Patent Application
20230240583
Wearable electronic devices have gained popularity among consumers. A wearable electronic device may track a user's activities or biometric data using a variety of sensors. Data captured from these sensors can be analyzed in order to provide a user with information, such as an estimation of how far they walked in a day, their heart rate, how much time they spent sleeping, and the like. However, it may be challenging for users to comfortably obtain each measurement using the wearable device, and as a result, the user may not fully utilize the capabilities of the device.
Various embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:
In the following description, various embodiments will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described.
Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure may overcome one or more of the aforementioned and other deficiencies experienced in conventional approaches for wearable devices, such as electronic wellness trackers. For example, in various embodiments, capabilities may be integrated into the wearable device to enable electrocardiogram (ECG) and/or electrodermal activity (EDA). The wearable device may utilize either a single-lead or a multi-lead approach to obtaining the information for ECG and/or EDA. The single-lead and/or multi-lead may refer to a number of leads arranged on a face of the wearable device.
Typically, ECG measurements require conductive contacts taken across a body (e.g., across the heart) in order to measure electrical activity of the heart. As a result, typically two different devices and/or sensor arrangements are utilized, which may be uncomfortable for a user to wear continuously. Additionally, trying to incorporate the capabilities into the form factor of a wearable device, such as a watch or fitness tracker, may be challenging due to the small footprint and also shielding requirements in order to include two separate leads. Moreover, relative sizes of the leads may affect the quality of signal received. Embodiments of the present disclosure include functionality for ECG measurements incorporated into the form factor of a wearable device, such as a watch. A first contact may be arranged on a bottom portion of the wearable device, which may be the portion in direct and/or continuous contact with a user's extremity, such as a wrist. In other words, the first contact may be arranged on the portion of the wearable device facing the wrist or body of the user. The second contact may be arranged along a face or bezel of the wearable, which may be proximate a top portion of the wearable device (e.g,. opposite the first contact). Such an arrangement may enable the user to comfortability obtain the ECG measurements, for example, by placing an extremity opposite a wearing location of the wearable device along the top of the wearable device.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a single lead or multiple leads for obtaining the ECG and/or EDA measurements. For example, a single lead may be incorporated into a bezel and/or screen of the wearable device. Additionally, in embodiments, multiple leads may also be incorporated into the bezel and/or screen. For example, different regions of the bezel may include different leads, which may be isolated from adjacent leads. Additionally, plated electrodes and the like may be incorporated into various components of the wearable device in order to provide conductive contacts that may act as leads for obtaining various measurements.
In various embodiments, EDA measurements may be obtained using a user's fingers, which may provide more accurate information than, for example, a user's arms or chest. In various embodiments, a single lead or multi-lead portion of the wearable device may provide a region where the user may position their fingers (or other body parts), measure a skin conductance, and determine a value associated with a user's stress level associated with the sympathetic nervous system. As noted above, the leads may be arranged to provide a comfortable, ergonomic position for the user. Accordingly, if the user is comfortable during the measurement or the measurement is not onerous for the user, the user is more likely to utilize the functionality of the wearable device.
In some embodiments, the user monitoring device 102 may be connected to a network directly, or via an intermediary device. For example, the user monitoring device 102 may be connected to the intermediary device via a BLUETOOTH® connection, and the intermediary device may be connected to the network via an Internet connection. In various embodiments, a user may be associated with a user account, and the user account may be associated with (i.e., signed onto) a plurality of different networked devices. In some embodiments, additional devices may provide any of the abovementioned data among other data, and/or receive the data for various processing or analysis. The additional devices may include a computer, a server, a handheld device, a temperature regulation device, or a vehicle, among others.
In the illustrated embodiment, the user monitoring device 102 may include a conductive bottom plate that is positioned against a wrist of the user 100, in the illustrated embodiment where the user monitoring device 102 is worn on the wrist. This conductive bottom plate may serve as a first lead (e.g., first electrode) for obtaining various measurement data, such as for ECG. Additionally, in embodiments, one or more additional conductive areas (e.g., leads, electrodes) may be integrated into other areas of the user monitoring device 102. A location of the various additional leads may be particularly selected to enable certain types of measurements (e.g., ECG, EDA, etc.) and/or provide an ergonomic position for the user 100 while the data is collected. For example, it would be uncomfortable for the user to place a bottom of their foot on the user monitoring device 102. However, placing their opposite hand along a top of the user monitoring device 102 may be easy, and as a result, the user 100 may be more likely to utilize the features of the user monitoring device 102.
