Extensible wrist band for wearable device

• US 10,485,477 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2014
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lapetina, John, Mirov, Russell Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Steinberg, Amanda L
• Application Number:
  US14/303,073
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• 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 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick

Abstract

A wearable device includes a strap configured for removable placement about an external body surface. The wearable device also includes an electronics module having a communication port. The wearable device further includes a biological sensor coupled to the electronics module and configured to obtain a measurement via the external body surface. The wearable device also includes a holder coupled to the strap. The holder defines a frame configured to receive the electronics module, and the frame defines an opening through which the biological sensor is able to obtain the measurement via the external body surface. The wearable device further includes a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) embedded within at least one of the holder or the strap. The wearable device also includes a connector configured to electrically connect the flexible PCB to the communication port.

Claims

1. A wearable device, comprising:

a strap;

an electronics module comprising a communication port;

a biological sensor electrically coupled to the electronics module;

a holder coupled to the strap, wherein the holder defines a frame configured to receive the electronics module, wherein the frame defines an opening, wherein the strap is configured to mount the wearable device to an external body surface such that the opening is over the external body surface and the biological sensor is positioned to obtain a measurement via the external body surface through the opening, and wherein the frame has at least two sides bounding the opening, the at least two sides bounding the opening including two sides in contact with each other;

a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) embedded within the holder and disposed in the two sides in contact with each other, such that the flexible PCB surrounds, at least partially, the opening defined by the frame; and

a connector coupled to the flexible PCB and protruding into the opening defined by the frame, wherein the connector is configured to electrically connect the flexible PCB to the communication port when the electronics module is received in the frame.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna in communication with the flexible PCB.

3. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the external body surface is a wrist location.

4. The wearable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a user-interface comprising at least a display mounted on the holder or the strap, wherein the display is configured to provide information associated with one or more measurements obtained by the biological sensor.

5. The wearable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a rechargeable battery disposed in the holder or strap, wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to power (i) the flexible PCB and (ii) the electronics module.

6. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to secure the electronics module within the holder such that the frame surrounds the electronics module.

7. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the biological sensor is a first biological sensor, the wearable device further comprising:

a second biological sensor connected to the flexible PCB, wherein the second biological sensor is able to obtain a different measurement via the external body surface.

8. The wearable device of claim 1, further comprising a user-interface configured to provide a user-discernible indication of the one or more measurements obtained by the biological sensor.

9. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the electronics module further includes at least one of a motion sensor and a location sensor.

10. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the electronics module further includes data storage and a touch sensor.

11. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the electronics module includes the biological sensor.

12. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein the electronics module includes the antenna.

13. A wearable device, comprising:

a strap;

an electronics module comprising a communication port;

a biological sensor electrically coupled to the electronics module;

a holder coupled to the strap, wherein the holder defines a frame configured to receive the electronics module, wherein the frame defines an opening, wherein the strap is configured to mount the wearable device to an external body surface such that the opening is over the external body surface and the biological sensor is positioned to obtain a measurement via the external body surface through the opening, and wherein the frame has four sides bounding the opening, the four sides bounding the opening including two sides in contact with each other;

a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) disposed in the two sides in contact with each other such that the flexible PCB surrounds, at least partially, the opening defined by the frame; and

a connector coupled to the flexible PCB and protruding into the opening defined by the frame, wherein the connector is configured to electrically connect the flexible PCB to the communication port when the electronics module is received in the frame.