DE102021104705A1 - Method and system for recording the state of health of a person - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for recording the state of health of a person, comprising the steps of recording the body temperature of the person, transmitting the recorded body temperature values to an evaluation unit, and evaluating the body temperature values by the evaluation unit, with the recording of the body temperature being carried out at a frequency of at least one measurement every 10 minutes.The invention also relates to a system for recording the state of health of a person, having at least one sensor for recording the body temperature, at least one evaluation unit to which the data recorded by the sensor are transmitted, the sensor being suitable to record the body temperature at least once every 10 minutes and transmit it to the evaluation unit.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for detecting the state of health of a person. In addition, the present invention relates to a system for recording the state of health of a person.

Many diseases can already be transmitted during their incubation period, i.e. the time that elapses between infection with a pathogen and the appearance of the first symptoms. Since the infection of a person is usually not yet recognizable during this time, no preventive hygiene measures are usually taken to prevent other people from being infected, such as maintaining sufficient distance from other people or not shaking hands. In particular, diseases that can be transmitted by droplet infection, direct contact or smear infection can spread quickly and unnoticed in a group of people.

With conventional flu, an infected person is contagious during the incubation period, which can last up to three days. In the case of a cold, infection can also occur during the incubation period, which lasts two to eight days. With the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which can trigger the disease Covid-19, the incubation period is two to 14 days, with an average of five to six days.

Early detection of infections is therefore important to prevent the spread of pathogens.

the WO 2016 037 091 A1 describes a computer-implemented method and associated system for monitoring a person's well-being by providing goggles that include at least one sensor for monitoring the user's movement. In various embodiments, the system receives data generated by the at least one sensor, uses the data to determine the user's movements based on the received data, and compares the user's movements to predetermined user movement patterns. If the system detects one or more inconsistencies between the user's current movements compared to the user's previously determined movement patterns, the system may inform the user or a third party of the detected inconsistency(s). The system may similarly monitor the user's compliance with a medical regimen and notify the user or a third party of the user's compliance with the regimen.

In the U.S. 2014 316 220 A1 describes a personal health monitor that includes a memory for collecting and storing attributes of an individual and a processor for quantizing each attribute in such a way as to indicate a normal range for that attribute and for measuring deviations from that normal range. The processor also calculates the well-being of the individual based on the measured deviations. The results are displayed and indicate the well-being of the individual.

the DE 10 2013 222 123 A1 describes a mobile monitoring device for a bodily function of a living being, comprising a detection area, a fastening element, a sensor and an evaluation unit. The detection area is designed to detect at least one analyte. The fastening element is designed to bring the detection area into contact with a body surface of the living being to be monitored. The sensor is coupled to the detection area to obtain the at least one analyte and configured to output an electrical signal dependent on the at least one analyte obtained. The evaluation unit is designed to determine information about the at least one analyte on the basis of the electrical signal of the sensor.

Finally in the DE 11 2018 005 619 T5 provided a software, a health condition determination device and a health condition determination method that reflects vital parameters or daily conditions, taking into account the individual differences of the subjects, to enable the subjects to grasp the intra-individual variation with high accuracy and to provide health care to the subjects or to provide medical care for contribute the characteristics of each individual.

With all known solutions, however, it is not possible to detect an infection in a person during the incubation period, during which no externally clearly recognizable symptoms occur.

The invention is therefore based on the object of making available a method and a system with which potential infections of a person can be recognized and reported at an early stage and which neither disturb nor influence the person's everyday concerns.

• - Erfassung der Körpertemperatur der Person,
• - Übermittlung der erfassten Körpertemperatur-Werte an eine Auswerteeinheit, und
• - Auswertung der Körpertemperatur-Werte durch die Auswerteeinheit,

wobei die Erfassung der Körpertemperatur mit einer Frequenz von wenigstens einer Messung aller 10 Minuten erfolgt.On the one hand, this object is achieved by a method for detecting the state of health of a person, having the steps

• - detection of the body temperature of the person,
• - Transmission of the recorded body temperature values to an evaluation unit, and
• - Evaluation of the body temperature values by the evaluation unit,

wherein the body temperature is measured at a frequency of at least one measurement every 10 minutes.

