Form-fitted monitoring apparatus for health and environmental monitoring

• US 8,647,270 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2010
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valencell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valencell, Inc.
• Inventors: LeBoeuf, Steven Francis, Tucker, Jesse Berkley, Aumer, Michael Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sands, Davin K
• Application Number:
  US12/692,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600310-336, 128903-905, 128/920
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0425 Ergonomically shaped housings A61B2560/0418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• 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 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• 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 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 : Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02433 : for infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 : Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 : using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0295 : using plethysmography, i.e. measuring the variations in the volume of a body part as modified by the circulation of blood therethrough, e.g. impedance plethysmography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 : Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 : Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• 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 5/1107 : Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 : Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 : for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 : using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 : for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 : Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 : Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 : Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 : the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 : lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 : Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4845 : Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products A61B5/4848 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 : Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 : Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 : Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 : Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4884 : inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 : Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 : Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 : Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 : Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6819 : Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 : Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 : Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 : of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 : using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• 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: A61B 5/7221 : Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/725 : using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters A61B5/316 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 : Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 : specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 : for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 : for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 : associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 : Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 : Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A monitoring apparatus includes a housing that is configured to be attached to a body of a subject. The housing includes a sensor region that is configured to contact a selected area of the body of the subject when the housing is attached to the body of the subject. The sensor region is contoured to matingly engage the selected body area. The apparatus includes at least one physiological sensor that is associated with the sensor region and that detects and/or measures physiological information from the subject and/or at least one environmental sensor associated with the sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure environmental information. The sensor region contour stabilizes the physiological and/or environmental sensor(s) relative to the selected body area such that subject motion does not impact detection and/or measurement efforts of the sensor(s).

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus, comprising:

an earbud module configured to be attached to an ear of a subject, the ear having an anti tragus, an acoustic meatus, and an ear canal, wherein the earbud module comprises a sensor region having at least one optical sensor that is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject, wherein the sensor region is contoured to matingly engage at least one portion of the intersection of the anti tragus and acoustic meatus, and wherein the sensor region is oriented in a direction away from the ear canal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor region contour stabilizes the earbud module when the earbud module is attached to the ear of the subject.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one environmental sensor associated with the sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure environmental information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sensor region is removable and replaceable with another sensor region having a different contour.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a headset and wherein the sensor region is a portion of an earbud housing of the headset.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises a plurality of optical sensors.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one environmental sensor comprises a plurality of environmental sensors.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises:

at least one optical emitter;

a plurality of optical detectors; and

a lens that covers the at least one optical emitter and the plurality of optical detectors, wherein the lens comprises a region that prevents light containing physiological information from reaching at least one of the detectors.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one portion of the lens is configured to guide light transferred from the subject to at least one of the optical detectors.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lens is configured to focus light transferred from the subject to at least one of the optical detectors.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the earbud module comprises an elongated hollow tube extending outwardly therefrom that is configured to be inserted within an ear canal of the subject.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the elongated hollow tube comprises a sensor region having one or more motion sensors associated therewith that are configured to measure motion of the subject, wherein the one or more motion sensors are configured to measure changes in one or more of the following:

inertia, capacitance, electrical conductivity, inductance, speed, distance, acceleration, and electromagnetic radiation.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover detachably secured to the sensor region.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one portion of the cover is configured to regulate energy transferred from the subject to the at least one optical sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one portion of the cover is configured to block energy transferred from the subject to the at least one optical sensor.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor region comprises one or more motion sensors configured to measure motion of the subject, and wherein the one or more motion sensors configured to measure motion are configured to measure changes in one or more of the following:

inertia, capacitance, electrical conductivity, inductance, speed, distance, acceleration, and electromagnetic radiation.

17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lens region comprises a portion that vibrates in response to body motion of the subject and modulates light passing through the lens region in proportion to the body motion of the subject.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises:

at least one optical emitter; and

a plurality of optical detectors, wherein at least a portion of the cover is configured to block light from reaching at least one of the optical detectors.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cover comprises a portion that vibrates in response to body motion of the subject and modulates light passing through the cover in proportion to the body motion of the subject.

45. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the earbud module comprises a plurality of sensor regions, each configured to contact a respective selected area of the ear of the subject when the earbud module is attached to the ear of the subject, each contoured to matingly engage a respective selected ear area, and further comprising at least one optical sensor associated with each sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject.

