Patent Application
20210335492
Various embodiments described herein are directed generally to health care. More particularly, but not exclusively, various methods and apparatus disclosed herein relate to automated techniques for digital testing prospective memory in subjects.
Prospective memory is part of episodic memory and refers to our memory for future events. Prospective memory problems are common in elderly people and people with cognitive impairment, e.g. due to neurodegenerative disease or acquired brain damage. Currently, digital tests for prospective memory are lacking. Paper-pencil tests of prospective memory are difficult to administer, impractical, require an expert examiner, and are therefore not ideal for the purpose of assessing or monitoring an examinee's prospective memory.
Given the issues set forth previously, it would be beneficial to have a simple, easy-to-administer, digital test of prospective memory. Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for automated testing of prospective memory in subjects. Subjects may interact with various client devices (e.g., tablet computers, smart phones, laptop computers, standalone interactive speakers with or without displays, wearable technology such as smart watches or smart glasses, etc.) to participate in prospective memory tests. These tests may prompt the subjects to interact with various types of input components (e.g., touchscreens, keyboards, mice, microphones, vision sensors, etc.) to perform a variety of different types of tasks. The subjects' interaction with these input components may be monitored, e.g., on a time scale, to determine prospective memory measures of the subjects. These prospective memory measures may take various forms (e.g., between zero and one on a scale, between zero and one hundred, letter grades, points, etc.) and may be indicative of prospective memory of the subjects (e.g., healthy, unhealthy, declining, improving, etc.).
For example, in various embodiments, a subject (who when being tested using techniques described herein may also be referred to as a “patient”, “user” or “examinee”) may be instructed, e.g., via output provided by one or more client devices operated or controlled by the subject, to perform one or more “working memory” or “filler” tasks. These tasks may be selected to occupy or strongly engage the subject's working memory. Meanwhile, the subject may also be asked to perform one or more prospective memory tasks that are selected to gauge the subject's prospective memory. In particular, the subject may be asked to perform a prospective memory task at some future point in time, e.g., in x minutes, y minutes after some audio, visual, or haptic cue, etc. (unless otherwise indicated, all numeric indicators described herein are positive integers). Performing the prospective memory task may require a subject to interact with one or more input components of the same client device that provided the instructions or a different client device. A difference or delta (Δ) between an actual time at which the subject performs the prospective memory test and the instructed time to perform the test may be determined and used to determine a measure of the subject's prospective memory. In some cases, the greater the delta, the worse the subject's prospective memory. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, whether the subject performs the prospective memory task correctly before or after the instructed point in time may also be considered.
Generally, in one aspect, a method for conducting a prospective memory test on a subject may include: providing, via one or more output devices, working memory instructions that prompt the subject to perform one or more working memory tasks, wherein the one or more working memory tasks are selected to occupy the working memory of the subject; providing, via one or more of the output devices, one or more additional instructions prompting the subject to perform one or more prospective memory tasks, wherein each respective additional instruction of the one or more additional instructions prompts the subject to perform a respective one of the prospective memory tasks a predetermined time interval after provision of the respective additional instruction; during the predetermined time interval, monitoring performance by the subject of the one or more working memory tasks, wherein the monitoring includes determining a measure of engagement between the subject and one or more input devices operated by the subject to perform the one or more working memory tasks; determining an actual time interval between provision of a given additional instruction of the one or more additional instructions and performance of the prospective memory task prompted by the given additional instruction; determining whether the measure of engagement satisfies a criterion; conditionally providing a certified prospective memory measure of the subject based on determining that the measure of engagement satisfies the criterion, wherein the certified prospective memory measure is calculated based at least in part on the actual time interval; and conditionally providing a notification that the subject was not adequately engaged with the one or more working memory tasks based on determining that the measure of engagement satisfies the criterion.
In various embodiments, the method may further include rendering, on a display, a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is operable by the subject to participate in the prospective memory test. In various embodiments, providing the working memory instructions may include providing, as part of the graphical user interface, one or more working interactive elements that are operable by the subject to perform the one or more working memory tasks. In various embodiments, providing the one or more additional instructions may include providing, as part of the graphical user interface, one or more prospective memory interactive elements that are operable by the subject to perform the one or more prospective memory tasks.
In various embodiments, the actual time interval may occur between provision of the one or more prospective memory interactive elements and operation of the one or more prospective memory interactive elements by the subject. In various embodiments, the method may further include rendering, as part of the graphical user interface, a clock.
