Qualcomm Incorporated

Capsule Technologies, Inc.

Philips Healthcare Informatics, Inc.

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Robert Ballam

Robert Ganton

Eugene Dantsker

Stephen Dickey

A method of oral delivery of a medication to a user's lungs with an inhaler that includes the steps of (a) receiving an actuation signal in response to release of the medication from the inhaler, (b) receiving a first accelerometer measurement indicating an orientation of the inhaler, (c) storing the actuation signal and the first accelerometer measurement in a memory, (d) determining whether the orientation of the inhaler exceeds a predetermined proper orientation threshold, and (d) determining a quality of use of the inhaler based on the actuation signal and the first accelerometer measurement.

Inhaler with orientation sensor

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for determining a sedentary state of a user are disclosed. The apparatuses can be fastened to the user and include sensors configured to detect movement of the user. The apparatuses can also include a circuit coupled to the sensors. The circuits may be configured to determine, using the sensors, whether the user is sedentary; and in response to determining that the user is sedentary, determine one or more physiological attributes of the user of the device.

Activity monitoring via accelerometer threshold interrupt method

Various embodiments include an inhaler for oral delivery of medication that includes an actuation detector configured to provide an actuation signal in response to release of the medication from the inhaler, and an accelerometer configured to measure an orientation of the inhaler. The inhaler may include a processor, coupled to the actuation detector and the accelerometer, configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to determine a quality of use of the inhaler based on the actuation signal provided by the actuation detector and the orientation of the inhaler measured by the accelerometer.

Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for connecting a flexible circuit to a battery. Conductive pads are formed simultaneous with mounting and reflowing circuitry components on a flexible circuit, where the conductive pads serve as preformed tabs capable of being joined to terminals of a battery. The flexible circuit can be bent in a manner so that the conductive pads are positioned adjacent to the positive and negative terminals of a battery, such as a coin cell battery. The conductive pads can be attached to the terminals to form a cost-efficient and space-efficient design connecting the battery to the flexible circuit.

Flexible circuit battery attachment devices, systems, and methods

Disclosed are electronic devices for detecting contact or close proximity to an object to be detected. An electronic device includes a capacitive sensor enclosed by a housing and a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor, where the controller is configured to detect contact or close proximity to an object to be detected, and where the capacitive sensor includes a capacitor with a sensor electrode. The sensor electrode is separated from an outer surface of the housing by the housing. At least a portion of the housing includes a partially conductive material and the sensor electrode is in conductive contact with the partially conductive material, or the sensor electrode is in conductive contact with an electrically conductive element on an inner surface of the housing or at least partially embedded in the housing.

Electronic device including a capacitive sensor in a housing

Disclosed are devices and methods for detecting activation of an electronic device, including a biomedical and biometric device. The electronic device can operate in a low-power mode until it is determined that the electronic device is in close proximity to or in contact with a body, and activated. The electronic device can include a first sensor including a first capacitance sensor, a second sensor, and a controller coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor. The controller can receive a first signal from the first sensor and determine that the electronic device is in close proximity to or in contact with a body based on the first signal, and receive a second signal from the second sensor and determine that the electronic device is activated based on one or both of the first signal and the second signal. The electronic device can transition from the low-power mode to an active mode in response to determining that the electronic device is activated.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for detecting activation of an electronic device

Techniques provided herein are directed toward accurately determining when an item is removed from a blister pack by utilizing capacitive sensors. The capacitive sensors may be positioned on each blister of the blister and may detect the presence of the skin of the finger and/or the whether the blister has been deformed, which can occur when an item is removed from the blister. Some embodiments may determine whether skin was detected at the time of extraction to determine whether extraction was intentional.

Smart blister pack with skin presence trigger

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide a pulse oximeter capable of taking blood oxygen readings based on readings from an accelerometer. The various embodiments may provide an electronic patch including a pulse oximeter and accelerometer connected to a processor, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to control the operation of the pulse oximeter based at least in part on data received from the accelerometer. In various embodiments the electronic patch may further include a coin cell battery, or other low power source, that may power the pulse oximeter.

