BODY-WORN BIOMETRIC SENSOR

• US 20180184914A1
• Filed: 01/03/2017
• Published: 07/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jared Goering
• Original Assignee: Vytal Corporation
• Granted Patent: US 10,646,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• 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 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6832 using adhesives A61B5/259 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Systems and methods for tracking or viewing a user'"'"'s physiological parameters before, during, and/or after physical activity. In some versions, a sensor device can be worn on a user'"'"'s body and is configured to detect multiple physiological parameters and to wirelessly communicate with a mobile computing device. Optionally, the detected physiological parameters can be used to determine a selected set of work-out parameters, which can be concurrently displayed on the mobile computing device during the user'"'"'s exercise/activity or after the exercise period. In some implementations, each of a plurality of users can wear a respective body-worn sensor device, and all of the sensors devices can wireless communicate with a designated mobile computing device for purposes of collectively (and concurrently) monitoring sets of physiological parameters for all of the users during the same workout, practice, or other activity.

Claims

1. A body-worn sensor comprising:

a first piece that houses a power source, memory, a processor, a pulse oximeter, a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, ECG detection circuitry, a wireless communication device, and a first ECG lead; and

a second piece mechanically and releasably attachable to the first piece and including a flexible body with a second ECG lead embedded therein for communication with the ECG detection circuitry housed within the first piece.

2. The body-worn sensor of claim 1, wherein the second piece includes a biocompatible adhesive layer along an underside of the flexible body to contact a skin surface such that the second piece is disposable and non-reusable after adhesion to a user'"'"'s body.

3. The body-worn sensor of claim 2, wherein the first piece comprises an exterior housing configured to nest within a corresponding aperture defined by the second piece, the exterior housing of the first piece having an attachment mechanism to mechanically and releasably secure to the second piece, wherein the first piece is reusable with a series of second pieces having a form factor the same as said second piece.

4. The body-worn sensor of claim 3, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a mating threaded engagement with a predefined lock location so that, when the first piece is mechanically secured to the second piece, a first electrical connector exposed along an exterior of the first piece aligns with a second electrical connector exposed along the corresponding aperture defined by the second piece to provide a hardwired electrical connection between the second ECG lead embedded within the flexible body of the second piece and the ECG detection circuitry within the housing of the first piece.

5. The body-worn sensor of claim 4, wherein the first ECG lead of the first piece extends to a first lead end at an exterior lower surface of the housing of the first piece so that the first ECG lead contacts the skin surface when the flexible body of the second piece is adhered to the skin surface, and wherein the second ECG lead extends through the flexibly body of the second piece to a second lead end at an exterior lower surface of the flexible body of the second piece such that the second lead end of the second ECG lead and the first lead end of the first ECG lead are spaced apart from one another by a separation distance of about 2.5-5 inches.

6. The body-worn sensor of claim 4, wherein the flexibly body of the second piece has an outer periphery with tear-drop shape.

7. The body-worn sensor of claim 1, wherein the second piece comprises a garment.

8. The body-worn sensor of claim 1, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

9. A system for wirelessly communicating multiple physiological parameters to a computing device, comprising:

a mobile computing device having a user interface display screen and a first wireless communication device;

a physiological sensor device wearable on a user'"'"'s skin, comprising;

a first piece housing a power source, memory, a processor, a pulse oximeter, a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, an ECG detection circuitry, and a second wireless communication device to communicate with the first wireless communication device of the mobile computing device; and

a second piece mechanically and releasably attachable coupled to the first piece and comprising a flexible body with an adhesive layer such that the second piece retains the first piece in a position against the user'"'"'s skin when the physiological sensor device is worn on the user'"'"'s skin;

wherein the physiological sensor device wirelessly communicates with the mobile computing device to transmit a set of physiological parameters to the mobile computing device, and at least one physiological parameter is displayed on the user interface display of the mobile computing device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the physiological sensor device further comprises a first ECG lead and a second ECG lead.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second piece of the physiological sensor device is disposable.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a second physiological sensor device, and wherein the mobile computing device is a monitor'"'"'s computing device that contemporaneously receives physiological parameters from first and second physiological sensor devices.

13. A process for using at least one body-worn physiological sensor device comprising:

wirelessly communicating at least one physiological parameter from a physiological sensor device to a computing device comprising a first wireless communication device, wherein the physiological sensor device is worn on a user'"'"'s skin and further includes;

a first piece housing a power source, memory, a processor, a pulse oximeter, a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, an ECG detection circuitry, and a second wireless communication device to communicate with the first wireless communication device of the computing device; and

a second piece mechanically and releasably attachable coupled to the first piece and comprising a flexible body with an adhesive layer such that the second piece retains the first piece in a position against the user'"'"'s skin when the physiological sensor device is worn on the user'"'"'s skin;

displaying the at least one physiological parameter on a user interface display of the computing device; and

displaying at least one work-out parameter on the user interface display of the computing device.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein said at least one work-out parameter is a calculated value based at least in part on a physiological parameter detected by the physiological sensor device.

15. The process of claim 14, wherein the first ECG lead of the first piece extends to a first lead end at an exterior lower surface of the first piece so that the first ECG lead contacts the user'"'"'s skin when the flexible body of the second piece is adhered to the user'"'"'s skin, and wherein the second ECG extends through the flexible body of the second piece to a second lead end at an exterior lower surface of the flexible body of the second piece such that the second lead end of the second ECG lead and the first lead end of the first ECG lead are spaced apart from one another by a separation distance of about 2.5-5 inches.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein the flexibly body of the second piece has an outer periphery with a tear-drop shape.

17. The process of claim 13, wherein the computing device comprises a mobile computing device that wirelessly communicates with the physiological sensor device via a short-range wireless communication protocol.

18. A process for contemporaneously using a set of physiological sensor devices, comprising:

contemporaneously and wirelessly communicating a plurality of physiological parameters from a set of physiological sensor devices to a computing device while each of the physiological sensor devices is worn in contact with a skin surface of a respective user;

correlating each physiological parameter to each physiological sensor device;

contemporaneously displaying the physiological parameters on a user interface display of a computing device; and

contemporaneously displaying a plurality of work-out parameters on the user interface display of the computing device.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein each of the physiological sensor devices includes:

a first piece housing a power source, memory, a processor, a pulse oximeter, a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, an ECG detection circuitry, and a wireless communication device to communicate with the computing device; and

a second piece mechanically and releasably attachable coupled to the first piece and comprising a tear-drop shaped, flexible body with an adhesive layer such that the second piece retains the first piece in a position against the user'"'"'s skin when the physiological sensor device is worn on the user'"'"'s skin.

20. The process of claim 19, wherein the computing device comprises a mobile computing device that wirelessly communicates with the set of physiological sensor devices via a short-range wireless communication protocol.