In various embodiments, the respective additional instruction may be provided immediately prior to the one or more working memory instructions. In various embodiments, the respective additional instruction may be provided after the one or more working memory instructions.
In addition, some implementations include one or more processors of one or more computing devices, where the one or more processors are operable to execute instructions stored in associated memory, and where the instructions are configured to cause performance of any of the aforementioned methods. Some implementations also include one or more transitory or non-transitory computer readable storage media storing computer instructions executable by one or more processors to perform any of the aforementioned methods.
It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein.
In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating various principles of the embodiments described herein.
Prospective memory is part of episodic memory and refers to our memory for future events. Prospective memory problems are common in elderly people and people with cognitive impairment, e.g. due to neurodegenerative disease or acquired brain damage. Currently, digital tests for prospective memory are lacking. Paper-pencil tests of prospective memory are difficult to administer, impractical, require an expert examiner, and are therefore not ideal for the purpose of assessing or monitoring an examinee's prospective memory.
Applicants have recognized and appreciated that it would be beneficial to have a simple, easy-to-administer test of prospective memory in subjects. Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for automated testing of prospective memory in subjects. Subjects may interact with various client devices to participate in prospective memory tests. These tests may prompt the subjects to interact with various types of input components (e.g., touchscreens, keyboards, mice, microphones, vision sensors, etc.) to perform a variety of different types of tasks. The subjects' interaction with these input components may be monitored, e.g., on a time scale, to determine prospective memory measures of the subjects. These prospective memory measures may be indicative of the subject's, prospective memory (e.g., healthy, unhealthy, declining, improving, etc.).
For example, in various embodiments, a subject (who when being tested using techniques described herein may also be referred to as a “patient”, “user” or “examinee”) may be instructed, e.g., via output provided by one or more client devices operated or controlled by the subject, to perform one or more “working memory” or “filler” tasks. These tasks may be selected to or strongly engage or occupy the subject's working memory. Meanwhile, the subject may also be prompted to perform one or more prospective memory tasks that are selected to obtain a measure of the subject's prospective memory. In particular, the subject may be asked to perform a prospective memory task at some future point in time, e.g., in x minutes, y minutes after some audio, visual, or haptic cue, etc. Performing the prospective memory task may require the subject to interact with one or more input components of the same client device that provided the instructions or a different client device. A difference or delta (Δ) between an actual time at which the subject performs the prospective memory test and the instructed time to perform the test may be determined and used to determine a measure of the subject's prospective memory. In some cases, the greater the delta, the worse the condition of the subject's prospective memory. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, whether the subject performs the prospective memory task correctly before or after the instructed point in time may also be considered.
Referring to
The computing devices depicted in
Client devices 106 may include various types of input and output components. The output components may be used to provide instructions to subjects to perform various types of tasks, such as working memory tasks, prospective memory tasks, and so forth. In some embodiments, output components of client devices 106 may also be used to provide feedback to subjects, such as whether the subjects' measures of prospective memory (or other cognitive measures) are improving, deteriorating, steady, and so forth. Output components of client devices 106 may include, but are not limited to, displays (touchscreen or otherwise), speakers, haptic feedback devices (e.g., to cause vibration), olfactory emitters, lights such as light-emitting diodes, printers, wireless transmitters (which may be part of wireless transceivers), network cards, and so forth.
Input components of client devices 106 may include, but are not limited to, keyboards, mice, touchscreens, microphones, vision sensors (e.g., RGB cameras, infrared sensors, etc.), network cards, wireless receivers (which may be part of wireless transceivers), various types of physiological sensors, retina scans, fingerprint scans, and so forth. Subjects may interact with input components, e.g., in response to instructions received via output components, in order to perform various types of tasks, such as the aforementioned working and prospective memory tasks. In some embodiments, the subjects' engagement with input components may be monitored, e.g., by one or more processors local to client device 106 and/or one or more components of cognitive testing system 102, e.g., to determine states of the subjects' prospective memories.
In some implementations, client devices 106 operated by a particular subject may form part of a coordinated “ecosystem” of client devices 106. This ecosystem may include any client device that the subject has used to “sign into” an online profile. In some embodiments, multiple client devices of the ecosystem may be employed, e.g., simultaneously or at different times, in order to perform cognitive testing. Examples of such deployment will be described below.
