Obtaining physiological measurements using a portable device

Abstract

An apparatus and method for obtaining a physiological measurement associated with a user using a portable device is disclosed herein. Information displayed on a touch-sensitive display of the portable device specifies the contact area(s) on the portable device for a user to touch. One or more areas on the portable device and/or a detachable device connected to the portable device comprise conductive areas for measuring the resistance or impedance of the user's body between those conductive areas.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for obtaining a physiological measurement, comprising:
 a touch-sensitive display included in a first portable device;   a first contact area located at a second portable device, the first contact area comprising a light source and a light detector;   a second contact area located at the first portable device, the first contact area electrically isolated from the second contact area; and   a processor in communication with each of the touch-sensitive display, the first contact area, and the second contact area, the processor configured to receive a first physiological parameter when the user simultaneously contacts the first and second contact areas, and is further configured to process the received first physiological parameter to determine the physiological measurement.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is included in the first portable device. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first portable device comprises a smart phone. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the second contact area comprises a conductive portion of the first portable device. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the conductive portion comprises at least one of an antenna, a physical button, a sensor, and a casing of the first portable device. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the second portable device is configured to be electrically coupled to and detached from the first portable device. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the second portable device comprises a cover for the first portable device or a dongle. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the second contact area comprises a top conductive layer of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein a finger or an inner wrist of the user contacts the first contact area. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the second contact area comprises a pre-determined location on the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein an image is displayed on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the pre-determined location. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a camera and a light emitting diode (LED), wherein at least one of the camera and the LED comprise the first contact area. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the touch-sensitive display comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a pixel sensor, wherein the pixel sensor is included in the second contact area. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a gyrometer included in the first portable device, wherein the gyrometer is configured to detect orientation of the first portable device as the first and second physical parameters are being received. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the touch-sensitive display displays information for the user to correct orientation of the first portable device. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to display instructions for the user to provide the first physiological parameter. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the first physiological parameter from the first contact area and a second physiological parameter from the second contact area. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first physiological parameter comprises an electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement, a pulse measurement, or a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) measurement. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a transmitter in communication with the processor, the transmitter configured to transmit the first physiological parameter to a remote device. 
     
     
         40 . A method for obtaining a physiological measurement, the method comprising:
 displaying information on a touch-sensitive display of a first portable device, the displayed information including identification of a first contact area or a second contact area to be touched by a user;   receiving, from a second portable device, a first physiological parameter associated with the first contact area located at the second portable device, the first physiological parameter associated with a physiological property of the user; and   generating the physiological measurement using the first physiological parameter.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the second contact area comprises at least a portion of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 receiving, in response to the user touching the second contact area, a second physiological parameter, the first contact area is distinct from the second contact area and the user simultaneously touches the first contact area and the second contact area,   wherein the generating of the physiological measurement is based on the first physiological parameter and the second physiological parameter.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the second portable device comprises a detachable device in electrical contact with the first portable device. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising transmitting the physiological measurement to a remote device. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 determining, using a gyrometer, that the first portable device is improperly oriented relative to a portion of the user's body; and   displaying, on the touch-sensitive display of the first portable device, information comprising instructions for the user to correct orientation.