Physiological monitoring methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a subject, the method comprising:
- positioning an earbud within an ear of the subject, wherein the earbud includes a housing, at least one optical emitter within the housing, at least one window in the housing, and a cover at least partially surrounding the housing, wherein the cover comprises light transmissive material that forms at least one light-guiding region in the cover, wherein the earbud is positioned within the ear such that the at least one light-guiding region in the cover engages a non-ear canal region of the ear; and
delivering light from the at least one optical emitter through the at least one window and into the non-ear canal region via the at least one light-guiding region in the cover.
3 Assignments
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring device includes a housing configured to be attached to a body of a subject. An optical emitter, optical detector, and sensor for measuring motion noise are located within the housing. Light transmissive material is in optical communication with the optical emitter and detector and is configured to deliver light from the optical emitter to one or more locations of the body of the subject and to collect light external to the housing and deliver the collected light to the detector. A signal processor is configured to receive and process signals produced by the optical detector and the motion noise sensor, and to remove noise from the signals produced by the optical detector. The signal processor may generate physiological parameters for the subject such as heart rate, blood flow, blood pressure, VO2max, heart rate variability, respiration rate, and blood gas/analyte level.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a subject, the method comprising:
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positioning an earbud within an ear of the subject, wherein the earbud includes a housing, at least one optical emitter within the housing, at least one window in the housing, and a cover at least partially surrounding the housing, wherein the cover comprises light transmissive material that forms at least one light-guiding region in the cover, wherein the earbud is positioned within the ear such that the at least one light-guiding region in the cover engages a non-ear canal region of the ear; and delivering light from the at least one optical emitter through the at least one window and into the non-ear canal region via the at least one light-guiding region in the cover. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of monitoring a subject, the method comprising:
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positioning an earbud within an ear of the subject, wherein the earbud includes a housing, at least one optical detector within the housing, at least one window in the housing, and a cover at least partially surrounding the housing, wherein the cover comprises light transmissive material that forms at least one light-guiding region in the cover, wherein the earbud is positioned within the ear such that the at least one light-guiding region in the cover engages a non-ear canal region of the ear; and collecting light external to the earbud housing and delivering the collected light through the at least one window to the at least one optical detector via the at least one light-guiding region in the cover. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of monitoring a subject, the method comprising:
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positioning a headset at an ear of the subject, wherein the headset includes a housing, at least one optical emitter within the housing, at least one optical detector within the housing, at least one window in the housing, and a cover at least partially surrounding the housing, wherein the cover comprises light transmissive material that forms at least one light-guiding region in the cover, wherein the headset is positioned at the ear such that the at least one light-guiding region in the cover engages a non-ear canal region of the ear; delivering light from the at least one optical emitter through the at least one window and into the non-ear canal region via the at least one light-guiding region in the cover; and collecting light external to the housing and delivering the collected light through the at least one window to the at least one optical detector via the at least one light-guiding region in the cover. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A headset, comprising:
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a housing configured to be supported by an ear of a subject, wherein the housing comprises at least one window; an optical emitter supported by the housing and configured to emit light through the at least one window; and a cover at least partially surrounding the housing, wherein the cover comprises light transmissive material that forms at least one light-guiding region in the cover, wherein the at least one light-guiding region in the cover is in optical communication with the optical emitter via the at least one window, and wherein the at least one light-guiding region in the cover is configured to deliver light from the optical emitter to the non-ear canal region.
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23. A wearable device, comprising:
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a housing comprising at least one window; an electronic module supported by the housing, the electronic module comprising at least one PPG sensor, at least one motion sensor, and at least one signal processor configured to process signals from the at least one motion sensor and signals from the at least one PPG sensor to reduce motion artifacts from the PPG signals; and non-air light transmissive material in optical communication with the at least one PPG sensor, wherein the at least one window optically exposes the at least one PPG sensor to a body of a subject wearing the device via the non-air light transmissive material. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification