in a non-resting state.

6. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to evaluate breathing sounds.

7. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 6 , wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to evaluate left-side versus right-side breathing sounds.

8. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 6 , wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to identify a cough.

9. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 8 , wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to distinguish between a wet cough and a dry cough.

10. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to generate a sound and record received reflected sound.

11. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , the sensor package comprising an optical color sensor, wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to evaluate a real-time skin color compared with a baseline skin color for the device wearer.

12. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to classify a set of data from at least one of the sensor package and the microphone into a category from amongst a set of categories.

13. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 12 , wherein the category reflects a probability of an infection.

14. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to instruct the device wearer to look at an accessory device with a camera if a risk of infection is detected.

15. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to change a threshold for detecting the risk of an infection based on data regarding previous infections experienced by the device wearer.

16. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to change a threshold for detecting the risk of an infection based on data regarding previous surgical procedures experienced by the device wearer.

17. An ear-wearable infection sensor system comprising:
a first ear-wearable device, the first ear-wearable device comprising:
a first control circuit;
a first microphone,
wherein a microphone is in electrical communication with a control circuit;
a first electroacoustic transducer, wherein an electroacoustic transducer is in electrical communication with the control circuit; and
a first sensor package, wherein a sensor package is in electrical communication with the control circuit;
a second ear-wearable device, the second ear-wearable device comprising:
a second control circuit;
a second microphone, wherein the second microphone is in electrical communication with the second control circuit;
a second electroacoustic transducer, wherein the second electroacoustic transducer is in electrical communication with the second control circuit; and
a second sensor package, wherein the second sensor package is in electrical communication with the second control circuit;
wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor system is configured to:
analyze data from the first and/or second sensor package to determine physiological parameters of a device wearer; and
evaluate the physiological parameters along with data regarding an activity level of the device wearer to detect a risk of an infection.

18. The ear-wearable infection sensor system of claim 17 , wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor system is configured to:
detect a level of physical activity of the device wearer;
if the detected level physical activity is at or below a threshold level, enter an active operation mode wherein the system detects the risk of infection;
if the detected level physical activity is above a threshold level, enter a suspended operation mode wherein the system does not detect the risk of infection.

19. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable infection sensor device is configured to:
evaluate circadian variations in temperature of the device wearer;
determine a circadian corrected baseline temperature of the device wearer;
detect the risk of infection by comparing an instantaneous temperature of the device wearer to the circadian corrected baseline temperature of the device wearer.

20. The ear-wearable infection sensor device of claim 1 , further comprising a geolocation circuit configured to assess location-specific infection risks.

Assignees

• Starkey Labs Inc

Inventors

• Feldshon Archelle Georgiou
• Vastare Krishna Chaithanya
• Burwinkel Justin R
• Lin Andy S
• Olson Kyle
• Sacha Michael Karl
• Shahar Amit

Classifications

• A61B5/7285

  for synchronizing or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal · CPC title

• A61B5/7275

  Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor · CPC title

• A61B5/7225

  Details of analogue processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation (input circuits for detecting, measuring, or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals A61B5/30; specific diagnostic methods using bioelectric or biomagnetic signals A61B5/316) · CPC title

• A61B5/0024

  for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network · CPC title

• A61B5/0004

  characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted · CPC title