MONITORING A PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETER OF A CYCLIST

• US 20150374311A1
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Inventors: NIEDERBERGER, Craig, PFANNER, Peter, HOTALING, James, CLARK, Matthew, GRAHAM, Andrew, PARADISE, Michael, SCOTT, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,833,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• 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 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02455 provided with high/low alarm devices
• 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 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14517 for sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/221 Ergometry, e.g. by using bicycle type apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4566 Evaluating the spine A61B5/4561 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 : Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6825 : Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 : Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 : using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• 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 5/7445 : Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• 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 5/748 : Selection of a region of interest, e.g. using a graphics tablet

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system for monitoring a physiological parameter of a cyclist, and methods of using the system. The system comprises a garment, a sensor, and a signal processor. The garment is configured to be worn by the cyclist. The sensor is fixedly coupled to the garment and configured to measure a signal representative of the physiological parameter during pedaling. The signal processor is operatively coupled to the sensor and configured to determine a diagnosis based on the measured signal. An alert is generated in response to the diagnosis substantially in real time.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a physiological parameter of a cyclist, comprising:

a garment configured to be worn by the cyclist;

a sensor fixedly coupled to the garment and configured to measure a signal representative of the physiological parameter; and

a signal processor operatively coupled to the sensor, wherein the signal processor is configured to determine a diagnosis based on the measured signal and to generate an alert substantially in real time in response to the diagnosis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the physiological parameter comprises at least one of arterial force, lung capacity, weight, wattage output, spine alignment, posture, respiratory rate, perspiration rate, heart rate, muscle group use, and hydration.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data storage operatively coupled to the sensor and configured to record the signal.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display device operatively coupled to the signal processor and configured to generate a diagnostics display in response to the diagnosis substantially in real time.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the display device is coupled to a handlebar of a bicycle.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the diagnostics display comprises a listing of at least one of arterial force, lung capacity, weight, wattage output, spine alignment, posture, respiratory rate, perspiration rate, heart rate, muscle group use, and hydration.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to measure the signal at predetermined intervals.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a signal transmission network operatively coupled to the sensor and the signal processor and configured to transmit the signal according to at least one of a wired interface and a wireless interface.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless interface includes at least one of ANT+, Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, and cellular access technologies.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is fixedly coupled to a crotch portion of the garment, positioned adjacent a perineum region of the cyclist when the garment is worn by the cyclist.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor is configured to measure a signal representative of a perineal arterial force.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is fixedly coupled to a sole portion of the garment, positioned adjacent at least one of a center of a foot and an outermost point of the foot when the garment is worn by the cyclist.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is fixedly coupled to a palm portion of the garment, positioned adjacent at least one point along a centerline of a hand when the garment is worn by the cyclist.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is fixedly coupled to at least a forearm portion, a chest portion, a back portion, and a side rib portion of the garment.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to generate a comparison of the measured signal with a network of cyclists substantially in real time.

16. A method of monitoring a physiological parameter of a cyclist, comprising:

measuring a signal representative of the physiological parameter; and

processing the measured signal with a signal processor to determine a diagnosis; and

generating an alert substantially in real time in response to the diagnosis.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal is measured from at least one of a crotch portion, a sole portion, a palm portion, a forearm portion, and a torso portion of the cyclist.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal is measured at predetermined intervals.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the physiological parameter comprises at least one of arterial force, lung capacity, weight, wattage output, spine alignment, posture, respiratory rate, perspiration rate, heart rate, muscle group use, and hydration.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the alert comprises a diagnostics display listing at least one of arterial force, lung capacity, weight, wattage output, spine alignment, posture, respiratory rate, perspiration rate, heart rate, muscle group use, and hydration.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating a comparison of the measured signal with a network of cyclists substantially in real time.