MOUTHPIECE FOR MEASUREMENT OF BIOMETRIC DATA OF A DIVER AND UNDERWATER COMMUNICATION

• US 20130116512A1
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InCube Labs LLC. (In-Cube, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InCube Labs LLC. (In-Cube, Inc.)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir
• Granted Patent: US 9,795,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• 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 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/186 Mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/26 Communication means, e.g. means for signalling the presence of diverselectric communication in general H04

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a system, apparatus and methods for measurement of biometric data of a diver. In many embodiments, the system includes a mouthpiece having a sensor device comprising a light emitter and detector configured to emit and detect light at a wavelength having an absorbance correlated with a level of a blood gas saturation e.g., oxygen, nitrogen, CO₂. The emitter is positioned to emit light onto oral tissue of the diver and the detector positioned to detect light which is received from the oral tissue either by transmittance of light through the oral tissue or by reflection of light from the tissue. The target oral tissue can include one or both of gum or buccal tissue. Such embodiments allow data to be collected without having to wear additional sensors or measurement devices and allow for measurement of blood gas levels as the diver breaths through their mouthpiece.

Claims

1. A mouthpiece apparatus for measuring biometric data of a diver, the mouthpiece comprising:

a flexible mouthpiece configured to be worn in the mouth of the diver;

the mouthpiece including a light emitter and a light detector configured to emit and detect light at a wave length having an absorbance correlated with a level of a blood gas saturation, the light emitter positioned to emit light onto oral tissue of the diver and the light detector positioned to detect light which is received from the oral tissue and generate an output signal correlated to the detected light.

2. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, wherein the blood gas saturation is oxygen saturation.

3. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wavelength includes at least a first and second wavelength.

4. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light emitter and the light detector are positioned to detect light transmitted through the oral tissue.

5. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light emitter and the light detector are positioned to detect light transmitted through a lingual frenulum portion of the tongue.

6. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the light emitter or the light detector is positioned on a surface of the mouthpiece.

7. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the light emitter or the light detector is recessed below a surface of the mouthpiece.

8. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the light emitter or the light is embedded below a surface of the mouthpiece.

9. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to conform to a contour of the diver'"'"'s oral tissue to maintain substantial optical contact between the diver'"'"'s oral tissue and the light emitter and the light detector during movement of the diver'"'"'s mouth, cheek, jaw or teeth.

10. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to maintain substantial optical contact between the diver'"'"'s oral tissue and the light emitter and the light detector during said movement, without impeding the diver'"'"'s respiration.

11. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor coupled to the light emitter and light detector for controlling a characteristic of the emitted light and receive and convert an output signal from the detector into a blood gas saturation level.

12. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 11, wherein the characteristic is at least one of an intensity, duration or wavelength of the emitted light.

13. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor includes logic for modulating the characteristic of the emitted light in response to a diving condition to maintain an accuracy of a blood gas saturation measurement based on the output signal.

14. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 13, wherein the diving condition is a diving depth, water temperature or an optical property of the water surrounding the diver.

15. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a power source for powering at least one of the light emitter or the light detector.

16. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is adapted for connection and use with a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA).

17. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the mouthpiece comprises an elastomer, silicone or polyurethane.

18. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light emitter and the light detector comprise an array of emitters and detectors configured to increase an accuracy of a blood gas level measurement using the apparatus.

19. The mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an acoustic transducer positioned on the mouthpiece, the transducer configured to transduce an electrical signal input into an acoustic output and acoustically couple to the diver'"'"'s upper teeth to conduct the acoustic output from the diver'"'"'s upper teeth through the skull to generate audible sound in at least one of the diver'"'"'s ears when the diver is wearing the mouthpiece.

20. A system for measuring and communicating biometric data of a diver, the system comprising:

the apparatus of claim 19; and

a portable device configured to send audio inputs to the acoustic transducer, the audio inputs corresponding to spoken messages for the diver;

wherein the acoustic transducer converts the audio inputs into spoken messages which are conducted through the diver'"'"'s skull and heard by the diver.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the portable device comprises a dive computer or a dive watch.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the mouthpiece comprises the mouthpiece apparatus of claim 1.

22. A method for monitoring blood oxygen saturation levels of a diver, the method comprising:

positioning a mouthpiece in the mouth of the diver, the mouthpiece including a light emitter and a light detector;

emitting light onto the diver'"'"'s oral tissue at least one frequency of the light having an absorbance correlated with a blood oxygen saturation level, the intensity of the light modulated for an underwater condition;

detecting an intensity of light received from the diver'"'"'s oral tissue in response to the emitted light; and

determining a blood oxygen saturation of the diver utilizing the detected intensity.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the emitter and the light detector are positioned in the mouthpiece to detect light transmitted through the diver'"'"'s oral tissue.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the emitter and the light detector are positioned in the mouthpiece to detect light transmitted through the gum tissue or the lingual frenulum portion of the tongue.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the emitter and the light detector are positioned in the mouthpiece to detect light reflected from the oral tissue.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the diving condition is a depth of the diver, a water temperature or an optical property of water surrounding the diver.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the intensity of the emitted light is modulated responsive to a presence of water in the diver'"'"'s mouth.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to maintain substantial optical contact between the diver'"'"'s oral tissue and the emitter and the detector during movement of the diver'"'"'s jaw, mouth or teeth, the method further comprising:

determining the blood oxygen saturation of the diver during movement of the diver'"'"'s jaw, mouth or teeth, wherein the determination is not substantially effected by the movement.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to maintain substantial optical contact between the diver'"'"'s oral tissue and the emitter and the detector during a period of respiration of the diver, the method further comprising:

determining the blood oxygen saturation of the diver during the period of diver respiration wherein the determination is not substantially effected by movement of the mouthpiece or the diver'"'"'s oral tissue during the period of respiration.

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

alerting the diver when the blood oxygen saturation is below a threshold level.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the threshold level is about 95% saturation.

33. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

generating an acoustical signal encoding information on the blood oxygen saturation level, the acoustical signal configured to be transmitted underwater.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

transmitting the acoustical signal from a first communication device proximate the diver to a second communication device.

35. A method for monitoring blood oxygen saturation levels of a diver, the method comprising:

positioning a measurement device in the mouth of the diver mouthpiece in the mouth of the diver, the measurement device including a light emitter and a light detector positioned on a support;

the measurement device configured to maintain substantial optical contact with the diver'"'"'s oral tissue during movement of one or more of the diver'"'"'s mouth, jaw or teeth and to do so without impeding the diver'"'"'s breathing;

emitting light onto the diver'"'"'s oral tissue at least one frequency of the light having an absorbance correlated with a blood oxygen saturation level, the intensity of the light modulated for an underwater condition;

detecting an intensity of light received from the diver'"'"'s oral tissue in response to the emitted light; and

determining a blood oxygen saturation of the diver utilizing the detected intensity.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the support comprises a flexible mouthpiece worn by the diver.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the diving condition is a depth of the diver, a water temperature or an optical property of water surrounding the diver.