Patent Description:
Recently, with the aging population, soaring medical costs, and a lack of medical personnel for specialized medical services, research is being actively conducted on information technology (IT)-medical convergence technologies, in which IT and medical technology are combined. Particularly, monitoring of the health condition of the human body is not limited to medical institutions, and is expanding to mobile healthcare fields that may monitor a user's health condition anywhere and anytime in daily life such as at home, at the office, etc. Typical examples of bio-signals, which indicate the health condition of individuals, include an electrocardiography (ECG) signal, a photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal, an electromyography (EMG) signal, and the like, and various bio-signal sensors have been developed to measure these signals in daily life. Particularly, a PPG sensor may estimate blood pressure of a human body by analyzing a shape of pulse waves which reflect cardiovascular status, and the like. <CIT> refers to a method, apparatus and computer program for determining a blood pressure value. The method includes steps of providing a pulsatility signal, determining a time-related feature and a normalized amplitude-related feature on the basis of the pulsatility signal; and calculating a blood pressure value on the basis of a blood pressure function depending on the time-related feature, the normalized amplitude-related feature and function parameters. <CIT> refers to an apparatus and method for sensing radial arterial pulses for noninvasive and continuous measurement of blood pressure and arterial elasticity. A pulse wave velocity calculating unit calculates a pulse wave transfer velocity to attain a blood pressure value by using an output from pressure sensors, and an augmentation index calculating unit estimates the blood pressure value by finding a time point of a reflective wave of the pulses using the outputs from the pressure sensors. <CIT> refers to an apparatus and method for measuring blood pressure. A blood pressure is obtained by using a pulse transit time, PTT, calculated based on a pulse wave measured with a minimized error, a subject's body information, pulse analysis information, and environment information together measured when measuring the pulse wave. <CIT> refers to a blood pressure estimating apparatus and blood pressure estimating method. The apparatus includes a sensor configured to obtain a bio-signal of an object; and a processor configured to extract a first cardiovascular feature and a second cardiovascular feature based on the bio-signal, and estimate blood pressure based on a first changing tendency of the first cardiovascular feature from a first reference level and a second changing tendency of the second cardiovascular feature from a second reference level, the first changing tendency and the second changing tendency being independent from each other.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus method and computer-readable medium having instructions for estimating bio-information.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for estimating bio-information includes a processor configured to obtain a pulse wave signal from a user; wherein the pulse wave signal has a waveform that is a superposition of a propagation wave (P1) and reflection waves (P2, P3); extract a first amplitude (P1) of the pulse wave signal corresponding to a point of time (T1), when a first element waveform (A1) has a maximum amplitude; extract a second amplitude (P2) of the pulse wave signal corresponding to a point of time (T2), when a second element waveform (A2) has a maximum amplitude; extract a third amplitude (P3) of the pulse wave signal corresponding to a point of time (T3), when a third element waveform (A3) that is adjacent to the second element waveform (A2) has a maximum amplitude; obtain a corrected amplitude of the pulse wave signal corresponding to the second element wave form (A2), based on the third amplitude (A3) by subtracting a predetermined percentage of the third amplitude (P3) of the pulse wave signal, related to the adjacent third element waveform (A3), from the second amplitude (P2) of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) related to the second element waveform (A2); and obtain the bio-information of the user based on the first amplitude (P1) and the corrected amplitude.

The predetermined percentage is a general value obtained from a plurality of users or a personalized value obtained from a specific user in a stable state.

The processor may obtain a second-order differential signal of the pulse wave signal, and extract the components of the plurality of element waveforms by analyzing a local minimum point or a local maximum point of a waveform of the obtained second-order differential signal.

The processor may extract times of local minimum points, which appear sequentially in the waveform of the obtained second-order differential signal, as the times of the plurality of element waveforms.

The processor may obtain a difference between a second-order differential value of the local maximum point and a second-order differential value of the local minimum point for predetermined intervals of the waveform of the second-order differential signal, and extract the times of the plurality of element waveforms based on the obtained difference between the second-order differential values of each of the intervals.

The processor may extract the time of the first element waveform and the time of the second element waveform based on the differential signal, and extract a time of a third element waveform based on the fixed value.

The processor may determine a predetermined time value as the time of the third element waveform, or determine a value, obtained by adding a predetermined reference value to the time of the first element waveform or the time of the second element waveform, as the time of the third element waveform.

The predetermined time value or the predetermined reference value may include at least one of a general value for a plurality of users or a personalized value for a specific user.

The personalized value for a specific user may be obtained by analyzing the waveform of the pulse wave signal measured during a stable state.

