WEARABLE PHYSIOLOGY MONITOR COMPUTER APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20160066847A1
• Filed: 01/30/2015
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Zitiao Network Technology Company Limited (ByteDance Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Vision Service Plan (VSP Global, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sales, Jay William, Klosinski, Richard Chester Jr., Workman, Matthew Allen, Murphy, Meghan Kathleen, Steen, Matthew David
• Granted Patent: US 10,307,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/112 for measuring diameter of pupils
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1032 Determining colour for diagnostic purposes measuring colour in general G01J3/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1103 Detecting eye twinkling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 : Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1176 : Recognition of faces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 : Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 : Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 : Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 : Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 : Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4266 : sweat secretion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/443 : Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 : Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• 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 5/7246 : 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 5/7282 : 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 7/04 : Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/76 : Means for assembling, fitting or testing prostheses, e.g. for measuring or balancing, e.g. alignment means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7695 : Means for testing non-implantable prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 : Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 : Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 : communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2218/00 : Aspects of pattern recognition specially adapted for signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/10 : Terrestrial scenes scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/18 : Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 : Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/197 : Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/25 : Recognition of walking or running movements, e.g. gait recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 : using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 : Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 : detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 : integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 : Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 : Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 : Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 : with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• 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: H04L 63/0861 : using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of detecting physiological attributes of a wearer of a computerized wearable device having one or more sensors comprises (1) using the information from the one or more sensors to assess the physiology of the wearer; and (2) notifying the wearer of the wearer'"'"'s physiology. In various embodiments, the method involves using the wearable device to determine the wearer'"'"'s current posture, balance, alertness, and/or physical state and comparing the current posture, balance, alertness and/or physical state to at least one baseline measurement. For example, the system may measure a baseline posture to determine when the wearer'"'"'s current posture deviates from the baseline posture, and notify the wearer so that the wearer may improve his or her posture. In other embodiments, the computerized wearable device may detect one or more of the wearer'"'"'s physiological characteristics (e.g., oxygen levels, pulse rate, pupil size, etc.) and determine the wearer'"'"'s alertness level.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of detecting the physiology of a wearer of a computerized wearable comprising one or more sensors coupled to the eyewear, the one or more sensors being adapted to detect one or more physiological characteristics of the wearer of the eyewear, wherein the one or more characteristics are associated with one of the wearer'"'"'s posture, the method comprising:

a. receiving, by a processor, at least one signal from the one or more sensors on the computerized wearable device;

b. at least partially in response to receiving the at least one signal, determining, by a processor, a current posture of the wearer of the computerized wearable device;

c. at least partially in response to determining the current posture of the wearer, comparing, by a processor, the current posture of the wearer to a normal posture of the wearer; and

d. notifying, by a processor, the wearer when the current posture of the wearer deviates from the normal posture of the wearer.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computerized wearable device is eyewear having the one or more sensors, a power source and a communication device coupled thereto.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

a. measuring, by a processor, one or more baseline levels from signals from the one or more sensors that are indicative of a normal posture of the wearer; and

b. at least partially in response to measuring the baseline levels from the one or more sensors, determining, by a processor, a normal posture of the wearer from the measured one or more baseline levels.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein determining the current posture of the wearer further comprises:

a. receiving, by a processor, the at least one signal from one of an accelerometer and a gyroscope;

b. calculating, by a processor, one or more of the wearer'"'"'s pitch, roll, and/or yaw of the wearer'"'"'s head;

c. comparing, by a processor, the one or more of the wearer'"'"'s pitch, roll, and/or yaw of the wearer'"'"'s head to one or more baseline measurements of the wearer'"'"'s pitch, roll, and/or yaw for the wearer'"'"'s head; and

d. determining, by a processor, when at least one of the pitch, roll, and/or yaw of the wearer'"'"'s head deviates from the baseline measurements of the wearer'"'"'s pitch, roll, and/or yaw for the wearer'"'"'s head by a predetermine amount.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein determining the current posture of the wearer further comprises determining whether the wearer is standing, sitting down, or laying down.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

