Wearable mini-size intelligent healthcare system

• US 9,044,136 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CIMR Technologies
• Original Assignee: CIMR Technologies
• Inventors: Luo, Hongyue
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SORIANO, BOBBY GILES
• Application Number:
  US11/675,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,028 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301, 178903-904, 178/920, 340/539, 3405731-576
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0252 using ambient temperature
• 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 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/741 using synthesised speech
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A system and method for the wearable mini-size intelligent healthcare system, comprising one or multiple vital signal sensors, activity sensors, a real-time detection and analyzing module for continuous health monitoring, adjustable user setting mode with the adaptive optimization, data-collecting capability to record important health information, smart audio outputs of audio beep and speech advice to the user through audio path and audio interface, preset and user confirmable alarm conditions via wireless communications network to the appropriate individual for prompt and necessary assistance. The system uses noninvasive monitoring technology for continuous, painless and bloodless health state monitoring. The system also works through the short range RF link with carry-on PDA or cell phone for displaying health information, making urgent contact to support center, doctor or individual, or for information transmission with a healthcare center.

Claims

1. A healthcare system comprising:

a shell configured to be worn behind an ear of a subject;

a plurality of physiological sensors proximate to the shell for measuring and outputting physiological variables representing a physiological condition of the subject wherein the physiological sensors are positioned at the ear of the subject and wherein the physiological sensors comprise an oximetry sensor (SpO2), temperature sensor, or glucose sensor;

a three dimensional activity sensor housed in the shell for measuring and outputting an activity variable representing activity of the subject;

at least one environmental sensor proximate to the shell that measures and outputs an environmental temperature;

a processor housed in the shell for processing and analyzing the environmental temperature and the physiological and activity variables and for generating an output signal based on the analysis of the environmental temperature and the physiological and activity variables and wherein the processor processes the environmental temperature, physiological and activity variables to determine a health variable representing the subject'"'"'s health condition and the output signal is based on the health condition and wherein the processor further correlates data from the activity sensor and the health variable to detect a fall, and wherein the processor is configured to process the physiological and activity variables to determine a respiratory rate and the output signal is based on the respiratory rate calculated based on blood flow; and

an output device proximate to the shell for receiving the output signal and for outputting said output signal to notify the subject of the health condition.

2. The healthcare system as in claim 1, wherein the output device is a speaker and the output signal is an audible signal and wherein the healthcare system further comprises an audio path, a physical member adapted to transmit the audible signal from the speaker to an audio interface located adjacent to the subject'"'"'s ear.

3. The healthcare system of claim 2, wherein the audible signal comprises a voice message to the subject.

4. The healthcare system of claim 3, wherein the voice message to the subject comprises a recorded message from a family member of the subject.

5. The healthcare system of claim 1, further comprising an adaptive module for providing feedback to the processor to adjust the output signal based on the feedback.

6. The healthcare system of claim 1, further comprising a contact sensor to determine if the shell of the healthcare system is properly positioned.

7. The healthcare system of claim 6, wherein the processor provides an alarm if the contact sensor determines that the shell is not properly positioned.

8. The healthcare system of claim 1, further comprising a communications interface for downloading and uploading data.

9. The healthcare system of claim 8, wherein said data comprises device identification and a subject profile including subject'"'"'s name, home address, medical history and current measurements.

10. A healthcare system comprising:

a shell configured to be worn behind an ear of a subject;

a plurality of physiological sensors proximate to the shell for measuring and outputting a physiological variable representing a physiological condition of the subject wherein the physiological sensors are positioned at the ear of the subject and wherein the physiological sensors comprise at least one of an oximetry sensor (SpO2), temperature sensor, or glucose sensor;

a three dimensional activity sensor housed in the shell for measuring and outputting an activity variable representing activity of the subject;

a processor housed in the shell for processing and analyzing the physiological and activity variables and for generating an output signal based on the analysis of the physiological and activity variables and wherein the processor processes the physiological and activity variables to determine a health variable representing the subject'"'"'s health condition and the output signal is based on the health condition and wherein the processor further correlates data from the activity sensor and the health variable to detect a fall, and wherein the processor is configured to process the physiological and activity variables to determine a respiratory rate and the output signal is based on the respiratory rate calculated based on blood flow; and

an audio path, an physical member adapted to transmit the audible output signal from a speaker housed in the shell and outputting the audible output signal to an audio interface located adjacent to the subject'"'"'s ear, such that the audio path does not affect normal acoustic signal access to the eardrum.

11. The healthcare system of claim 10, further comprising an environmental sensor wherein the environmental sensor measures and outputs an environmental temperature.

12. The healthcare system of claim 10, wherein the audible signal comprises a voice message to the subject.

13. The healthcare system of claim 12, wherein the voice message to the subject comprises a recorded message from a family member of the subject.

14. The healthcare system of claim 10, further comprising an adaptive module for providing feedback to the processor to adjust the output signal based on the feedback.

15. The healthcare system of claim 10, further comprising a contact sensor to determine if the shell of the healthcare system is properly positioned.

16. The healthcare system of claim 15, wherein the processor provides an alarm if the contact sensor determines that the shell is not properly positioned.

17. The healthcare system of claim 10, further comprising a communications interface for downloading and uploading data.

18. The healthcare system of claim 17, wherein said data comprises device identification and a subject profile including subject'"'"'s name, home address, medical history and current measurements.