The processor may estimate bio-information including one or more of blood pressure, vascular age, arterial stiffness, aortic pressure waveform, vascular compliance, stress index, and fatigue level.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-implemented method of estimating bio-information, the method comprising: obtaining a pulse wave signal from a user, wherein the pulse wave signal has a waveform that is a superposition of a propagation wave (P1) and reflection waves (P2, P3); extracting a first amplitude (P1) of the pulse wave signal corresponding to a point of time (T1), when a first element waveform (A1) has a maximum amplitude; extracting a second amplitude (P2) of the pulse wave signal corresponding to a point of time (T2), when a second element waveform (A2) has a maximum amplitude; extracting a third amplitude (P3) of the pulse wave signal corresponding to a point of time (T3), when a third element waveform (A3) that is adjacent to the second element waveform (A2) has a maximum amplitude; obtaining a corrected amplitude of the pulse wave signal corresponding to the second element wave form (A2), based on the third amplitude (A3) by subtracting a predetermined percentage of the third amplitude (P3) of the pulse wave signal, related to the adjacent third element waveform (A3), from the second amplitude (P2) of the pulse wave signal related to the second element waveform (A2); and obtaining the bio-information of the user based on the first amplitude (P1) and the corrected amplitude.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable medium having instructions, that when performed by a processor (<NUM>), cause the processor (<NUM>) to operate a method of estimating bio-information of a user, the method comprising: obtaining a pulse wave signal (<NUM>) of the user, wherein the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) has a waveform that is a superposition of a propagation wave (P1) and reflection waves (P2, P3); extracting a first amplitude (P1) of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) corresponding to a point of time (T1), when a first element waveform (A1) has a maximum amplitude; extracting a second amplitude (P2) of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) corresponding to a point of time (T2), when a second element waveform (A2) has a maximum amplitude; extracting a third amplitude (P3) of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) corresponding to a point of time (T3), when a third element waveform (A3) that is adjacent to the second element waveform (A2) has a maximum amplitude; obtaining a corrected amplitude of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) corresponding to the second element wave form (A2), based on the third amplitude (A3) by subtracting a predetermined percentage of the third amplitude (P3) of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>), related to the adjacent third element waveform (A3), from the second amplitude (P2) of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) related to the second element waveform (A2); and obtaining the bio-information of the user based on the first amplitude (P1) and the corrected amplitude.

Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals may refer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative size and depiction of these elements, features, and structures may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience.

Details of example embodiments are included in the following detailed description and drawings. Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals may refer to the same elements, features, and structures.

It should be understood that, although terms such as "first," "second," etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements might not be limited by these terms. These terms may distinguish one element from another element. Any references to the singular form of a term may include the plural form of the term unless expressly stated otherwise. In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, an expression such as "comprising" or "including" may imply the inclusion of the stated elements, and might not imply the exclusion of any other elements. Also, terms such as "unit," "module," etc., may refer to a unit for processing at least one function or operation, and that may be embodied in hardware, software, or a combination thereof.

Hereinafter, embodiments of an apparatus and method for estimating bio-information will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The apparatus for estimating bio-information according to the embodiments may be embedded in a terminal, such as a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and the like, or may be manufactured as an independent hardware device. In this case, the independent hardware device may be a wearable device worn on an object (OBJ), and examples of the wearable device may include a wristwatch-type wearable device, a bracelet-type wearable device, a wristband-type wearable device, a ring-type wearable device, a glasses-type wearable device, a headband-type wearable device, or the like, but the wearable device is not limited thereto.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for estimating bio-information according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for estimating bio-information according to another embodiment.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information include a pulse wave sensor <NUM> and a processor <NUM>.

The pulse wave sensor <NUM> may measure a pulse wave signal, including a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal, from an object. The pulse wave sensor <NUM> may include a light source configured to emit light toward the object to detect an optical signal from the object; and a detector configured to detect scattered or reflected light based on light emitted by the light source being scattered or reflected from body tissue, such as a skin surface or blood vessels of the object. The light source may include a light emitting diode (LED), a laser diode (LD), a phosphor, and the like, but is not limited thereto. The detector may include a photo diode, a photo transistor (PTr), an image sensor (e.g., a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor), and the like, but is not limited thereto. The pulse wave sensor <NUM> may have various structures, such as a structure including a plurality of light sources and a single detector, or a structure including an array of pairs of light sources and detectors, and the like, without specific limitation.

In this case, the object may be a body part that contacts or is adjacent to the pulse wave sensor <NUM>, and may be a body part where the pulse wave signals may be measured. For example, the object may be a skin area of the wrist which is adjacent to the radial artery, or a skin area of the body where veins or capillaries are located. However, the object is not limited thereto, and may be a distal portion of the body, such as fingers, toes, and the like, where blood vessels are densely located.

The processor <NUM> may be electrically connected to the pulse wave sensor <NUM>. Based on a request for estimating bio-information, the processor <NUM> may control the pulse wave sensor <NUM>, and may receive a pulse wave signal from the pulse wave sensor <NUM>. The request for estimating bio-information may be input from a user, or may be generated at predetermined intervals. Based on receiving an electrical pulse wave signal from the pulse wave sensor <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may perform preprocessing, such as filtering the pulse wave signal by removing noise, amplifying the pulse wave signal, converting the signal into a digital signal, smoothing the signal, and the like.