Surprisingly, it has been shown that the body temperature of an infected person can rise unnoticed even during the symptom-free incubation period. Regular recording of the body temperature thus offers the possibility of detecting infections before the actual disease breaks out and of avoiding infecting other people.

Advantageously, the body temperature is recorded at very short time intervals, preferably with a frequency of at least one measurement every 10 minutes. In particular, such measurements are integrated into the person's everyday life and carried out continuously without impairing or disturbing the person. Particularly suitable for this purpose is the detection of the body temperature by a device that can be worn unobtrusively on the body, such as a bracelet, a fitness tracker, a watch, or also via sensors that can be integrated into clothing such as underwear or the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the body temperature is recorded at a frequency of at least one measurement per minute.

Such close measurement intervals make it possible to quickly register and report deviations from the person's usual body temperature or from specified values, so that the person can react with measures.

The body temperature is preferably measured with an accuracy of +/- 0.1 °C.

Provision can be made for two or more temperature sensors to be used in parallel to carry out the method according to the invention. This increases the accuracy of the method and makes it possible to determine average values for each measurement point in time, which can then be analyzed further.

In particular, at least one skin sensor is used to carry out the method according to the invention. Conclusions about the core body temperature can be drawn from the recorded surface temperature of the person.

Advantageously, the body temperature values are evaluated on a server.

In particular, this enables the body temperature values to be recorded centrally. The complete evaluation preferably takes place on the server. Access to the data and the results of the analysis is thus advantageously possible from various end devices. The data and/or the results of the evaluation can be displayed, for example, in a web browser or via an app.

Provision can be made for the body temperature values to be evaluated by means of neural networks.

Provision can furthermore be made for an evaluation algorithm to be used for evaluating the body temperature values, which is an analytical algorithm or a self-learning algorithm.

Advantageously, the results of a number of algorithms can be combined to produce an infection prediction.

It is conceivable that a temperature curve is created to evaluate the body temperature values.

In particular, in order to evaluate the body temperature values, the recorded body temperature values are compared with previously determined standard values for the body temperature of the person. In this way, a "normal state" of a person's body temperature can be determined and defined, from which an "abnormal" state can be clearly differentiated.

It can be provided that, in addition to the body temperature, the person's pulse and/or the oxygen content of the person's blood and/or a person's movement pattern and/or the person's blood pressure and/or the person's respiratory rate and/or the skin resistance of the Person and / or the time and / or the duration of sleep phases and / or the sleep rhythm of the person are recorded.

It is conceivable that during the duration of sleep phases or during phases of increased physical intensity, for example in the case of recorded or manually specified sports units, the Eng meshing of the measurement intervals is reduced, i.e. the distance between the measurements is increased. For example, it would be conceivable to interrupt the measurement of the body temperature for half an hour or a manually determinable period of time during a sports session.

There is also a connection between a person's heart rate and body temperature. A slightly elevated resting heart rate, for example, can indicate that the body has to work harder to keep the body temperature within the normal range and can therefore also be associated with an infection.

• - wenigstens einen Sensor zur Erfassung der Körpertemperatur,
• - wenigstens eine Auswerteeinheit, an welche die von dem Sensor erfassten Daten übermittelt werden,

wobei der Sensor geeignet ist, die Körpertemperatur wenigstens ein mal aller 10 Minuten zu erfassen und an die Auswerteeinheit zu übertragen.The object is also achieved by a system for recording the state of health of a person

• - at least one sensor for detecting the body temperature,
• - at least one evaluation unit to which the data recorded by the sensor are transmitted,

wherein the sensor is suitable for detecting the body temperature at least once every 10 minutes and transmitting it to the evaluation unit.

The at least one sensor is preferably a skin sensor.

Provision can be made for the system according to the invention to have two or more sensors. By measuring the two or more sensors in parallel, the accuracy is increased and it is possible to form average values of the recorded body temperature.

In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the sensor is suitable for detecting the body temperature at least once a minute and transmitting it to the evaluation unit.

Due to the close meshing of the measurement intervals with measurements every 10 minutes, preferably every minute, deviations in the body temperature values from a "normal state" of the person's body temperature or from specified standard values are detected promptly.

The system is advantageously designed as a system that can be worn on a person's wrist. For example, training as a watch, fitness watch or bracelet could be considered.

Alternatively, the system according to the invention can be integrated in a person's clothing, for example in underwear, sportswear or other functional clothing.

