Apparatus for monitoring physiological, activity, and environmental data

• US 20080154098A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel-GE Care Innovations, LLC (Intel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel-GE Care Innovations, LLC (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Morris, Margaret, Guilak, Farzin, Dishongh, Terry
• Application Number:
  US11/641,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154098A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• 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 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters

Abstract

The invention relates to an earpiece form factor including technology to monitor physiological, activity and environmental data on a user. The device includes a pulse oximeter unit to provide blood oxygenation level and beat-to-beat timing, a three-axis accelerometer to provide orientation and activity level, and a temperature sensor to provide a subject'"'"'s skin temperature. The device may also capture other forms of data for the user and the user'"'"'s surroundings. Captured data are transmitted wirelessly to a mobile phone, PDA or other device that supports wireless transmission, and enables monitoring form another location.

Claims

1. A sensor device worn on a user to monitor physiological, activity and environmental data of the user, comprising:

an oximeter unit to measure oxygenation level and/or beat-to-beat timing;

an accelerometer to detect orientation and to measure activity level;

and a temperature sensor to measure a temperature level

wherein the oximeter unit, the accelerometer and the temperature sensor are integrally combined within a single unit of the sensor device so as to allow simultaneous functionality of the oximeter unit, the three-axis accelerometer and the temperature sensor.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device communicates wirelessly with a mobile device.

3. The sensor device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor device communicates wirelessly with the mobile device.

4. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is one of an earpiece, hearing aid or telephone headset.

5. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device communicates via a network to transmit monitored data.

6. The sensor device according to claim 5, wherein the transmitted data is sent to one of a home computer, researcher workstation, clinician workstation, and storage server.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device communicates wirelessly with a mobile device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the sensor device communicates wirelessly with the mobile device.

22. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the device has a wearable, wireless form factor.

7. A method of monitoring physiological, activity and environmental data of a user wearing a sensor device, comprising:

measuring oxygenation level and/or beat-to-beat timing with an oximeter unit;

measuring activity level with an accelerometer; and

measuring a temperature level with a temperature sensor

wherein the oximeter unit the accelerometer and the temperature sensor are integrally combined within a single unit of the sensor device so as to allow simultaneous functionality of the oximeter unit, the three-axis accelerometer and the temperature sensor.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the sensor device is one of an earpiece, hearing aid or telephone headset.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the sensor device communicates via a network to transmit monitored data.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the transmitted data is sent to one of a home computer, clinician workstation, researcher workstation and storage server.

13. A system to transmit data acquired by a sensor worn by a user, comprising:

a sensor to acquire using at least one of an oximeter unit, accelerometer and temperature sensor located in the sensor;

a mobile device receiving the data from the sensor of the user; and

a network to receive the data transmitted from the mobile device to at least one of a home server, clinician workstation, researcher workstation and storage server

wherein the oximeter unit, the accelerometer and the temperature sensor are integrally combined within a single unit of the sensor device so as to allow simultaneous functionality of the oximeter unit, the three-axis accelerometer and the temperature sensor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the acquired data is sent wirelessly from the sensor to the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is an earpiece worn by the user.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein data transmitted over the network is monitored by at least one of the home server, clinician workstation, researcher workstation and storage server.

17. A method of transmitting data acquired by a sensor worn by a user over a wireless network, comprising:

acquiring data from the sensor using at least one of an oximeter unit, accelerometer and temperature sensor located in the sensor;

sending the data from the sensor to a mobile device of the user; and

transmitting the data sent to the mobile device over the network

wherein the oximeter unit, the accelerometer and the temperature sensor are integrally combined within a single unit of the sensor device so as to allow simultaneous functionality of the oximeter unit, the three-axis accelerometer and the temperature sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the network comprises a home server, a workstation and a storage server.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the acquired data is sent from the sensor to the mobile device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensor is an earpiece worn by the user.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein data transmitted over the network is monitored at least one of the home server, workstation and storage server.