ELECTRONIC HEADWEAR

• US 20140296669A1
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Oxystrap Intl., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tri-Mate Pro. Inc.
• Inventors: Nysen, Peter, Gehrisch, Christopher L., McCune, Martin D., Williams, David L., Gertsch, Bruce, Gertsch, Ronald, Nysen, Paul, Swanson, William
• Granted Patent: US 10,265,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/324
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• 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 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles

Abstract

A headwear assembly is provided that measures physiological changes, e.g., oxygen saturation, pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature of a user during physical exercise, to include athletic activities and other situations. The headwear assembly can provide integrated functionality with an external device such as a smart phone. The headwear assembly can be embodied in various configurations, e.g., stand-alone headband, cap, visor, or a helmet.

Claims

1. A headwear assembly, comprising:

a headwear body having front portion disposed proximate to the forehead when worn;

an oximetry sensor having an emitter and a detector disposed in the front portion; and

a circuit board assembly disposed in the headwear body electrically coupled to the oximetry sensor, the oximetry sensor and the circuit board assembly are configured to measure oxygen saturation and pulse rate of the user.

2. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the headwear body provides an aperture in the front portion and the oximetry sensor is aligned with the aperture proximate to the forehead.

3. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 1, the oximetry sensor is mounted on a substrate of a flexible, water proof material.

4. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising a thermistor mounted adjacent to the oximetry sensor and electrically coupled to the circuit board.

5. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the circuit board assembly includes an LED driver electrically coupled to the emitter and a detector circuit operatively coupled to the detector, both the LED driver circuit and detector circuit are operatively coupled to the processor, and the circuit board assembly further includes wireless transceiver operatively coupled to the processor.

6. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the circuit board assembly includes a control button accessible along a side of the headwear body, the control button coupled to the processer.

7. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the headwear body is coupled to a sports helmet such that the headwear body is disposed about the head of a user such that the front portion is proximate to the forehead.

8. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the circuit board assembly is integrally formed with the substrate of the oximetry sensor.

9. A headwear assembly, comprising:

a headband configured to circumscribe the head of a user when worn, the headband having front portion disposed proximate to the forehead when worn;

an oximetry sensor having a flexible, waterproof substrate, an emitter mounted to the substrate proximate to a distal end of the substrate, and a detector mounted to the substrate proximate to a proximal end of the substrate, the oximetry sensor disposed in the front portion of the headband such that the oximetry sensor is proximate to forehead of a user, when worn; and

a circuit board assembly disposed in the headwear body spaced apart from and electrically coupled to the oximetry sensor, the oximetry sensor and the circuit board assembly are configured to measure oxygen saturation and pulse rate of the user.

10. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 9, further comprising a thermistor mounted on the substrate of the oximetry sensor and electrically coupled to the circuit board, to measure body temperature.

11. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein the headband is coupled to a cap or a visor such that the headband is disposed about the head of a user such that the front portion is proximate to the forehead.

12. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein the headband is coupled to a sports helmet lining such that the headband is disposed about the head of a user such that the front portion is proximate to the forehead.

13. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein the circuit board assembly is integrally formed with the substrate of the oximetry sensor.

14. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 9, comprising a plurality of sensors for oximetry and/or for blood pressure disposed in spaced relationship in prescribed locations to measure various selected locations on the user, when worn.

15. A headwear assembly, comprising:

a headband configured to circumscribe the head of a user when worn, the headband defining an aperture disposed proximate to the forehead when worn;

an oximetry sensor having a waterproof substrate, an emitter and a detector mounted to the substrate, the oximetry sensor aligned with the aperture of the headband such that the oximetry sensor is disposed above an eyebrow of a user, when worn;

a thermistor mounted to the substrate of the oximetry sensor;

a circuit board assembly disposed in the headwear body spaced apart from and electrically coupled to the oximetry sensor, the oximetry sensor and the circuit board assembly are configured to measure oxygen saturation and pulse rate of the user, the thermistor and a blood pressure sensor are electrically coupled to the circuit board to measure body temperature and blood pressure, the circuit board having a waterproof casing.

16. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the circuit board assembly includes a control button accessible along a side of the headwear body, the control button coupled to the processer.

17. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the circuit board assembly includes an LED driver electrically coupled to the emitter and a detector circuit electrically coupled to the detector, both the LED driver circuit and detector circuit are electrically coupled to the processor, and the circuit board assembly further includes wireless transceiver electrically coupled to the processor configured to communicate with an external electronic mobile device.

18. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 15, comprising a plurality of sensors for oximetry and/or for blood pressure disposed in spaced relationship in prescribed locations to measure various selected locations on the user, when worn, the headband defining a plurality of apertures aligned with the plurality of sensors.

19. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein the plurality of sensors include a plurality of sensing ends operatively coupled to the emitter and the detector, the plurality of sensing ends aligned with the plurality of apertures to measure the forehead of the user.

20. The headwear assembly as defined in claim 19, wherein the plurality of sensing ends are operatively coupled to the emitter and the detector by single or dual light-wave channels.