Sensor for determining body parameters during exercise

• US 9,801,554 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2015
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Well Being Digital Limited
• Original Assignee: Well Being Digital Limited
• Inventors: Ma, Chor Tin, Chan, Kai Kin, Wong, Ming Yip, Yeung, Kai Wai, Chau, Fo
• Primary Examiner(s): Jang, Christian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alter, Mitchell E
• Application Number:
  US14/607,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20150182135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 600301, 600323, 600473, 600476, 600479
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• 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 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02433 for infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7214 using signal cancellation, e.g. based on input of two identical physiological sensors spaced apart, or based on two signals derived from the same sensor, for different optical wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0688 using non-electronic means, e.g. mechanical, visual, acoustic or tactile means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 : Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 : Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 : Earpieces of the intra-aural type

Abstract

A noninvasive light sensor for detecting heart beat signals has a circular support member engageable circumferentially with a body part of a person. There are a plurality of light emitters and light detectors located around a circumference of the circular support member for respectively emitting light signals into different areas of tissue surrounding the body part, and receiving reflected light signals from the different areas of tissue surrounding the body part.

Claims

1. A device for detecting heart beat signals, comprising:

a circular support member engageable circumferentially with a body part of a person,

three light emitters located and spaced at 120 degree intervals about a the circumference of the circular support member for emitting light signals into different areas of tissue surrounding the body part;

a plurality of light detectors located respectively about the circumference of the circular support member for detecting reflected light signals from the different areas of tissue surrounding the body part and for providing correspondingly different detected signals, each different detected signal comprising both a heart beat signal and a movement signal; and

at least one signal processor configured to compare the different detected signals and to separate the heart beat signals from the movement signals, and to determine heart rate from the separated heart beat signals.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the light emitters comprise both red and infra-red light emitters.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the light detectors consist of three light detectors located 120 degrees apart about the circumference of the support member.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the light emitters and light detectors are located in pairs, each pair consisting of one of the emitters and one of the detectors.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the support member is one of an ear bud insertable within an ear canal and a band locatable about a wrist or arm.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the body part is an ear canal, the circular support member is an ear piece insertable within the ear canal along an ear canal axis, the light emitters are located about a periphery of the ear piece for emitting light signals perpendicular to the ear canal axis and into the different areas of tissue surrounding the ear canal, and the light detectors are located about the periphery of the ear piece for detecting the reflected light signals from the different areas of tissue surrounding the ear canal.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the ear piece is resiliently deformable for expansion within the ear canal, such that the ear piece is firmly locatable within the ear canal.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the ear piece comprises an inner layer and an outer layer having a plurality of openings, and the light emitters and light detectors are located with the inner layer beneath the openings of the outer layer.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the inner layer comprises foam and the outer layer comprises rubber.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the ear piece has an outer surface for mating with the ear canal and a plurality of openings in the outer surface, and the light emitters and light detectors are located within the openings.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the light emitters and light detectors are located below the outer surface of the ear piece.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the openings have sides surrounding the light emitters and light detectors, and the sides define a gap above the light emitters and light detectors.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the sides of the openings are light absorbent.

14. The device of claim 6 further comprising an audio speaker.

15. The device of claim 6 further comprising a temperature sensor.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the body part is a wrist or arm, the support member comprises a band locatable about a wrist or arm, and the light emitters and light detectors are located around an inner circumference of the band for respectively emitting light signals into the different areas of arm tissue and detecting reflected light from the different areas of arm tissue.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal processor is further configured to generate a vital sign signal comprising a heart rate signal, or a temperature signal, or a blood oxygen signal, or a combination thereof, the device further comprising:

an audio speaker;

a computer readable storage medium have space allocated for storage of audio files; and

an audio player programmed to playback the audio files through the audio speaker, and to vary attributes of the playback of the audio files in response to the vital sign signal.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the attributes of the playback audio files to be varied comprise tempo, pitch, or both.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the audio player is programmed to vary the attributes by changing the playback audio files.

20. The device of claim 1 further comprising an audio feedback.

21. The device of claim 1 installed in an exercise monitoring device.