Method for Monitoring and Improving Health and Productivity of Employees Using a Computer Mouse System

• US 20140025397A1
• Filed: 09/24/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Horseman, Samantha J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,805,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• 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 5/02141 Details of apparatus construction, e.g. pump units or housings therefor, cuff pressurising systems, arrangements of fluid conduits or circuits A61B5/02233, A61B5/0235 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/372 Analysis of electroencephalograms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/386 Accessories or supplementary instruments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4561 Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature A61B5/1116 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6897 Computer input devices, e.g. mice or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/105 Human resources
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 : for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Provided are embodiments of systems, computer medium and computer-implemented methods for sensing health characteristics of a user using a computer mouse having a location sensor configured to sense movement of the computer mouse relative to a work surface on which the computer mouse is located, a temperature sensor, a blood condition sensor and a blood pressure sensor. A method including transmitting, to a computer workstation, location data corresponding to sensed movement of the computer mouse for use in determining movement of the mouse, receiving temperature data from the temperature sensor, blood condition data from the blood condition sensor and blood pressure data from the blood pressure sensor, and transmitting, to the computer workstation, health data corresponding to the temperature data, the blood condition data, and the blood pressure data for use in determining the body temperature, the blood saturation level, and the blood pressure of the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for sensing health characteristics of a user using a computer mouse comprising a location sensor configured to sense movement of the computer mouse relative to a work surface on which the computer mouse is located, a temperature sensor configured to sense a body temperature of the user, a blood condition sensor configured to sense a blood saturation level of the user and a blood pressure sensor configured to sense a blood pressure of the user, the computer-implemented method comprising:

transmitting, to a computer workstation, location data corresponding to sensed movement of the computer mouse for use in determining movement of the mouse;

receiving, from the temperature sensor, temperature data corresponding to a sensed body temperature of the user;

receiving, from the blood condition sensor, blood condition data corresponding to a sensed blood saturation level of the user;

receiving, from the blood pressure sensor, blood pressure data corresponding to a sensed blood pressure of the user; and

transmitting, to the computer workstation, health data corresponding to the temperature data, the blood condition data, and the blood pressure data for use in determining the body temperature, the blood saturation level, and the blood pressure of the user.

2. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on an exterior surface of a body of the computer mouse such that the user'"'"'s body temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor when the user grasps an exterior of the computer mouse.

3. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the blood condition sensor comprises a pulse oximeter sensor.

4. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the blood pressure sensor comprises a blood pressure cuff.

5. A computer-implemented method according to claim 4, wherein the blood pressure cuff is configured to communicate wirelessly with the computer mouse controller.

6. A computer-implemented method according to claim 4, wherein the blood pressure cuff comprises an air bladder and a pump that is configured to inflate the air bladder, and wherein the blood pressure cuff is not physically tethered to a body of the computer mouse.

7. A computer mouse according to claim 4, wherein a body of the computer mouse comprises a pump disposed therein, wherein the blood pressure cuff comprises an air bladder that is coupled to the pump via a conduit, and wherein the pump is configured to inflate the air bladder via the conduit.

8. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for health data from the computer workstation; and

in response to receiving a request for health data from the computer workstation;

collecting the temperature data from the temperature sensor, the blood condition data from the blood condition sensor, and the blood pressure data from the blood pressure sensor; and

transmitting, to the computer workstation, the health data corresponding to the temperature data, the blood condition data, and the blood pressure data for use in determining the body temperature, the blood saturation level, and the blood pressure of the user.

9. A computer-implemented method for sensing health characteristics of a user using a computer mouse comprising a location sensor configured to sense movement of the computer mouse relative to a work surface on which the computer mouse is located, a temperature sensor configured to sense a body temperature of the user, a blood condition sensor configured to sense a blood saturation level of the user and a blood pressure sensor configured to sense a blood pressure of the user, the computer-implemented method comprising:

transmitting, to a computer workstation, location data corresponding to sensed movement of the computer mouse for use in determining movement of the mouse;

receiving, from the temperature sensor, temperature data corresponding to a sensed body temperature of the user, the temperature sensor being disposed on an exterior surface of a body of the computer mouse such that the user'"'"'s body temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor when the user grasps an exterior of the computer mouse;

receiving, from the blood condition sensor, blood condition data corresponding to a sensed blood saturation level of the user;

receiving, from the blood pressure sensor, blood pressure data corresponding to a sensed blood pressure of the user, the blood pressure sensor comprising a blood pressure cuff; and

transmitting, to the computer workstation, health data corresponding to the temperature data, the blood condition data, and the blood pressure data for use in determining the body temperature, the blood saturation level, and the blood pressure of the user.

10. A computer-implemented method according to claim 9, wherein the blood condition sensor comprises a pulse oximeter sensor.

11. A computer-implemented method according to claim 9, wherein the blood pressure cuff is configured to communicate wirelessly with the computer mouse controller.

12. A computer-implemented method according to claim 9, wherein the blood pressure cuff comprises an air bladder and a pump that is configured to inflate the air bladder, and wherein the blood pressure cuff is not physically tethered to a body of the computer mouse.

13. A computer mouse according to claim 9, wherein the body of the computer mouse comprises a pump disposed therein, wherein the blood pressure cuff comprises an air bladder that is coupled to the pump via a conduit, and wherein the pump is configured to inflate the air bladder via the conduit.

14. A computer-implemented method for sensing health characteristics of a user using a computer mouse comprising a location sensor configured to sense movement of the computer mouse relative to a work surface on which the computer mouse is located, a temperature sensor configured to sense a body temperature of the user, a blood condition sensor configured to sense a blood saturation level of the user and a blood pressure sensor configured to sense a blood pressure of the user, the computer-implemented method comprising:

transmitting, to a computer workstation, location data corresponding to sensed movement of the computer mouse for use in determining movement of the mouse;

receiving, from the temperature sensor, temperature data corresponding to a sensed body temperature of the user;

receiving, from the blood condition sensor, blood condition data corresponding to a sensed blood saturation level of the user;

receiving, from the blood pressure sensor, blood pressure data corresponding to a sensed blood pressure of the user; and

receiving a request for health data from the computer workstation; and

in response to receiving a request for health data from the computer workstation, transmitting, to the computer workstation, health data corresponding to the temperature data, the blood condition data, and the blood pressure data for use in determining the body temperature, the blood saturation level, and the blood pressure of the user.

15. A computer-implemented method according to claim 14, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on an exterior surface of the body of the computer mouse such that the user'"'"'s body temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor when the user grasps an exterior of the computer mouse.

16. A computer-implemented method according to claim 14, wherein the blood condition sensor comprises a pulse oximeter sensor.

17. A computer-implemented method according to claim 14, wherein the blood pressure sensor comprises a blood pressure cuff.

18. A computer-implemented method according to claim 17, wherein the blood pressure cuff is configured to communicate wirelessly with the computer mouse controller.

19. A computer-implemented method according to claim 17, wherein the blood pressure cuff comprises an air bladder and a pump that is configured to inflate the air bladder, and wherein the blood pressure cuff is not physically tethered to a body of the computer mouse.