Based on receiving the pulse wave signal, the processor <NUM> may obtain cardiovascular features from the pulse wave signal, and may estimate bio-information by using the obtained cardiovascular features. In this case, bio-information may include cardiovascular information such as blood pressure, vascular age, arterial stiffness, aortic pressure waveform, vascular compliance, stress index, fatigue level, and the like. For convenience of explanation, the following description will be given using blood pressure as an example.

Generally, a variation in Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) is proportional to cardiac output (CO) and total peripheral resistance (TPR), as represented by the following Equation <NUM>.

Herein, ΔMAP denotes a difference in MAP between the left ventricle and the right atrium, in which MAP of the right atrium is generally in a range of <NUM> mmHg to <NUM> mmHg, such that the MAP in the right atrium is similar to MAP in the left ventricle or MAP of the upper arm. If absolute actual CO and TPR values are known, MAP may be obtained from the aorta or the upper arm. However, it may be difficult to estimate absolute CO and TPR values based on a bio-signal.

In an embodiment, the processor <NUM> may extract a feature associated with cardiac output (CO) and a feature associated with total peripheral resistance (TPR) from a bio-signal. Here, the feature associated with cardiac output (CO) may be a feature value which shows an increasing or decreasing trend in proportion to an actual CO value which relatively increases or decreases when an actual TPR value does not change significantly compared to a stable state. Further, the feature associated with total peripheral resistance (TPR) may be a feature value which shows an increasing or decreasing trend in proportion to an actual TPR value which relatively increases or decreases when an actual CO value does not change significantly compared to a stable state.

The processor <NUM> may extract cardiovascular features by analyzing a waveform of the measured pulse wave signal. For example, by analyzing the waveform of the pulse wave signal, the processor <NUM> may obtain an area of the waveform of the pulse wave signal, including heart rate information, as a feature associated with cardiac output (CO). Further, the processor <NUM> may obtain a ratio between an amplitude of a propagation wave and an amplitude of a first reflection wave as a feature associated with total peripheral resistance (TPR). However, the feature is not limited thereto, and the processor <NUM> may obtain cardiovascular features by further using time and amplitude values of a maximum point of the pulse wave signal, time and amplitude values of a minimum point of the pulse wave signal, a duration of the pulse wave signal, components of individual element waveforms which constitute the waveform of the pulse wave signal, e.g., time and amplitude values of the element waveforms, information corresponding to an internally dividing point between the obtained values, and the like.

Referring to <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> for estimating bio-information may further include a communication interface <NUM>, an output interface <NUM>, and a storage <NUM>.

The communication interface <NUM> may communicate with an external device <NUM> via wired or wireless communication techniques under the control of the processor <NUM>, and may transmit and receive various data to and from the external device <NUM>. For example, the communication interface <NUM> may transmit a bio-information estimation result to the external device <NUM>, and may receive, from the external device <NUM>, a variety of reference information for estimating bio-information. For example, the communication interface <NUM> may receive a reference blood pressure measured by a cuff manometer, a bio-information estimation model, and the like. In this case, the external device <NUM> may include a cuff manometer, and an information processing device such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and the like.

In this case, examples of the communication techniques may include Bluetooth communication, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, Near Field Communication (NFC), wireless local area network (WLAN) communication, Zigbee communication, Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) Direct (WFD) communication, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) communication, Ant+ communication, Wi-Fi communication, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) communication, third generation (<NUM>) communication, fourth generation (<NUM>) communication, fifth generation (<NUM>) communication, and the like. However, this is merely exemplary and is not intended to be limiting.

The output interface <NUM> may output results processed by the pulse wave sensor <NUM> and the processor <NUM>. For example, the output interface <NUM> may visually output an estimated bio-information value using a display module. Alternatively, the output interface <NUM> may output the estimated bio-information value in a non-visual manner such as by voice, vibrations, tactile sensation, and the like, using a speaker module, a haptic module, or the like. The output interface <NUM> may divide a display area into two or more areas according to a setting, in which the output interface <NUM> may output a pulse wave signal graph used for estimating bio-information, a blood pressure estimation result, and the like, in a first area; and may output a blood pressure estimation history in the form of graphs in a second area. In this case, if an estimated blood pressure value if not within a normal range, the output interface <NUM> may output warning information in various manners, such as highlighting an abnormal value in red, and the like, displaying the abnormal value along with a normal range, outputting a voice warning message, adjusting a vibration intensity, and the like.

The storage <NUM> may store processing results of the pulse wave sensor <NUM> and the processor <NUM>. Further, the storage <NUM> may store a variety of reference information for estimating bio-information. For example, the reference information may include reference blood pressure, an estimation equation for estimating bio-information, a bio-information estimation interval, as well as user characteristics including a user's age, sex, health condition, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

In this case, the storage <NUM> may include at least one storage medium of a flash memory type memory, a hard disk type memory, a multimedia card micro type memory, a card type memory (e.g., a secure digital (SD) memory, an extreme digital (XD) memory, etc.), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

<FIG> are diagrams explaining element waveforms of a pulse wave signal according to an embodiment. <FIG> are diagrams explaining a method of obtaining features for estimating bio-information according to an embodiment.