Alternatively, the system of the present invention can be worn on body locations other than the wrist, such as the ankle or hip.

Advantageously, an inconspicuous design of the system according to the invention (light, space-saving, etc.) makes it possible to integrate the measurements into the person's everyday life and to carry them out permanently without impairing or disturbing the person.

The evaluation unit of the system according to the invention is preferably connected to a server on which the analysis of the recorded body temperature values takes place. The evaluation unit can be a smartphone, a computer, a gateway or the like, for example. Access to the data and the results of the analysis is advantageously possible from various end devices. The data and/or the results of the evaluation can be displayed, for example, in a web browser or via an app.

The evaluation unit is preferably suitable for carrying out the analysis of the body temperature values using neural networks. The evaluation can be carried out using an analytical algorithm or a self-learning algorithm.

The evaluation unit preferably creates a temperature curve from the ascertained body temperature values and constantly compares this with previously ascertained standard values for the body temperature of the person or with predetermined values. In this way, deviations from standard values or from specified values are determined promptly when they occur and can be reported by the evaluation unit.

It can be provided that the system according to the invention also has an acceleration sensor for detecting a movement pattern and/or the sleep phases and/or the sleep rhythm of the person.

It is conceivable that during the duration of sleep phases or during phases of increased physical intensity, for example in the case of recorded or manually specified sports units, the closeness of the measurement intervals is reduced, ie the distance between the measurements is increased. For example, it would be conceivable to interrupt the measurement of the body temperature for half an hour or a manually determinable period of time during a sports session.

It can also be provided that the system according to the invention also has a heart rate monitor and/or a blood pressure monitor and/or an oxygen sensor and/or a respiratory rate monitor and/or a skin resistance monitor and/or a means for recording the time and/or for recording or displaying the Date and / or has an NFC chip.

In one embodiment, the system according to the invention can also have a Bluetooth transmitter and/or a Bluetooth receiver.

The system according to the invention preferably also has means for locating the sensor, for example by recognizing the assignment to radio cells or an integrated GPS receiver or UWB GPS receiver.

Provision can be made for the system according to the invention to have an SOS button for simply sending a call for help.

Provision can also be made for a distance measurement to be carried out between different people who are wearing a wearable means for detecting body temperature (for example a smartwatch) that is part of the system according to the invention. In the event of an infection, contact chains can be queried and quarantine measures can be significantly smaller.

The method according to the invention and the system according to the invention advantageously make it possible to continuously monitor the body temperature of a person and to detect and report deviations from a normal state in a timely manner. Since an increase in body temperature can be associated with an undetected infection in the person, the person can take preventive measures, such as minimizing contact with others. The method according to the invention and the system according to the invention enable indications of a possible infection well before the onset of symptoms. Advantageously, a reduction in the unnoticed infection time is made possible and chains of infection are broken. In this way, the spread of viruses is advantageously contained.

The method according to the invention and the system according to the invention are used particularly advantageously in old people's homes, nursing homes and in facilities for assisted living, but also in schools and universities or in other places where large crowds regularly gather. For example, it would be conceivable for nursing staff to receive an alert when a person develops circulatory problems, with the alert also including the location of the person. Health monitoring at events or prevention of infection of employees in industry and trade are also conceivable.

When the system according to the invention is used in production facilities and industry, it is also conceivable that messages, for example about the material requirements of a machine or the need for inputs into or actions on a machine, are issued via the device worn on the body. Feedback and confirmations of stock removals, notifications and work steps, automatic registration at workstations or machines with the integrated NFC tag, notification to colleagues or the security service if an employee has health problems or help messages can be sent via an SOS button.

Access control for rooms and/or lockers is also conceivable.

For example, the invention can also ensure normal everyday life in the corona pandemic. It will be possible to bring schools back to normal, events and gatherings to be possible again and the mortality rate to be reduced. It is conceivable that children, teachers and staff will regularly wear a fitness tracker or a smartwatch with a body temperature sensor. The data is transmitted via a Bluetooth gateway or a smart device to a German server, which evaluates it and recognizes the risk of infection. This can lead to the fact that mostly healthy people are staying at the debt who can move freely again.