As mentioned, there can be various other types of functionality offered by such a wearable device, as may relate to the health of a person wearing the device. One such type of functionality relates to ECG. ECG is a process that can be used to determine and/or track the activity of the heart of a person over a period of time. In order to obtain ECG data, a conductive electrode is often brought into contact with the skin of the person to be monitored. In the example situation of
As mentioned, ECG measurements are taken across opposite extremities. For example, with reference to
A user's skin impedance may decrease the reliability of data captured for the ECG measurement. As a result, reducing skin impedance is desirable. Accordingly, increasing contact surface area for each electrode is desirable. For example, forming substantially all of the bottom face of the wearable device 200 may increase the surface area in contact with the arm 202, while increasing a size of the conductive ring 206 may also decrease skin impedance. Moreover, as noted above, in various embodiments the second electrode may include one or more plated electrodes or other conductive elements that are integrated into the display screen 208, thereby increasing the conductive surface area for the second electrode.
The illustrated wearable device includes a housing 210. The housing 210 may be a multi-part component, such that the housing 210 is split into a first part 212 and a second part 214. However, it should be appreciate that there may be additional parts. Moreover, in embodiments, additional components may be utilized to form one or more parts. For example, the conductive ring 206 may form a portion of a bezel of the first part 212. The housing 210 may enclose one or more electronic components, which may be utilized to collect and/or analyze data, as described herein. For example, the housing 210 may enclose appropriate circuitry for ECG and/or EDA measurements.
In various embodiments, ergonomics and user comfort are emphasized in order to decrease the likelihood of user error and/or encourage users to utilize the functionality of the wearable device 200. For example, increasing the surface area of the electrodes may prevent shorts across both electrodes because it will be easier for the user to identify a region associated with one of the two electrodes.
Additionally, to further prevent user error during electrical measurements, locations for the electrodes may be particularly selected to provide comfort for users to maintain a stationary pose. For example, measurement data may be acquired over a period of time, such as 60 seconds, or longer. Movement may disrupt the measurements, and therefore, the location of the electrodes may be selected such that the user can maintain position to acquire the data. The particularly selected locations may be selected with user comfort in mind, as well as providing flexibility to enable the user to interact with the wearable device in a variety of ways. For example, different users may have ailments that make interaction with the devices difficult (e.g., arthritis, carpal tunnel, amputations, etc.), so providing a wide variety of potential interaction methods provides a greater range of use over a wider group of users.
As noted above, embodiments of the present disclosure may include a system that includes at least 2 independent electrodes, electrically isolated within a single device. For example, a first electrode may utilize a bottom surface area of the wearable device 200 (not pictured in
As noted above, embodiments of the present disclosure may go beyond configurations that include a single top electrode and a single bottom electrode to include multiple leads along the wearable device (e.g., more than one lead on the top, more than one lead on the bottom, more than one lead on both the top and bottom). Adding an electrode to the top of the wearable device 200, as described below, increases the number of ECGs and provides additional wearer configurations for obtaining measurement information. By way of example, configurations that include two electrodes along the top of the wearable device enable multiple different positions to obtain information, such as right arm to left leg and left arm to left leg, as well as augmented limb leads (e.g., aVR, aVL, and aVF). These additional leads may enable screening of a broader range of non-rhythm based conditions, and could ergonomically work by users holding the top of the device with two thumbs and pressing the bottom of the device into their leg, as an example.
While single-lead ECG can provide accurate information with regards to beat timing (also called RR interval), which can be sufficient for diagnosing many arrhythmias, multiple leads can provide additional information to more accurately diagnose conditions which rely on ECG morphology (shape). For example, sinus tachycardia is a regular rhythm that is faster than normal, and can be diagnosed from a single lead. Several conditions can cause a deviation of the electrical axis or an abnormal R-wave amplitude, which is best observed using multiple leads. Embodiments described herein may also use multi-lead ECG to examine other morphologies, such as ST-elevation or depression. Moreover, as noted above, including at least two sensors on the top may also enable EDA measurements.
As described, embodiments of the present disclosure enable multiple different user configurations for obtaining measurements using two or more leads, such as for ECG or EDA. EDA is a measurement of skin electrical resistance or conductance, which reflects the sympathetic activation in the secretory activity of sweat glands. It has been used in psychological research to understand autonomic nervous system activity and identify acute stress events induced by physical, mental, or cognitive stimuli. The skin conductance/resistance can be measured by injecting a small current between two electrodes in contact with the skin. In many instances, EDA is measured at the fingers, palm, or feet. However, in certain embodiments, wrist measurements may also be utilized for EDA. Utilizing configurations having two electrodes at the top surface of the wearable device, EDA measurements may be obtained from users in a simple, compact, and comfortable form factor.
