Wireless, ultrasonic personal health monitoring system

• US 8,301,232 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2012
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AliveCor Inc.
• Original Assignee: AliveCor Inc.
• Inventors: Albert, David, Satchwell, Bruce Richard, Barnett, Kim Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCKELMAN, MARK
• Application Number:
  US13/420,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20120172689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 230 Days
• Field of Search: 600/509, 455/557
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A personal monitoring device has a sensor assembly configured to sense physiological signals upon contact with a user'"'"'s skin. The sensor assembly produces electrical signals representing the sensed physiological signals. A converter assembly, integrated with, and electrically connected to the sensor assembly, converts the electrical signals generated by the sensor assembly to a frequency modulated inaudible ultrasonic sound signal. The ultrasonic signal is demodulated from an aliased signal produced by undersampling.

Claims

1. An ECG device comprising:

an electrode assembly configured to sense heart-related signals upon contact with a user'"'"'s skin, and to convert the sensed heart-related signals to ECG electrical signals wherein the electrode assembly is positioned on an outer surface of a smartphone protective case; and

a converter assembly including an audio transmitter for outputting frequency modulated ultrasonic signals, the converter assembly integrated with, and electrically connected to the electrode assembly and configured to receive the ECG electrical signals generated by the electrode assembly and output ECG sound signals through the audio transmitter to a microphone in a computing device within range of the audio transmitter, wherein the converter assembly is further configured to output the ECG signals as an ultrasonic FM sound signal,

wherein the audio transmitter is configured to output the ultrasonic FM sound signal to a microphone in a computing device within range of the audio transmitter, wherein the output from the audio transmitter is detectable by a microphone in a smartphone when the smartphone is positioned within the smartphone protective case.

2. The ECG device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic FM sound signal has a carrier frequency in the range of from about 18 kHz to about 24 kHz.

3. The ECG device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic FM sound signal has a carrier frequency in the range of from about 20 kHz to about 24 kHz.

4. The ECG device of claim 1, wherein the electrode assembly and converter assembly are part of a protective case configured to fit onto a smartphone.

5. The ECG device of claim 1, wherein the converter assembly comprises a piezoelectric buzzer.

6. The ECG device of claim 1, wherein the smartphone protective case is configured as a slip-on protective case.

7. The ECG device of claim 1, wherein the electrode assembly comprises 2, 3 or 4 electrodes.

8. The ECG device of claim 1, wherein the electrode assembly comprises electrodes located on a back side of the smartphone protective case.

9. A smartphone protective case, usable as an ECG device, comprising:

an electrode assembly on the smartphone protective case configured to sense heart-related signals upon contact with a user'"'"'s skin, and to convert the sensed heart-related signals to an ECG electric signal; and

a converter assembly electrically connected to the electrode assembly, the converter assembly configured to convert the electric ECG signal generated by the electrode assembly to an ultrasonic FM sound signal having a carrier frequency in the range of from about 18 kHz to about 24 kHz, and further configured to output the ultrasonic FM sound signal through an audio transmitter at a signal strength capable of being received by a smartphone positioned within the smartphone protective case.

10. The smartphone protective case of claim 9, wherein the converter assembly is configured to convert the electric ECG signal generated by the electrode assembly to an ultrasonic FM sound signal having a carrier frequency in the range of from about 20 kHz to about 24 kHz.

11. The smartphone protective case of claim 9, wherein the converter assembly comprises a piezoelectric buzzer.

12. The smartphone protective case of claim 9, wherein the smartphone protective case is configured as a slip-on protective case.

13. The smartphone protective case of claim 9, wherein the electrode assembly comprises 2, 3 or 4 electrodes.

14. The smartphone protective case of claim 9, wherein the electrode assembly comprises electrodes located on a back side of the smartphone protective case.