Physiological and environmental monitoring systems and methods

• US 8,157,730 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yukka Magic LLC
• Original Assignee: Valencell, Inc.
• Inventors: LeBoeuf, Steven Francis, Tucker, Jesse Berkley, Aumer, Michael Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, III, Henry M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Archer, Marie
• Application Number:
  US11/848,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20080146892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 600/305, 600/307, 600/345, 600/372, 600/373, 600/407, 600/411, 600/481, 600/529, 600/549, 600/552, 600/553, 600/554, 600/555, 600/556, 600/504, 600363-365, 600/374, 600377-379, 600382-384, 600386-394, 600587-595, 324/76.12, 324/76.29, 324/76.42, 324/76.44, 324/76.45
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• 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 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• 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 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 : for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 : for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 : for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 : using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 : Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 : Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 : Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 : the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 : lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 : Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 : Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• 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 5/6802 : Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 : Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 : Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 : Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 : mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 : of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 : using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 : Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 : Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 : Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 : Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 : Computer assisted medical diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 : Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring various physiological and environmental factors, as well as systems and methods for using this information for a plurality of useful purposes, are provided. Real-time, noninvasive health and environmental monitors include a plurality of compact sensors integrated within small, low-profile devices. Physiological and environmental data is collected and wirelessly transmitted into a wireless network, where the data is stored and/or processed. This information is then used to support a variety of useful methods, such as clinical trials, marketing studies, biofeedback, entertainment, and others.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a subject via a monitoring device attached to the subject, wherein the monitoring device includes a housing, at least one physiological sensor attached to the housing, a motion sensor attached to the housing, a processor attached to the housing, a transmitter attached to the housing, and a power source attached to the housing, the method comprising:

obtaining physiological information from the subject via the at least one physiological sensor, wherein the physiological information comprises one or more of the following;

pulse rate information, body temperature information, breathing rate information, blood pressure information, cardiac output information, and blood gas level information;

obtaining subject motion information via the motion sensor;

processing the subject motion information via the processor to identify footstep information, body motion information, head motion information, jaw motion information, or swallowing information;

processing the obtained physiological information via the processor to remove corrupted signals associated with the subject motion information from the physiological information; and

analyzing the processed physiological information in context with the identified type of motion via the processor to identify one or more health issues associated with the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the processed physiological information to a device remotely located from the subject via the transmitter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the processed physiological information in context with the identified type of motion comprises determining a stress level of the subject and identifying a source of stress.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the obtained physiological information, via the processor, into signals that can be heard and/or viewed by the subject.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating corrective action information to the subject, via the processor, in response to identifying one or more health issues associated with the subject.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining environmental condition information in a vicinity of the subject via an environmental sensor attached to the housing, wherein the environmental condition information includes information about one or more of the following in the vicinity of the subject:

volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pollution, noise, light, and temperature.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising analyzing the processed physiological information, via the processor, to identify a correlation between the processed physiological information and the obtained environmental condition information.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating, via the processor, a health and/or environmental exposure assessment that identifies and/or predicts one or more physiological or environmental issues associated with the subject in response to identifying a correlation between the obtained physiological information and environmental condition information.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising communicating the health and/or environmental exposure assessment to the subject via the processor.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising analyzing the health and/or environmental exposure assessment, via the processor, to identify and/or predict environmental changes in the vicinity of the subject.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising communicating identified and/or predicted environmental changes in the vicinity of the subject to the subject via the processor.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising analyzing the health and/or environmental exposure assessment, via the processor, to identify and/or predict psychological and/or physiological stress for the subject.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising communicating identified and/or predicted psychological stress for the subject to the subject via the processor.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting the obtained environmental condition information to a device remotely located from the subject via the transmitter.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is an accelerometer, an acoustic sensor, a MEMS motion sensor, or a gyroscope.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable monitoring device is an earpiece module.

17. A method of monitoring a subject via a monitoring device attached to the subject, wherein the monitoring device includes a housing, at least one physiological sensor attached to the housing, at least one environmental sensor attached to the housing that measures one or more of the following in the vicinity of the subject:

volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pollution, noise, light, and temperature, a motion sensor attached to the housing, a processor attached to the housing, a transmitter attached to the housing, and a power source attached to the housing, the method comprising;

obtaining physiological information from the subject via the at least one physiological sensor, wherein the physiological information comprises one or more of the following;

pulse rate information, body temperature information, breathing rate information, blood pressure information, cardiac output information, and blood gas level information;

obtaining subject motion information via the motion sensor;

processing the subject motion information via the processor to identify footstep information, body motion information, head motion information, jaw motion information, or swallowing information;

obtaining environmental condition information in a vicinity of the subject via the at least one environmental sensor, wherein the environmental condition information includes one or more of the following;

VOCs, pollution, noise, light, and temperature;

processing the obtained physiological information and environmental condition information via the processor to remove corrupted signals associated with the subject motion from the physiological information and environmental condition information; and

analyzing the processed physiological information and environmental condition information in context with the identified type of motion via the processor to identify one or more health issues associated with the subject.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein analyzing the processed physiological information and environmental condition information in context with the identified type of motion comprises determining a stress level of the subject and identifying a source of stress.