System for monitoring and predicting physiological state under physical exercise

• US 7,805,186 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firstbeat Analytics OY (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Firstbeat Technologies Oy
• Inventors: Pulkkinen, Aki, Saarikoski, Erkkl
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow; Scott M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dietrich; Joseph M
• Application Number:
  US11/154,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,930 Days
• Field of Search: 600/520, 482 4- 9, 482/901, 482/902
• US Class Current: 600/520
• 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 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for monitoring a cumulative physiological state and for predicting a target state under physical exercise, which system includes means for measuring a variable depicting the intensity of the exercise and for registering it relative to time, the control unit consisting of a user-interface device, which includes an input device and output device. Software means calculate the current value of the said cumulative physiological variable while second software means calculate the value of a selected output variable, which output variable is one of the following three variables: target state, future intensity, or duration of future exercise, the two other variables being given as initial variables.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a cumulative physiological state and for predicting a target state under physical exercise, wherein the user'"'"'s physiological state is defined by a EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption) value as a cumulative physiological variable indicating achieved training effect and the target state defines a respective value of the cumulative physiological variable after an exercise having a total duration, said system including:

means for measuring time,

means for measuring intensity of the exercise at each moment to obtain a measured intensity and for registering the measured intensity relative to time, and

a control unit connected to said means for measuring time and said means for measuring and registering intensity, the control unit further comprising;

a user-interface device, including an input device for selecting an output variable and for entering the values of initial variables before the exercise, and an output device for displaying the output variable, the output variable being one of the following three variables;

said target state, intensity of future exercise, and duration of remaining exercise;

the two other variables being entered by the user as said initial variables,

first software means for calculating the current EPOC value during the exercise, with the aid of the measured intensity of exercise and the preceding current EPOC value, and

second software means for calculating the output variable during the exercise using a mutual relationship between the current EPOC value and two variables of said three variables,

wherein the system is arranged to calculate and display the value of the output variable using the output device, in real time and continuously.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the output device consists of a display.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the output device consists of graphical display means for showing graphically the development of the exercise state.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system includes an exercise device, in which said control unit is located.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the output device includes voice-synthesis and audio means for presenting the output variable as a voice message.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system includes a mobile station, in which the control unit is located.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the means for measuring the variable defining the intensity of the exercise at each moment includes a measuring device for measuring one or more variables from the following group:

external power, motion, energy consumption, heart rate, oxygen consumption, respiration rate, or heat flow from the surface of the skin.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system includes a wristop device, in which said control unit is located.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said second software means is arranged to simulate the cumulative physiological variable using the initial variables and varied output variables, until the initial variables are realized.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the training effect is determined on basis of EPOC peak value.