a. receiving, by a processor, at least one signal from one or more pulse oximeter sensors coupled to the eyewear;

b. at least partially in response to receiving the at least one signal from the one or more pulse oximeter sensors, determining, by a processor, an oxygen level for the wearer of the eyewear;

c. determining, by a processor, from the at least one signal from the one or more sensors whether the wearer is standing or sitting down; and

d. at least partially in response to determining that the wearer is sitting down, determining, by a processor, based on at least the oxygen level, an alertness level of the wearer.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein determining the current posture of the wearer further comprises detecting that the wearer'"'"'s head is tilted downward.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

a. receiving, by a processor, a signal from one or more pulse oximeter sensors coupled to the eyewear;

b. at least partially in response to receiving the signal from the one or more pulse oximeter sensors, determining, by a processor, an oxygen level for the wearer of the eyewear; and

c. at least partially in response to determining an oxygen level for the wearer, determining, by a processor, an alertness of the wearer at least partially based on the current posture and the oxygen level of the wearer.

9. A computerized eyewear comprising:

a. at least one processor;

b. one or more sensors operatively coupled to the at least one processor, the one or more sensors selected from a group consisting of;

i. a gyroscope,

ii. an accelerometer,

iii. a geomagnetic sensor,

iv. a pulse oximeter,

v. a forward facing camera, and

vi. an eye-facing camera;

c. a power source operatively coupled to the at least one processor; and

d. a communication device operatively coupled to the at least one processor;

wherein the computerized eyewear is configured to;

i. receive at least one signal from the one or more sensors on the computerized wearable device;

ii. at least partially in response to receiving the at least one signal, determine a current physiology of the wearer of the computerized eyewear;

iii. at least partially in response to determining the current physiology of the wearer, compare the current physiology of the wearer to a normal physiology of the wearer; and

iv. notify the wearer when the current physiology of the wearer deviates from the normal physiology of the wearer.

10. The computerized eyewear of claim 9, wherein the current physiology is a current alertness level of the wearer and the normal physiology is a normal alertness level of the wearer.

11. The computerized eyewear of claim 10, wherein

a. the one or more sensors comprises an accelerometer;

b. the computerized eyewear is further configured to;

i. receive a signal from the accelerometer;

ii. determine a current head position of the wearer at least partially based on the received signal from the accelerometer; and

iii. compare the current head position of the wearer to a baseline head position of the wearer.

12. The computerized eyewear of claim 10, wherein

a. the one or more sensors comprises a pulse oximeter;

b. the computerized eyewear is further configured to;

i. receive a signal from the pulse oximeter;

ii. determine a current oxygen level of the wearer at least partially based on the received signal from the pulse oximeter; and

iii. compare the current oxygen level of the wearer to a baseline oxygen level of the wearer.

13. The computerized eyewear of claim 12, wherein

a. the one or more sensors further comprises a camera;

b. the computerized eyewear is further configured to;

i. capture at least one image by the camera;

ii. at least partially in response to capturing the at least one image, analyzing the at least one image to determine a current head position of the wearer;

iii. compare the current head position of the wearer to a baseline head position of the wearer;

iv. at least partially in response to comparing (a) the current oxygen level of the wearer to the base line oxygen level of the wear, and (b) the current head position of the wearer to the baseline head position of the wearer, determining the current alertness level of the wearer; and

v. notifying the wearer of the wearer'"'"'s current alertness level.

14. The computerized eyewear of claim 12, wherein

a. the one or more sensors further comprises an eye-facing camera;

and

b. the computerized eyewear is further configured to;

i. capture at least one image by the eye-facing camera;

ii. at least partially in response to capturing the at least one image, analyze the at least one image to determine a current pupil size of the wearer;

iii. compare the current pupil size of the wearer to a baseline pupil size of the wearer;

iv. at least partially in response to comparing (a) the current oxygen level of the wearer to the baseline oxygen level of the wear, and (b) the current pupil size of the wearer to the baseline pupil size of the wearer, determining the current alertness level of the wearer; and

v. notify the wearer of the wearer'"'"'s current alertness level.

