PERSONAL WELLNESS DEVICE

• US 20130337976A1
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ActivBody, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EZ As A Drink Productions Incorporated
• Inventors: Yanev, Kostadin Dimitrov, Dobrev, Kamen Radev, Vassilev, Angel Georgiev, Yanev, Ivo Kostadinov
• Granted Patent: US 9,230,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0053 by applying pressure, e.g. compression, indentation, palpation, grasping, gauging
• 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 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/002 isometric or isokinetic, i.e. substantial force variation without substantial muscle motion or wherein the speed of the motion is independent of the force applied by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A personal wellness device comprise two housing bodies, a force sensor, a user interface, one or more processors, and/or other components. A first housing body and a second housing body may be movably coupled together by way of a coupling mechanism such that the two housing bodies are reconfigurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The force sensor may be configured to generate a force output signal that conveys information related to compressive force exerted on the two housing bodies while in the closed configuration. The user interface may be accessible with the two housing bodies in the open configuration. The one or more processors may be configured to execute one or more computer program modules, including a presentation module configured to present, via the user interface, information associated with compressive force exerted on the two housing bodies, the information being derived from the force output signal.

Claims

1. A personal wellness device, comprising:

two housing bodies including a first housing body and a second housing body, the first housing body and the second housing body being movably coupled together by way of a coupling mechanism such that the two housing bodies are reconfigurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the two housing bodies being configured to receive compressive force during personal exercise while in the closed configuration;

a force sensor configured to generate a force output signal that conveys information related to compressive force exerted on the two housing bodies while in the closed configuration, the force sensor being housed by one of the two housing bodies;

a user interface accessible with the two housing bodies in the open configuration, the user interface being configured to receive information from a user and provide information to the user, the user interface being housed by one of the two housing bodies; and

one or more processors configured to execute one or more computer program modules, the one or more processors being housed by one of the two housing bodies, the one or more computer program modules comprising;

a presentation module configured to present, via the user interface, information associated with compressive force exerted on the two housing bodies, the information being derived from the force output signal.

2. The personal wellness device of claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism includes one or more of a hinge, a joint, a swivel, or a sliding track.

3. The personal wellness device of claim 1, further comprising a camera device configured to capture visual data, the camera device being housed by one of the two housing bodies.

4. The personal wellness device of claim 1, further comprising an actuator configured to provide tactile feedback to a user, the actuator being housed by one of the two housing bodies.

5. The personal wellness device of claim 1, further comprising a geo-location sensor configured to generate a location output signal conveying information related to a geo-location of the personal wellness device, the geo-location sensor being housed by one of the two housing bodies, wherein the presentation module is further configured to present, via the user interface, information derived from the location output signal.

6. The personal wellness device of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor configured to generate a motion output signal that conveys information related to a motion and/or orientation of the personal wellness device, the motion sensor being housed by one of the two housing bodies, wherein the presentation module is further configured to present, via the user interface, information derived from the motion output signal.

7. The personal wellness device of claim 1, further comprising a pedometer configured to generate a step output signal that conveys information related to steps taken by a user carrying the personal wellness device, the pedometer being housed by one of the two housing bodies, wherein the presentation module is further configured to present, via the user interface, information derived from the step output signal.

8. The personal wellness device of claim 1, further comprising a heart rate sensor configured to generate a heart rate output signal that conveys information related to a heart rate of a user associated with the personal wellness device, the heart rate sensor being housed by one of the two housing bodies, wherein the presentation module is further configured to present, via the user interface, information derived from the heart rate output signal.

9. The personal wellness device of claim 1, further comprising an electrical muscle stimulation interface configured to removably couple the personal wellness device with an electrode, the electrode being configured to provide electrical muscle stimulation to a user, the electrical muscle stimulation interface being housed by one of the two housing bodies.

10. The personal wellness device of claim 1, further comprising a communications apparatus configured to receive information and/or transmit information from the personal wellness device, the communications apparatus being housed by one of the two housing bodies.

11. The personal wellness device of claim 10, wherein the communications apparatus includes one or both of a wireless communications interface or a wired communications interface.

12. The personal wellness device of claim 10, wherein the communications apparatus is configured to communicatively couple the personal wellness device with a user accessory, the user accessory being separate and distinct from the personal wellness device.

13. The personal wellness device of claim 10, wherein the communications apparatus is configured to communicatively couple the personal wellness device with a blood pressure sensor, the blood pressure sensor being configured to generate a blood pressure output signal that conveys information related to a blood pressure of a user associated with the personal wellness device, and wherein the presentation module is further configured to present, via the user interface, information derived from the blood pressure output signal.

14. The personal wellness device of claim 10, wherein the communications apparatus is configured to communicatively couple the personal wellness device with a computing platform configured to receive and process information related to compressive force exerted on the two housing bodies.

15. The personal wellness device of claim 1, further comprising electronic storage configured to electronically store information, the electronic storage being housed by one of the two housing bodies.

16. The personal wellness device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a microphone configured to capture audio information, and wherein the one or more computer program modules further comprise a voice command module configured to:

receive audio information captured by the microphone that includes a voice command; and

initiate, responsive to reception of the audio information including the voice command, an operation by the one or more processors corresponding to the voice command in the received audio information.

17. The personal wellness device of claim 1, further comprising a biometric sensor configured to generate a biometric output signal conveying information related to a biometric feature of a user, and wherein the one or more computer program modules further comprise a biometrics module configured to identify the user based on information derived from the biometric output signal.

18. The personal wellness device of claim 1, wherein the one or more computer program modules further comprise an emergency alert module configured to monitor one or more vital signs of a user associated with the personal wellness device via a heart rate sensor or a blood pressure sensor included in or communicatively coupled with the personal wellness device, the emergency alert module being further configured to provide an emergency alert to an emergency response service responsive to individual ones of the one or more vital signs meeting a threshold condition.

19. The personal wellness device of claim 1, wherein the one or more computer program modules further comprise a backup module configured to back up information stored by the personal wellness device by transmitting information stored by the personal wellness device to a remote electronic storage configured to electronically store information.

20. The personal wellness device of claim 1, wherein the one or more computer program modules further comprise an update module configured to:

receive software updates and/or firmware updates; and

implement the software updates and/or the firmware updates on the one or more processors.

21. The personal wellness device of claim 1, wherein the one or more computer program modules further comprise a communication module configured to provide interpersonal communications capabilities to the personal wellness device, the interpersonal communications capabilities including one or more of voice over internet protocol, short message service, multimedia messaging service, video conferencing, or telephony.