METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING SYNTHETIC COMPOSITE WAVEFORMS FOR DETERMINING INDIVIDUAL PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE

Abstract

The invention generates synthetic composite waveforms for determining an individual's physiological state, and includes steps of: obtaining a periodic physiological signal of an individual within a time frame; analyzing the periodic physiological signal to obtain and to convert peak-to-peak time intervals of the periodic physiological signal into frequencies; establishing a physiological variation waveform according to the variation of the frequencies; defining at least one synthetic basic waveform according to the frequency trend or fluctuation amplitude of the physiological variation waveform; combining at least two synthetic basic waveforms to generate at least one synthetic composite waveform; and defining respectively each of the at least one synthetic composite waveform as a physiological state. The present invention needn't collect many subjects' physiological signals, thereby reducing the amount of information to be analyzed and overcoming the disability to establish a standardized model by statistical analysis methods due to differences among individuals.

Claims

1. A method for generating synthetic composite waveforms for determining an individual physiological state, comprising steps of: (A) obtaining a periodic physiological signal of an individual during a time frame; (B) analyzing the periodic physiological signal to obtain and to convert peak-to-peak intervals of the periodic physiological signal into frequencies; (C) establishing a physiological variation waveform according to the variations of the frequencies; (D) defining at least one synthetic basic waveform according to frequency trend or fluctuation amplitude of the physiological variation waveform; (E) combining at least two said synthetic basic waveforms to generate at least one synthetic composite waveform; and (F) defining respectively each of the at least one synthetic composite waveform as a physiological state.

2. The method for generating synthetic composite waveforms as claimed in claim 1, wherein the periodic physiological signal is a single signal.

3. The method for generating synthetic composite waveforms as claimed in claim 1, wherein the synthetic basic waveform includes a stable waveform, a state waveform, and an irregular waveform, wherein the stable waveform means that the amplitude of the fluctuation is stable, the state waveform means that the amplitude of the fluctuation rises gradually or falls gradually, and the irregular waveform means that the amplitude of the fluctuation exhibits irregular variations.

4. The method for generating synthetic composite waveforms as claimed in claim 1, wherein the physiological state is a sleeping state or a non-sleeping state.

5. The method for generating synthetic composite waveforms as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of: (G) determining the physiological state of the individual during the time frame.

6. A synthetic composite waveform generation system for determining an individual's physiological state, including: A. a detection module, for obtaining a periodic physiological signal of an individual within a time frame; B. a storage module, for storing the periodic physiological signal; and C. a computing module, for c1. analyzing the periodic physiological signal to obtain peak-to-peak intervals of the periodic physiological signal, and converting the peak-to-peak intervals into frequencies; c2. establishing a physiological variation waveform according to variations in the frequencies; c3. defining at least one synthetic basic waveform according to the frequency trend or fluctuation amplitude of the physiological variation waveform; c4. combining at least two said synthetic basic waveforms to generate at least one synthetic composite waveform; and c5. defining respectively each of the at least one synthetic composite waveform as a physiological state.

7. The synthetic composite waveform generation system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the physiological signal is a single signal.

8. The synthetic composite waveform generation system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the synthetic basic waveform includes a stable waveform, a state waveform, and an irregular waveform, wherein the stable waveform means that the amplitude of the fluctuation is stable, the state waveform means that the amplitude of the fluctuation rises gradually or falls gradually, and the irregular waveform means that the amplitude of the fluctuation exhibits irregular variations.

9. The synthetic composite waveform generation system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the physiological state is a sleeping state or a non-sleeping state.

10. The synthetic composite waveform generation system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an output module for outputting the physiological state of the individual during the time frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1A is a flowchart of generating a synthetic basic waveform and a synthetic composite waveform by using an ECG signal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 1B is a composition diagram of a typical ECG signal;

[0037] FIG. 2A is a flowchart of generating a synthetic basic waveform and a synthetic composite waveform by using a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 2B is a composition diagram of a typical photoplethysmography (PPG) signal;

[0039] FIG. 3 is an example of a synthetic basic waveform according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] FIG. 4 is an example of a synthetic composite waveform according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a physiological state analysis system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] In the following, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and fully described with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, but not all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0043] The “individuals” described herein include, but are not limited to, human individuals; SAHS refers to Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome; AHI refers to sleep Apnea-Hypopnea index i.e. number of Apnea plus Hypopnea per hour during sleep.