Medical personnel such as psychologists, doctors, nurses, therapists, psychiatrists, counselors, etc., may operate computing devices 130 to receive and/or analyze results of prospective memory testing performed by subjects using client devices 106. Additionally or alternatively, other computing devices 140 may be operated by interested parties, such as researchers, subject family members, caregivers, insurance companies, etc., to receive and/or analyze results of prospective memory testing performed by subjects using client devices 106.
Cognitive testing system 102 may include a variety of different components that may operate across one or more computing systems, such as one or more blade servers. In some implementations, one or more components of cognitive testing system 102 may form what is often referred to as a “cloud” infrastructure. In those situations, those components may be referred to as “cloud-based” because a party interacting with them (e.g., a subject, medical personnel, etc.) need not know the particulars about how the servers are configured.
A prospective task engine 112 may be configured to select and cause to be provided, at one or more client devices 106 operated by one or more subjects, instructions to perform various prospective memory tasks. The nature of the prospective memory tasks is not as important as the fact that the subject is instructed to complete the prospective memory tasks at some point in the future. For example, a prospective memory task instruction (which may be displayed or output audibly) may prompt a subject to perform some arbitrary action, such as interacting somehow with one or more graphical elements rendered on a graphical user interface (“GUI”), clapping, speaking a word or phrase, performing some gesture, and so forth. However, the time at which the subject performs the prospective memory tasks may be monitored to determine how precisely, temporally-speaking, the subject was able to follow the prospective memory instruction. For example, the instruction may prompt the subject to perform some action in x seconds, y minutes, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the instruction may prompt the subject to perform a prospective memory task at some future point in time after receiving some cue. For example, an instruction may be, “Touch the yellow star two minutes after it appears on your screen.”
In some implementations, various prospective tasks may be stored in a prospective task library 120 (or “database”) such that they are accessible to prospective task engine 112. In some such embodiments, prospective task engine 112 may select prospective tasks randomly and/or based on various heuristics or statistical models. For example, subjects diagnosed with one condition may be better tested using one type of prospective memory tasks, whereas other subjects may be better tested using another type of prospective memory tasks. Also, for instance, prospective task engine 112 may select appropriate tasks for visually-impaired and/or hearing-impaired subjects, e.g., so that those subjects' prospective memories are tested, not their abilities to see and/or hear.
Working memory task engine 114 may operate similarly to prospective task engine 112, except that instead of providing prospective memory tasks, working memory task engine 114 may provide what are referred to herein as “working memory,” “working,” or “filler” tasks. Working memory tasks may be selected and implemented in order to occupy the working memory of the subject. Without sufficient engagement with one or more working memory tasks, any prospective memory test performed by the subject may not be a reliable indicator of the subject's prospective memory condition. By requiring the subject to engage in working memory task(s), performance of prospective memory tasks by the subject can be measured.
Working memory tasks can take a variety of different forms. For example, a working memory task in some embodiments may continue until all desired prospective memory tasks have been administered. Examples of working memory tasks include, but are not limited to, playing a game, consuming media, speaking well-known phrases, reading text, and so forth. In some implementations, working memory task engine 114 may select working memory tasks from a working memory task library 122 (or “database”). As with prospective memory tasks, working memory tasks may be selected from working memory task library 122 at random, based on various heuristics, using various statistical models, etc.
Scoring engine 116 may be configured to analyze various signals to determine a measure of prospective memory of a subject. These signals may come in various forms. As noted previously, if the subject is not sufficiently engaged in the working memory task, he/she may use his/her working memory to perform the prospective memory tasks instead of using his/her prospective memory to perform the prospective memory tasks. Thus, in some embodiments, scoring engine 116 may monitor performance by the subject of one or more working memory tasks, e.g., by monitoring interaction between the subject and one or more input components of client device(s) 106. For example, the monitoring may include determining a measure of engagement between the subject and one or more input devices operated by the subject to perform the one or more working memory tasks. In various embodiments, scoring engine 116 may determine whether the measure of engagement determined for a subject satisfies one or more criterion. Various criteria may be analyzed. For example, in some embodiments, the criteria may be whether the subject provided input at some predetermined frequency, whether the subject advanced through working memory task(s) at a sufficient speed, whether the subject worked steadily to complete the working memory task(s), etc.
Assuming the subject is sufficiently engaged with the working memory task(s), in various embodiments, scoring engine 116 may be configured to determine (e.g., calculate) a measure of prospective memory of the subject based on the subject's response time for completing prospective memory task(s) provided by prospective task engine 112. For example, in some implementations, an algorithm such as that described below may be employed by scoring engine 116 (or another component of cognitive testing system 102).