Unlike other technologies that require people to be screened to stand at a checkpoint and have their temperature and health conditions assessed as they pass, the method and system of the present invention enable health monitoring from anywhere, anytime with real-time data. Health disorders are sent to the platform for further and immediate processing.

In the method and system of the present invention, medical-grade sensors are used to monitor the health of the wearer and provide greater accuracy. Body temperature measurement accuracy is 0.1°C, offering the best Accuracy compared to other body temperature monitors on the market. This can be the difference between successfully detecting the virus early and misinterpreting symptoms.

In addition to health monitoring, the inventive method and system provide a variety of activity tracking capabilities ranging from sleep, walking, steps, running, cycling to gym workouts. All can be viewed via a mobile app for smartphones, for example. The body temperature sensor device can receive various mobile notifications from incoming texts, emails, phone calls and more.

The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and associated figures, without being restricted to these.

• 1 Ablauf einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zur Erfassung des Gesundheitszustandes einer Person;
• 2a eine Smartwatch als Teil eines erfindungsgemäßen Systems zur Erfassung des Gesundheitszustandes einer Person;
• 2b einen Fitnesstracker als Teil eines erfindungsgemäßen Systems zur Erfassung des Gesundheitszustandes einer Person; und
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung von zwei möglichen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

Show it:

• 1 Sequence of an embodiment of the method according to the invention for recording the state of health of a person;
• 2a a smartwatch as part of a system according to the invention for recording the state of health of a person;
• 2 B a fitness tracker as part of a system according to the invention for recording the state of health of a person; and
• 3 a schematic representation of two possible embodiments of the method according to the invention.

In 1 an exemplary sequence of an embodiment of the method according to the invention for detecting the state of health of a person is shown schematically. First, the body temperature values of a person are recorded using a fitness tracker 1 or a smartwatch 1 with a sensor for recording a person's body temperature. Data is recorded up to 1440 times a day. The recorded values are then transmitted to an external provider 3 or to a home network 4 2.1. The values are further transmitted to an evaluation unit 5, for example a server 2.2. The data can be stored on the server or the evaluation unit 5 . The data is then evaluated 6 . The evaluation 6 can be carried out using AI (artificial intelligence) or via adaptive algorithms and can also be carried out in relation to big data. This is followed by a visualization 7 for the user. Both the basic data recorded and the results of the analysis 6 can be visualized. The visualization 7 can take place, for example, on a smartphone, in a web browser or directly on the fitness tracker 1 or the smartwatch 1 with a sensor for detecting the body temperature. It can be provided that a message or visualization occurs only when predetermined limit values or limit values that define the normal state are exceeded. For example, a message via a vibrating alarm is also conceivable.

the 2a and 2 B show an example of a smartwatch ( 2a ) and a fitness tracker ( 2 B ) each as part of a system according to the invention for detecting the state of health of a person. The smartwatch or the fitness tracker can have a screen or a display element for displaying a wide variety of parameters, for example the date, time of day, the person's heart rate, the person's body temperature, the person's blood pressure, the person's skin resistance, the person's respiratory rate, movement patterns, number of steps, calories burned, sleep rhythm or others. According to the Smartwatch or the fitness tracker have at least one in the 2a and 2 B not shown sensor for detecting the body temperature of a person. The recorded body temperature values are transmitted at least once every 10 minutes, preferably at least once a minute, to an evaluation unit, where they are stored and/or analyzed. The smartwatch or the fitness tracker can also have an acceleration sensor for detecting a movement pattern and/or the sleep phases and/or the sleep rhythm of the person. They can also have a heart rate monitor and/or an oxygen sensor and/or a blood pressure monitor and/or a respiratory rate sensor and/or a skin resistance sensor and/or a means for recording the time and/or a Bluetooth transmitter and/or a Bluetooth receiver.

3 shows a schematic representation of two possible embodiments of the method according to the invention.

Devices such as a fitness tracker or a smartwatch 1 with a body temperature sensor are connected to the monitoring platform (the central monitoring workstation 10) via the Smart Bluetooth Gateway 8 or smartphone 9 . An easy-to-use and intuitive dashboard provides an overview of all connected devices, connection status, real-time alerts and reports, community health analysis, and real-time device location. The following alarms are recorded: Panic or SOS; abnormal temperature; abnormal heart rate and blood pressure; device not worn; battery ry of the device weak. The platform not only monitors the user's health and activities, but also sends alerts to your system administrator via email and SMS.