Generally, a pulse wave signal is formed by superposition of a propagation wave which moves from the heart to the distal end of the body or branching points in the blood vessels, and a reflection wave which returns from the distal end or the branching points. For example, referring to <FIG>, a pulse wave signal is generally formed by superposition of a propagation wave P1 which moves from the heart to the distal end of the body or branching points in the blood vessels by blood ejection from the left ventricle, and reflection waves P2 and P3 which return from the distal end of the body or the branching points of the blood vessels. In this case, the propagation wave P1 is related to heart characteristics, and the reflection waves P2 and P3 are related to vascular characteristics. As illustrated in <FIG>, the waveform of the pulse wave signal is composed of individual component waveforms, such as the propagation wave P1 which is generated by blood ejection from the left ventricle, a first reflection wave P2 which is mainly reflected from the renal arteries, a second reflection wave P3 which is mainly reflected from the iliac arteries, and the like. As described above, information related to blood pressure may be determined based on a time interval between the propagation wave and the reflection wave, which are included in the waveform of the pulse wave signal, and/or an amplitude ratio therebetween.

The processor <NUM> may extract components of element waveforms related to the propagation wave and the reflection wave, such as a time and an amplitude of a first element waveform, a time and an amplitude of a second element waveform, and the like, and may obtain a ratio between the extracted amplitude of the first element waveform and the extracted amplitude of the second element waveform as a feature for estimating blood pressure.

For example, referring to <FIG>, the processor <NUM> may extract an amplitude P1 of a pulse wave signal waveform 30a which is related to the first element waveform 31a, and an amplitude P2 of a pulse wave signal waveform 30a which is related to the second element waveform 32a, and may obtain a ratio between the extracted amplitudes (e.g., P2/P1) as a cardiovascular feature. In this case, usage of actual amplitudes A1, A2, and A3 of each element waveform may provide more accurate blood pressure estimation, but cardiovascular features are different for each individual, and the shape of the element waveform may change according to a current physiological condition of each individual. Accordingly, amplitude information of individual element waveforms might not be accurately derived from the superposed waveforms of the pulse wave signal.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, in the case where a pulse wave signal waveform 30b is obtained, in which the amplitude A1 of the first element waveform and the amplitude A2 of the second element waveform rarely change, and the amplitude A3 of a third element waveform is significantly reduced, it can be seen that even if there is almost no change in the amplitude A1 of the first element waveform 31b and the amplitude A2 of the second element waveform, an amplitude of an adjacent element waveform, e.g., the third element waveform 33b, which is superimposed on the second element waveform 32b, is reduced such that the amplitude P2 of the pulse wave signal waveform 30b, which is related to the second element waveform, is also reduced. As described above, when the amplitudes P1 and P2 of the pulse wave signal waveforms, which are related to individual element waveforms, are used as amplitude information of the propagation wave and the reflection waves, distortion of feature values, which are obtained for estimating blood pressure, may occur as the amplitudes of the adjacent element waveforms are changed.

Accordingly, in an embodiment, when deriving amplitude information related to individual element waveforms, the processor <NUM> may obtain a value approximate to an actual value by considering amplitudes of the adjacent element waveforms before and/or after the individual element waveforms. According to the present invention, referring to <FIG>, the processor <NUM> first extracts amplitudes P1, P2, and P3 of the pulse wave signal which are related to each element waveform, and then the processor <NUM> corrects an amplitude of the pulse wave signal, which is related to a specific element waveform, based on amplitudes of the pulse wave signal which are related to adjacent element waveforms before and/or after the specific element waveform. The processor <NUM> eliminates an effect of superposition of element waveforms by subtracting a predetermined percentage of the amplitude P3 of the pulse wave signal, related to the adj acent third element waveform, from the amplitude P2 of the pulse wave signal related to the second element waveform, such that the processor <NUM> obtains a value approximate to an actual amplitude of the second element waveform.

The following Equation <NUM> represents an example of obtaining, as a feature f, a ratio between the corrected amplitude (P2-αP3) of the second element waveform and the amplitude P1 of the first element waveform. However, this is merely an example, and the feature f may be obtained by considering user characteristics, whether other additional information is used to obtain features, the additional information, types of bio-information, and the like.

Herein, α denotes a predetermined fixed value, and may be set based on various phases of change of blood pressure, e.g., based on changes of blood pressure measured in a stable state and after aerobic exercise and anaerobic exercise; and α may be a general value for a plurality of users. However, α is not limited thereto, and may be a personalized value which is adjusted for a specific user by calibration performed once at an initial time or regularly.