In some embodiments, a subject (or “participant”) may receive n prospective memory tasks. Each prospective memory task i may be defined by: a timepoint ti since start of the prospective memory task that defines the moment the prospective memory task should be performed; an optional cue ci (e.g., containing text) that will be presented at timepoint tcuei; and an action ai that should be performed at ti in order to complete the prospective memory task. In some embodiments, the algorithm may further include two general action interval parameters, ∂before and ∂after, which specify how much actual time before ti and after ti an action is allowed to take place in order to be counted as correct timing of the prospective memory task.
Each action performed by a subject, which may range from 1 to k total number of performed actions during one or more working memory task(s) may be logged as performed action aperformedj, at time tperformedj, where j denotes a the jth performed action. The scoring algorithm may then proceed to compute the score of an individual, e.g., as follows (in pseudocode):
Assuming the subject's prospective memory score is incremented, it may then be determined whether the subject performed the prospective memory task within a predetermined time interval of the scheduled timepoint ti (if tperformedj>ti−∂before and tperformedj<ti+∂after). If the answer is yes, then the subject's prospective memory score may be incremented again. Otherwise, the algorithm may break out of the inner loop and move to the next prospective memory task i+1. Of course, this is just one example of an algorithm that may be implemented by scoring engine 116 to determine a subject's prospective memory measure, and is not meant to be limiting.
In some implementations, a subject's performance may be compared to previous performance(s) by the same subject on the same prospective memory test and/or to normative data. This algorithm enables multiple alternate versions for repeated testing of a subject. Difficulty of the test for a given subject can be varied if necessary/desired, e.g., by increasing the number of prospective and/or working memory tasks administered or increasing the difficulty of the working memory task(s).
Electronic health records (“EHR”) engine 118 may have access to an EHR database 124 that stores information about subjects, such as their electronic health records, results of tests (including prospective memory tests described herein), demographics, health histories, etc. This data may be used for a variety of purposes related to prospective memory testing. For example, as noted above, one or both of engines 112 and 114 may select tasks based at least in part on a subject's medical data. If the subject is visually-impaired and/or hearing-impaired, then prospective memory and/or working memory tasks may be selected that minimize or eliminate the influence of these impairments. If the subject is already known (based on data in database 124) to be experiencing cognitive decline, then tasks and/or difficulties associated with tasks may be selected, e.g., by engines 112 and/or 114, based on signals provided by EHR engine 118. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, results of prospective memory tests administered using techniques described herein may be stored by EHR engine 118 in EHR database 124.
While particular components are depicted in
Referring now to
Also rendered as part of GUI 252 is a working memory task instruction 256 that instructs the subject to “Fill in the correct letters to complete the anagram of the word given.” While provided visually in
Also rendered as part of GUI 252 are two graphical elements, 258 and 260, that are operable by the subject, e.g., by tapping or swiping. While the subject performs the working memory task of filling in the anagrams, the subject may be provided with prospective memory instructions that prompt the subject to interact with these elements 258, 260 at selected future points in time. For example, client device 206 may audibly provide instructions for the subject to tap the star 258 in three minutes. As another example, client device 206 may render on GUI 252 a pop-up window or other graphical element (not depicted in
Thus, as the subject performs the working memory task of filling in the anagrams, he or she also must use prospective memory to remember which prospective memory tasks to perform at what time point. As described above, the delta between the scheduled prospective memory task completion times and the actual (observed) prospective memory task completion times may be used to determine a measure of the subject's prospective memory. Meanwhile, the subject must remain engaged with the working memory task, e.g., by interacting with at least one of the displayed graphical elements every so often. If the subject's interactions with touchscreen 250 fall below some threshold, the outcomes of the subject's performance of the prospective memory tasks may be discarded. Additionally or alternatively, the outcomes of the subject's performance of the prospective memory tasks may be negatively influenced by insufficient engagement with the working memory task(s) (e.g., if the subject stops performing the working memory task(s) but performs the prospectively memory task(s) in a timely manner, that may be interpreted as having a negative or at least neutral impact on the subject's prospective memory measure or score).
In
In
Although examples described herein (including in association with the above-described algorithm) have used numeric points in the form of integers to calculate a measure of prospective memory, this is not meant to be limiting. In some implementations, linear weighting of the delta between actual and assigned points in time may be employed. For example, if the delta falls within a first range relatively close to the assigned time (e.g., within ten seconds), the subject may be awarded a whole point. If the delta falls outside of the first range but within a second range, a half point may be awarded. And so on.