All user data is fully secured, either via the cloud or an on-premises solution. In 3 the local solution is shown on the left and the cloud-based solution is shown on the right. In the case of the local solution, the data is transferred (as well as being stored and evaluated) to a local server 5.1, while in the cloud-based solution the data is transferred (as well as being saved and evaluated) to a cloud server 5.2.

For the local solution ( 3 left), the provision takes place on the existing IT infrastructure on site and all devices are connected to the system provided by the customer. The system is scalable. Devices can be deployed in different locations and connected to the platform via the customer intranet. This option is suitable, for example, for government agencies or companies that are subject to high data protection guidelines and have sufficient infrastructure to operate the system on site.

For the cloud-based solution ( 3 right) all devices are connected to a cloud. The client administrator only needs the internet to access the cloud platform and monitor and manage the devices.

The cloud-based solution allows you to connect from anywhere as long as there is an internet connection. The devices 1 establish a connection to the cloud either via the smart Bluetooth gateway 8 or the smartphone 9 . This solution is especially useful for individuals and organizations that may not have enough infrastructure to host the system on-premises.

The solution according to the invention supports different types and levels of integration with third party systems, depending on the specific user applications. The technology can be used in both stationary and mobile applications. By using the Bluetooth mobile gateway 8, devices 1 can connect and send real-time activity and alarm data, including user location.

This allows the platform manager to immediately send help to the exact location of the Healthwatch wearer in the event of a health emergency. By means of NFC technology integrated in some embodiments, the device 1 can be integrated into various organization applications of hospitals, schools, airports, nursing homes and many other business environments.

Reference List

1

Fitness tracker/smartwatch with sensor for recording body temperature

2.1

Transmission of the recorded values to an external provider or a home network

2.2

Transmission of the recorded values to an evaluation unit

3

External Provider

4

home network

5

evaluation unit

5.1

Local server

5.2

cloud server

6

Evaluation

7

visualization

8th

Bluetooth Gateway

9

Smart device

10

Central Monitoring Workstation

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• WO 2016037091 A1 [0005]
• US2014316220A1 [0006]
• DE 102013222123 A1 [0007]
• DE 112018005619 T5 [0008]

Claims (13)

Method for detecting the state of health of a person, comprising the steps - detection of the body temperature of the person, - Transmission (2.1, 2.2) of the recorded body temperature values to an evaluation unit (5), and - Evaluation (6) of the body temperature values by the evaluation unit (5), the body temperature being recorded at a frequency of at least one measurement every 10 minutes. procedure after claim 1 , characterized in that the body temperature is detected at a frequency of at least one measurement per minute. procedure after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the evaluation (6) of the body temperature values takes place on a server. Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the evaluation (6) of the body temperature values takes place by means of neural networks. Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that an evaluation algorithm is used for the evaluation (6) of the body temperature values, which is an analytical algorithm or a self-learning algorithm. Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that for the evaluation (6) of the body temperature values, the recorded body temperature values are compared with previously determined standard values of the body temperature of the person. Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that in addition to the body temperature, the person's heart rate and/or the person's blood oxygen content and/or a person's movement pattern and/or the person's blood pressure and/or the person's respiratory rate and/or the person's skin resistance and/or the point in time and/or the duration of sleep phases of the person are recorded. System for detecting the state of health of a person, having - at least one sensor for detecting the body temperature, - At least one evaluation unit (5) to which the data recorded by the sensor are transmitted, the sensor being suitable for recording the body temperature at least once every 10 minutes and transmitting it to the evaluation unit (5). system after claim 8 , characterized in that the sensor is suitable for detecting the body temperature at least once per minute and transmitting it to the evaluation unit (5). system after claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that the system (1) is designed as a system that can be worn on a person's wrist. system according to one of the Claims 8 until 10 , further comprising an acceleration sensor for detecting a movement pattern and/or the sleep phases of the person. system according to one of the Claims 8 until 11 , further comprising a heart rate monitor and/or an oxygen sensor and/or a blood pressure monitor and/or a respiration rate monitor and/or a skin resistance monitor and/or a means for detecting the time. system according to one of the Claims 8 until 12 , further comprising a Bluetooth transmitter and/or a Bluetooth receiver.

Images