In addition, when obtaining an amplitude component of each element waveform, the processor <NUM> obtains a position of each element waveform, i.e., a time component indicating a time each element waveform appears, and obtains an amplitude at a point, corresponding to a time of each element waveform, as an amplitude component of each element waveform from the waveform of the pulse wave signal. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the processor <NUM> detects a time T1 of a first element waveform <NUM>, a time T2 of a second element waveform <NUM>, and a time T3 of a third element waveform. Based on obtaining the time components T1, T2, and T3 of the element waveforms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the processor <NUM> obtains amplitudes P1, P2, and P3 at points, corresponding to the times T1, T2, and T3 respectively, as amplitude components of the element waveforms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

For example, the processor <NUM> may derive a differential signal of the pulse wave signal, and may obtain components of each element waveform by analyzing a local minimum point and/or a local maximum point of the differential signal. <FIG> illustrates a PPG signal (upper view) and a second-order differential signal (lower view) obtained by second-order differentiation of the PPG signal. However, differentiation is not limited to second-order differentiation. As described above, the processor <NUM> may obtain the second-order differential signal of the pulse wave signal, and may detect a position, at which a local minimum point occurs, in the obtained second-order differential signal. The processor <NUM> may obtain times T1, T2, T3, and T4 of four local minimum points, which are sequentially detected, as time components of the element waveforms. Further, the processor <NUM> may obtain amplitudes P1, P2, P3, and P4 at points, corresponding to the time components T1, T2, T3, and T4 of the element waveforms, as amplitude components of each element waveform from the PPG waveform (upper view).

In another example, by using concavity and/or convexity of the waveform of the pulse wave signal, the processor <NUM> may obtain time components of each element waveform. As described above, the processor <NUM> may obtain positions of three local minimum points, which are sequentially detected, as time components of the first, second, and third element waveforms from the second-order differential signal. However, the waveform of the PPG signal of <FIG> has a shape which is very slightly convex upward due to a non-ideal and subtle change in the waveform occurring in the vicinity of the amplitude P2, such that the position at T2 becomes a local minimum point of the second-order differential signal, and is erroneously detected as the time of the second element waveform. That is, accurate positions of the first, second, and third element waveforms in the PPG signal of <FIG> may be T1, T3, and T4 of the second-order differential signal.

Referring to <FIG>, in order to analyze the concavity and/or convexity properties of the waveform of the pulse wave signal, the processor <NUM> may obtain a second-order differential signal of the pulse wave signal, and may divide the obtained second-order differential signal into a plurality of intervals I1, I2, I3, and I4. The number of intervals is not specifically limited, and may be set to a number equal to or greater than the number of element waveforms to be obtained. In this case, the intervals may be, for example, time intervals between times of local maximum points and times of local minimum points which appear sequentially on a time axis of the second-order differential signal. However, the interval is not limited thereto, and may be a pre-defined successive time interval.

The processor <NUM> may calculate a convexity-concavity degree (CCD) value for each of the intervals, and may obtain a time component of each element waveform based on the calculated CCD value. For example, the processor <NUM> may obtain a difference between a magnitude of a local maximum point and a magnitude of a local minimum point in each interval as a CCD value of each interval. In this case, the magnitudes of the local maximum point and the local minimum point may be second-order differential values corresponding to the local maximum point and the local minimum point. The processor <NUM> may determine a first interval I1, a fourth interval I4, and a third interval <NUM> in the order of magnitude of CCD values, and may obtain times T1, T4, and T3 of local minimum points of the determined intervals I1, I4, and I3. The processor <NUM> may obtain the obtained times T1, T4, and T3 of the local minimum points as time components of the first, second, and third element waveforms in chronological order.

Further, when dividing the waveform of the second-order differential signal into predetermined intervals, some intervals may be integrated into a single interval by considering characteristics of the waveform and the like. In the case where high-frequency components, which fluctuate irregularly, are contained in the obtained pulse wave signal due to non-ideal factors, the second-order differential signal may fluctuate unstably. In this case, based on a fluctuation of the waveform at two or more points in the intervals divided from the second-order differential signal, the processor <NUM> may integrate the divided two or more intervals. However, the processor <NUM> is not limited thereto, and may also provide a filtering effect to further smooth the original pulse wave signal or the second-order differential signal.

For example, referring to <FIG>, (a) illustrates an example in which significant fluctuations occur in intervals F <NUM>, F2, and F3 of the second-order differential signal due to an unstable waveform. As illustrated herein, if the second-order differential signal has intervals F <NUM>, F2, and F3 which fluctuate significantly, the processor <NUM> may integrate the significantly fluctuating intervals F <NUM>, F2, and F3 into a single interval according to predetermined criteria. Further, (b) of <FIG> illustrates an example for explaining a method of integrating fluctuating intervals of the second-order differential signal. By sequentially dividing a first local maximum point A1 and local minimum point B1 as a first interval, a second local maximum point A2 and local minimum point B2 as a second interval, and a third local maximum point A3 and local minimum point B3 as a third interval, the processor <NUM> may determine whether to integrate an interval, currently to be divided, into a previous interval.

