Sensor-based health monitoring system

• US 8,172,777 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Goto, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US12/559,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/595, 600/534, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Implementations for sensor-based health monitoring systems are generally disclosed.

Claims

1. A health monitoring system, comprising:

a sensor unit configured to detect body motion and adapted to be attached to or worn by a user, including;

an elastic member substantially shaped as an elongate stick; and

an element attached to the elastic member configured to detect deformation and generate an output signal in response to the detected deformation; and

an alarm unit configured to receive the output signal and execute a series of alarm processing operations in response to the output signal.

2. A health monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor unit further comprises:

a data processor configured to measure the output signal to provide a processed result; and

a communication device configured to send the processed result.

3. A health monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein the alarm unit further comprises:

a communication device configured to receive the output signal;

an abnormality detector configured to detect an abnormality based at least in part on an analysis of the output signal in accordance with at least one preprogrammed rule; and

an alarm generator configured to output an alarm notification.

4. A health monitoring system as recited in claim 3, wherein the abnormality detector is configured to determine the abnormality based at least in part on an amplitude of signals from the output signal during a predetermined period being lower than a predetermined value.

5. A health monitoring system as recited in claim 3, wherein the abnormality detector is configured to determine the abnormality based at least in part on an amplitude of signals from the output signal during a predetermined period being higher than a predetermined value.

6. A health monitoring system as recited in claim 3, wherein the abnormality detector is configured to determine the abnormality based at least in part on a difference between an amplitude of signals from the output signal during a predetermined period and corresponding data in the past being higher than a predetermined value.

7. A health monitoring system as recited in claim 4, wherein the abnormality detector is configured to change a criteria for judgment under the at least one preprogrammed rule based at least in part on a current clock time.

8. A health monitoring system as recited in claim 5, wherein the abnormality detector is configured to change a criteria for judgment under the at least one preprogrammed rule based at least in part on a current clock time.

9. A health monitoring system as recited in claim 3, wherein the alarm generator is configured to send or call to one or more predetermined sites to notify an alarm on condition that the abnormality detector determines abnormality.

10. A health monitoring system as recited in claim 3, wherein the alarm generator is configured to execute a first alarm process on condition that the abnormality detector determines abnormality, and the alarm generator further is configured to execute a second alarm process on condition of receiving no response to the first alarm.

11. A health monitoring system as recited in claim 10, wherein the first alarm process is to notify the abnormality via one or more output devices connected to the alarm unit, and the second alarm process is to send an alarm message to a remote site.

12. A health monitoring system as recited in claim 10, wherein the first alarm process is to send an alarm message to a first place, and the second alarm process is to send an alarm message to a second place.

13. A health monitoring system as recited in claim 3, wherein the abnormality detector is configured to determine a level of abnormality, and the alarm generator is configured to change a manner of making an alarm.

14. A health monitoring method, comprising:

detecting body motion by using a sensor unit adapted to be attached to or worn by a user, including;

an elastic member substantially shaped as an elongate stick; and

an element attached to the elastic member configured to detect deformation and generate an output signal in response to the detected deformation;

detecting an abnormality based at least in part on analyzing the output signal; and

executing a series of alarm processes in response to the detected abnormality.

15. An article comprising:

a signal bearing medium comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon, which, if executed by one or more processors, operatively enable a computing device to;

receive body motion data from a sensor unit adapted to be attached to or worn by a user, including;

an elastic member substantially shaped as an elongate stick; and

an element attached to the elastic member configured to detect deformation and generate an output signal in response to the detected deformation;

detect an abnormality based at least in part on analyzing the output signal; and

execute a series of alarm processes in response to the detected abnormality.