WEARABLE MONITORING DEVICES HAVING SENSORS AND LIGHT GUIDES

• US 20140180039A1
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valencell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valencell, Inc.
• Inventors: LeBoeuf, Steven Francis, Tucker, Jesse Berkley, Aumer, Michael Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,934,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0425 Ergonomically shaped housings A61B2560/0418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• 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 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 : Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02433 : for infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 : Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 : using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0295 : using plethysmography, i.e. measuring the variations in the volume of a body part as modified by the circulation of blood therethrough, e.g. impedance plethysmography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 : Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 : Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 : Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 : Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 : Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 : for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 : using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 : for measuring blood gases
• 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 5/411 : Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 : the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 : lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 : Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4845 : Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products A61B5/4848 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 : Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 : Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 : Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 : Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4884 : inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 : Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 : Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 : Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 : Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6819 : Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 : Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 : Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 : of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 : using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7214 : using signal cancellation, e.g. based on input of two identical physiological sensors spaced apart, or based on two signals derived from the same sensor, for different optical wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 : Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/725 : using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters A61B5/316 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• 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 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 : specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 : for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 : associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 : Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 : Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A monitoring device includes a housing configured to be attached to a body of a subject. An optical emitter, optical detector, and sensor for measuring motion noise are located within the housing. Light transmissive material is in optical communication with the optical emitter and detector and is configured to deliver light from the optical emitter to one or more locations of the body of the subject and to collect light external to the housing and deliver the collected light to the detector. A signal processor is configured to receive and process signals produced by the optical detector and the motion noise sensor, and to remove noise from the signals produced by the optical detector. The signal processor may generate physiological parameters for the subject such as heart rate, blood flow, blood pressure, VO_2max, heart rate variability, respiration rate, and blood gas/analyte level.

Claims

1. A monitoring device, comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to a body of a subject;

at least one optical emitter within the housing;

at least one optical detector within the housing;

at least one sensor for measuring motion noise within the housing; and

light transmissive material in optical communication with the at least one optical emitter and the at least one optical detector, wherein the light transmissive material delivers light from the at least one optical emitter to one or more locations of the body of the subject and collects light external to the housing and delivers the collected light to the at least one optical detector.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to be attached to a limb, a nose, an earlobe, and/or a digit of the subject.

3. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the housing is configured to be positioned within an ear of the subject.

4. The monitoring device of claim 3, further comprising a speaker or microphone within the housing.

5. The monitoring device of claim 3, further comprising a temperature sensor within the housing, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the body.

6. The monitoring device of claim 3, further comprising a temperature sensor within the housing, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the tympanic membrane, and wherein a second light transmissive material is in optical communication with the temperature sensor and is configured to direct thermal energy from the tympanic membrane to the temperature sensor.

7. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising at least one environmental sensor configured to detect and/or measure one or more environmental conditions in a vicinity of the monitoring device, wherein the one or more environmental conditions include one or more of the following:

climate, humidity, temperature, pressure, barometric pressure, soot density, airborne particle density, airborne particle size, airborne particle shape, airborne particle identity, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carcinogens, toxins, electromagnetic energy, optical radiation, X-rays, gamma rays, microwave radiation, terahertz radiation, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, radio waves, atomic energy alpha particles, atomic energy beta-particles, gravity, light intensity, light frequency, light flicker, light phase, ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, sulfides, airborne pollution, foreign material in the air, viruses, bacteria, signatures from chemical weapons, wind, air turbulence, sound and/or acoustical energy, ultrasonic energy, noise pollution, human voices, animal sounds, diseases expelled from others, exhaled breath and/or breath constituents of others, toxins from others, pheromones from others, industrial and/or transportation sounds, allergens, animal hair, pollen, exhaust from engines, vapors and/or fumes, fuel, signatures for mineral deposits and/or oil deposits, snow, rain, thermal energy, hot surfaces, hot gases, solar energy, hail, ice, vibrations, traffic, the number of people in a vicinity of the subject, coughing and/or sneezing sounds from people in the vicinity of the subject, and loudness and/or pitch from those speaking in the vicinity of the subject.

8. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a signal processor configured to receive and process signals produced by the at least one optical detector and the at least one motion noise sensor, wherein the signal processor is configured to remove noise from the signals produced by the at least one optical detector, and wherein the signal processor is configured to process signals produced by the at least one optical detector to generate at least one of the following physiological parameters for the subject:

heart rate, blood flow, blood pressure, VO_2max, heart rate variability, respiration rate, and blood gas/analyte level.

9. The monitoring device of claim 8, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit signals processed by the signal processor to a remote device.

10. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion noise sensor comprises an optical sensor, an inertial sensor, an accelerometer, an electrically conductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, and/or an inductive sensor.

11. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical emitter comprises a first optical emitter configured to emit light at a first optical wavelength and a second optical emitter configured to emit light at a second optical wavelength different from the first optical wavelength.

12. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a light blocking region between the at least one optical emitter and the at least one optical detector, wherein the light blocking region reduces the risk that light from the at least one optical emitter will interrogate and saturate the at least one optical detector.

13. A headset, comprising:

a speaker, an optical emitter, an optical detector, and a temperature sensor;

an earbud housing configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the earbud housing encloses the speaker, optical emitter, optical detector, and temperature sensor; and

light transmissive material in optical communication with the optical emitter and detector, wherein the light transmissive material delivers light from the optical emitter to one or more locations of the ear of the subject and collects light external to the housing and delivers the collected light to the optical detector;

wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the tympanic membrane.

14. The headset of claim 13, further comprising at least one sensor for measuring motion noise.

15. The headset of claim 14, further comprising a signal processor configured to receive and process signals produced by the optical detector and the at least one motion noise sensor, wherein the signal processor is configured to remove noise from the signals produced by the optical detector, and wherein the signal processor is configured to process signals produced by the optical detector to generate at least one of the following physiological parameters for the subject:

heart rate, blood flow, blood pressure, VO_2max, heart rate variability, respiration rate, and blood gas/analyte level.

16. The headset of claim 15, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit signals processed by the signal processor to a remote device.

17. A headset, comprising:

an optical emitter;

an earbud housing enclosing the optical emitter and configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the ear has an antitragus, a tragus, a lobule, and an acoustic meatus; and

light transmissive material in optical communication with the optical emitter, wherein the light transmissive material delivers light from the optical emitter to at least one of the antitragus, the tragus, the lobule, and the acoustic meatus.

18. The headset of claim 17, further comprising at least one sensor for measuring motion noise.

19. The headset of claim 18, further comprising:

an optical detector enclosed within the earbud housing; and

a signal processor configured to receive and process signals produced by the optical detector and the at least one motion noise sensor, wherein the signal processor is configured to remove noise from the signals produced by the optical detector, and wherein the signal processor is configured to process signals produced by the optical detector to generate at least one of the following physiological parameters for the subject;

heart rate, blood flow, blood pressure, VO_2max, heart rate variability, respiration rate, and blood gas/analyte level;

wherein the light transmissive material is in optical communication with the optical detector and collects light external to the housing and delivers the collected light to the optical detector.

20. The headset of claim 19, wherein the signal processor is further configured to measure the step rate of the subject.