20. A monitoring apparatus, comprising:

an earbud module configured to be attached to an ear of a subject, the ear having an anti tragus, an acoustic meatus, and an ear canal, wherein the earbud module comprises a sensor region having at least one optical sensor that is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject, wherein the sensor region is contoured to matingly engage at least one portion of the intersection of the anti tragus and acoustic meatus, wherein the sensor region is oriented in a direction away from the ear canal, and wherein the sensor region is removably secured to the earbud module via a connector, wherein the connector facilitates ready removal from and attachment to the earbud module.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the sensor region contour stabilizes the earbud module when the earbud module is attached to the ear of the subject.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising at least one environmental sensor associated with the sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure environmental information.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is a headset and wherein the sensor region is a portion of an earbud housing of the headset.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises a plurality of optical sensors.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one environmental sensor comprises further comprising a plurality of environmental sensors.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises:

at least one optical emitter;

a plurality of optical detectors; and

a lens that covers the at least one optical emitter and the plurality of optical detectors, wherein the lens comprises a region that prevents light containing physiological information from reaching at least one of the detectors.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least one portion of the lens is configured to guide light transferred from the subject to at least one of the optical detectors.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the sensor region comprises a portion that vibrates in response to body motion of the subject and modulates light passing through the sensor region in proportion to the body motion.

29. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least one portion of the sensor region overlies at least a portion of the at least one optical sensor and is configured to guide energy transferred from the subject to the at least one optical sensor.

30. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the sensor region comprises a lens configured to focus light transferred from the subject to the at least one optical sensor.

31. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the earbud module comprises a plurality of sensor regions, each configured to contact a respective selected area of the ear of the subject when the earbud module is attached to the ear of the subject, each contoured to matingly engage a respective selected ear area, and further comprising at least one optical sensor associated with each sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject.

32. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the earbud module comprises a plurality of sensor regions, each configured to contact a respective selected area of the ear of the subject when the earbud module is attached to the ear of the subject, each contoured to matingly engage a respective selected ear area, wherein at least one sensor region has one or more sensors associated therewith that are configured to measure motion of the subject, and wherein at least one sensor region has one or more sensors associated therewith that are configured to measure physiological information from the subject.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the one or more sensors configured to measure motion of the subject are configured to measure changes in one or more of the following:

inertia, capacitance, electrical conductivity, inductance, speed, distance, acceleration, and electromagnetic radiation.

34. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a cover detachably secured to the sensor region.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein at least one portion of the cover is configured to regulate energy transferred from the subject to the at least one optical sensor.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein at least one portion of the cover is configured to block energy transferred from the subject to the at least one optical sensor.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one portion of the cover is configured to block light from passing therethrough.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the cover comprises a portion that vibrates in response to body motion of the subject and modulates light passing through the sensor region in proportion to the body motion.

39. A monitoring apparatus, comprising:

an earbud module configured to be attached to an ear of a subject, the ear having an anti tragus, an acoustic meatus, and an ear canal, wherein the earbud module comprises a sensor region having at least one electromagnetic emitter and at least one electromagnetic sensor, wherein the sensor region emits electromagnetic energy to at least one portion of the intersection of the anti-tragus and acoustic meatus in a direction away from the ear canal and/or detects electromagnetic energy from at least one portion of the intersection of the anti-tragus and acoustic meatus in a direction away from the ear canal, and wherein the at least one electromagnetic sensor comprises one or more of the following;

an optical sensor, a capacitive sensor, an acoustic sensor, an auscultatory sensor, a pressure sensor, or a color sensor.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising at least one environmental sensor associated with the sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure environmental information.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the apparatus is a headset and wherein the sensor region is a portion of an earbud housing of the headset.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the at least one electromagnetic sensor comprises a plurality of electromagnetic sensors.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the at least one environmental sensor comprises a plurality of environmental sensors.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the sensor region comprises one or more motion sensors configured to measure motion of the subject, and wherein the one or more motion sensors configured to measure motion are configured to measure changes in one or more of the following:

inertia, capacitance, electrical conductivity, inductance, speed, distance, acceleration, and electromagnetic radiation.