DEVICE FOR PROVIDING ALERTS VIA ELECTRIC STIMULATION

• US 20170004685A1
• Filed: 03/03/2016
• Published: 01/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zero360 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zero360 Incorporated
• Inventors: KARSTEN, Peter
• Application Number:
  US15/059,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20170004685A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0048 Detecting, measuring or recording by applying mechanical forces or stimuli A61B5/021, A61B5/4884 and A61B9/00 take precedence
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/011 Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 : for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 : Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 : Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 : Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 : using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 : Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 : using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 : Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 : using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 : ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 : for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• 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 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 : using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 : Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A wearable device for providing alert signals to a user is adapted to be secured adjacent the skin of the user and comprises a controller adapted to receive an alert instruction corresponding to an alert event, and at least one electrode arranged to be in contact with the skin in use of the device for providing an alert stimulus in the form of a mild electric shock. The controller is arranged to actuate the electrode(s) to supply an alert signal corresponding to the alert instruction by selecting one of a plurality of alert signals in dependence upon the event.

Claims

1. A wearable device for providing alert signals to a user, the device being adapted to be secured adjacent the skin of the user and comprising a controller adapted to receive an alert instruction corresponding to an alert event, and at least one electrode arranged to be in contact with the skin in use of the device for providing an alert stimulus, the controller being arranged to actuate the electrode(s) to supply an alert signal in response to the alert instruction, the alert signal comprising at least one pulse to cause a sensation in the skin of the user, in which, in response to the alert instruction, the controller is configured to select one of a plurality of alert signals in dependence upon the alert event.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the controller comprises a wireless receiver for receiving an alert instruction corresponding to an alert event from a remote device.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the device comprises apparatus for providing a further alert stimulus.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, comprising a vibration element, the controller being configured to actuate the vibrating element, and at least one alert signal comprising a vibration pulse.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which each alert signal corresponds to at least one of a plurality of different alert events, and each alert signal varies from each other signal by a variation of at least one of:

a pulse count, a pulse frequency, a pulse duration, a pulse voltage, and a combination of a pulse with a further alert stimulus.

6. A device as claimed claim 1, the device being configurable by the user to select an alert signal to correspond to a particular alert event, and/or to select a preconfigured set of alert signals corresponding to particular alert events.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the alert events is an event which occurs on a wireless communication device such as a mobile device.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the alert events is a data event generated by a software application on a wireless device.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one sensor mounted to the device for monitoring an environmental condition and/or a physiological condition or other condition of the user.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, in which the or each electrode comprises a galvanic skin response sensor.

11. A device as claimed in claim 9, comprising at least one of a light sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a GPS device, and a heart rate monitor.

12. A device as claimed in claim 9, in which the controller selects an alert signal in relation to an alert event and/or a set of alert signals in relation to a set of alert events in dependence upon an output of at least one sensor.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the or each pulse associated with each alert signal has a voltage of up to about 45V, preferably above about 20V, a current of up to about 5 mA, preferably above about 1 mA, a duration of between about 0.2 and 1 us, and a repeat frequency of between about 1 and 100 Hz;

optionally, least one of the voltage, current, duration and frequency of the pulse(s) is variable.

14. (canceled)

15. A wearable device for providing alert signals to user, the device being adapted to be secured adjacent the skin of the user and comprising at least one sensor for sensing a parameter relating to the condition of the user, a controller adapted to receive an alert instruction corresponding to an alert event, the controller being arranged to actuate the device to supply an alert signal to the user in response to the alert instruction, the controller being configured to select one of a plurality of alert signals in dependence upon the alert event and the sensed parameter.

16. An alert system comprising:

a wearable device for providing alert signals to a user;

a translation module adapted to convert an alert event into an alert to be provided to a user of said wearable device in dependence on at least one user related factor.

17. The system of claim 16 comprising a user input device adapted to receive input from a user as to the manner in which an event is converted into an alert.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the translation module is adapted to convert said alert event into an alert signal which are distinct combinations of shocks, vibrations, and/or sounds.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the wearable device comprises at least one electrode arranged to be in contact with the skin in use of the device for providing an alert stimulus;

and wherein said alert is said alert stimulus.

20. The system of 16 wherein the at least one user-related factor comprises:

location;

physiological state;

movements;

environment;

activity;

pre-set settings;

user priorities.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)