Using skin resistance measurements to determine timing of bio-telemetry measurements
First Claim
1. A wearable device comprising:
- a housing;
a user interface disposed on an outside surface of the housing;
a mount configured to mount the housing to a first external body surface;
a first electrical contact disposed on the housing, wherein the first electrical contact is configured to contact skin at the first external body surface when the housing is mounted on the first external body surface, wherein the first external body surface is a wrist location of a first arm of a wearer;
a second electrical contact disposed on the housing, wherein the second electrical contact is configured to contact skin at the first external body surface when the housing is mounted on the first external body surface;
a third electrical contact disposed on the housing, wherein the third electrical contact is configured to be contacted by skin of a second external body surface, wherein the second external body surface is a location of a second arm of the wearer; and
a controller, wherein the controller is configured to perform controller operations comprising;
detecting an impedance between the first and second electrical contacts;
determining whether the detected impedance is less than a specified threshold;
responsive to determining that the detected impedance is less than the specified threshold, providing an indication via the user interface; and
subsequent to providing the indication via the user interface, detecting a voltage between the first electrical contact and the third electrical contact.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Wearable devices are provided including electrical contacts to detect voltages or other biosignals when mounted to the skin of a wearer. The impedance between a pair of the electrical contacts can be detected and the device operated based on the detected impedance. The device can detect an electrocardiogram or other biopotentials using the electrical contacts if the detected impedance falls below a specified threshold. The device could indicate that the detected impedance is below the specified threshold, e.g., such that a wearer could contact one of the electrical contacts with a finger to allow detection of an electrocardiogram between the arms of the wearer. The device could indicate that the detected impedance remains greater than the specified threshold, e.g., such that a wearer could re-mount the wearable device to improve the electrical connection between the electrical contacts and the wearer'"'"'s skin.
71 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A wearable device comprising:
-
a housing; a user interface disposed on an outside surface of the housing; a mount configured to mount the housing to a first external body surface; a first electrical contact disposed on the housing, wherein the first electrical contact is configured to contact skin at the first external body surface when the housing is mounted on the first external body surface, wherein the first external body surface is a wrist location of a first arm of a wearer; a second electrical contact disposed on the housing, wherein the second electrical contact is configured to contact skin at the first external body surface when the housing is mounted on the first external body surface; a third electrical contact disposed on the housing, wherein the third electrical contact is configured to be contacted by skin of a second external body surface, wherein the second external body surface is a location of a second arm of the wearer; and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to perform controller operations comprising; detecting an impedance between the first and second electrical contacts; determining whether the detected impedance is less than a specified threshold; responsive to determining that the detected impedance is less than the specified threshold, providing an indication via the user interface; and subsequent to providing the indication via the user interface, detecting a voltage between the first electrical contact and the third electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method comprising:
-
detecting an impedance between a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are disposed on a housing of a wearable device, wherein the wearable device comprises a mount configured to mount the housing to a first external body surface, wherein the first external body surface is a wrist location of a first arm of a wearer, and wherein the first and second electrical contacts are configured to contact skin at the first external body surface when the housing is mounted on the first external body surface; determining whether the detected impedance is less than a specified threshold; responsive to determining that the detected impedance is less than the specified threshold, providing an indication via a user interface of the wearable device, wherein the user interface is disposed on an outside surface of the housing; and subsequent to providing the indication via the user interface of the wearable device, detecting a voltage between the first electrical contact and a third electrical contact, wherein the third electrical contact is disposed on the housing of the wearable device, wherein the third electrical contact is configured to be contacted by skin of a second external body surface, and wherein the second external body surface is a location of a second arm of the wearer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification