Apparatus and method for monitoring heart rate variability
First Claim
1. A wrist worn heart rate variability monitor, comprising:
- at least two electrical contacts for detecting analog electrical signals generated within a body when placed in contact with the body;
a circuit that conditions the electrical signals and converts the analog electrical signals to digital signal data;
a heart rate variability signal processor that monitors and analyzes the digital signal data and obtains heart rate variability data therefrom; and
a memory capable of storing at least 24 hours of real time digital signal data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wrist-worn heart rate variability monitor is provided. Heart rate variability (“HRV”) refers to the interval between heart beats and is a reflection of an individual'"'"'s current health status. Over time, an individual may use the results of HRV tests to monitor either improvement or deterioration of specific health issues. Thus, one use of the HRV test is as a medical motivator. When an individual has a poor HRV result, it is an indicator that they should consult their physician and make appropriate changes where applicable to improve their health. The inventive monitor is capable of monitoring the stages of sleep by changes in the heart rate variability and can record the sleep (or rest) sessions with the resulting data accessible by the user or other interested parties. The inventive monitor is thus capable of several novel uses: (1) to assist the user with a nap that allows predetermined time in one or more sleep stages; (2) determination of the duration of a sleep session, including length of time spent in one or more sleep stages; (3) in concert with a home'"'"'s central electronic and computer control unit, the device uses HRV to determine when the house may be placed in “sleep” mode and when it is appropriate to place the house in “awake mode”; and (4) performance of an HRV test.
142 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A wrist worn heart rate variability monitor, comprising:
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at least two electrical contacts for detecting analog electrical signals generated within a body when placed in contact with the body;
a circuit that conditions the electrical signals and converts the analog electrical signals to digital signal data;
a heart rate variability signal processor that monitors and analyzes the digital signal data and obtains heart rate variability data therefrom; and
a memory capable of storing at least 24 hours of real time digital signal data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A Wrist worn heart rate variability monitor, comprising:
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at least two electrical contacts for detecting ECG signals generated by a body'"'"'s heart when placed in contact with the body;
a circuit that conditions the electrical signals and converts the analog signal to a digital signal;
a memory capable of storing 24 hours of real time digital signal data;
a heart rate variable signal processor that monitors and analyzes the digital data and obtains heart rate variability data therefrom;
the processor further capable of performing a heart rate variability test, the processor further capable of differentiating between a user'"'"'s awake and sleep stages based upon heart rate variability data;
a timer, the timer capable of timing the duration of the monitoring of the heart rate variability data; and
a waking prompt, the waking prompt capable of activation when REM sleep is recognized.
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27. A Wrist worn heart rate variability monitor, comprising:
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optical sensors for detecting ECG signals generated by a body'"'"'s heart when placed in contact with the body;
a circuit that conditions the electrical signals and converts the analog signal to a digital signal;
a memory capable of storing 24 hours of real time digital signal data;
a heart rate variable signal processor that monitors and analyzes the digital data and obtains heart rate variability data therefrom;
the processor further capable of performing a heart rate variability test, the processor further capable of detecting a sleep apnea event based upon heart rate variability data;
a timer, the timer capable of timing the duration of the monitoring of the heart rate variability data; and
a waking prompt, the waking prompt capable of activation when a sleep apnea event is recognized.
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28. A method for monitoring heart rate variability using a wrist worn heart rate variability monitor, comprising:
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detecting electrical signals generated from a body by the body'"'"'s heart;
analyzing the signals to determine heart rate variability; and
monitoring and storing the heart rate variability data. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41)
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39. A method for monitoring heart rate variability using a wrist worn heart rate variability monitor, comprising:
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detecting electrical signals from a body by the body'"'"'s heart;
analyzing the signals to determine heart rate variability;
monitoring and storing the heart rate variability data;
analyzing the heart rate variability data to determine when the user is asleep;
differentiating between an awake state, non-REM sleep state and REM sleep state; and
waking the user after recognition of entry into the REM sleep state.
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42. A computer program product for monitoring heart rate variability using a wrist worn heart rate variability monitor, comprising:
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detecting electrical signals generated from a body by the body'"'"'s heart;
analyzing the signals to determine heart rate variability; and
monitoring, analyzing and storing the heart rate variability data. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification