Device, system and method for monitoring and communicating biometric data of a diver

• US 9,320,431 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2011
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InCube Labs LLC. (In-Cube, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InCube Labs LLC. (In-Cube, Inc.)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US13/237,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/322, 600/323, 600/336
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0247 for compensation or correction of the measured physiological value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0252 using ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/18 Shielding or protection of sensors from environmental influences, e.g. protection from mechanical damage
• 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 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• 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 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7228 Signal modulation applied to the input signal sent to patient or subject; demodulation to recover the physiological signal modulation H03C
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7296 for compensation of signal variation due to stress unintentionally induced in the patient, e.g. due to the stress of the medical environment or examination deliberately inducing physiological or psychological stress A61B5/4884
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• 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: B63B 2035/007 autonomously operating
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/00 : Buoys floating decoys, e.g. for waterfowl A01M31/06; means for indicating the location of underwater objects B63C7/26; life-buoys, e.g. rings B63C9/08; mountings of acoustic transducer in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys G10K11/006; electric cables supported on or from floats H02G9/12
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/00 : Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/02 : Divers' equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/26 : Communication means, e.g. means for signalling the presence of diverselectric communication in general H04

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring biometric data of a diver and signaling those data from a first communication device to other communication devices, e.g., those of other divers, on a ship or buoy. A signal generated from a device of the diver can generate a diver identifier, an indication of a stress state of the diver and the diver'"'"'s location.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a blood gas saturation level of a diver, the method comprising:

emitting an optical signal into water near the diver while the diver is underwater;

detecting the optical signal;

determining an underwater condition based on the detected optical signal;

emitting light into the diver'"'"'s skin at a wavelength having an absorbance associated with the blood gas saturation level, the intensity of the light modulated responsive to at least the determined underwater condition;

detecting an intensity of a reflected or transmitted light from the diver'"'"'s skin; and

determining the blood gas saturation level of the diver utilizing the detected intensity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is emitted into the skin while the diver is wearing one or more pieces of SCUBA equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity of the emitted light is further modulated responsive to a depth of the diver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity of the emitted light is further modulated responsive to a water temperature.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity of the emitted light is further modulated responsive to a water salinity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity of the emitted light is modulated responsive to a light absorbance of water near the diver'"'"'s skin.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the blood gas saturation is a blood oxygen saturation, the method further comprising:

alerting the diver when the blood oxygen saturation level is at or below a threshold level.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the threshold level is about 95% saturation.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the threshold level is about 90% saturation.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating an acoustical signal including information on the blood gas saturation level, the acoustical signal configured to be transmitted underwater; and

transmitting the acoustical signal from a first communication device proximate the diver to a second communication device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second communication device is positioned at or near the water surface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second communication device is positioned on a buoy.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the buoy is self-propelled and includes a control system configured to maintain the buoy within an effective communication range of the first communication device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a low power magnetic signal including information on the blood gas saturation level, the magnetic signal configured to be transmitted underwater; and

transmitting the magnetic signal from a first magnetic communication device to a second magnetic communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first magnetic communication device is contained in a sensor device positioned near the diver'"'"'s finger.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second magnetic communication device is contained in a dive watch.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first magnetic communication device is contained in a sensor device positioned proximate to the diver'"'"'s finger.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second magnetic communication devices are positioned within about six inches of each other.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

converting the lower power magnetic signal into an acoustical signal including information on the blood gas saturation level, the acoustical signal configured to be transmitted underwater; and

transmitting the acoustical signal from a first acoustical communication device proximate the diver to a second acoustical communication device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition is an optical property of water near the diver or a particular content of water near the diver.

21. A method for monitoring a blood gas saturation level of a diver, the method comprising:

emitting an optical signal into water near the diver while the diver is underwater;

detecting the optical signal;

determining an underwater condition based on the detected optical signal;

emitting light into the diver'"'"'s skin at a wavelength having an absorbance associated with the blood gas saturation level, the intensity of the light modulated responsive to the determined underwater condition and at least one of a depth of the diver or, a water salinity;

detecting an intensity of a reflected or transmitted light from the diver'"'"'s skin; and

determining the blood gas saturation level of the diver utilizing the detected intensity.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the condition is an optical property of water near the diver or a particular content of water near the diver.