Methods and apparatus for physiological and environmental monitoring with optical and footstep sensors
Inventors
LeBoeuf, Steven Francis • Tucker, Jesse Berkley • Aumer, Michael Edward
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11324407-B2
Publication Date
2022-05-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
Wearable apparatus for monitoring various physiological and environmental factors are provided. Real-time, noninvasive health and environmental monitors include a plurality of compact sensors integrated within small, low-profile devices, such as earpiece modules. Physiological and environmental data is collected and wirelessly transmitted into a wireless network, where the data is stored and/or processed.
Core Innovation
A method of monitoring a person uses an earpiece fitting positioned within the ear to direct optical energy to a region of a pinna via at least one optical emitter. The earpiece fitting transmits sound to an eardrum of the ear, and the optical emitter is located at a portion of the earpiece fitting that contacts a portion of the pinna. An optical detector located at the portion of the earpiece fitting that contacts the pinna generates an optical energy signal comprising an indication of sensed optical energy absorbed, scattered, and/or reflected by the region of the pinna.
A footstep sensor supported by the earpiece fitting generates a footstep signal comprising an indication of sensed footsteps of the person. A signal processor supported by the earpiece fitting processes the optical energy and footstep signals, using the footstep signal to remove selectively, from the optical energy signal, effects of the sensed footsteps. The processing results in a processed physiological signal comprising cleaner physiological information about the person than physiological information indicated by the optical energy signal alone.
The method transmits the processed physiological signal to a portable telecommunication device via at least one transmitter supported by the earpiece fitting. In further processing, pulse rate information is generated by processing the optical energy and footstep signals and using the footstep signal to remove, from the optical energy signal, effects from the sensed footsteps, and the footstep information and/or pulse rate information is presented via a visual display and/or audio speaker of the portable telecommunication device.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00009, and clm-00015. Across these claims, the main inventive features are an ear-supported earpiece that directs optical energy to a pinna region and generates an optical energy signal, simultaneous footstep sensing on the earpiece fitting, signal processing that uses the footstep signal to remove selectively effects of sensed footsteps from the optical energy signal, and transmission of resulting physiological information to a portable telecommunication device for presentation or processing.
Optical energy to pinna region with earpiece fitting and optical detection
Directing optical energy to a region of a pinna of an ear of the person via at least one optical emitter of an earpiece fitting positioned within the ear of the person; generating, by at least one optical detector located at the portion of the earpiece fitting that contacts the portion of the pinna of the ear, an optical energy signal comprising an indication of sensed optical energy absorbed, scattered, and/or reflected by the region of the pinna of the ear.
Footstep signal generation on the earpiece fitting
Generating, by at least one footstep sensor supported by the earpiece fitting, a footstep signal comprising an indication of sensed footsteps of the person.
Selective removal of sensed footstep effects from optical energy signal
Processing, by at least one signal processor supported by the earpiece fitting, the optical energy and footstep signals, using the footstep signal to remove selectively, from the optical energy signal, effects of the sensed footsteps indicated by the footstep signal, and resulting in a processed physiological signal comprising cleaner physiological information about the person than physiological information indicated by the optical energy signal alone.
Transmission of processed physiological signal to portable telecommunication device
Transmitting the processed physiological signal to a portable telecommunication device via at least one transmitter supported by the earpiece fitting.
Pulse rate generation using optical energy and footstep signals
Generating, by the at least one signal processor, pulse rate information by processing the optical energy and footstep signals and using the footstep signal to remove, from the optical energy signal, effects from the sensed footsteps of the person.
Presentation of footstep information and/or pulse rate information via portable device display and/or speaker
Transmitting the footstep information and pulse rate information to a portable telecommunication device via at least one transmitter supported by the earpiece fitting such that the footstep information and/or pulse rate information is presented via a visual display and/or audio speaker of the portable telecommunication device.
Step measurement based on processed footstep signal
Processing the footstep signal generated by the at least one footstep sensor to measure a number of steps walked by the subject.
Transmission of optical energy and footstep signals for selective processing and step measurement
Transmitting the optical energy and footstep signals generated respectively by the at least one optical detector and the at least one footstep sensor to a portable telecommunication device via at least one transmitter supported by the earpiece fitting, wherein the portable telecommunication device includes a visual display, an audio speaker, and a signal processor.
Across clm-00001, clm-00009, and clm-00015, the claims cover an ear-supported earpiece that generates an optical energy signal from a pinna region and simultaneously generates a footstep signal from an earpiece-supported footstep sensor, followed by processing that selectively removes footstep effects from the optical energy signal to produce cleaner physiological information. The claim set further includes generating pulse rate information and presenting footstep and/or pulse rate information via a portable telecommunication device, as well as processing the footstep signal to measure a number of steps walked.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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