Light-guiding devices and monitoring devices incorporating same

• US 8,700,111 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• 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): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US12/691,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310
• US Class Current: 600/310
• 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 device configured to be attached to the ear of a person includes a base, an earbud housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, and a cover surrounding the earbud housing. The base includes a speaker, an optical emitter, and an optical detector. The cover includes light transmissive material that is in optical communication with the optical emitter and the optical detector and serves as a light guide to deliver light from the optical emitter into the ear canal of the subject wearing the device at one or more predetermined locations and to collect light external to the earbud housing and deliver the collected light to the optical detector.

Claims

1. A headset, comprising:

a base comprising a speaker, an optical emitter, and an optical detector;

an earbud housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the earbud housing encloses the speaker, optical emitter, and optical detector, and comprises at least one window that exposes the optical emitter and optical detector to the ear of the subject, and wherein the earbud housing is in acoustical communication with the speaker and comprises at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass; and

a cover surrounding the earbud housing, wherein the cover includes at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass, and wherein the cover comprises light transmissive material in optical communication with the optical emitter and detector via the at least one window, wherein the light transmissive material is configured to deliver light from the optical emitter into an ear region of the subject at one or more predetermined locations and to collect light external to the earbud housing and deliver the collected light to the optical detector.

2. The headset of claim 1, further comprising a housing secured to and overlying the base that is configured to enclose and protect the speaker, optical emitter and optical detector.

3. The headset of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a soft material which deforms when inserted within an ear canal.

4. The headset of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises silicone.

5. The headset of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an alignment member that facilitates alignment of the earbud housing within an ear canal of a subject.

6. The headset of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a lens region in optical communication with the optical emitter that focuses light emitted by the optical emitter and/or that collects light reflected from the ear region.

7. The headset of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a light diffusion region in optical communication with the light transmissive material that diffuses light emitted by the optical emitter.

8. The headset of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises at least one luminescence region in optical communication with the light transmissive material, wherein the luminescence region receives light emitted by the optical emitter and converts at least a portion of the received light to light having a different wavelength from the received light.

9. The headset of claim 1, wherein the cover has an outer surface and an inner surface, and further comprising a luminescent material on at least a portion of one or both of the inner and outer surfaces that is in optical communication with the light transmissive material, wherein the luminescent material receives light emitted by the optical emitter and converts at least a portion of the received light to light having at least one different wavelength from the received light.

10. The headset of claim 9, wherein the luminescent material comprises phosphor.

11. The headset of claim 9, wherein the luminescent material comprises polymeric material.

12. The headset of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises one or more grooves formed therein, wherein each groove directs external light to the optical detector.

13. The headset of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive material is configured to direct light from the optical emitter to a plurality of locations at an outer surface of the cover for delivery into an ear canal of a subject.

14. The headset of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive material comprises translucent material.

15. The headset of claim 1, wherein the cover has an outer surface and an inner surface, and further comprising a light reflective material on at least a portion of one or both of the inner and outer surfaces.

16. The headset of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one environmental sensor configured to detect and/or measure environmental conditions in a vicinity of the headset.

17. The headset of claim 16, wherein the base comprises a signal processor configured to receive and process signals produced by the environmental sensor.

18. The headset of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a signal processor configured to receive and process signals produced by the optical detector.

19. The headset of claim 18, wherein the base comprises a transmitter configured to transmit signals processed by the signal processor to a remote device.

20. The headset of claim 1, further comprising light blocking material positioned between the optical emitter and detector such that the optical emitter and detector are not in direct optical communication with each other.

21. The headset of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive material comprises silicone or other soft material.

22. The headset of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive material comprises transparent glass material, transparent polymer material, or transparent silicone material.

23. The headset of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein a layer of cladding material is disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface and/or outer surface, wherein the cladding material has a lower index of refraction than the light transmissive material.

24. The headset of claim 23, wherein the cladding material comprises a reflective material, a polymer material, or air.

25. An earbud, comprising:

a base comprising an optical emitter and optical detector;

a housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the housing encloses the optical emitter and optical detector, and comprises at least one window that exposes the optical emitter and optical detector to the ear of the subject; and

light transmissive material external to the housing that is in optical communication with the optical emitter and the optical detector via the at least one window and is configured to deliver light from the optical emitter into an ear region of a subject at one or more predetermined locations and to collect light external to the earbud housing and deliver the collected light to the optical detector.

26. The earbud of claim 25, further comprising at least one lens region in optical communication with the light transmissive material, wherein the lens region is configured to focus delivered light and collected light.

27. The earbud of claim 25, further comprising a flexible circuit in optical communication with the light transmissive material.

28. The earbud of claim 25, further comprising a flexible optical emitter in optical communication with the light transmissive material.

29. The earbud of claim 25, further comprising at least one noise source, wherein the at least one noise source includes at least one optical sensor, inertial sensor, electrically conductive sensor, capacitive sensor, and/or inductive sensor.

30. The earbud of claim 25, further comprising at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector.

31. The earbud of claim 25, further comprising at least one sensor module that includes one or more sensors for sensing physiological information and noise information.

32. The earbud of claim 31, further comprising a microprocessor, and wherein the sensor module is in electrical communication with the microprocessor.

33. The earbud of claim 32, wherein the microprocessor is configured to execute an adaptive filter algorithm to remove noise from at least one signal generated by the sensor module.

34. The earbud of claim 32, wherein the microprocessor is configured to process information from the one or more sensors to generate a digital output string, wherein the digital output string includes a plurality of physiological and motion-related information.

35. The earbud of claim 25, wherein the light guide comprises an optical scatter region, wherein the optical scatter region comprises impurities and/or morphological differences within the material of the light guide.

36. The earbud of claim 25, further comprising at least one speaker.

37. The earbud of claim 25, further comprising light blocking material positioned between the optical emitter and detector such that the optical emitter and detector are not in direct optical communication with each other.

38. The earbud of claim 25, wherein the light transmissive material comprises silicone or other soft material.

39. The earbud of claim 25, wherein the light transmissive material comprises transparent glass material, transparent polymer material, or transparent silicone material.

40. The earbud of claim 25, further comprising cladding material disposed on at least a portion of the light transmissive material, wherein the cladding material has a lower index of refraction than the light transmissive material.

41. The earbud of claim 40, wherein the cladding material comprises a reflective material, a polymer material, or air.

42. An earbud, comprising:

a chipset comprising at least one sensor element, noise source element, signal processor, input/output line, digital control, and power regulator; and

a housing enclosing the chipset, wherein the housing is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, and comprises at least one window that exposes the at least one sensor element to the ear of the subject.