Wearable Mini-size Intelligent Healthcare System

• US 20080200774A1
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CIMR Technologies
• Original Assignee: Hongyue Luo
• Inventors: Luo, Hongyue
• Granted Patent: US 9,044,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0252 using ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/741 using synthesised speech
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A system and method for the wearable mini-size intelligent healthcare system, comprising one or multiple vital signal sensors, activity sensors, a real-time detection and analyzing module for continuous health monitoring, adjustable user setting mode with the adaptive optimization, data-collecting capability to record important health information, smart audio outputs of audio beep and speech advice to the user through audio path and audio interface, preset and user confirmable alarm conditions via wireless communications network to the appropriate individual for prompt and necessary assistance. The system uses noninvasive monitoring technology for continuous, painless and bloodless health state monitoring. The system also works through the short range RF link with carry-on PDA or cell phone for displaying health information, making urgent contact to support center, doctor or individual, or for information transmission with a healthcare center.

Claims

1-31. -31. (canceled)

32. A healthcare system comprising:

a shell configured to be worn around an ear of a subject;

at least one physiological sensor provided to the shell for measuring and outputting a physiological variable representing a physiological condition of the subject;

at least one activity sensor provided to the shell for measuring and outputting an activity variable representing activity of the subject;

at least one environment sensor provided to the shell for measuring and outputting an environment variable representing the subject'"'"'s environment;

a processing module provided to the shell for processing the physiological, activity and environment variables and for generating an output signal based on the physiological, activity, and environment variables; and

an output device provided to the shell for outputting said output signal to notify the subject of a health condition.

33. The healthcare system as in claim 32, wherein the output device is a speaker and the output signal is an audible signal and wherein the healthcare system further comprises an audio path for transmitting the audible signal to the subject'"'"'s ear such that the audio path does not block the passage of external audio signals to the subject'"'"'s ear.

34. The healthcare system as in claim 32, wherein the physiological sensor comprises at least one of an oximetry sensor (SpO2), temperature sensor, or glucose sensor.

35. The healthcare system as in claim 32, wherein the processing module is configured to process the physiological, activity and environment variables to determine a health variable representing the subject'"'"'s health condition and the output signal is based on the health condition.

36. The healthcare system of claim 32, wherein the activity sensors comprise sensors configured to detect a fall.

37. The healthcare system as in claim 32, wherein the processing module is configured to process the physiological, activity and environment variables to determine a respiratory rate and the output signal is based on the respiratory rate.

38. The healthcare system as in claim 32, wherein the processing module is configured to process the physiological, activity and environment variables to determine a sleep quality variable representing the subject'"'"'s quality of sleep and the output signal is based on the sleep quality variable.

39. The healthcare system as in claim 32, wherein the processing module is configured to process the physiological, activity and environment variables to determine if sleep apnea has occurred and the output signal is based on the occurrence of sleep apnea.

40. The healthcare system of claim 32, wherein the environment sensor measures and outputs an environmental temperature.

41. The healthcare system of claim 33, wherein the audible signal comprises a voice message to the subject.

42. The healthcare system of claim 41, wherein the voice message to the subject comprises a recorded message from a family member of the subject.

43. The healthcare system of claim 32, further comprising an adaptive module for providing feedback to the processing module to adjust the output signal based on the feed back.

44. The healthcare system of claim 32, further comprising a contact sensor to determine if the shell of the healthcare system is properly positioned.

45. The healthcare system of claim 44, wherein the processing module provides an alarm if the contact sensor determines that the shell is not properly positioned.

46. The healthcare system of claim 32, further comprising a communications interface for downloading and uploading data.

47. The healthcare system of claim 46, wherein said data comprises device identification and a subject profile including subject'"'"'s name, home address, medical history and current measurements.

48. A healthcare system comprising:

a shell configured to be worn around an ear of a subject;

at least one physiological sensor provided to the shell for measuring and outputting a physiological variable representing a physiological condition of the subject;

at least one activity sensor provided to the shell for measuring and outputting an activity variable representing activity of the subject;

at least one environment sensor provided to the shell for measuring and outputting an environment variable representing the subject'"'"'s environment;

a processing module provided to the shell for processing the physiological, activity and environment variables and for generating an audible output signal based on the physiological, activity, and environment variables; and

an audio path for outputting the audible output signal, wherein the audio path is configured to deliver the audible output signal to the subject'"'"'s ear and such that the audio path does not block the passage of external audio signals to the subject'"'"'s ear.

49. The healthcare system as in claim 48, wherein the processing module is configured to process the physiological, activity and environment variables to determine a health variable representing the subject'"'"'s health condition and the output signal is based on the health condition.

50. The healthcare system of claim 48, wherein the activity sensors comprise sensors configured to detect a fall.

51. The healthcare system as in claim 48, wherein the processing module is configured to process the physiological, activity and environment variables to determine a respiratory rate and the output signal is based on the respiratory rate.

52. The healthcare system as in claim 48, wherein the processing module is configured to process the physiological, activity and environment variables to determine a sleep quality variable representing the subject'"'"'s quality of sleep and the output signal is based on the sleep quality variable.

53. The healthcare system as in claim 48, wherein the processing module is configured to process the physiological, activity and environment variables to determine if sleep apnea has occurred and the output signal is based on the occurrence of sleep apnea.

54. The healthcare system of claim 48, wherein the environment sensor measures and outputs an environmental temperature.

55. The healthcare system of claim 48, wherein the audible signal comprises a voice message to the subject.

56. The healthcare system of claim 55, wherein the voice message to the subject comprises a recorded message from a family member of the subject.

57. The healthcare system of claim 48, further comprising an adaptive module for providing feedback to the processing module to adjust the output signal based on the feedback.

58. The healthcare system of claim 48, further comprising a contact sensor to determine if the shell of the healthcare system is properly positioned.

59. The healthcare system of claim 58, wherein the processing module provides an alarm if the contact sensor determines that the shell is not properly positioned.

60. The healthcare system of claim 48, further comprising a communications interface for downloading and uploading data.

61. The healthcare system of claim 60, wherein said data comprises device identification and a subject profile including subject'"'"'s name, home address, medical history and current measurements.