Adjustable wearable system having a modular sensor platform

• US 9,592,007 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Nuovo, Frank Settemo, Phillips, Sheldon George
• Primary Examiner(s): VOORHEES, CATHERINE M
• Application Number:
  US14/719,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20150335284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0247 for compensation or correction of the measured physiological value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• 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 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• 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 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units

Abstract

A wearable system and methods for measuring physiological data from a device worn about a body part of a user is provided comprising a base module and sensor module. The base module comprises a display and a base computing unit. The sensor module is spatially positioned relative to the base module and over a portion of the body part for measuring one or more physiological characteristics. The base module is adjustably positioned by the user relative to the sensor module such that the sensor module maintains its positioning over the body part for sufficient contact with the body part for accurate measurements of physiological data regardless of the anthropometric size of the body part.

Claims

1. A wearable system for measuring physiological data from a device worn about a body part of a user comprising:

a base module, the base module comprising a display and a base computing unit;

a sensor module, being spaced apart from the base module, and spatially positioned relative to the base module to establish a contact over the body part for measuring one or more physiological characteristics; and

the base module being adjustably positioned relative to the sensor module to maintain the contact with the body part for accurate measurements of physiological data regardless of the anthropometric size of the body part.

2. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is positioned over the underside of the wrist of the user.

3. The wearable system of claim 1, where in the sensor module further maintains a pressure contact with the skin of the user to allow for continuous use by the user.

4. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is removable.

5. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is replaceable with a different type of sensor module.

6. The wearable system of claim 5, wherein the sensor module further comprises sensor units and a sensor plate, and wherein the sensor units are removably coupled to the sensor plate, and wherein the sensor units are individually replaceable with different sensor units.

7. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module comprises a combination of electric and optical sensors.

8. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module comprises one or more of:

biological sensors, proximity detectors for detecting the proximity of objects, and environmental sensors.

9. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module comprises sensor units that further comprises any combination of optical sensor array, a thermometer, a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor array, a bioimpedance (BioZ) sensor array, and an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor.

10. The wearable system of claim 9, further comprising a band, and wherein the optical sensor array is arranged on the band to straddle the optical sensor array about a blood vessel.

11. The wearable system of claim 9, further comprising a band, and wherein the bioimpedance (BioZ) sensor array is arranged on the band to straddle the optical sensor array about a blood vessel.

12. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the base module further includes a base computing unit comprising a processor, memory, a communication interface and a set of sensors.

13. The wearable system of claim 1, further comprising a strap having an interior surface, and wherein the sensor module is removably disposed on the interior surface of the strap.

14. The wearable system of claim 1, further comprising a symmetrically adjustable band, and wherein the symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the sensor module.

15. The wearable system of claim 1, further comprising a symmetrically adjustable band, and wherein the symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the sensor module, wherein the symmetrically adjustable band is a one-piece band.

16. The wearable system of claim 1, further comprising at least two symmetrically adjustable sub-bands, and wherein the at least two symmetrically adjustable sub-bands connect the base module and the sensor module.

17. The wearable system of claim 1, further comprising at least two symmetrically adjustable sub-bands, and wherein the at least two symmetrically adjustable bands connect the base module and the sensor module, wherein the at least two symmetrically adjustable sub-bands are one-piece bands.

18. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein a symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the sensor module, and the sensor module is co-molded to the band.

19. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein a symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the sensor module and the sensor module is co-molded to the band in a flexible gel.

20. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein at least two overlapping straps connect the base module and the sensor module.

21. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein a band comprises at least four links connected by a flex connection, and the band connects the base module and the sensor module.

22. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein a band comprises at least four links connected by a flex connection, and the band connects the base module and the sensor module.

23. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module comprises sensor units housed on a sensor plate removably coupled to the band.

24. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is positioned on the forehead of the user and the display is oriented toward the user about the head.

25. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module adheres to the skin of a body part.

26. The wearable system of claim 25, wherein the sensor module is positioned on the underside of the wrist.

27. The wearable system of claim 1, the base module comprises a thin, flexible display adhered to the skin of a body part.

28. The wearable system of claim 25, wherein the base module is positioned on the top side of the wrist.

29. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the body part is a wrist and the sizes of the wrist can range from 125 mm to 210 mm.

30. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the body part is the upper arm, waist, finger, ankle, neck, chest, foot or thigh.

31. The wearable system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication unit positioned in the sensor module for transmitting physiological data via a wireless communications link to the base module.

32. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module and the base module are connected via a wire for power and communicate data wirelessly.

33. The wearable system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication unit for transmitting physiological data via a wireless communications link to the base module and to a location remote from the system.

34. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module and the base module each contain battery power sources and communicate wirelessly between each other.

35. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module and the base module each contain battery power sources and communicate wirelessly between each other and to a location remote from the system.

36. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the base module wirelessly communicates with multiple sensor modules worn on different body parts of the user.

37. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the system further transmits data to a remote architecture for multi-modal interactions.

38. The wearable system of claim 37, wherein the architecture comprises a layer of artificial intelligence between the system and one or more of:

cloud devices, websites, online services, and applications.

39. The wearable system of claim 37, wherein the system and the architecture communicate changes in user condition.

40. The wearable system of claim 37, wherein architecture interacts with the system to provide information related to social media, sports, music, movies, email, text messages, hospitals and prescriptions.

41. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is a micro-adjustable sensor module.

42. The wearable system of claim 1, further comprising a power source, wherein the power source comprises a removable battery and a permanent battery.

87. A wearable system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module further comprises a gravitational sensor configured to measure a relative gravitational force, and wherein the sensor module is further configured to calibrate the measurements based on the measured relative gravitational force.

88. A wearable system of claim 87, further comprising a timer configured to adjust a time duration used to measure the physiological characteristics based on the measured gravitational force, wherein the sensor module is further configured to calibrate the measurements based on the adjusted time.

89. A wearable system of claim 87, further comprising a light calibrator configured to adjust light emission based on the gravitational force, wherein the sensor module is further configured to calibrate the measurements based on the adjusted light emission.

43. A wearable system for measuring physiological data from a device worn about a body part of a user comprising:

a base module, the base module comprising a display and a base computing unit;

a micro-adjustable sensor module, having a first sensor and a second sensor, and being spatially positioned relative to the base module and over the body part for measuring one or more physiological characteristics; and

the micro-adjustable sensor module configured to adjustably refine a position of the first sensor from a first position of the body part of the user, to a second position of the body part, relative to the first position and the second sensor, for sufficient contact with the body part at the second position for accurate measurements of physiological data regardless of the anthropometric size of the body part.

44. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the sensor module is positioned over the underside of the wrist of the user.

45. The wearable system of claim 43, where in the sensor module further maintains a pressure contact with the skin of the user to allow for continuous use by the user.

46. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the sensor module is removable.

47. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the sensor module is replaceable with a different type of sensor module.

48. The wearable system of claim 47, wherein the sensor module further comprises sensor units and a sensor plate, and wherein the sensor units are removably coupled to the sensor plate, and wherein the sensor units are individually replaceable with different sensor units.

49. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the sensor module comprises a combination of electric and optical sensors.

50. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the sensor module comprises one or more of:

biological sensors, proximity detectors for detecting the proximity of objects, and environmental sensors.

51. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the sensor module comprises sensor units that further comprises any combination of optical sensor array, a thermometer, a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor array, a bioimpedance (BioZ) sensor array, and an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor.

52. The wearable system of claim 51, further comprising a band, and wherein the optical sensor array is arranged on the band and configured to straddle the optical sensor array about a blood vessel.

53. The wearable system of claim 51, further comprising a band, and wherein the bioimpedance (BioZ) sensor array is arranged on the band and configured to straddle the optical sensor array about a blood vessel.

54. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the base module further includes a base computing unit comprising a processor, memory, a communication interface and a set of sensors.

55. The wearable system of claim 43, further comprising a strap having an interior surface, and wherein the sensor module is removably disposed on the interior surface of the strap.

56. The wearable system of claim 43, further comprising a symmetrically adjustable band, and wherein the symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the sensor module.

57. The wearable system of claim 43, further comprising a symmetrically adjustable band, and wherein the symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the sensor module, wherein the symmetrically adjustable band is a one-piece band.

58. The wearable system of claim 43, further comprising at least two symmetrically adjustable sub-bands, and wherein the at least two symmetrically adjustable sub-bands connect the base module and the sensor module.

59. The wearable system of claim 43, further comprising at least two symmetrically adjustable sub-bands, and wherein the at least two symmetrically adjustable bands connect the base module and the sensor module, wherein the at least two symmetrically adjustable sub-bands are one-piece bands.

60. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein a symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the sensor module, and the sensor module is co-molded to the band.

61. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein a symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the sensor module and the sensor module is co-molded to the band in a flexible gel.

62. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein at least two overlapping straps connect the base module and the sensor module.

63. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein a band comprises at least four links connected by a flex connection, and the band connects the base module and the sensor module.

64. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein a band comprises at least four links connected by a flex connection, and the band connects the base module and the sensor module.

65. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the sensor module comprises sensor units housed on a sensor plate removably coupled to the band.

66. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the sensor module is positioned on the forehead of the user and the display is oriented toward the user about the head.

67. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the sensor module adheres to the skin of a body part.

68. The wearable system of claim 67, wherein the sensor module is positioned on the underside of the wrist.

69. The wearable system of claim 43, the base module comprises a thin, flexible display adhered to the skin of a body part.

70. The wearable system of claim 69, wherein the base module is positioned on the top side of the wrist.

71. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the body part is a wrist and the sizes of the wrist can range from 125 mm to 210 mm.

72. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the body part is the upper arm, waist, finger, ankle, neck, chest, foot or thigh.

73. The wearable system of claim 43, further comprising a wireless communication unit positioned in the sensor module for transmitting physiological data via a wireless communications link to the base module.

74. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the sensor module and the base module are connected via a wire for power and communicate data wirelessly.

75. The wearable system of claim 43, further comprising a wireless communication unit for transmitting physiological data via a wireless communications link to the base module and to a location remote from the system.

76. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the sensor module and the base module each contain battery power sources and communicate wirelessly between each other.

77. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the sensor module and the base module each contain battery power sources and communicate wirelessly between each other and to a location remote from the system.

78. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the base module wirelessly communicates with multiple sensor modules worn on different body parts of the user.

79. The wearable system of claim 43, wherein the system further transmits data to a remote architecture for multi-modal interactions.

80. The wearable system of claim 79, wherein the architecture comprises a layer of artificial intelligence between the system and one or more of:

cloud devices, websites, online services, and applications.

81. The wearable system of claim 79, wherein the system and the architecture communicate changes in user condition.

82. The wearable system of claim 79, wherein architecture interacts with the system to provide information related to social media, sports, music, movies, email, text messages, hospitals and prescriptions.

83. The wearable system of claim 43, further comprising a power source, wherein the power source comprises a removable battery and a permanent battery.

90. A wearable system of claim 43, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module further comprises a gravitational sensor configured to measure a relative gravitational force, and wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module is configured to calibrate the measured physiological data based on the measured relative gravitational force.

91. A wearable system of claim 90, further comprising a timer configured to adjust a time duration used to measure the physiological data based on the measured gravitational force, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module is further configured to calibrate the measured physiological data based on the adjusted time.

92. A wearable system of claim 90, further comprising a light calibrator configured to adjust light emission based on the gravitational force, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module is further configured to calibrate the measured physiological data based on the adjusted light emission.

84. A method for measuring physiological data from a wearable device worn about a body part of a user, the wearable device having a base device comprising a display and a base computing unit, and a micro-adjustable sensor module having a first sensor and a second sensor, the method comprising:

spatially and adjustably positioning the micro-adjustable sensor module relative to the base module and over the body part at a first position for measuring one or more physiological characteristics; and

adjustably refining a position of the first sensor of the micro-adjustable sensor module from the first position to a second position of the body part, relative to the first position and to the second sensor, for sufficient contact with the body part at the second position for accurate measurements of physiological data regardless of the anthropometric size of the body part.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module comprises a plurality of sensor units that are rotated to provide sufficient contact with the body part for accurate measurements of physiological data regardless of the anthropometric size of the body part.

86. The method of claim 85, comprising relocating the plurality of sensor units relative to each other to improve contact with the body part for accurate measurements of physiological data.

93. A method of claim 84, further comprising:

measuring a relative gravitational force; and

calibrating the physiological data based on the measured relative gravitational force.

94. A method of claim 93, further comprising:

adjusting a time duration used to measure the physiological data based on the measured gravitational force; and

calibrating the physiological data based on the adjusted time.

95. A method of claim 93, further comprising:

adjusting light emission based on the gravitational force; and

calibrating the physiological data based on the adjusted light emission.