Embodiment 1: Generation of Synthetic Basic Waveforms and Synthetic Composite Waveforms

[0044] The synthetic basic waveforms and the synthetic composite waveforms of the present invention can be generated through different periodic physiological signals. FIG. 1A is a flowchart of generating synthetic basic waveforms and synthetic composite waveforms by using an ECG signal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Obtain the ECG signal of the individual within a time frame, analyze the ECG signal to obtain the RR peak-to-peak intervals (FIG. 1B), convert them into frequencies, and then plot the frequency variations per second to obtain the ECG variation waveform. Next, the ECG variation waveforms are distinguished according to its frequency trend or fluctuation amplitude, and are defined as multiple synthetic basic waveforms. Combine at least two synthetic basic waveforms to form at least one synthetic composite waveform and respectively define each of the at least one synthetic composite waveform as a physiological state. Finally, use the generated synthetic basic waveforms and synthetic composite waveforms to determine the physiological state of the individual.

[0045] FIG. 2A is a flowchart of generating a synthetic basic waveform and a synthetic composite waveform by using a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Obtain the PPG signal of the individual during a time frame, analyze the PPG signal to obtain the PP peak-to-peak intervals (FIG. 2B), and convert them into frequencies, and then plot the frequency variations per second to obtain the PP interval variation waveform. Next, the PP interval variation waveform is distinguished according to its frequency trend or fluctuation amplitude, and is defined as a variety of synthetic basic waveforms. Combine at least two synthetic basic waveforms into at least one synthetic composite waveform and respectively define each of the synthetic composite waveform as a physiological state. Finally, use the generated synthetic basic waveforms and synthetic composite waveforms to determine the physiological state of the individual.

[0046] Analysis of the difference between two adjacent sets of signal values (hereinafter referred to as fluctuation amplitude) or fluctuation trend for the ECG variation waveform or the PPG variation waveform can obtain several synthetic basic waveforms as shown in FIG. 3, including stable waves, state waves, and irregular waves. Among them, the stable waves are divided into stable wavelet, stable medium wave and stable big wave, and the state waves are divided into rising wave and falling wave. In this embodiment, stable wavelets are defined as those with fluctuation amplitudes less than or equal to 3, stable medium waves are those with fluctuation amplitudes greater than 3 and less than or equal to 7, and stable big waves are those with fluctuation amplitudes greater than 7; rising waves are those whose fluctuation trends gradually rise, and falling waves are those whose fluctuation trends gradually fall, and an irregular wave means that the difference in the value of two or two sets of adjacent signals exhibits irregular variations.

[0047] Since there is a coupling relationship between the individual's ECG and respiration and such relationship will also show different coupling characteristics in different states, each synthetic basic waveform corresponds to one respective state.

[0048] Taking the sleep states as an example, the correspondences between each sleep state and each synthetic basic waveform are shown in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Correspondences between synthetic basic waveforms and sleep states and identification features Composition of waves Sleep state Identification feature Stable wavelet Stable (deep sleep, Fluctuation amplitude ≤ 3 light sleep, activity) Stable medium wave Light sleep, dream 7 ≥ fluctuation amplitude > 3 Stable big wave Waking, SAHS Fluctuation amplitude > 7 Irregular wave Unstable (light sleep, Nonuniform fluctuation waking, activity) amplitudes Rising wave, falling State change Continuous rising trend or wave falling trend

[0049] The aforementioned synthetic basic waveforms are further combined to obtain several composite synthetic waveforms as shown in FIG. 4. Each composite synthetic waveform in FIG. 4 corresponds to a physiological state. Taking the sleep state as an example, the correspondences between synthetic composite waveforms and sleep states are shown in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Correspondences between synthetic composite waveforms and sleep states and identification results Composition of waves Sleep state Identification result Basic independent wave rising State change State change and falling waves Irregular wave .fwdarw. falling wave Waking to light Stages 1 and 2 are waking, .fwdarw. stable medium wave sleep and stage 3 is light sleep. Stable medium wave .fwdarw. Light to deep Stages 1 and 2 are light sleep, falling wave .fwdarw. stable wavelet sleep and stage 3 is deep sleep. Stable wavelet .fwdarw. stable big SAHS The first stage is deep sleep, wave .fwdarw. irregular wave the second stage is SAHS, and the third stage is light sleep. Stable medium wave .fwdarw. stable SAHS The first stage is light sleep, big wave .fwdarw. irregular wave the second stage is SAHS, and the third stage is waking. Stable wavelet .fwdarw. rising wave Deep to light The first stage is deep sleep, .fwdarw. stable medium wave sleep and the second and third stages are light sleep. Stable wavelet .fwdarw. rising wave Deep sleep to The first stage is deep sleep, .fwdarw. irregular wave dreaming and the second and third stages are dreaming. Stable medium wave .fwdarw. rising Light sleep to Stages 1 and 2 are light sleep, wave .fwdarw. irregular wave waking and stage 3 is waking.

