Biofeedback ring sensors

• US 20050272986A1
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wild Divine, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Healing Rhythms LLC
• Inventors: Alipour, Ehsan, Nutt, Timothy, Schultz, Eric Edward, Delaney, Jan, Gilbreath, Todd, Smith, Kurt, Bell, Corwin
• Granted Patent: US 7,263,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel ring type sensor for measuring biometric information. The ring sensor includes a rest for an appendage and a wing pivotally connected to the rest. A biasing member supplies a compressive force to the wing (relative to the rest) such that an appendage from which biometric information is to be measured is snuggly held by the rest and the wing.

Claims

1. A biofeedback measuring apparatus, comprising:

an appendage rest;

at least one sensor;

the at least one sensor coupled to the apparatus such that when an appendage of a client is in the appendage rest, the at least one sensor can measure biometric information;

a plurality of wings;

a plurality of elastic biasing members coupled to the plurality of wings and the appendage rest; and

the plurality of wings pivotally coupled to the appendage rest such that the plurality of elastic biasing members provide a force tending to snuggly contain the appendage in the appendage rest and the plurality of wings.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a bottom, the bottom coupled to the finger rest;

at least one recess located in the bottom for holding the at least one sensor; and

wherein the appendage rest includes at least one opening substantially aligned with the at least one recess.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of elastic biasing members comprise springs.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein

the springs are selected from a group of springs consisting of coiled springs, leaf springs, spiral springs, and helical springs.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the springs comprise spring steel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elastic biasing members comprise plastics.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elastic biasing members comprise at least one of a member selected from the group consisting of coiled springs, helical springs, leaf springs, spiral springs, spring steels, and plastics.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the appendage rest and the plurality of wings form an enclosure for the appendage of the client.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the appendage rest is contoured to a shape to fit the appendage of the client.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the wings have at least one cover portion contoured to a shape to fit the appendage of the client.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the appendage rest is contoured to the shape to fit the appendage of the client such that the enclosure is generally the shape of the appendage.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the shape is the shape of a finger.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the appendage rest further comprises:

a recess on a lower surface; and

the sensor resides in the recess.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pads corresponding to the plurality of wings such that each cover has a pad between the cover and the appendage of the client.

15. A biofeedback apparatus, comprising:

a bottom,

the bottom having a recess;

a sensor residing in the recess;

the bottom having at least one shoulder;

the bottom having at least one bottom alignment tab projecting from the at least one shoulder, the at least one bottom alignment tab having at least one bottom pin hole;

an appendage rest,

the appendage having at least one lip and at least one rest alignment tab, the at least one rest alignment tab having at least one rest pin hole, such that when the at least one lip abuts the at least one shoulder the at least one bottom alignment tab and the at least one rest alignment tab are arranged such that the at least one bottom pin hole and the at least one rest pin hole are aligned;

at least one wing;

the at least one wing having at least one cover and at least one wing alignment tab with at least one wing pin hole; and

at least one pin, wherein

the at least one wing is pivotally coupled to the bottom and the appendage rest by aligning the at least one wing alignment tab with the at least one bottom alignment tab and the at least one rest alignment tab such that the at least one wing pin hole, the at least one rest pin hole, and the at least one bottom pin hole align such that the at least one pin can be inserted, wherein

the appendage rest and the at least one wing form an enclosure to enclose an appendage of a client and retain the appendage in proximity to the sensor such that the sensor can obtain biometric information from the appendage through the opening in the appendage rest.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one elastic biasing member;

the at least one elastic biasing member is coupled to the at least one pin and provides pivotal force to the at least one wing.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein pivotal force tends to cause the wing to fit snuggly on the appendage of the client.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the appendage rest and the at least one wing are contoured to conform to the appendage of the client.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising at least one pad coupled to the at least one wing such that the at least one pad resides between the at least one wing and the appendage of the client.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one elastic biasing member is a spring.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein

the bottom comprises a plurality of holes;

the appendage rest comprises a plurality of pegs, wherein when the bottom and the appendage rest are coupled together, the plurality of pegs reside in the plurality of holes.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of pegs and the plurality of holes form a frictional engagement.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of holes comprises at least one shoulder, and each of the plurality of pegs comprise at least one lip, such that the plurality of holes and plurality of pegs form a snap lock.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the bottom further comprises a plurality of threaded holes and the appendage rest comprises a corresponding plurality of through holes, further comprising a plurality of threaded members extending through the plurality of through holes and threaded into the plurality of threaded holes to couple the bottom and the appendage rest together.

25. A biofeedback measuring apparatus, comprising:

an appendage rest;

at least one sensor;

the at least one sensor coupled to the apparatus such that when an appendage of a client is in the appendage rest, the at least one sensor can measure biometric information;

at least one wing;

at least one elastic biasing member coupled to the at least one wing and the appendage rest; and

the at least one wing pivotally coupled to the appendage rest so the at least one wing pivots about a longitudinal axis and such that the at least one elastic biasing member provides a force tending to snuggly contain the appendage in the appendage rest and the at least one wing.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a bottom, the bottom coupled to the finger rest;

at least one recess located in the bottom for holding the at least one sensor; and

wherein the appendage rest includes at least one opening substantially aligned with the at least one recess.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one biasing member provides a compressive force.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the compressive force is about 200 gf to about 600 gf.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the compressive force is about 350 gf to about 500 gf.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one wing comprises at least a left wing and a right wing and the at least one biasing member comprises a left biasing member and a right biasing member.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the left biasing member and the right biasing member provide a compressive force in the range of about 200 gf to about 600 gf.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the left biasing member provides a compressive force in the range of about 450 to 500 gf.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the right biasing member provides a compressive force in the range of about 350 gf to 400 gf.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the left biasing member provides a compressive force in the range of about 450 gt to 500 gf.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the right biasing member provides a compressive force of about 360 gf and the left biasing member provides a compressive force of about 460 gf.

36. A system for measuring biometric information of a user comprising,

a plurality of rings, each ring comprising

an appendage rest;

at least one cover pivotally connected to the appendage rest;

means for causing the at least one cover to snuggly hold an appendage of the user in the appendage rest;

a plurality of sensors, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of rings; and

wherein each of the plurality of sensors is use to measure biometric information.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is different from the others of the plurality of sensors.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is an infrared sensor.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein at least two of the plurality of sensors are electrodes that are used in combination to measure epidural skin response.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for causing the at least one cover to snuggly hold an appendage of the user in the appendage rest comprises a spring.