Smart Watch and Food Utensil for Monitoring Food Consumption

• US 20140349257A1
• Filed: 05/23/2013
• Published: 11/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medibotics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Connor
• Inventors: Connor, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,536,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/127
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/02 Forks; Forks with ejectors; Combined forks and spoons; Salad servers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• 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 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets

Abstract

This invention is a device and system for monitoring a person'"'"'s food consumption comprising: a wearable sensor that automatically collects data to detect eating events; a smart food utensil, probe, or dish that collects data concerning the chemical composition of food which the person is prompted to use when an eating event is detected; and a data analysis component that analyzes chemical composition data to estimate the types and amounts of foods, ingredients, nutrients, and/or calories consumed by the person. In an example, the wearable sensor can be part of a smart watch or smart bracelet. In an example, the smart food utensil, probe, or dish can be a smart spoon with a chemical composition sensor. The integrated operation of the wearable sensor and the smart food utensil, probe, or dish disclosed in this invention offers accurate measurement of food consumption with low intrusion into the person'"'"'s privacy.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring food consumption comprising:

a wearable sensor that is configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s body or clothing, wherein this wearable sensor automatically collects data that is used to detect probable eating events without requiring action by the person in association with a probable eating event apart from the act of eating, and wherein a probable eating event is a period of time during which the person is probably eating;

a smart food utensil, probe, or dish, wherein this food utensil, probe, or dish collects data that is used to analyze the chemical composition of food that the person eats, wherein this collection of data by the food utensil, probe, or dish requires that the person use the utensil, probe, or dish when eating, and wherein the person is prompted to use the food utensil, probe, or dish when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event; and

a data analysis component, wherein this component analyzes data collected by the food utensil, probe, or dish to estimate the types and amounts of foods, ingredients, nutrients, and/or calories that are consumed by the person.

2. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor is worn on a person'"'"'s wrist, hand, finger, or arm.

3. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor is part of an electronically-functional wrist band or smart watch.

4. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor is part of an electronically-functional adhesive patch that is worn on a person'"'"'s skin.

5. The device in claim 1 wherein the smart food utensil, probe, or dish is a spoon with a chemical composition sensor.

6. The device in claim 1 wherein the smart food utensil, probe, or dish is a fork with a chemical composition sensor.

7. The device in claim 1 wherein the smart food utensil, probe, or dish is a food probe with a chemical composition sensor.

8. The device in claim 1 wherein the smart food utensil, probe, or dish is a plate with a chemical composition sensor.

9. The device in claim 1 wherein the smart food utensil, probe, or dish is a bowl with a chemical composition sensor.

10. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor and the smart food utensil, probe, or dish are in wireless communication with each other.

11. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor and the smart food utensil, probe, or dish are physically linked.

12. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor automatically collects data concerning motion of the person'"'"'s body.

13. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor automatically collects data concerning electromagnetic energy emitted from the person'"'"'s body or transmitted through the person'"'"'s body.

14. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor automatically collects data concerning thermal energy emitted from the person'"'"'s body.

15. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor automatically collects data concerning light energy reflected from the person'"'"'s body or absorbed by the person'"'"'s body.

16. The device in claim 1 wherein the person is prompted to use the smart food utensil, probe, or dish when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event and the person does not start using the smart food utensil, probe, or dish for this probable eating event before a selected length of time after the start of the probable eating event.

17. The device in claim 1 wherein the person is prompted to use the smart food utensil, probe, or dish when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event and the person does not start using the smart food utensil, probe, or dish for this probable eating event before a selected quantity of eating-related actions occurs during the probable eating event.

18. The device in claim 1 wherein the person is prompted to use the smart food utensil, probe, or dish when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event and the person does not use the smart food utensil, probe, or dish throughout the entire probable eating event.

19. A device for monitoring food consumption comprising:

a wearable sensor that is configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s wrist, hand, finger, or arm, wherein this wearable sensor automatically collects data that is used to detect probable eating events without requiring action by the person in association with a probable eating event apart from the act of eating, and wherein a probable eating event is a period of time during which the person is probably eating;

a smart food utensil, probe, or dish, wherein this food utensil, probe, or dish collects data that is used to analyze the chemical composition of food that the person eats, wherein this collection of data by the food utensil, probe, or dish requires that the person use the utensil, probe, or dish when eating, and wherein the person is prompted to use the food utensil, probe, or dish when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event; and

a data analysis component, wherein this component analyzes data collected by the food utensil, probe, or dish to estimate the types and amounts of foods, ingredients, nutrients, and/or calories that are consumed by the person.

20. A device for monitoring food consumption comprising:

a wearable sensor that is configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s wrist, hand, finger, or arm, wherein this wearable sensor automatically collects data that is used to detect probable eating events without requiring action by the person in association with a probable eating event apart from the act of eating, wherein a probable eating event is a period of time during which the person is probably eating, and wherein this data is selected from the group consisting of data concerning motion of the person'"'"'s body, data concerning electromagnetic energy emitted from or transmitted through the person'"'"'s body, data concerning thermal energy emitted from the person'"'"'s body, and light energy reflected from or absorbed by the person'"'"'s body;

a smart food utensil, probe, or dish, wherein this food utensil, probe, or dish collects data that is used to analyze the chemical composition of food that the person eats, wherein this collection of data by the food utensil, probe, or dish requires that the person use the utensil, probe, or dish when eating, wherein the person is prompted to use the food utensil, probe, or dish when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event; and

a data analysis component, wherein this component analyzes data collected by the food utensil, probe, or dish to estimate the types and amounts of foods, ingredients, nutrients, and/or calories that are consumed by the person, and wherein this component analyzes data received from the sensor and data collected by the food utensil, probe, or dish to evaluate the completeness of data collected by the food utensil, probe, or dish for tracking the person'"'"'s total food consumption.