System for remote communication of heartbeat

• US 9,033,894 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2012
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Little Riot Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Little Riot Ltd.
• Inventors: Montgomery, Joanna
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US14/115,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20140088448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 600508-509, 607/60
• US Class Current: 600/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A system for remote communication of physiological information from one person to another and, more particularly, the mutual communication of heartbeat between two persons. The system comprises a web server which cooperates with two remote installations identified as A and B. Each of the remote installations comprises a heartbeat sensor, a pillow, and a local host. The local host may be a personal computer or laptop, or a suitable mobile phone running an appropriate application. The heartbeat sensor monitors the heartbeat of person A which is communicated via their pillow, their local host and a server, and then via a second local host to produce a visual and audible representation of heartbeat A in a pillow located with person B. At the same time, the heartbeat of person B is represented in the same manner at the pillow of person A.

Claims

1. A system for remote communication of a current source heartbeat, the system comprising:

a first heartbeat sensor module attachable to a first subject, the first heartbeat sensor module having a heartbeat sensor operating repetitively to produce a signal representing the current source heartbeat of the first subject and a wireless communication transmitter for communicating the heartbeat signal;

a host device located in proximity to the first subject, the host device including a wireless communication receiver for receiving the heartbeat signal, and including data transfer means for communicating the signal over a data network;

a server connected to the data network to receive the signal and to communicate the signal to an authorized destination host device;

a first destination host device connected to the data network to receive the signal when authorized;

a first output device for producing at least one of a visual representation of the current source heartbeat and an audible representation of the current source heartbeat.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second output device located in proximity to the first subject and a second heartbeat sensor module attachable to a second subject located in proximity to the first destination host device, whereby heartbeat signals are mutually exchanged between the first subject and the second subject.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the first output devices and second output device comprises at least one of a loudspeaker for locating within a pillow or a pillow covering and a light source for locating within a pillow or a pillow covering.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first output device and second output device is in the form of a pillow, or a pillow covering, comprising a loudspeaker and/or a light source.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first heartbeat sensor module is in the form of a finger ring.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the first heartbeat sensor module and the second heartbeat sensor module communicates with its host device via its output device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the first heartbeat sensor module and the second heartbeat sensor module communicates with its output device via ISM radio frequency, and each output device communicates with its host device via Bluetooth wireless technology standard.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the first output device and the second output device has a unique ID, and wherein each of the first heartbeat sensor module and the second heartbeat sensor module after powering up locks to the ID of a given output device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first heartbeat sensor module comprises a heartbeat sensor operating to produce a signal representing the current heartbeat of the first subject and a wireless communication transmitter for communicating the heartbeat signal;

the module being in the form of a finger ring.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first heartbeat sensor module includes a means for locking to the unique ID of a given output device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first output device comprises at least one of a visual output unit for locating within a pillow or a pillow covering and an audible output unit for locating within a pillow or a pillow covering.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first output device comprises a pillow having a pillow covering and a resilient filling, and wherein the first output device further comprises at least one of a visual output unit and an audible output unit.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the output unit comprises a loudspeaker and one or more LEDs.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first output device includes a means for storing a unique ID and for transmitting the unique ID to an associated heart sensor module.

15. A method for providing a non-verbal communication between two persons, A and B, who are geographically remote from one another, the method comprising:

monitoring person A'"'"'s heartbeat and communicating that heartbeat to person B at least one of aurally and visually, and

simultaneously monitoring person B'"'"'s heartbeat and communicating that heartbeat to person A at least one of aurally and visually.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication is effected via a web server.