For example, when dividing the first interval and then dividing the second interval, the processor <NUM> may calculate a difference between a second-order differential value of the local maximum point A2 of the second interval and a second-order differential value of the local minimum point B1 of the first interval as a fluctuation D1 of the second interval. Then, the processor <NUM> may compare the calculated fluctuation D1 of the second interval with a predetermined reference value; and if the fluctuation D1 of the second interval is less than the reference value, the processor <NUM> may integrate the second interval into the first interval. Likewise, when dividing the third interval, the processor <NUM> may calculate a difference between a second-order differential value of the local maximum point A3 of the third interval and a second-order differential value of the local minimum point B2 of the second interval as a fluctuation D2 of the third interval. Then, if the fluctuation D2 of the third interval is less than the reference value, the processor <NUM> may integrate the third interval into the second interval.

If both the fluctuation D1 of the second interval and the fluctuation D2 of the third interval are less than a threshold value, the processor <NUM> may integrate the first interval, the second interval, and the third interval into a single interval, and a local maximum point and a local minimum point of the integrated interval may be the local maximum point A1 of the first interval and the local minimum point B3 of the last interval respectively before integration. Here, the predetermined reference value may be set by considering a measurement state of the pulse wave signal, device performance, and the like. For example, the reference value may be a value obtained by multiplying a first value for considering a case, in which a bio-signal may be measured differently according to measurement conditions, by a second value which is preset by considering device performance, and the like. In this case, the first value may be a CCD value calculated for a first constituent pulse which is obtained relatively stably, but is not limited thereto.

Further, a method of integrating a predetermined interval is not limited to the above example. For example, at least some intervals, e.g., intervals for obtaining a time component of a third element waveform, are divided into predetermined time intervals, and all the subtle local minimum and/or local maximum points in each time interval may be integrated.

In another example, the processor <NUM> may obtain a time component of an element waveform by using a predetermined fixed value. In this case, the fixed value may be a general value for a plurality of users, or a personalized value for each user. In this case, the personalized value for a specific user may be a value obtained by analyzing the waveform of a pulse wave signal which is measured at a stable time when the user is in a stable state.

For example, the processor <NUM> may extract time components of the first element waveform and the second element waveform as described above, and may use a fixed value as a time component of the third element waveform. Alternatively, upon obtaining the time component of the first element waveform or the second element waveform, the processor <NUM> may use a time value, obtained by adding a predetermined reference value to the time of the first element waveform or the time of the second element waveform, as a time component of the third element waveform.

The processor <NUM> may estimate bio-information based on features obtained by analyzing the waveform of the pulse wave signal. In addition to the obtained cardiovascular feature, i.e., a ratio between the amplitude of the first element waveform and the amplitude of the second element waveform, the processor <NUM> may further obtain various features including an area of the waveform of the pulse wave signal, and may estimate bio-information by using the predetermined bio-information estimation model.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of estimating bio-information according to an embodiment. The method of <FIG> may be a method of estimating bio-information which is performed by the apparatuses <NUM> or <NUM> for estimating bio-information as described above in association with <FIG> or <FIG>. Various embodiments thereof are described above in detail, such that the description thereof will be briefly made below.

Based on receiving a request for estimating bio-information, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may obtain a pulse wave signal from an object in operation <NUM>. The apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may provide a user with a user interface, and may receive the request for estimating bio-information which is input by the user via the user interface. Alternatively, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may communicate with an external device, and may receive the request for estimating bio-information from the external device.

Based on obtaining the pulse wave signal, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may extract components of a plurality of element waveforms, which constitute the waveform of the pulse wave signal, by analyzing the waveform of the obtained pulse wave signal in operation <NUM>. The waveform of the pulse wave signal is generally formed by superposition of a propagation wave, which moves from the heart to the distal end of the body or branching points in the blood vessels by blood ejection from the left ventricle, and reflection waves which return from the distal end of the body or the branching points of the blood vessels. By analyzing the waveform of the pulse wave signal, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may extract components of individual element waveforms related to the propagation wave and/or the reflection wave, e.g., time and amplitude information of the propagation wave and/or the reflection wave.

For example, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may derive a differential signal of the pulse wave signal, and may extract components of each element waveform by analyzing the waveform of the differential signal. For example, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may detect a local minimum point from the waveform of the second-order differential signal of the pulse wave signal, and may obtain times of local minimum points, which are detected sequentially in chronological order, as time components of element waveforms related to the propagation wave, the first reflection wave, and the second reflection wave respectively.

In another example, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may obtain time components of each element waveform by analyzing concavity and/or convexity of the waveform of the pulse wave signal. For example, in the case where the waveform of the pulse wave signal has a shape which is slightly convex upward at an abnormal position due to motion noise, and the like, during measurement of the pulse wave signal, that position may be erroneously detected as a position of the waveform. Accordingly, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may calculate a CCD value based on the concavity and/or convexity properties of the waveform of the pulse wave signal, i.e., the second-order differential signal, and may extract time components of the element waveform based on the calculated CCD value.

