Wearable apparatus having integrated physiological and/or environmental sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11083378-B2
Application number	US-201414264850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2014
Priority date	Dec 19, 2006
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

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.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. An apparatus adapted to be worn by a subject, the apparatus comprising:
an earpiece module comprising an earpiece body and a mouthpiece that is adjustable between at least a first position and a second position relative to the earpiece body;
flexible circuitry comprising a first flexible circuit board located within the mouthpiece;
at least one physiological sensor mounted on the first flexible circuit board, wherein the at least one physiological sensor is configured to sense physiological information from the subject, wherein the flexible circuitry facilitates alignment and placement of the at least one physiological sensor relative to a body of the subject, wherein the at least one physiological sensor is located at a first distance from the earpiece body when the mouthpiece is in the first position, and wherein the physiological sensor is located at a second distance from the earpiece body when the mouthpiece is in the second position; and
a processor located within the earpiece body and configured to process signals produced by the at least one physiological sensor to produce processed signals containing physiological information of the subject.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece module further comprises an earpiece fitting adapted to be positioned within an ear of the subject, wherein the flexible circuitry further comprises a second flexible circuit board that is located within the earpiece fitting, and wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one physiological sensor mounted on the second flexible circuit board that is configured to sense further physiological information front the subject.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece module further comprises an ear support adapted to secure the earpiece module to the ear of the subject, wherein the flexible circuitry further comprises a second flexible circuit board that is, located within the ear support, and wherein, the apparatus further comprises at least one physiological sensor mounted on the second flexible circuit board that is configured to sense further physiological information from the subject.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece module comprises, an earpiece clip adapted to clip, on a portion of the, ear of the subject wherein the flexible circuitry further comprises a second flexible circuit board that is located within the earpiece clip, and wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one physiological sensor mounted on the second flexible circuit board that is configured to sense further physiological information from the subject.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece module comprises a pinna cover, wherein the flexible circuitry comprises a second flexible circuit board. that is located within the pinna cover, and wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one physiological sensor mounted on the second flexible circuit board that is configured to sense further physiological information from the subject.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , farther comprising at least one environmental sensor mounted on the first flexible circuit board, wherein the at least one environmental sensor is configured to sense environmental information in a vicinity of the subject, and wherein the processor is, further configured to process signals produced by the at least one environmental sensor to produce processed signals containing environmental information, in a vicinity of the subject.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , farther comprising a transmitter responsive to the processor that is configured to transmit the processed signals to a remote device and/or portable telecommunication device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible circuitry comprises piezoelectric material.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first position is a retracted position in which the at least one physiological sensor is located within the earpiece body.

Assignees

• Valencell Inc

Inventors

• Leboeuf Steven Francis
• Tucker Jesse Berkley
• Aumer Michael Edward

Classifications

• H04R1/1091

  Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083 · CPC title

• H04R1/105

  Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335) · CPC title

• H04R1/1016

  Earpieces of the intra-aural type · CPC title

• A61B5/411

  Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance · CPC title

• A61B5/1118

  Determining activity level · CPC title