Wearable Device Heart Monitor Systems

• US 20170181644A1
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Published: 06/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Thomas E. Gitzinger
• Inventors: Meer, Daniel J., Campbell, Kent Allen, Coakley, Brett, Dayringer, Eric J., Gitzinger, Thomas E., Neau, Michael L., Fraser, Nicholas Alan, Kim, Jaeshin, Patel, Mitul R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,716,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0209 Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/066 in a matrix array
• 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 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/304 Switching circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 : Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• 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

Abstract

In embodiments of wearable device heart monitor systems, a wearable device has electrical contacts integrated in a housing base of the wearable device as electrodes designed to contact skin of a user while wearing the wearable device. A housing bezel of the wearable device designed as an additional point of contact on the wearable device. The wearable device includes an electromyography (EMG) system to receive electrical signals from at least two of the electrodes and detect muscular movement of the user. Further, the wearable device includes an electrocardiogram (ECG) system to receive and combine the electrical signals from the electrodes when the user touch contacts the housing bezel while wearing the wearable device to complete an ECG loop between the electrodes and the housing bezel for a heart rate reading of the user.

Claims

1. A wearable device, comprising:

electrical contacts integrated in a housing base of the wearable device as electrodes designed to contact skin of a user while wearing the wearable device;

a housing bezel of the wearable device designed as an additional point of contact on the wearable device;

an electromyography (EMG) system to receive electrical signals from at least two of the electrodes and detect muscular movement of the user; and

an electrocardiogram (ECG) system to receive and combine the electrical signals from the electrodes when the user touch contacts the housing bezel while wearing the wearable device to complete an ECG loop between the electrodes and the housing bezel for a heart rate reading of the user.

2. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a photoplethysmogram (PPG) system having a light emitting diode to illuminate the skin of the user and an optical sensor to detect reflected light from which heart rate measurements of the user are determined.

3. The wearable device as recited in claim 2, further comprising a processor system to implement a heart monitor manager to:

detect user activity based on one or more sensor inputs;

dynamically switch between the EMG system and the ECG system based on the detected user activity; and

activate the PPG system in conjunction with, or independently from, the EMG system or the ECG system.

4. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the EMG system determines a gesture input to the wearable device based on the detected muscular movement of the user.

5. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the ECG system determines the heart rate reading over time by measuring the combined electrical signals between a first extremity of the user in contact with the electrodes, through the heart of the user, and a second extremity of the user in contact with the housing bezel.

6. The wearable device as recited in claim 5, wherein the ECG system further determines an electrocardiogram reading of the user.

7. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrical contacts are equally spaced and arranged in a pattern that allows any combination of the electrical contacts being utilized as the at least two electrodes by the EMG system.

8. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit board to couple the electrodes to the EMG system and to the ECG system; and

an electronic switch integrated in the circuit board to combine the electrical signals from the electrodes to complete the ECG loop for the heart rate reading of the user.

9. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing bezel is grounded to the circuit board to complete the ECG loop between the electrodes and the housing bezel when the user touch contacts the housing bezel while wearing the wearable device.

10. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a processor system to implement a heart monitor manager to:

combine the electrical signals from the electrodes to complete the ECG loop;

determine the heart rate reading of the user; and

detect the muscular movement of the user based on the received electrical signals from the at least two electrodes.

11-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A heart sensor assembly, comprising:

an electromyography (EMG) system to receive electrical signals from electrodes and detect muscular movement of a user, the electrodes contacting skin of the user while wearing a wearable device that includes the heart sensor assembly; and

an electrocardiogram (ECG) system to receive and combine the electrical signals from the electrodes when the user touch contacts a housing of the wearable device while wearing the wearable device to complete an ECG loop between the electrodes and the housing for a heart rate reading of the user.

20. The heart sensor assembly as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

a photoplethysmogram (PPG) system having a light emitting diode to illuminate the skin of the user and an optical sensor to detect reflected light from which heart rate measurements of the user are determined.

21. The heart sensor assembly as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

a heart monitor manager to dynamically switching between the EMG system and the ECG system based on detected user activity, and activate the PPG system in conjunction with, or independently from, the EMG system or the ECG system.

22. The heart sensor assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the ECG system determines the heart rate reading over time by a measure of the combined electrical signals between a first extremity of the user in contact with the electrodes, through the heart of the user, and a second extremity of the user in contact with the housing of the wearable device.

23. A method implemented by a heart sensor assembly, the method comprising:

receiving electrical signals by an electromyography (EMG) system that detects muscular movement of a user, the electrical signals received from electrodes contacting skin of the user while wearing a wearable device that includes the heart sensor assembly;

combining the electrical signals received from the electrodes by an electrocardiogram (ECG) system when the user touch contacts a housing of the wearable device while wearing the wearable device to complete an ECG loop between the electrodes and the housing for a heart rate reading of the user.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

illuminating the skin of the user with a light emitting diode of a photoplethysmogram (PPG) system to detect reflected light with an optical sensor from which heart rate measurements of the user are determined.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

dynamically switching between the EMG system and the ECG system based on detected user activity; and

activating the PPG system in conjunction with, or independently from, the EMG system or the ECG system.

26. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

determining a gesture input to the wearable device by the EMG system based on the detected muscular movement of the user.

27. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the ECG system determines the heart rate reading over time by measuring the combined electrical signals between a first extremity of the user in contact with the electrodes, through the heart of the user, and a second extremity of the user in contact with the housing of the wearable device.

28. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

determining an electrocardiogram reading of the user by the ECG system.