Method for Acquiring and Processing Heart Rate Data

• US 20150342482A1
• Filed: 01/09/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marco Carrara
• Original Assignee: Marco Carrara
• Inventors: Carrara, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 9,439,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7271 Specific aspects of physiological measurement analysis A61B5/316, A61B5/349 and A61B5/374 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids

Abstract

Acquiring and processing heart rate data involves providing glasses having a microcontroller, a heart rate sensor positionable to a user, a configuration memory, at least one data memory, a clock/calendar electronic circuit, a visual and/or audible signaling unit, a rechargeable autonomous electrical power supply, and one switch for the heart rate detection function. The method involves providing a programming and data transfer unit external to the glasses, providing a connection system between the glasses and the external programming and data transfer unit, programming the configuration memory (102) of the glasses using the external programming and data transfer unit, with a minimum heart rate threshold value, a maximum heart rate threshold value, and a heart rate reading frequency value, acquiring readings in data memory of the glasses during activity, processing an alarm signal when a detected heart rate value is above a maximum or below a minimum.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring and processing heart rate data, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one pair of glasses comprising a microcontroller, at least one heart rate sensor positionable against an anatomic area of a user, at least one configuration memory, at least one data memory, a clock/calendar electronic circuit, at least one visual and/or audible signaling unit, at least one rechargeable autonomous electrical power supply source, and at least one switch for at least switching an on/off heart rate detection function;

providing at least one programming and data transfer unit external to the glasses;

providing at least one connection system between the glasses and the external programming and data transfer unit;

programming the configuration memory of the glasses, by use of the external programming and data transfer unit, with at least a minimum heart rate threshold value, a maximum heart rate threshold value, and a heart rate reading frequency value;

acquiring a plurality of readings in the data memory of the glasses, during an activity in which a user wears the glasses, wherein each reading comprises a detected heart rate value and a corresponding time of detection; and

processing, in real time during said activity, by use of the visual and/or audible signaling unit, at least one alarm signal when a current reading involves a detected heart rate value not below the maximum heart rate threshold, or not above the minimum heart rate threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the external programming and data transfer unit comprises a controller communicating with a data input unit for a user, a data output unit for the user, an electrical power supply source, and a data memory.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step, after completion of the activity, of connecting the glasses to the external programming and data transfer unit, by use of the connection system, wherein the controller of the external programming and data transfer unit commands a transfer of readings acquired during the activity in the data memory of the glasses into data memory of the external programming and data transfer unit, and commands a transfer of electricity from the electrical power supply source of the external programming and data transfer unit to the autonomous electrical power supply source of the glasses.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein recharging the autonomous electrical power supply source of the glasses, and memorization of readings in the data memory of the external programming and data transfer unit occur simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising a processing and display step, where the controller of the external programming and data transfer unit processes and displays, on the output device of the external programming and data transfer unit, graphs in a comparative or alternative form showing corresponding readings recorded for a user'"'"'s activities.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of loading various user profiles into the data memory of the external programming and data transfer unit, each user profile comprising corresponding minimum and maximum threshold heart rate and reading frequency values.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a user selects a profile via the data input unit of the external programming and data transfer unit, and the controller of the external programming and data transfer unit programs the configuration memory of the glasses with the selected profile.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of integrating and combining the graphs with data originating from other devices.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of statistically analyzing the readings recorded for the user'"'"'s activities.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of remotely sharing readings originating from various external programming and data transfer units.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the glasses comprise an adjustment device for stably positioning the sensor against the anatomic area of the user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the adjustment device comprises at least one support element for the at least one heart rate sensor, the at least one support element having an elastically flexible body.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one heart rate sensor is slidingly supported by the at least one support element, which is in turn hinged to a temple piece of a frame of the glasses.