[0050] Taking the non-sleep state (when active) as an example, the correspondences between synthetic basic waveforms and activity states are shown in Table 3:

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Correspondences between synthetic basic waveforms and activity states and identification features Composition of waves Sleep state Identification feature Stable wavelet Stable activity state Fluctuation amplitude ≤ 3 Stable medium wave Early activity state 7 ≥ fluctuation amplitude > 3 Stable big wave Activity changing Fluctuation amplitude > 7 Irregular wave Irregular activity Nonuniform fluctuation amplitudes Rising wave, falling State changing (beginning Continuous rising or falling wave and end of activity) trend

[0051] The aforementioned synthetic basic waveforms are further combined to obtain several synthetic composite waveforms as shown in FIG. 4. Each synthetic composite waveform in FIG. 4 corresponds to a respective physiological state. Taking the non-sleeping phase (active phase) as an example, the correspondences between synthetic composite waveforms and physiological state are shown in Table 4.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Correspondences between synthetic composite waveforms and physiological state and identification results Composition of waves Activity state Identification results Basic independent wave State changing Beginning and end of rising and falling waves activities Irregular wave .fwdarw. falling Irregular activities turning Getting up, standing, wave .fwdarw. stable medium to regular activities and walking wave Stable medium wave .fwdarw. Early stage of activity Continuous walking or falling wave .fwdarw. stable turning to a stable activity running wavelet stage Stable wavelet .fwdarw. stable big Stable activity stage Continuous walking wave .fwdarw. irregular wave turning to different turning to brisk activities walking or running Stable medium wave .fwdarw. Early stage of activity After walking a stable big wave .fwdarw. irregular turning to different distance, turning to wave activities brisk walking or running Stable wavelet .fwdarw. rising Stable activity stage Continuous walking wave .fwdarw. stable medium turning to more intense turning to smooth brisk wave activities (continuously) walking or running Stable medium wave Stable activity stage Continuous walking rising wave .fwdarw. irregular turning to more intense turning to brisk wave activities, then stopping or walking or running, starting then stopping Stable medium wave .fwdarw. Early stage of activity Walking a distance rising wave .fwdarw. irregular turning to more intense then turning to brisk wave activities, then stopping or walking or running, starting then stopping

Embodiment 2: Identification of Individual Physiological Status

[0052] FIG. 5 shows a physiological state analysis system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In order to identify the sleep state of the individual within the examination time, the collected ECG signal or PPG signal is analyzed by the aforementioned method to analyze the frequency variation and to graph the frequency variation per second to obtain a variation waveform. The variation waveform takes one minute as a cycle period, and the synthetic basic waveform with the longest number of seconds staying in a memory in each minute is determined as the presenting synthetic basic waveform of the individual in that minute; and all the presenting synthetic basic waveforms of the individual within the examination time are used for analysis through each of the aforementioned synthetic composite waveforms. And the physiological state of the individual is determined based on the physiological state obtained through the aforementioned correspondences between the synthetic composite waveforms and the physiological state.

[0053] Table 5 shows the results of analyzing the sleep state of individual case A through using the synthetic waveforms generated by the ECG signal.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Analysis results of sleep states and deep sleep analysis for individual case A 1. Sleep state minute hour Deep sleep 192 3.2 Light sleep 208 3.5 Dreaming 84 1.4 Waking 446 7.4 Invalid 2 0 2. Deep Sleep Analysis Stages minute hour Deep sleep 192 3.2 Total effective deep sleep 6 92 1.5 Longest duration 39 0.7 minute # of times Effective deep sleep 5 1 time interval 6 1 7 1 13 1 22 1 39 1

[0054] Based on the results of the above analysis, the sleep quality of the individual can be known, and it can be determined whether the individual sufficiently rests during the sleep.

[0055] In addition, according to the aforementioned method, the sleep states whenever SAHS occurs and the number of occurrences of SAHS within the examination time of the individual case A can also be obtained. The analysis results of an individual case A are shown in the table below:

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Analysis results of the sleep state whenever SAHS occurs and the number of occurrences of SAHS in individual case A 1. Sleep state when SAHS occurs SAHS minute SAHS ++ light sleep 55 SAHS ++ dreaming 34 SAHS ++ deep sleep 19 SAHS + light sleep 54 SAHS + dreaming 27 SAHS + deep sleep 9 2. Number of times SAHS # of times SAHS++ 102 SAHS+ 205 3. AHI times/hour 21.3

[0056] The above analysis can obtain the number of times that the individual has for different degrees of SAHS (the more+signs, the more serious the degree of SAHS) during this time interval of sleep, the state of sleep that the individual was in when SAHS occurred, and the duration of SAHS.

