Monitoring device with a pedometer

• US 8,663,118 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2013
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Impact Sports Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Impact Sports Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Hunt, Mark, Rulkov, Nikolai, Brady, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Neyzari, Ali
• Application Number:
  US13/913,416
• Time in Patent Office: 269 Days
• Field of Search: 369/13.53, 600/500, 600/485, 600/503, 600/324, 600/323, 600/509, 600/527, 600/538, 600/301, 607/27, 702/182
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• 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 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• 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 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02433 for infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• 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 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• 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: G01C 22/006 : Pedometers

Abstract

A monitoring device with a pedometer is disclosed herein. The monitoring device preferably comprises an article, an optical sensor, an accelerometer and processor. The optical sensor preferably comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting diodes. A sensor signal from the optical sensor is processed with a filtered accelerometer output signal from the accelerometer to generate a pedometer function.

Claims

1. An arm-based pedometer comprising:

an optical sensor for generating a real-time vital sign signal corresponding to the heart rate of the user,

an accelerometer;

a processor configured to perform a pedometer function based on a plurality of signals from the accelerometer;

a powering source for the monitoring device; and

a short range wireless transceiver for transmitting the real-time vital sign signal;

wherein the optical sensor is an optical sensor comprising a light-to-voltage photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 550 nanometers to 1100 nanometers, an optical sensor comprising a light-to-frequency photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 600 nanometers to 1100 nanometers, an optical sensor comprising a plurality of light-to-voltage photodetectors capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 550 nanometers to 1100 nanometers, an optical sensor comprising a plurality of light-to-frequency photodetectors capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 550 nanometers to 1100 nanometers, or an optical sensor comprising a light-to-voltage photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light at 567 nanometers.

2. The arm-based pedometer according to claim 1 wherein the arm-based pedometer measures real-time data for the at least one vital sign of an infant, calculates at least a real-time heart rate data, and transmits the real-time heart rate data to the receiving device for display on the display screen.

3. The arm-based pedometer according to claim 1 wherein the accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.

4. The arm-based pedometer according to claim 1 wherein the short range wireless transceiver of the monitoring device operates on a communication protocol using BLUETOOTH, PART 15, WiFi, Infrared, and ultrasound.

5. The arm-based pedometer according to claim 1 further comprising a display on the arm-based pedometer to display pedometer data for the user.

6. The arm-based pedometer according to claim 1 wherein the arm-based pedometer calculates a real-time heart rate for a user based on the optical signal.

7. The arm-based pedometer according to claim 1 further comprising means for controlling the input information and the output of information displayed on the visually displaying means, the controlling means disposed on the exterior surface of the article.

8. The arm-based pedometer according to claim 1 wherein the arm-based accelerometer is integrated into clothing for physical activity or for interactive gaming.

9. A system for monitoring a plurality of real-time vital signs of a user and providing a pedometer function, the system comprising:

a monitoring device worn on an arm of the user, the monitoring device having a first surface and a second surface, the monitoring device comprising

an optical sensor for generating a real-time vital sign signal corresponding to the heart rate of the user,

an accelerometer,

a processor configured to perform a pedometer function based on a plurality of signals from the accelerometer, and

a short range wireless transceiver for transmitting data from the monitoring device; and

a receiving device comprising a short range wireless transceiver, a processor and a display screen;

wherein the optical sensor is an optical sensor comprising a light-to-voltage photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 550 nanometers to 1100 nanometers, an optical sensor comprising a light-to-frequency photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 600 nanometers to 1100 nanometers, an optical sensor comprising a plurality of light-to-voltage photodetectors capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 550 nanometers to 1100 nanometers, an optical sensor comprising a plurality of light-to-frequency photodetectors capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 550 nanometers to 1100 nanometers, or an optical sensor comprising a light-to-voltage photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light at 567 nanometers.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the monitoring device measures real-time data for the at least one vital sign of an infant, calculates at least a real-time heart rate data, and transmits the real-time heart rate data to the receiving device for display on the display screen.

11. The system according to claim 9 wherein the arm-based accelerometer is integrated into clothing for physical activity or for interactive gaming.

12. The system according to claim 9 wherein the short range wireless transceiver of the monitoring device operates on a communication protocol using BLUETOOTH, PART 15, WiFi, Infrared, and ultrasound.

13. The system according to claim 9 wherein the monitoring device measures real-time data for the at least one vital sign of the user and transmits the real-time data to the receiving device to calculate at least a real-time heart rate data and display the real-time hear rate data on the display screen.

14. The system according to claim 9 wherein the system further comprises a base station for receiving signals from the monitoring device and for communicating the signals to the receiving device.