According to the present invention, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information also obtain time components of the element waveforms by using a predetermined fixed value. In this case, the fixed value may be a general value for a plurality of users or a personalized value for each user. In this case, the personalized value for a specific user may be a value obtained by analyzing the waveform of the pulse wave signal which is measured at a stable time when the user is in a stable state.

Based on obtaining the time components of the element waveforms, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information obtain amplitude values at points, corresponding to the times obtained from the waveform of the pulse wave signal, as amplitude components of each element waveform. In this case, in order to reduce distortion of the amplitude of the pulse wave signal waveform, which is caused by superposition of element waveforms, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may correct the amplitude of the pulse wave signal by considering amplitude components of adj acent element waveforms when obtaining an amplitude component of a specific element waveform. For example, an amplitude of the pulse wave signal, which is related to the second element waveform, may change according to an amplitude of the pulse wave signal related to the third element waveform. Accordingly, by removing a predetermined percentage of the amplitude component of the third element waveform, an effect of superposition of the third element waveform on the amplitude component of the second element waveform may be reduced.

Based on the extracting the components, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may obtain cardiovascular features based on the extracted components of the element waveforms in operation <NUM>. In this case, the cardiovascular features may include a feature associated with cardiac output and a feature associated with total peripheral resistance. For example, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may obtain a ratio between an amplitude of a first element waveform and an amplitude of a second element waveform as the feature associated with total peripheral resistance. However, the feature is not limited thereto, and the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may also obtain an area of the waveform of the pulse wave signal as the feature associated with cardiac output, and may obtain a variety of additional information by analyzing the waveform of the pulse wave signal.

Based on extracting the cardiovascular features, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may estimate bio-information based on the extracted cardiovascular features in operation <NUM>. Based on extracting various cardiovascular features in operation <NUM>, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may estimate bio-information by using a pre-defined bio-information estimation model.

Based on estimating the bio-information, the apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may output a bio-information estimation result in operation <NUM>. The apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> for estimating bio-information may provide the bio-information estimation result, a user's health information analyzed by using the estimation result, and the like, for the user by using various output devices such as a display, a haptic device, a speaker, and the like.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a wearable device according to an embodiment. The aforementioned various embodiments of the apparatus for estimating bio-information may be mounted in a smart watch worn on a wrist or a smart band-type wearable device, as illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the wearable device <NUM> includes a main body <NUM> and a strap <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> may be formed to have various shapes, and may include modules which are mounted inside or outside of the main body <NUM> to perform the aforementioned function of estimating bio-information, as well as various other functions. A battery may be embedded in the main body <NUM> or the strap <NUM> to supply power to various modules of the wearable device <NUM>.

The strap <NUM> may be connected to the main body <NUM>. The strap <NUM> may be flexible so as to be bent around a user's wrist. The strap <NUM> may be bent in a manner that allows the strap <NUM> to be detached from the user's wrist or may be formed as a band that is non-detachable. Air may be injected into the strap <NUM> or an airbag may be included in the strap <NUM>, so that the strap <NUM> may have elasticity according to a change in pressure applied to the wrist, and the change in pressure of the wrist may be transmitted to the main body <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> may include a pulse wave sensor <NUM> for measuring a bio-signal. The pulse wave sensor <NUM> may be mounted on a rear surface of the main body <NUM>, which may contact the upper portion of a user's wrist, and may include a light source for emitting light toward the skin of the wrist and a detector for detecting light scattered or reflected from the object.

A processor may be mounted in the main body <NUM>. The processor may be electrically connected to various modules, mounted in the wearable device <NUM>, to control operations thereof.

Further, the processor may estimate bio-information by using a pulse wave signal measured by the pulse wave sensor <NUM>. The processor may obtain cardiovascular features from the pulse wave signal, and may estimate bio-information by using the obtained features. The processor may obtain cardiovascular features by analyzing the waveform of the pulse wave signal. For example, the processor may extract times and amplitudes of element waveforms which constitute the waveform of the pulse wave signal, and may obtain cardiovascular features based on the extracted time and/or amplitude components of each element waveform. In this case, in order to minimize distortion of the amplitude of the pulse wave signal waveform, which is caused by superposition of the element waveforms, the processor may extract an amplitude component of a specific element waveform by considering amplitude components of adjacent element waveforms.

Further, the main body <NUM> may further include a contact pressure sensor for measuring contact pressure between an object and the pulse wave sensor <NUM> while a pulse wave signal is measured when the object is in contact with the pulse wave sensor <NUM>. In this case, the processor may monitor a contact state of the object based on the contact pressure measured by the contact pressure sensor, and may provide guide information on a contact position and/or a contact state for a user through a display.

Further, the main body <NUM> may include a storage which stores a processing result of the processor and a variety of information. In this case, the variety of information may include reference information related to estimating bio-information, as well as information associated with functions of the wearable device <NUM>.

