System and method for fitness testing, tracking and training

• US 9,737,761 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Revvo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Revvo, Inc.
• Inventors: Sivaraj, Govindarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganesan, Sundhara
• Application Number:
  US14/926,436
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• 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 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/685 : for electronic devices, e.g. phone, PDA, GPS device, notebook
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 : heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/045 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/305 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus A63B2230/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/433 : partial CO2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/436 : partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/65 : skin conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

A system and method for adaptive fitness testing is provided. A fitness testing application manages fitness tests on a fitness testing apparatus by collecting physiological data and calculating various performance metrics. The fitness testing application automatically reconfigures fitness tests to adopt to a user'"'"'s improving fitness level.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an exercise apparatus operatively interconnected with a training device configurable to provide variable resistance to a user;

a fitness testing computer comprising a processor executing a fitness testing application, the fitness testing computer operatively interconnected with the training device and one or more physiological monitors, the one or more physiological monitors configured to provide physiological data to the fitness testing application;

wherein the fitness testing application is configured to execute an intermittent testing protocol comprising an interval fitness session for a user on the exercise apparatus, wherein the fitness testing application records the physiological data during the interval fitness session and is further configured to estimate the aerobic component of maximum energy expenditure measured through the intermittent testing protocol without using an oxygen mask.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the exercise apparatus comprises a stationary bicycle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the fitness testing computer comprises a tablet computer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more physiological monitors comprise a heart rate monitor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the fitness testing application is further configured to execute a training protocol comprising a training session and wherein the fitness testing application uses the results of the intermittent testing protocol to vary an intensity of the training session to regulate a heart rate of the user.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the fitness testing application is further configured to execute a training protocol comprising a training session and wherein the fitness testing application uses the results of the intermittent testing protocol to vary an intensity of the training session to regulate blood glucose levels of the user.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the fitness testing application is further configured to estimate heart rate recovery based on a plurality of heart rate measurements during execution of the intermittent testing protocol.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the fitness testing application is further configured to estimate an anaerobic threshold based on heart rate response to different levels of energy expenditure during execution of the intermittent testing protocol.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the intermittent testing protocol further comprises an initial fitness test.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the initial fitness test establishes a baseline fitness level (VO2Max) and anaerobic threshold for the user.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the fitness testing application is further configured to execute a training protocol comprising a training session and wherein the fitness testing application uses the results of the intermittent testing protocol to vary an intensity of the training session to keep a user working above the estimated anaerobic threshold or VO2Max.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the fitness testing application is further configured to execute a training protocol comprising a training session and wherein the fitness testing application uses the results of the intermittent testing protocol to very an intensity of the training session to keep a user working below the estimated anaerobic threshold or VO2Max.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the fitness testing application is further configured to execute a training protocol comprising a training session and wherein the fitness testing application tracks the estimated fitness metrics of the user during the training session by relying on a relationship between heart rate and energy expenditure established through the intermittent testing protocol.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the fitness testing application is further configured to modify the intermittent testing protocol based on the physiological data recorded and estimated during the interval fitness session.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein the fitness testing application is further configured to modify the intermittent testing protocol based on the physiological data recorded and estimated during a previous interval fitness session.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the intermittent testing protocol includes an intermittent ramp protocol with a predetermined time period and with varying resistance to the user.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the fitness testing application is further configured to execute a training protocol comprising a training session and wherein the fitness testing application uses the results of the intermittent testing protocol to vary an intensity of the training session to regulate blood pressure levels of the user.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the intermittent testing protocol further comprises one or more recovery periods and wherein the fitness testing application modifies the length of the one or more recovery periods based on a heart rate of the user.

19. A method for testing the fitness of a user comprising:

providing a fitness testing computer comprising a processor executing a fitness testing application, the fitness testing computer operatively interconnected with a training device configurable to provide variable resistance to a user, the training device operatively interconnected to an exercise apparatus, the fitness testing computer further operatively interconnected with one or more physiological monitors, the one or more physiological monitors configured to provide physiological data to the fitness testing application;

executing an intermittent testing protocol by the fitness testing application, the intermittent testing protocol comprising an interval fitness session for a user on the exercise apparatus,

wherein the intermittent testing protocol includes an intermittent ramp protocol with a predetermined time period and with varying resistance to the user; and

wherein the fitness testing application records the physiological data during the interval fitness session and is further configured to estimate the aerobic component of maximum energy expenditure measured through the intermittent testing protocol without using an oxygen mask.