SUBJECT MONITOR

• US 20120172681A1
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics Beijing R&D Co Ltd (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: WANG, Kai Feng, SUN, Hong Xia, WU, Yong Qiang, ZHU, Peng Fei
• Application Number:
  US13/341,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20120172681A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/067 using accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An embodiment comprises includes an apparatus with a housing wearable by a subject and a first sensor operable to detect a position of the subject. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a second sensor operable to detect a body state of the subject, where the first body state may be a vital sign such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature or respiratory rate. The apparatus may also include a wireless module, and be operable to transmit body state data and position data to a remote device. The apparatus may include a gyroscope or an accelerometer, and may be operable to detect rotational change in the subject'"'"'s position about and axis, linear acceleration of the subject along an axis, a change in position of the subject, or a rate of change in position of the subject.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing wearable by a subject; and

,

a first sensor operable to detect a position of the subject.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor operable to detect a first body state of the subject.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first body state is one of heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and respiratory rate.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a wireless module.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the wireless module is operable to transmit first body state data and position data to a remote device.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a processor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor is operable to associate first body state data and position data with a time.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive portion operable to adhere the apparatus to a subject.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power supply.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first sensor comprises a gyroscope.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first sensor and the gyroscope are disposed on a single integrated circuit die.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is operable to detect a second body state.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is operable to detect a third body state.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the memory is operable to store a plurality of first body state data and a plurality of position data, each being associated with a time.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is operable to detect rotation change in position about at least one axis.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is operable to detect linear acceleration along at least one axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is operable to detect a change in position.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is operable to detect a rate of change in position.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is operable to detect a position relative to an earth frame of reference.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is an accelerometer.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

23. A system comprising:

a first apparatus comprising;

a housing wearable by a subject; and

,

a first sensor operable to detect a position of the subject; and

, a second apparatus operable to receive subject position data from the first apparatus.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a second sensor operable to detect a first body state of the subject.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the second apparatus is operable to receive first body state data from the first apparatus.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the second apparatus is operable to provide an alert when at least one of received body state data and subject position data meet defined alert criteria.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the alert is one of an audio alert, a visual alert, an e-mail, and an SMS text message.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the second apparatus is operable to communicate with and configure a home automation system when at least one of received body state data and subject position data meet defined home configuration criteria.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the second apparatus is operable to turn a light on or off when at least one of received body state data and subject position data meet defined home configuration criteria.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the first apparatus is operable to detect a second body state.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the first apparatus is operable to detect a third body state.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the second apparatus is one of a cellular telephone, a smart-phone and a computer.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein the second apparatus comprises a display operable to display first body state data.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the first sensor is a gyroscope.

35. The system of claim 23, wherein the first sensor is an accelerometer.

36. The system of claim 23, wherein the first sensor is operable to detect a change in position.

37. The system of claim 23, wherein the first sensor is operable to detect a rate of change in position.

38. A method comprising:

determining a position of a subject'"'"'s body; and

,

providing the position to a remote device.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising determining a first body state data.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

associating the first body state data with the first time; and

associating the position with the first time.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

determining if one or more of the position and first body state data meet alert criteria.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

providing an alert where one or more of the position and first body state data meet alert criteria.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

determining if one or more of the position and first body state data meet location modification criteria.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

turning a light on or off if one or more of the position and first body state data meet location modification criteria.

45. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

determining a second body state data.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

determining a third body state data.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein the position is determined via a gyroscope.

48. The method of claim 38, wherein the position is determined via an accelerometer.

49. The method of claim 38, comprising detecting a change in position.

50. The method of claim 38, comprising detecting a rate of change in position.