Systems and methods for alcohol consumption monitoring

• US 9,480,431 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B.I. Incorporated (Geo Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: B.I. Incorporated (Geo Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Melton, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aziz, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US13/459,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4266 sweat secretion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4845 Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products A61B5/4848 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/314 with comparison of measurements at specific and non-specific wavelengths dual wavelength spectrometry G01J3/427
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present inventions are related to monitoring physical characteristics of a monitored individual including, but not limited to, alcohol consumption by the monitored individual.

Claims

1. A system for alcohol monitoring, the system comprising:

a first alcohol sensor operable to detect a first alcohol content at a first location;

a second alcohol sensor operable to detect a second alcohol content at a second location;

a processor operable to process both the first alcohol content and the second alcohol content to yield a drinking indication, wherein processing both the first alcohol content and the second alcohol content includes subtracting the second alcohol content from the first alcohol content to yield a consumption indicator, and wherein the drinking indication corresponds to the consumption indication;

wherein the first alcohol sensor and the second alcohol sensor are incorporated into a monitor device that includes a connector device, and wherein the connector device is operable to attach the monitor device to a limb of a monitored individual such that the monitor device moves with the monitored individual when the monitored individual is walking.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first alcohol content and the second alcohol content are reported separately to a receiving system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first alcohol content and the second alcohol content are reported to the receiving system along with the consumption indicator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the drinking indication corresponds to alcohol consumption of the monitored individual.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first alcohol sensor is directed toward the skin of the monitored individual, wherein the second alcohol sensor is directed toward an environment around the monitored individual, and wherein the first location is nearer the monitored individual than the second location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first alcohol sensor is directed toward the skin of the monitored individual, wherein the second alcohol sensor is directed toward the skin of the monitored individual.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system further comprises:

a third alcohol sensor directed away from the skin of the monitored individual and operable to detect a third alcohol content; and

wherein the processor is further operable to process all of the first alcohol content the second alcohol content, and the third alcohol content to yield the drinking indication.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein processing all of the first alcohol content, the second alcohol content, and the third alcohol content to yield the drinking indication includes:

subtracting the second alcohol content from the first alcohol content to yield a first composite alcohol content; and

subtracting the third alcohol content from the first alcohol content to yield a second composite alcohol content.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor device further comprises:

a location monitor circuit operable to monitor a location of the monitored individual.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor device further comprises:

a tamper monitor circuit operable to monitor a tampering of the monitor device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector device is a strap operable to attach the monitor device to the monitored individual.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein processing of both the first alcohol content and the second alcohol content to yield the drinking indication includes:

subtracting the second alcohol content from the first alcohol content to yield a composite alcohol content; and

comparing the composite alcohol content with a threshold value to yield the drinking indication.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:

a communication circuit operable to communicate the drinking indication to a recipient.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first alcohol sensor and the second alcohol sensor are the same type of alcohol sensors.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first alcohol sensor and the second alcohol sensor detect the same type of interferents.

16. A method for monitoring alcohol consumption by a monitored individual, the method comprising:

receiving a first alcohol content value derived from a first alcohol sensor disposed in relation to a monitored individual;

receiving a second alcohol content value derived from a second alcohol sensor disposed in relation to the monitored individual;

determining alcohol consumption by the monitored individual using both the first alcohol content value and the second alcohol content value, wherein determining the alcohol consumption includes subtracting the second alcohol content value from the first alcohol content value to yield a consumption indicator;

wherein the first alcohol sensor and the second alcohol sensor are associated with a monitor device; and

attaching the monitor device to a limb of the monitored individual such that the monitor device moves with the monitored individual when the monitored individual is walking.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first alcohol sensor is directed toward the skin of the monitored individual, wherein the second alcohol sensor is directed toward an environment around the monitored individual, and wherein the first location is nearer the monitored individual than the second location.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first alcohol sensor is directed toward the skin of the monitored individual, wherein the second alcohol sensor is directed toward the skin of the monitored individual.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the monitoring device further comprises:

a third alcohol sensor directed away from the skin of the monitored individual and operable to detect a third alcohol content; and

wherein determining alcohol consumption by the monitored individual uses all of the first alcohol content value, the second alcohol content value, and the third alcohol content value.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring a location of the monitored individual.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

reporting the first alcohol content value and the second alcohol content value to a central monitor via a communication link.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

reporting the drinking indication to a central monitor via a communication link, wherein the drinking indication is generated based at least in part on the consumption indicator.