System and method for a biosensor integrated in a vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle includes one or more integrated biosensors, such as finger sensors or other user touchpoints. The integrated biosensors are configured to obtain biosensor data, such as a patient's vitals or concentrations of substances in the blood flow of a user. A control module of a vehicle receives the biosensor data and controls operation of one or more systems of the vehicle in response to the biosensor data. The control module may also present the biosensor data on a display of the vehicle and receive user commands to control the biosensors. The control module may also generate warnings for display in response to the biosensor data exceeding one or more predetermined thresholds.

1 . A biosensor configured for integration in a vehicle, comprising:
 a photoplethysmography (PPG) circuit configured to emit light at a plurality of wavelengths directed at skin tissue of an occupant of the vehicle and obtain a plurality of spectral responses around the plurality of wavelengths of light; and   a processing circuit configured to:
 determine biosensor data of the occupant of the vehicle using one or more of the plurality of spectral responses, wherein the biosensor data includes: a heart rate, an oxygen saturation level, and a measurement level of an additional substance in blood flow; and 
 generate a health message for transmission to a vehicle control system including the biosensor data of the occupant of the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
 compare the biosensor data to one or more predetermined thresholds;   determine the biosensor data compares unfavorably to at least one of the predetermined thresholds; and   generate the health message including an alert for transmission to the vehicle control system.   
     
     
         3 . The biosensor of  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle control system is configured to generate an audible or visible alert to the occupant of the vehicle in response to the alert in the health message. 
     
     
         4 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement level of the additional blood substance includes an electrolyte level in blood flow, wherein the electrolyte level in blood flow includes one or more of: a potassium level or a sodium level. 
     
     
         5 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine
 an indicator of a digestive parameter, wherein the digestive parameter includes a digestion phase 1 response or a digestion phase 2 response.   
     
     
         6 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement level of the additional blood substance includes a concentration level of one or more hemoglobin compounds in blood flow. 
     
     
         7 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
 determine a blood pressure measurement using the one or more of the plurality of spectral responses of the occupant of the vehicle; and   generate the health message for transmission to a vehicle control system including the blood pressure measurement of the occupant of the vehicle.   
     
     
         8 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
 determine a level of vasodilation using the one or more of the plurality of spectral responses of the occupant of the vehicle; and   generate the health message for transmission to a vehicle control system including the level of vasodilation of the occupant of the vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The biosensor of  claim 8 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine the level of vasodilation by:
 determining a change in intensity from one or more spectral responses of the plurality of spectral responses due to blood flow; and   determining the level of vasodilation using the change in intensity.   
     
     
         10 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
 determine a white blood cell (WBC) level in blood flow using the one or more of the plurality of spectral responses of the occupant of the vehicle; and   generate the health message for transmission to a vehicle control system including the WBC level of the occupant of the vehicle.   
     
     
         11 . The biosensor of  claim 10 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine a presence of an infection in the occupant of the vehicle using the WBC level. 
     
     
         12 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
 determine a blood group using the one or more of the plurality of spectral responses of the occupant of the vehicle, wherein the blood group includes: A, B, O, AB, RH+ or RH−; and   generate the health message for transmission to a vehicle control system including the blood group of the occupant of the vehicle.   
     
     
         13 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle control system is configured to control one or more systems of the vehicle in response to the health message, wherein the one or more systems of the vehicle includes: engine system, navigation system, braking system, central processing, climate system and display. 
     
     
         14 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle control system is configured to generate one or more graphical user interfaces (GUI) on a vehicular display including the biosensor data. 
     
     
         15 . The biosensor of  claim 14 , wherein the vehicle control system is configured to generate GUI commands on the display for controlling operation of the biosensor. 
     
     
         16 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the biosensor further includes one or more finger sensors integrated in the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . A biosensor configured for integration in a vehicle, comprising:
 a photoplethysmography (PPG) circuit configured to emit light at a plurality of wavelengths directed at skin tissue of an occupant of the vehicle and obtain a plurality of spectral responses around the plurality of wavelengths of light; and   a processing circuit configured to:
 determine biosensor data using one or more of the plurality of spectral responses of the occupant of the vehicle, wherein the biosensor data includes a heart rate and a level of vasodilation; and 
 generate a health message for transmission to a vehicle control system including the biosensor data of the occupant of the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         18 . The biosensor of  claim 17 , wherein the level of vasodilation includes a measurement of a change in a width of a vessel due to vasodilators. 
     
     
         19 . The biosensor of  claim 18 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine the level of vasodilation by:
 determining a change in intensity from one or more spectral responses of the plurality of spectral responses due to blood flow; and   determining the level of vasodilation using the change in intensity.   
     
     
         20 . The biosensor of  claim 18 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine the level of vasodilation by:
 determining a change in intensity from one or more spectral responses of the plurality of spectral responses due to the change in the width of the vessel in response to muscle relaxation or constriction of the vessel during vasodilation; and   mapping the determined change in intensity to a measurement of the width of the vessel during vasodilation.   
     
     
         21 . The biosensor of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more spectral responses are around one or more of: ultraviolet (UV) light or infrared (IR) light. 
     
     
         22 . The biosensor of  claim 17 , wherein the biosensor data further includes an additional blood substance. 
     
     
         23 . The biosensor of  claim 22 , wherein the measurement level of the additional blood substance includes an electrolyte level in blood flow, wherein the electrolyte level in blood flow includes one or more of: a potassium level or a sodium level. 
     
     
         24 . The biosensor of  claim 22 , wherein the measurement level of the additional blood substance includes bilirubin. 
     
     
         25 . The biosensor of  claim 17 , wherein the biosensor further includes a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the occupant of the vehicle.