The example 300 of
In the embodiment illustrated in
It should be appreciated that while various embodiments may describe the electrodes as being incorporated into the bezel, that the conductive portions may also be a coating or film, as noted above. For example, a portion of the screen 208 may be coated by an electrically conductive material and utilized as an electrode. Additionally, other isolating materials may further be incorporated in order to enable any reasonable number of different electrodes on the top surface 302. It should be appreciated that the form fact of the wearable device 200, among other factors, may at least partially guide final locations for the electrodes, as it is desirable to position the electrodes in a way that a user will be comfortable using the wearable device 200. Additionally, sizes of the electrodes and spacers may be particularly selected, based at least in part on relative sizes of the wearable device 200.
The example 400 of
The example 400 of
The example 400 of
The example 400 of
The example 400 of
The example 400 of
In various embodiments, different cross body measurements may be acquired utilizing one or more of the locations and the wearable device. For example, the table below illustrates potential cross body measurement configurations. It should be appreciated that this table is a non-limiting example and that other configurations may be utilized. Moreover, contact may be made as illustrated in
It should be appreciated that the example is for illustrative purposes only and that the wearable device could also be positioned at other locations, such as the neck, nears, face, scalp, and various others. Furthermore, embodiments that utilize additional electrodes similarly have additional potential configurations, as noted above.
It should be appreciated that while the illustrated embodiment describes using the fingers 602, 604, in various embodiments the bottom side of the wearable device may be utilized to obtain EDA measurements from the arm of the user. For example, in embodiments, the bottom side may include two or more electrodes.
The method also includes receiving a second input, from a second electrode (704). In various embodiments, the second electrode is different from and electrically isolated from the first electrode. For example, as noted above, an electrically insulated spacer may be arranged between the electrodes. In various embodiments, the second input may come from an extremity of a user that is on an opposite side of the body than the extremity used for the first input. For example, if the first input is from the left arm, the second input may be from the right arm. As described herein, such cross-body information may be useful for ECG measurements, among other measurements.
In various embodiments, a determination is made that a predetermined time threshold is met (706). This time threshold may correspond to a time for receiving the input data from the first electrode and the second electrode. For example, in determining ECG measurements, a user may need to provide information (e.g., via contact with the electrodes) for a predetermined period of time in order to obtain a satisfactory amount of data. If the time period has been not met, a determination may not be made and the wearable device including the first and second electrodes may provide a notification to the user. However, when the time threshold is satisfied, at least one physical property for the user is determined (708). As an example, the physical property may be an ECG measurement, which evaluates electrical activity of the heart. Additionally, the property may be an EDA measurement. In this manner, a user may utilize a single wearable device, which a comfortable form factor, to provide information for ECG and/or EDA measurements, among other measurements.
In various embodiments, instructions are further displayed for the user to engage a second electrode with a second input source (808). As noted above, the instructions may be displayed on the display screen 208, and may further include, in addition to or in the alternative, auditory instructions, tactile instructions, and the like. In various embodiments, the instructions may include a graphic to illustrate where the second electrode is, with respect to the wearable device. For example, if the second electrode is along the top surface, the instructions may convey this information (e.g., “Place your hand or wrist across the top face.”). Then, the wearable device determines a second contact between the second electrode and the second input source (810). As noted above, the second input source may be an extremity that is different from the extremity used to make the first connection. However, in other embodiments, the second input source may also be the same extremity, for example, when obtaining EDA measurements. The wearable device determines whether the second contact is sufficient (812). If the contact is insufficient, for example due to interference, movement, or the like, then instructions are displayed to adjust the first contact (814). For example, the display screen 208 may include a message, an auditory instruction, a tactile instruction, or a combination thereof.
Once the contacts are established, instructions to maintain the contacts may be displayed (816). As noted above, the instructions may also be accompanied with, or replaced by, auditory instructions, tactile instructions, or the like. For example, if the user is covering the top surface, displaying written instructions on the display screen 208 may not provide information to the user. Accordingly, an auditory instruction may be provided. Moreover, in embodiments, the wearable device may communicate with a consumer device that may receive and display messages to the user. Data may be acquired via the first and second electrodes (818). For example, the data may include EDA measurements, ECG measurements, or any other reasonable measurement data. For certain types of measurements, data acquisition may have a threshold period of time or a desired period of time. As a result, completion of data collection may be evaluated (820) and may continue if incomplete and display instructions when complete (822). Accordingly, the wearable device may be utilized to acquire data utilizing at least two electrodes that are both incorporated into the wearable device.