In addition, the main body <NUM> may also include an input component <NUM> which receives a user's control command, and transmits the received control command to the processor. The input component <NUM> may include a power button to input a command to turn on or turn off the wearable device <NUM>.

A display may be mounted on a front surface of the main body <NUM>, and may include a touch panel for receiving a touch input. The display may receive a touch input from a user, may transmit the received touch input to the processor, and may display a processing result of the processor.

For example, the display may display a bio-information estimation result. In this case, along with the estimation result, the display may display additional information such as a bio-information estimation date, a health condition, and the like. In this case, when a user requests detailed information by operating the manipulator <NUM> or by performing touch input on the display, the display may display detailed information in various manners.

Moreover, a communication interface, provided for communication with an external device such as a user's mobile terminal, may be mounted in the main body <NUM>. The communication interface may transmit a bio-information estimation result to an external device, e.g., a user's smartphone, to display the estimation result to the user. However, the communication interface is not limited thereto, may transmit and receive a variety of information.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a smart device, to which embodiments of an apparatus for estimating bio-information are applied. In this case, the smart device may be a smartphone, a tablet PC, and the like.

Referring to <FIG>, the smart device <NUM> includes a main body <NUM> and a pulse wave sensor <NUM> mounted on one surface of the main body <NUM>. In this case, the pulse wave sensor <NUM> may include one or more light sources <NUM> and a detector <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the pulse wave sensor <NUM> may be mounted on a rear surface of the main body <NUM>, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured in combination with a fingerprint sensor or a touch panel mounted on a front surface of the main body <NUM>.

In addition, a display may be mounted on a front surface of the main body <NUM>. The display may visually display a bio-information estimation result and the like. The display may include a touch panel, and may receive a variety of information input through the touch panel and transmit the received information to the processor.

Moreover, an image sensor <NUM> may be mounted in the main body <NUM>. When a user's finger approaches the pulse wave sensor <NUM> to measure a pulse wave signal, the image sensor <NUM> may capture an image of the finger and may transmit the captured image to the processor. In this case, based on the image of the finger, the processor may identify a relative position of the finger with respect to an actual position of the pulse wave sensor <NUM>, and may provide the relative position of the finger to the user through the display, so as to guide measurement of pulse wave signals with improved accuracy.

As described above, the processor may estimate bio-information based on the pulse wave signal measured by the pulse wave sensor <NUM>. In this case, as described above, the processor may obtain components, e.g., times and amplitudes, of individual element waveforms related to the propagation wave and the reflection wave from the pulse wave signal, and may obtain cardiovascular features based on the obtained components of the element waveforms. In this case, by eliminating an effect of superposition of the element waveforms, the processor may consider components of adjacent element waveforms when obtaining a component of a specific element waveform.

The main body <NUM> of the smart device <NUM> may include a storage which stores reference information and the like for operation of the smart device <NUM>, including other information input from a user, information obtained by various sensors, information processed by the processor, and other reference information required for estimating bio-information.

Further, the main body <NUM> of the smart device <NUM> may include a communication interface for communication with various external devices, e.g., a wearable device, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet PC, a cuff manometer, a smart device of another user, and the like. The processor may control the communication interface to transmit and receive a bio-information estimation result, a variety of reference information, and the like, to and from another external device.

The embodiments of the present disclosure can be realized as computer-readable code stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may be any type of recording device in which data is stored in a computer-readable manner.

Examples of the computer-readable medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disc, an optical data storage, and a carrier wave (e.g., data transmission through the Internet). The computer-readable medium may be distributed over a plurality of computer systems connected to a network so that computer-readable code is written thereto and executed therefrom in a decentralized manner. Also, functional programs, code, and code segments for implementing the embodiments of the present disclosure should be readily construed by programmers of ordinary skill in the art, to which the present disclosure pertains.

Claim 1:
An apparatus for estimating bio-information, the apparatus comprising:
a processor (<NUM>) configured to:
obtain a pulse wave signal (<NUM>) from a user, wherein the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) has a waveform that is a superposition of a propagation wave (P1) and reflection waves (P2, P3);
extract a first amplitude (P1) of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) corresponding to a point of time (T1), when a first element waveform (A1) has a maximum amplitude;
extract a second amplitude (P2) of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) corresponding to a point of time (T2), when a second element waveform (A2) has a maximum amplitude;
extract a third amplitude (P3) of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) corresponding to a point of time (T3), when a third element waveform (A3) that is adjacent to the second element waveform (A2) has a maximum amplitude; characterised in that the processor is further configured to:
obtain a corrected amplitude of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) corresponding to the second element wave form (A2), based on the third amplitude (A3) by subtracting a predetermined percentage of the third amplitude (P3) of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>), related to the adjacent third element waveform (A3), from the second amplitude (P2) of the pulse wave signal (<NUM>) related to the second element waveform (A2); and
obtain the bio-information of the user based on the first amplitude (P1) and the corrected amplitude.