System for monitoring and predicting physiological state under physical exercise

• US 20060004265A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firstbeat Analytics OY (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Firstbeat Technologies Oy
• Inventors: Pulkkinen, Aki, Saarikoski, Erkkl
• Granted Patent: US 7,805,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for monitoring a cumulative physiological state and for predicting a target state under physical exercise, which system includes means for measuring a variable depicting the intensity of the exercise and for registering it relative to time, the control unit consisting of a user-interface device, which includes an input device and output device. Software means calculate the current value of the said cumulative physiological variable while second software means calculate the value of a selected output variable, which output variable is one of the following three variables: target state, future intensity, or duration of future exercise, the two other variables being given as initial variables.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a cumulative physiological state and for predicting a target state under physical exercise, in which the user'"'"'s physiological state is depicted by a selected cumulative physiological variable and the target state depicts this variable after a future period of exercise, which system includes

means for measuring a variable depicting the intensity of the exercise and for registering it relative to time, and

means for measuring intensity and time, connected to an control unit, consisting of

a user-interface device, consisting of an input device for selecting the output variable and for entering the values of the initial variables, and an output device for displaying the output variable,

first software means for calculating the current value of the said cumulative physiological variable, with the aid of the measured intensity of exercise and the preceding value,

second software means for calculating the value of an output variable, the output variable being one of the following three variables:

target state, future intensity, or duration of future exercise;

the two other variables being given as the said initial variables, and in which

the system is arranged to calculate and display the value of the output variable using the output device, essentially in real time and continuously.

2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the output device consists of a display.

3. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the output device consists of graphical display means for showing graphically the development of the exercise state.

4. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system includes an exercise device, in which the said control unit is located.

5. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the output device consists of voice-synthesis and audio means for presenting the output variable as a voice message.

6. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system includes a mobile station, in which the control unit is located.

7. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for measuring the variable depicting the intensity of the exercise consist of a measuring device for measuring one or more variables from the following group:

external power, motion, energy consumption, heart rate, oxygen consumption, respiration rate, or heat flow from the surface of the skin.

8. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system includes a wristop device, in which the said control unit (10) is located.

9. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the said second software means are arrange to simulate a cumulative physiological variable using initial parameters and varied output parameters, until the initial parameters are realized.

10. A method for monitoring a cumulative physiological state and for predicting a target state under physical exercise, in which the user'"'"'s physiological state is depicted by a selected cumulative physiological variable and the target state depicts this variable after a future period of exercise, in which method

a) a variable depicting the intensity of exercise is measured and is registered relative to time, and

b) the current value of the said cumulative physiological variable is calculated with the aid of the intensity of the exercise with the aid of the preceding cumulative value,

c) the mutual ratio of the future target state, the future intensity, and the duration of the future exercise is calculated in such a way that one output variable is selected from these, the two other variables being the initial variables with selected parameters,

d) the selected output is displayed essentially in real time, and

e) a return is made to stage a).

11. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the said cumulative variable is EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption).

12. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the said cumulative variable is the training effect classified according to a preselected criterion.

13. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the variable depicting the intensity of the exercise is one or a combination of the following group:

external power, energy consumption, heart rate, oxygen consumption, or heat flow from the surface of the skin.

14. A method according to claim 12, characterized in that heart-rate measurement is used and in the calculation of the EPOC value the calculation takes place from percentage oxygen consumption as an intermediate variable, for which purpose the maximum respiration rate and maximum heart rate are entered as initial data.

15. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the cumulative physiological variable is simulated using the given initial parameters and by varying the output variable, until the initial parameters are realized.