Wearable Device for the Ear with Electroencephalographic and Spectroscopic Sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016120474-A1
Application number	US-201614992073-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 11, 2016
Priority date	Feb 12, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

This invention is a wearable device for the ear comprising: an ear attachment with a forehead-projecting portion, an electromagnetic energy sensor which is configured to collect data concerning electromagnetic energy which is transmitted through and/or emitted by the person's body, a microphone, a spectroscopic sensor which is configured to collect data concerning light energy which is transmitted through and/or reflected from the person's body, a sound-emitting unit, a power source, and a data processor. This device configuration is advantageous for mobile electroencephalographic monitoring and spectroscopic analysis of body tissue.

First claim

I claim:

1 . A wearable device for the ear comprising:
an ear attachment, wherein this ear attachment further comprises an inserted portion which is configured to be at least partially inserted into the ear canal, a frontal-connecting portion which is configured to span a portion of an outer ear or ear canal opening perimeter between the 11 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, wherein clock hour positions around the perimeter of an outer ear or ear canal opening are defined relative to a 12 o'clock position that is vertically above the center of the outer opening of the ear canal, a forehead-projecting portion which is configured to span from the ear to the person's temple and/or forehead, a rear-spanning portion which is configured to span a portion of an outer ear or ear canal opening perimeter between the 5 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions, and an earlobe portion which is configured to be attached to the earlobe; an electromagnetic energy sensor which is configured to collect data concerning electromagnetic energy which is transmitted through and/or emitted by the person's body; a microphone; a spectroscopic sensor which is configured to collect data concerning light energy which is transmitted through and/or reflected from the person's body; a sound-emitting unit; a power source; and a data processor.

2 . The device in claim 1 wherein the forehead-projecting portion is connected to or integrated with the frontal-connecting portion.

3 . The device in claim 1 wherein the forehead-projecting portion is configured to curve toward the center of a person's forehead as it projects forward from the person's ear.

4 . The device in claim 1 wherein the forehead-projecting portion is configured with a tensile mechanism or actuator such that its front portion presses gently against a person's temple and/or forehead.

5 . The device in claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy sensor is an electroencephalographic sensor.

6 . The device in claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy sensor is located on the forehead-projecting portion.

7 . The device in claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy sensor is located on the inserted portion.

8 . The device in claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy sensor is located on the earlobe portion.

9 . The device in claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic sensor is located on the earlobe portion.

10 . A wearable device for the ear comprising:
an ear attachment, wherein this ear attachment further comprises a frontal-connecting portion which is configured to span a portion of an outer ear or ear canal opening perimeter between the 11 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, wherein clock hour positions around the perimeter of an outer ear or ear canal opening are defined relative to a 12 o'clock position that is vertically above the center of the outer opening of the ear canal, a forehead-projecting portion which is configured to span from the ear to the person's temple and/or forehead, a rear-spanning portion which is configured to span a portion of an outer ear or ear canal opening perimeter between the 5 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions, and an earlobe portion which is configured to be attached to the earlobe; an electromagnetic energy sensor which is configured to collect data concerning electromagnetic energy which is transmitted through and/or emitted by the person's body; a microphone; a spectroscopic sensor which is configured to collect data concerning light energy which is transmitted through and/or reflected from the person's body; a sound-emitting unit; a power source; and a data processor.

11 . The device in claim 10 wherein the forehead-projecting portion is connected to or integrated with the frontal-connecting portion.

12 . The device in claim 10 wherein the forehead-projecting portion is configured to curve toward the center of a person's forehead as it projects forward from the person's ear.

13 . The device in claim 10 wherein the forehead-projecting portion is configured with a tensile mechanism or actuator such that its front portion presses gently against a person's temple and/or forehead.

14 . The device in claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic energy sensor is an electroencephalographic sensor.

15 . The device in claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic energy sensor is located on the forehead-projecting portion.

16 . The device in claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic energy sensor is located on the earlobe portion.

17 . The device in claim 10 wherein the spectroscopic sensor is located on the earlobe portion.

18 . A wearable device for the ear comprising:
an ear attachment, wherein this ear attachment further comprises an inserted portion which is configured to be at least partially inserted into the ear canal, a frontal-connecting portion which is configured to span a portion of an outer ear or ear canal opening perimeter between the 11 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, wherein clock hour positions around the perimeter of an outer ear or ear canal opening are defined relative to a 12 o'clock position that is vertically above the center of the outer opening of the ear canal, a rear-spanning portion which is configured to span a portion of an outer ear or ear canal opening perimeter between the 5 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions, and an earlobe portion which is configured to be attached to the earlobe; an electromagnetic energy sensor which is configured to collect data concerning electromagnetic energy which is transmitted through and/or emitted by the person's body; a microphone; a spectroscopic sensor which is configured to collect data concerning light energy which is transmitted through and/or reflected from the person's body; a sound-emitting unit; a power source; and a data processor.

19 . The device in claim 18 wherein the electromagnetic energy sensor is located on the inserted portion.

20 . The device in claim 18 wherein the spectroscopic sensor is located on the earlobe portion.

Assignees

• Connor Robert A
• Medibotics Llc

Inventors

• Connor Robert A

Classifications

• A61B7/04

  Electric stethoscopes · CPC title

• A61B5/72

  Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes · CPC title

• A61B5/683

  Means for maintaining contact with the body (A61B5/6802 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/0075

  by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy (A61B5/0071 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/6817 Primary

  Ear canal · CPC title