As discussed, different approaches can be implemented in various environments in accordance with the described embodiments. As will be appreciated, although a Web-based environment is used for purposes of explanation in several examples presented herein, different environments may be used, as appropriate, to implement various embodiments. The system includes an electronic client device, which can include any appropriate device operable to send and receive requests, messages or information over an appropriate network and convey information back to a user of the device. Examples of such client devices include personal computers, cell phones, handheld messaging devices, laptop computers, set-top boxes, personal data assistants, electronic book readers and the like. The network can include any appropriate network, including an intranet, the Internet, a cellular network, a local area network or any other such network or combination thereof. Components used for such a system can depend at least in part upon the type of network and/or environment selected. Protocols and components for communicating via such a network are well known and will not be discussed herein in detail. Communication over the network can be enabled via wired or wireless connections and combinations thereof. In this example, the network includes the Internet, as the environment includes a Web server for receiving requests and serving content in response thereto, although for other networks, an alternative device serving a similar purpose could be used, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
The illustrative environment includes at least one application server and a data store. It should be understood that there can be several application servers, layers or other elements, processes or components, which may be chained or otherwise configured, which can interact to perform tasks such as obtaining data from an appropriate data store. As used herein, the term “data store” refers to any device or combination of devices capable of storing, accessing and retrieving data, which may include any combination and number of data servers, databases, data storage devices and data storage media, in any standard, distributed or clustered environment. The application server can include any appropriate hardware and software for integrating with the data store as needed to execute aspects of one or more applications for the client device and handling a majority of the data access and business logic for an application.
The application server provides access control services in cooperation with the data store and is able to generate content such as text, graphics, audio and/or video to be transferred to the user, which may be served to the user by the Web server in the form of HTML, XML or another appropriate structured language in this example. The handling of all requests and responses, as well as the delivery of content between the client device and the application server, can be handled by the Web server. It should be understood that the Web and application servers are not required and are merely example components, as structured code discussed herein can be executed on any appropriate device or host machine as discussed elsewhere herein. The data store can include several separate data tables, databases or other data storage mechanisms and media for storing data relating to a particular aspect. For example, the data store illustrated includes mechanisms for storing content (e.g., production data) and user information, which can be used to serve content for the production side. The data store is also shown to include a mechanism for storing log or session data. It should be understood that there can be many other aspects that may need to be stored in the data store, such as page image information and access rights information, which can be stored in any of the above listed mechanisms as appropriate or in additional mechanisms in the data store. The data store is operable, through logic associated therewith, to receive instructions from the application server and obtain, update or otherwise process data in response thereto. In one example, a user might submit a search request for a certain type of item. In this case, the data store might access the user information to verify the identity of the user and can access the catalog detail information to obtain information about items of that type. The information can then be returned to the user, such as in a results listing on a Web page that the user is able to view via a browser on the user device. Information for a particular item of interest can be viewed in a dedicated page or window of the browser.
Each server typically will include an operating system that provides executable program instructions for the general administration and operation of that server and typically will include computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of the server, allow the server to perform its intended functions. Suitable implementations for the operating system and general functionality of the servers are known or commercially available and are readily implemented by persons having ordinary skill in the art, particularly in light of the disclosure herein.
The environment in one embodiment is a distributed computing environment utilizing several computer systems and components that are interconnected via communication links, using one or more computer networks or direct connections. However, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that such a system could operate equally well in a system having fewer or a greater number of components than are illustrated. Thus, the depiction of the systems herein should be taken as being illustrative in nature and not limiting to the scope of the disclosure.
The various embodiments can be further implemented in a wide variety of operating environments, which in some cases can include one or more user computers or computing devices which can be used to operate any of a number of applications. User or client devices can include any of a number of general purpose personal computers, such as desktop or notebook computers running a standard operating system, as well as cellular, wireless and handheld devices running mobile software and capable of supporting a number of networking and messaging protocols. Devices capable of generating events or requests can also include wearable computers (e.g., smart watches or glasses), VR headsets, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, voice command recognition systems, and the like. Such a system can also include a number of workstations running any of a variety of commercially-available operating systems and other known applications for purposes such as development and database management. These devices can also include other electronic devices, such as dummy terminals, thin-clients, gaming systems and other devices capable of communicating via a network.
Most embodiments utilize at least one network that would be familiar to those skilled in the art for supporting communications using any of a variety of commercially-available protocols, such as TCP/IP, FTP, UPnP, NFS, and CIFS. The network can be, for example, a local area network, a wide-area network, a virtual private network, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a public switched telephone network, an infrared network, a wireless network and any combination thereof.