Pulse oximeter with an accelerometer

A method of establishing a physical and electrical connection between a battery and a circuit board are described. The methods include applying a texture formed from conductive material to a portion of a battery exterior surface. The texture is a region populated by a plurality of protrusions. Protrusions may be configured to partially perforate and lodge within a contact surface secured to a circuit board. The battery with a texture surface may be pressed against the circuit board resulting in perforation of the contact surface by the region of protrusions. The methods may result in a battery and circuit board in electrical communication, and suitable for use within a variety of medical devices.

Method of establishing physical and electrical connections between a battery and a circuit

A method of tracking a package. The method includes applying a package label to a package in which the package label comprises an antenna circuit, an activation tab configured to activate the antenna circuit, and a deactivation tab configured to deactivate the antenna circuit. The method also includes activating the antenna circuit by removing the activation tab and periodically transmitting a signal by the antenna circuit upon activation. The signal comprises information that identifies the package. The method also includes receiving the signal and using the information in the signal to track a location of the package.

Package tracking label having activation and deactivation tabs

Various embodiments include a variety of sensors, such as a pulse oximeter, configured to track a dynamic component of a sensor and take an action based on a characteristic of the dynamic component. Some embodiments may include determining a gain applied to a signal of the sensor, determining whether the gain is discontinuous, and indicating that a sensor measurement associated with the signal is low quality in response to determining that the gain applied is discontinuous. Some embodiments may include determining a peak-to-peak voltage of an output of a sensor, determining whether the peak-to-peak voltage is within an acceptable peak-to-peak voltage range, and indicating that a measurement associated with the received signal is low quality in response to determining that the peak-to-peak voltage is outside the acceptable peak-to-peak voltage range.

Tracking contact quality to vital signs measurement sensors

A wearable electronic patch with an enhanced radio antenna includes an antenna, radio circuitry, a base portion, a distal portion, and intermediate portion, and a spacer, configured to raise the antenna away from the base portion, and thus away from a wearer to improve radiation properties of the antenna. The spacer may be sized and shaped to expand from a compressed state, as it may be when the patch is packaged, to an expanded state that raises the antenna when it is applied to a wearer. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and disclosed.

Wearable electronic patch with antenna enhancement

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide a device capable of determining a blood property based at least in part on the measurement of the amount of light received by a receiver circuit with a limited current capacity by charging a capacitor with a low voltage power supply and intermittently discharging the capacitor through a light emitting diode. In some embodiments the device may be a pulse oximeter capable of taking blood oxygen readings. In some embodiments the device may be a heart rate monitor to determine a heart rate based on an amount of light passed through tissue. The various embodiments may enable pulse oximeters and/or heart rate monitors to be incorporated into small unobtrusive body patches, while enabling the pulse oximeters to operate from a power output equivalent to that of a small coin cell battery or printed cell battery.

Circuitry to allow low current operation of a device capable of determining a blood property

In one embodiment, an electronic device comprises an oscillator configured to generate an oscillator signal, and a timing circuit configured to generate a count value based on the oscillator signal, to compare the count value with a first compare value, to determine a first expiry event upon the count value matching the first compare value, and to generate a first wakeup signal in response to the first expiry event. The electronic device also comprises a battery pass circuit configured to receive the first wakeup signal, and to couple a power source to a main device in response to the first wakeup signal to power on the main device. The electronic device further comprises a state sequencing circuit configured to store a state of the main device, and an interface circuit configured to communicate the stored state to the main device.

Electronic device for extending battery life in mobile applications

An electronic sensor patch includes a capacitive sensor configured to detect when the electronic sensor patch is applied to a patient. A processor may be powered down for a predetermined time interval in response to determining that the electronic patch is not in close proximity to a body. The electronic sensor patch may be activated in response to determining that the electronic patch is in close proximity to the body. The capacitance sensor may be used to determine whether the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body by measuring capacitance of the capacitance sensor, comparing the measured capacitance to a threshold, and determining that the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body in response to the measured capacitance of the capacitance sensor being more than the threshold.

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Eatons Hill, Australia

Robert Ballam