Monitoring device, method and system

• US 7,887,492 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Impact Sports Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Impact Sports Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Rulkov, Nikolai, Hunt, Mark, Brady, Donald, Elhag, Sammy I., Lui, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US11/473,641
• Time in Patent Office: 1,697 Days
• Field of Search: 600/481, 600/483, 600500-504, 600/473, 600/476, 600/479
• US Class Current: 600/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• 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 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves

Abstract

A monitoring device (20) and method (200) for monitoring the health of a user is disclosed herein. The monitoring device (20) is preferably an article (25), an optical sensor (30), a circuitry assembly (35) a display member (40) and a control component (43). The monitoring device (20) preferably displays the following information about the user: pulse rate; calories expended by the user of a pre-set time period; target zones of activity; time; and distance traveled.

Claims

1. A monitoring device for monitoring the health of a user, the monitoring device comprising:

an article configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s hand, the article comprising a thumb portion and a main body portion having a palm portion and a back portion, the article having a mass ranging from once ounce to five ounces;

an optical sensor to measure blood flow through an artery of the user and to generate a digital signal corresponding to the flow of blood through the artery of the user, the optical sensor disposed on the thumb portion of the article, wherein the optical sensor is a light-to-frequency photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 600 nanometers to 1100 nanometers;

a microprocessor configured to process the digital signal from the optical sensor to generate a real-time heart rate value for the user from average pulse values filtered by a first heart rate value based on an average pulse value of a secondary set of time periods subtracted from an average pulse value of a primary set of time periods microprocessor disposed on the article;

means for visually displaying the real-time heart rate value of the user, the visually displaying means attached to an exterior surface of the back portion of the article, the visually displaying means comprising a light emitting diode array having a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, each of the plurality of columns capable of separate illumination to provide the appearance of a moving display; and

means for controlling the input information and the output of information displayed on the visually displaying means, the controlling means extending from the exterior surface of the article.

2. The monitoring device according to claim 1 wherein the controlling means is a plurality of control buttons to input information and control the output of information on the visually displaying means.

3. The monitoring device according to claim 1 wherein the main body portion further comprises an attachment means and the thumb portion further comprises an attachment means.

4. The monitoring device according to claim 1 wherein the visually displaying means is capable of displaying a real-time pulse waveform of the user.

5. A monitoring device for monitoring the health of a user, the monitoring device comprising:

an article to be worn on the user'"'"'s hand, the article comprising a main body portion and a thumb portion, the main body portion comprising a palm portion, a back portion and an attachment means, the thumb portion comprising an annular portion for placement around a portion of a thumb of the user'"'"'s and an attachment means for securing the thumb portion to the user'"'"'s thumb, the article having a mass ranging from one ounce to five ounces;

an optical sensor disposed on an interior surface of the thumb portion of the article, the optical sensor generating a digital signal corresponding to a flow of blood through an artery of the user, wherein the optical sensor is a light-to-frequency photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 600 nanometers to 1100 nanometers;

a circuitry assembly embedded within the main body of the article, the circuitry assembly flexible to allow for the contour of the user'"'"'s hand, the circuitry assembly comprising a microprocessor configured to process the digital signal from the optical sensor to generate a real-time heart rate value for the user from average pulse values filtered by a first heart rate value based on an average pulse value of a secondary set of time periods subtracted from an average pulse value of a primary set of time periods;

a display member attached to an exterior surface of the back portion of the main body of the article, the display member comprising a light emitting diode array having a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, each of the plurality of columns capable of separate illumination to provide the appearance of a moving display; and

a control component extending from the of the back portion of the main body of the article, the control component controlling the input of information and the output of information displayed on the display member.

6. The monitoring device according to claim 5 further comprising a power source embedded within the main body of the article, the power source having a port for recharging the power source.

7. The monitoring device according to claim 5 wherein a plurality of the user'"'"'s vital signs are displayed on the display member, the plurality of the user'"'"'s vital signs comprising calories expended by the user, the user'"'"'s heart rate, a target zone, distance traveled and accumulated calories expended over a set time period.

8. The monitoring device to claim 5 wherein the circuit assembly further comprises an accelerometer for measuring the distance traveled by the user, the display member capable of displaying the distance traveled by the user.

9. The monitoring device according to claim 5 wherein the article is composed of neoprene material.