Techniques for power source management using a wrist-worn device

• US 9,197,082 B1
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jack K.E. Zhang
• Original Assignee: Jack K.E. Zhang
• Inventors: Zhang, Jack Ke
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US14/565,373
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and/or system for patient wellness monitoring using a wrist-worn device is disclosed. The wrist-worn device may include a faceplate device and a wristband monitoring device. In one step, it may be determined that the faceplate device is detached from the wristband monitoring device. In response to the determination, the wristband monitoring device may operate on battery power. A sensor may be activated on the wristband monitoring device to collect vital sign information of a user. The vital sign information of the user may be wirelessly transmitted from the wristband monitoring device and received by the faceplate device. Upon determining that the faceplate device is attached to the wristband monitoring device, a battery on the wristband monitoring device may be charged.

Claims

1. A wrist-worn device for managing patient wellness, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories coupled with said one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors and the one or more memories are configured to;

receive, by the wrist-worn device, a therapy for a user, wherein the therapy specifies one or more treatments selected by a care provider, and wherein the wrist-worn device includes a wristband monitoring device and a faceplate device;

determine, by the wrist-worn device, a regimen for the user based on the therapy;

activate a sensor on the wristband monitoring device to collect vital sign information of the user, wherein activating the sensor is based on the regimen;

receive, by the faceplate device, from the wristband monitoring device, the vital sign information of the user;

cause the wristband monitoring device to operate on battery power when it is determined that the faceplate device is detached from the wristband device;

charge a battery on the wristband monitoring device from a battery on the faceplate device when it is determined that the faceplate device is attached to the wristband monitoring device; and

wirelessly transmit the vital sign information away from the wrist-worn device.

2. The wrist-worn device for managing patient wellness of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and the one or more memories are further configured to:

generate, by the wrist-worn device, a notification related to a wellness concern; and

receive, by the wrist-worn device, affirmative user input related to a wellness concern.

3. The wrist-worn device for managing patient wellness of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and the one or more memories are further configured to:

determining that the faceplate device has a remaining battery power level under a threshold amount; and

providing, on the faceplate device, an indication of the remaining battery power level.

4. The wrist-worn device for managing patient wellness of claim 1, wherein the indication of the remaining battery power level includes at least one of a visual display or an audible alert.

5. The wrist-worn device for managing patient wellness of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and the one or more memories are further configured to:

determine that the faceplate device is detached from the wristband monitoring device, wherein activating the sensor on the wristband monitoring device is further based on the determination that the faceplate device is detached from a mounting device.

6. The wrist-worn device for managing patient wellness of claim 1, wherein charging the battery on the wristband monitoring device is further based on determining that the wristband monitoring device has a remaining battery level under a threshold amount.

20. The wrist-worn device for managing patient wellness of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the faceplate device is detached from the wristband monitoring device; and

in response to determining that the faceplate device is detached, modifying a frequency at which the sensor is activated on the wristband monitoring device.

7. A method for managing patient wellness with a wrist-worn device, the wrist-worn device including a wristband monitoring device and a faceplate device, comprising:

determining that the faceplate device is detached from the wristband monitoring device;

in response to the determination, causing the wristband monitoring device to operate on battery power;

activating a sensor on the wristband monitoring device by the faceplate device;

in response to the activating, collecting vital sign information of a user by the wristband monitoring device;

wirelessly transmitting the vital sign information of the user from the wristband monitoring device to the faceplate device;

receiving, by the faceplate device, the vital sign information of the user;

determining that the faceplate device is attached to the wristband monitoring device; and

in response to determining that the faceplate device is attached, charging a battery on the wristband monitoring device from a battery on the faceplate device.

8. The method for managing patient wellness with the wrist-worn device of claim 7, wherein the wristband monitoring device includes at least one of a thermometer, a pedometer, a blood pressure monitor, a heart rate sensor, a blood-oxygen level sensor, a global positioning satellite sensor, or a glucose monitor.

9. The method for managing patient wellness with the wrist-worn device of claim 7, wherein the vital sign information is transmitted to the faceplate device.

10. The method for managing patient wellness with the wrist-worn device of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that the vital sign information of the user indicates an emergency situation; and

providing, on the wristband monitoring device, an indication of the emergency situation.

11. The method for managing patient wellness with the wrist-worn device of claim 10, wherein the indication of the emergency situation is visually depicted on the wristband monitoring device.

12. The method for managing patient wellness with the wrist-worn device of claim 10, further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting, from the faceplate device, the indication of the emergency situation away from the wrist-worn device.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for managing patient wellness with a wrist-worn device, the wrist-worn device including a wristband monitoring device and a faceplate device, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining that the faceplate device is detached from the wristband monitoring device;

in response to the determination, causing the wristband monitoring device to operate from an alternative power source;

activating a sensor on the wristband monitoring device to collect vital sign information of a user;

activating a sensor on the wristband monitoring device by the faceplate device;

in response to the activating, collecting the vital sign information of the user by the wristband monitoring device;

wirelessly transmitting the vital sign information of the user from the wristband monitoring device to the faceplate device;

receiving, by the faceplate device, the vital sign information of the user, and wirelessly transmitting the vital sign information from the wrist-worn device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, having further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

determining that the faceplate device is attached to the wristband monitoring device; and

sending instructions to cause a battery on the wristband monitoring device to be charged, using an inductive charging technique, when it is determined that the faceplate device is attached to the wristband monitoring device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, having further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

determining, by the faceplate device, that the faceplate device is connected to a charging source; and

providing an indication of charging on the faceplate device according to the determination.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, having further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

determining, by the faceplate device, a power level associated with the wristband monitoring device; and

providing, on the faceplate device, an indication of the power level associated with the wristband monitoring device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, having further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

tracking power usage history of the faceplate device; and

wirelessly transmitting the battery usage history of the faceplate device away from the wrist-worn device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, having further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

receiving, by the faceplate device, power usage information of the wristband monitoring device; and

wirelessly transmitting the power usage information of the wristband monitoring device away from the wrist-worn device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the sensor on the wristband monitoring device is activated by the faceplate device utilizing a wireless transmission.