At block 402, the system may provide, e.g., via one or more output components of a client device (e.g., 106, 206, 306) such as a speaker or touchscreen display, working memory instructions that prompt a subject to perform one or more working memory tasks. In various implementations, the one or more working tasks may be selected to occupy the working memory of the subject.
At block 404, the system may provide, e.g., via one or more of the output devices, one or more additional instructions prompting the subject to perform one or more prospective memory tasks. Each respective additional instruction of the one or more additional instructions may prompt the subject to perform a respective one of the prospective memory tasks a predetermined time interval after provision of the respective additional instruction. For example the subject may be instructed to perform some task in x minutes, or y seconds after some sort of cue (which can be output using any output modality).
At block 406, the system may, e.g., during the predetermined time interval, monitor performance by the subject of the one or more working memory tasks. In various embodiments, the monitoring may include determining a measure of engagement between the subject and one or more input devices operated by the subject to perform the one or more working memory tasks. In the scenario of
At block 408, the system may determine an actual time interval between provision of a given additional instruction of the one or more additional instructions and performance of the prospective memory task prompted by the given additional instruction. In some embodiments, the system may set a timer when the instruction is provided and measure the time based on the timer. In other embodiments, timestamps associated with the instruction and performance of the task may be detected.
At block 410, the system may determine whether the measure of engagement (determined at block 406) satisfies a criterion (e.g., a minimum frequency threshold). If the answer is yes, then at block 412, the system may (conditionally based on the outcome of 410) provide a certified prospective memory measure of the subject based on determining that the measure of engagement satisfies the criterion. In various embodiments, the certified prospective memory measure may be calculated based at least in part on the actual time interval.
If the answer at block 410 is no, on the other hand, then at block 414, the system may (again, conditionally on an outcome of block 410) provide a notification that the subject was not adequately engaged with the one or more working memory tasks based on determining that the measure of engagement satisfies the criterion. In other embodiments, in addition to or instead of providing a notification, the subject's performance of the prospective memory task may be discarded and/or discounted.
User interface input devices 522 may include a keyboard, pointing devices such as a mouse, trackball, touchpad, or graphics tablet, a scanner, a touchscreen incorporated into the display, audio input devices such as voice recognition systems, microphones, and/or other types of input devices. In general, use of the term “input device” is intended to include all possible types of devices and ways to input information into computing device 510 or onto a communication network.
User interface output devices 520 may include a display subsystem, a printer, a fax machine, or non-visual displays such as audio output devices. The display subsystem may include a cathode ray tube (CRT), a flat-panel device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a projection device, or some other mechanism for creating a visible image. The display subsystem may also provide non-visual display such as via audio output devices. In general, use of the term “output device” is intended to include all possible types of devices and ways to output information from computing device 510 to the user or to another machine or computing device.
Storage subsystem 524 stores programming and data constructs that provide the functionality of some or all of the modules described herein. For example, the storage subsystem 524 may include the logic to perform selected aspects of the method of
These software modules are generally executed by processor 514 alone or in combination with other processors. Memory 525 used in the storage subsystem 524 can include a number of memories including a main random access memory (RAM) 530 for storage of instructions and data during program execution and a read only memory (ROM) 532 in which fixed instructions are stored. A file storage subsystem 526 can provide persistent storage for program and data files, and may include a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive along with associated removable media, a CD-ROM drive, an optical drive, or removable media cartridges. The modules implementing the functionality of certain implementations may be stored by file storage subsystem 526 in the storage subsystem 524, or in other machines accessible by the processor(s) 514.
Bus subsystem 512 provides a mechanism for letting the various components and subsystems of computing device 510 communicate with each other as intended. Although bus subsystem 512 is shown schematically as a single bus, alternative implementations of the bus subsystem may use multiple busses.
Computing device 510 can be of varying types including a workstation, server, computing cluster, blade server, server farm, or any other data processing system or computing device. Due to the ever-changing nature of computers and networks, the description of computing device 510 depicted in
While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.
All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.
The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”
The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.
It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.
In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03. It should be understood that certain expressions and reference signs used in the claims pursuant to Rule 6.2(b) of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”) do not limit the scope.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2019/079946 | 11/1/2019 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62757827 | Nov 2018 | US |