In embodiments utilizing a Web server, the Web server can run any of a variety of server or mid-tier applications, including HTTP servers, FTP servers, CGI servers, data servers, Java servers and business application servers. The server(s) may also be capable of executing programs or scripts in response requests from user devices, such as by executing one or more Web applications that may be implemented as one or more scripts or programs written in any programming language, such as Java®, C, C# or C++ or any scripting language, such as Perl, Python or TCL, as well as combinations thereof. The server(s) may also include database servers, including without limitation those commercially available from Oracle®, Microsoft®, Sybase® and IBM® as well as open-source servers such as MySQL, Postgres, SQLite, MongoDB, and any other server capable of storing, retrieving and accessing structured or unstructured data. Database servers may include table-based servers, document-based servers, unstructured servers, relational servers, non-relational servers or combinations of these and/or other database servers.
The environment can include a variety of data stores and other memory and storage media as discussed above. These can reside in a variety of locations, such as on a storage medium local to (and/or resident in) one or more of the computers or remote from any or all of the computers across the network. In a particular set of embodiments, the information may reside in a storage-area network (SAN) familiar to those skilled in the art. Similarly, any necessary files for performing the functions attributed to the computers, servers or other network devices may be stored locally and/or remotely, as appropriate. Where a system includes computerized devices, each such device can include hardware elements that may be electrically coupled via a bus, the elements including, for example, at least one central processing unit (CPU), at least one input device (e.g., a mouse, keyboard, controller, touch-sensitive display element or keypad) and at least one output device (e.g., a display device, printer or speaker). Such a system may also include one or more storage devices, such as disk drives, optical storage devices and solid-state storage devices such as random access memory (RAM) or read-only memory (ROM), as well as removable media devices, memory cards, flash cards, etc.
Such devices can also include a computer-readable storage media reader, a communications device (e.g., a modem, a network card (wireless or wired), an infrared communication device) and working memory as described above. The computer-readable storage media reader can be connected with, or configured to receive, a computer-readable storage medium representing remote, local, fixed and/or removable storage devices as well as storage media for temporarily and/or more permanently containing, storing, transmitting and retrieving computer-readable information. The system and various devices also typically will include a number of software applications, modules, services or other elements located within at least one working memory device, including an operating system and application programs such as a client application or Web browser. It should be appreciated that alternate embodiments may have numerous variations from that described above. For example, customized hardware might also be used and/or particular elements might be implemented in hardware, software (including portable software, such as applets) or both. Further, connection to other computing devices such as network input/output devices may be employed.
Storage media and other non-transitory computer readable media for containing code, or portions of code, can include any appropriate media known or used in the art, such as but not limited to volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data, including RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a system device. Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate other ways and/or methods to implement the various embodiments.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosure, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the disclosure. The disclosure is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the disclosure is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described. They instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosure, whether or not such embodiments are described, and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art, and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning unless expressly so defined herein. It should be noted that the use of particular terminology when describing certain features or aspects of the disclosure should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to be restricted to include any specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the disclosure with which that terminology is associated. Terms and phrases used in this application, and variations thereof, especially in the appended claims, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing, the term ‘including’ should be read to mean ‘including, without limitation,’ ‘including but not limited to,’ or the like; the term ‘comprising’ as used herein is synonymous with ‘including,’ ‘containing,’ or ‘characterized by,’ and is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps; the term ‘having’ should be interpreted as ‘having at least;’ the term ‘includes’ should be interpreted as ‘includes but is not limited to;’ the term ‘example’ is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; adjectives such as ‘known’, ‘normal’, ‘standard’, and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass known, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future; and use of terms like ‘preferably,’ ‘preferred,’ ‘desired,’ or ‘desirable,’ and words of similar meaning should not be understood as implying that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the invention, but instead as merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the invention. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction ‘and’ should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as ‘and/or’ unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction ‘or’ should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should be read as ‘and/or’ unless expressly stated otherwise.
Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that the upper and lower limit, and each intervening value between the upper and lower limit of the range is encompassed within the embodiments.
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. The indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
All numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term ‘about.’ Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth herein are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of any claims in any application claiming priority to the present application, each numerical parameter should be construed in light of the number of significant digits and ordinary rounding approaches.
All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying exhibits, claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The disclosure is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The disclosure extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
Various modifications to the implementations described in this disclosure may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. Certain embodiments of the disclosure are encompassed in the claim set listed below or presented in the future.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2021/042464 | 7/21/2021 | WO |