[0057] Furthermore, if the individual's heart rhythm is examined during the examination of the individual by the aforementioned method, it can be combined and presented in combination with the time of occurrence, duration, recovery time and heart rate change of the individual when SAHS occurs, as shown in the table below.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Individual A's SAHS time of occurrence, duration, recovery time, and corresponding results of heart rate variations during each time interval Time of Recovery Heart rate Turning Heart occurrence Duration time during point rate at Minute (minute) (second) (second) occurrence heart rate recovery SAHS 460 459.8 10.82 16.32 64.8 58.2 67.16 SAHS+ 463 462.6 10.90 11.44 58.5 65.7 59.09 SAHS+ 478 477.4 16.05 11.68 55.1 63.5 56.48 SAHS+ 481 480.1 16.09 11.74 67.7 59.0 66.05 SAHS+ 481 480.3 10.88 11.41 59.0 66.0 58.97 SAHS+ 491 490.1 31.69 12.70 53.9 67.4 57.18 SAHS++ 493 492.7 31.88 13.01 53.1 68.1 60.40 SAHS+ 495 494.4 21.27 17.03 52.9 63.0 53.41 SAHS+ 497 496.8 37.12 13.39 52.8 69.7 55.66 SAHS++ 498 497.7 20.86 31.37 53.8 60.7 53.75 SAHS+ 501 500.1 11.48 22.36 57.6 69.4 55.03 SAHS++ 508 507.1 15.80 11.29 58.5 64.9 57.68 SAHS+ 510 509.9 21.00 21.61 57.5 65.5 56.30 SAHS+

[0058] Table 8 shows the results of analyzing the sleep states of the synthetic waveforms generated by the individual case B using the PPG signal.

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Analysis results of sleep states and deep sleep analysis for Individual B 1. Sleep state minute hour Deep Sleep 174 2.9 Light Sleep 202 3.4 Dreaming 101 1.7 Waking 12 0.2 Invalid 1 0.0 2. Deep Sleep Analysis Stage minute hour Deep Sleep 174 2.9 Total effective deep sleep 8 55 0.9 Longest duration 12 0.2 minute # of times Effective deep sleep 5 4 time interval 6 1 7 1 10 1 12 1 5 4

[0059] Based on the above analysis results, the sleep quality of the individual can be known, and it can be determined whether the individual has sufficiently rested during the sleep.

[0060] In addition, according to the aforementioned method, the sleep states and the number of occurrences of the individual when the SAHS occurred during the examining time can also be detected. The analysis results of the individual case B are shown in the following table:

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Analysis results of sleep states and frequency of occurrence of SAHS in individual B Sleep states when SAHS occurs SAHS minute SAHS ++ light sleep 28 SAHS ++ dreaming 3 SAHS ++ deep sleep 3 SAHS + light sleep 26 SAHS + dreaming 5 SAHS + deep sleep 5 Number of times SAHS # of times SAHS++ 35 SAHS+ 65 3. AHI times/hour 9.3

[0061] It can be known from the above analysis regarding the number of times that a person had various degrees of SAHS (the more+signs indicating the more serious) during this time interval of sleep, and the state of sleep that the individual was in when SAHS occurred, and the duration of SAHS.

[0062] Furthermore, if the individual's heart rhythm is a so detected during the examination of the individual by the aforementioned method, it can be thereby combined and presented in combination with the time of occurrence, duration, recovery time and heart rate change of the individual, as shown in the table below:

TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 10 Individual B's SAHS time of occurrence, duration, recovery time, and corresponding results of heart rate changes during each time interval Time of Recovery Heart rate Turning Heart occurrence Duration time during point rate at Minute (minute) (second) (second) occurrence heart rate recovery SAHS 40 39.4 16.30 22.08 66.82 77.22 66.07 SAHS+ 51 50.7 31.28 12.05 62.33 72.60 61.39 SAHS+ 52 51.2 11.40 17.24 72.60 61.39 69.80 SAHS+ 56 55.2 16.28 12.05 75.11 85.37 69.11 SAHS++ 65 64.5 27.62 19.19 85.93 64.98 76.06 SAHS+ 119 118.6 28.42 15.48 68.32 95.71 65.60 SAHS+ 126 125.7 15.91 16.46 66.34 73.65 64.79 SAHS++ 132 131.2 17.65 14.24 64.91 86.09 61.28 SAHS+ 132 131.4 13.10 24.96 86.09 61.28 70.44 SAHS++ 138 137.2 11.93 13.09 67.37 82.83 63.92 SAHS+ 139 138.7 37.79 14.47 64.68 87.03 64.65 SAHS+

[0063] A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand that the implementation of all or part of the processes in the methods of the aforementioned embodiments may be performed by a computer program instructing related hardware. The synthetic basic waveform and/or synthetic composite waveforms may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the computer program is executed, the computer program may include the processes of the foregoing methods. The storage medium may be a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), or a cloud storage device.

[0064] The aforementioned are preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the principles of the present invention, certain improvements and retouches of the present invention can still be made which are nevertheless considered as within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0065] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.