Combined optical sensor for audio and pulse oximetry system and method

• US 10,555,700 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2017
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Kingscott, Lisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F
• Application Number:
  US15/637,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20180008198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/683 Means for maintaining contact with the body A61B5/6802 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7235 Details of waveform analysis A61B5/349 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7415 Sound rendering of measured values, e.g. by pitch or volume variation A61B5/741 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices

Abstract

A system includes at least one earpiece, wherein each earpiece comprises an earpiece housing, an optical source operatively connected to the earpiece housing, wherein the optical source is configured to emit light toward an ear surface, an optical sensor operatively connected to the earpiece housing, wherein the optical sensor is configured to receive reflected light from the ear surface, and at least one processor disposed within at least one earpiece and operatively connected to the optical source and the optical sensor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to separate the pulse oximetry signals from the audio signals in the reflected light detected by the optical sensor.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one earpiece, wherein each earpiece comprises an earpiece housing;

an optical source operatively connected to the earpiece housing, wherein the optical source is configured to emit light toward an ear surface;

an optical sensor operatively connected to the earpiece housing, wherein the optical sensor is configured to receive reflected light from the ear surface; and

at least one processor disposed within at least one earpiece and operatively connected to the optical source and the optical sensor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to separate the pulse oximetry signals from the audio signals in the reflected light detected by the optical sensor and use the audio signals to receive voice input from a user wearing the at least one earpiece.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine an oxygen saturation level from the pulse oximetry signals.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor applies a filter to separate the pulse oximetry signals from the audio signals, the audio signals centered at frequency higher than the pulse oximetry signals.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one earpiece comprises a set of earpieces.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the optical source is a laser.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the ear surface comprises an outer ear surface.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the ear surface comprises an inner ear surface.

8. A method comprising:

emitting, via an optical source of a wireless earpiece, light toward an ear surface;

receiving, via an optical sensor of the wireless earpiece, a reflected light signal from the ear surface;

separating, via at least one processor of the wireless earpiece, audio signals from pulse oximetry signals within the reflected light signal;

determining, via the at least one processor of the wireless earpiece, an oxygen saturation level from the reflected light;

calculating bone vibration measurements via the at least one processor of the wireless earpiece using the audio signals; and

interpreting the bone vibration measurements to determine voice input of a user of the wireless earpiece.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the optical source is a laser.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the ear surface comprises an outer ear surface.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the ear surface comprises an inner ear surface.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising reconfiguring the at least one processor using the voice input.