Exercise monitoring system and methods

• US 20040260191A1
• Filed: 05/17/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Jack B. Stubbs, Kevin L. Schwieger
• Inventors: Stubbs, Jack B., Schwieger, Kevin L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,220,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/520
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• 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 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

An exercise monitoring system which includes an electronic positioning device; a physiological monitor; and a display unit configured for displaying data provided by said electronic positioning device and said physiological monitor.

Claims

1-58. -58. (Cancelled).

59. A method of controlling a subjects physical activity, comprising:

(a) monitoring a subject'"'"'s blood oxygen level while the subject performs a physical activity; and

(b) maintaining said blood oxygen level at a selected level while the subject continues to perform said physical activity.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said blood oxygen level is maintained at said selected level by adjusting the workload of said physical activity as necessary.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein said blood oxygen level is maintained at said selected level by adjusting the subject'"'"'s level of exertion as necessary.

62. The method of claim 59, wherein said blood oxygen level is maintained at said selected level by adjusting the subject'"'"'s oxygen intake as necessary.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein said physical activity is chosen from the group consisting of:

walking, running, swimming, bicycling, skating, singing, skiing, boating, climbing, wheelchairing, snowshoeing, scuba diving, and flying.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein said step of monitoring blood oxygen level comprises:

(a) providing an oximeter, said oximeter including a probe for non-invasively determining blood oxygen level; and

(b) positioning said probe on said subject at a location suitable for detecting the subject'"'"'s blood oxygen level.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein said probe is positioned such that said oximeter determines the subject'"'"'s systemic blood oxygen level.

66. The method of claim 62, wherein said blood oxygen level is maintained at each selected level:

(a) for a predetermined period of time;

(b) until the subject has advanced a predetermined distance;

or

(c) until the subject has performed a predetermined amount of work.

67. The method of claim 59, wherein said selected level is chosen on the basis of blood oxygen data previously obtained while said subject performed a physical activity.

68. The method of claim 59, wherein said selected level is chosen on the basis of said subject'"'"'s lactate threshold.

69. The method of claim 59, wherein said selected level is chosen on the basis of the duration of said physical activity.

70. The method of claim 59, further comprising the step of providing an alarm, said alarm configured for indicating when the subject'"'"'s blood oxygen level is not at said selected level.

71. The method of claim 59, further comprising the step of providing a display unit configured for displaying the subject'"'"'s blood oxygen level.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein said subject comprises a human, and said display unit is positioned so that the blood oxygen level displayed by said display unit can be viewed by said subject.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein said physical activity comprises bicycling, and said display unit is attached to the subject'"'"'s bicycle so as to be visible to the subject.

74. The method of claim 59, further comprising the step of measuring at least one of the subject'"'"'s velocity, pace, or distance traveled.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein said measuring step comprises:

providing a GPS device operable for measuring at least one of the subject'"'"'s velocity, pace or distance traveled.

76. The method of claim 74, further comprising the step of providing a display unit configured for displaying the subject'"'"'s blood oxygen level, and at least one of the subject'"'"'s velocity, pace or distance traveled.

77. A method of reducing a subject'"'"'s blood oxygen level variability while the subject performs a physical activity, comprising:

(a) periodically measuring a subject'"'"'s blood oxygen level while said subject performs a physical activity; and

(b) adjusting the manner in which said physical activity is performed in order to reduce blood oxygen level variability.

78. A method of determining a fitness indicator of a subject, comprising:

(a) recording a subject'"'"'s blood oxygen level while the subject performs a physical activity;

(b) varying the subject'"'"'s workload while continuing to record the subject'"'"'s blood oxygen level; and

(c) determining a fitness indicator of said subject on the basis of the recorded blood oxygen data.