15. The computerized eyewear of claim 10, wherein

a. the one or more sensors comprises a gyroscope;

and

b. the computerized eyewear is further configured to;

i. receive one or more signals from the gyroscope;

ii. determine a current pitch, roll, and yaw of the wearer'"'"'s head at least partially based on the received one or more signals from the gyroscope; and

iii. compare the current pitch, roll, and/or yaw of the wearer'"'"'s head to a baseline pitch, roll, and/or yaw of the wearer'"'"'s head.

16. The computerized eyewear of claim 15, wherein the computerized eyewear is further configured to determine the current posture of the wearer at least partially based on the current pitch, roll, and yaw of the wearer'"'"'s head.

17. The computerized eyewear of claim 16, wherein the computerized eyewear if further configured to notify the wearer when the current pitch, roll, and/or yaw deviates from the baseline pitch, roll, and yaw by a predetermined amount.

18. The computerized eyewear of claim 17, wherein

a. the one or more sensors further comprises a pulse oximeter;

and

b. the computerized eyewear is further configured to;

i. receive a signal from the pulse oximeter;

ii. determine a current oxygen level of the wearer at least partially based on the received signal from the pulse oximeter;

iii. compare the current oxygen level of the wearer to a baseline oxygen level of the wearer; and

iv. determine an alertness level of the wearer at least partially based on the current pitch, roll, and/or yaw of the wearer'"'"'s head and the current oxygen level of the wearer.

19. The computerized eyewear of claim 10, wherein

a. the one or more sensors further comprises a blink rate sensor;

and

b. the computerized eyewear is further configured to;

i. receive a signal from the blink rate sensor;

ii. determine a current blink rate of the wearer at least partially based on the received signal from the blink rate sensor;

iii. compare the current blink rate of the wearer to a baseline blink rate of the wearer;

iv. determine whether the blink rate is below a particular blink rate threshold value; and

v. at least partially in response to determining that the blink rate is below the particular blink rate threshold value, convey an alert to the wearer or other individual.

20. A computerized wearable device for being worn on a user'"'"'s head, comprising:

a. at least one processor;

b. one or more sensors operatively coupled to the at least one processor, the one or more sensors selected from a group consisting of;

i. a gyroscope,

ii. an accelerometer,

iii. a geomagnetic sensor,

iv. a pulse oximeter,

v. a forward facing camera, and

vi. an eye-facing camera;

c. a power source operatively coupled to the at least one processor; and

d. a communication device operatively coupled to the at least one processor;

wherein the computerized wearable is configured to;

i. receive at least one signal from the one or more sensors on the computerized wearable device at least partially in response to the wearer experiencing an impact to the wearer'"'"'s head;

ii. at least partially in response to receiving the at least one signal, determine whether the wearer sustained a concussion as a result of experiencing the impact to the wearer'"'"'s head; and

iii. at least partially in response to determining that the wearer sustained a concussion, notify at least one of the wearer or a third party that the wearer has sustained a concussion.

21. The computerized wearable of claim 20, wherein

a. the one or more sensors further comprises an accelerometer;

and

b. the computerized wearable device further configured to;

i. receive one or more signals from the accelerometer;

ii. at least partially in response to receiving the one or more signals from the accelerometer, determine an intensity level of the impact experienced by the wearer;

iii. determine if the intensity level exceeds a predetermined intensity level, and

iv. at least partially in response to the intensity level exceeding the predetermined intensity level, notify the at least one of the wearer or the third party that the wearer has sustained a concussion.

22. The computerized wearable of claim 21, wherein

a. the one or more sensors further comprises an eye-facing camera;

and

b. the computerized wearable device further configured to;

i. capture an image by the eye-facing camera;

ii. at least partially in response to capturing the image, measure a pupil size of the wearer;

iii. determine if the measured pupil size exceeds a predetermined pupil size, and

iv. at least partially in response to the measured pupil size exceeding the predetermined pupil size, confirm that the wearer has sustained the concussion.