# US 12,183,178 B2 · Vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus

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- Number: US 12,183,178 B2
- Document ID: US12183178B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/378,657
- Filed: 2021-07-17
- Published: 2023-01-19
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-07-17
- Applicants: Zachary Owen Rebro
- Inventors: Zachary Owen Rebro
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12183178B2

## CPC

- G08B 21/0453: {worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing (detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00)}
- A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet}
- A61B 5/02055: {Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature}
- A61B 5/14552: {Details of sensors specially adapted therefor}
- A61B 5/681: {Wristwatch-type devices}
- A61B 5/6824: {Arm or wrist}
- A61B 5/7405: {using sound}
- E05B 75/00: Handcuffs {; Finger cuffs; Leg irons; Handcuff holsters; Means for locking prisoners in automobiles (retaining devices for the body or body parts A61F5/37)}
- A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20)
- A61B 5/021: Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels
- A61B 5/02416: {using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation (A61B5/14552 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/02427: {Details of sensor}
- A61B 5/02438: {with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient}
- A61B 5/0533: Measuring galvanic skin response
- A61B 5/0816: {Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency (measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00)}
- A61B 5/1112: {Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS}
- A61B 5/1117: {Fall detection}
- A61B 5/14542: {for measuring blood gases (A61B5/14551 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/318: Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
- A61B 5/443: {Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water}
- A61B 5/746: {Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms}
- A61B 2503/12: Healthy persons not otherwise provided for, e.g. subjects of a marketing survey
- A61B 2560/0214: of power generation or supply
- A61B 2560/0252: using ambient temperature
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS

## Abstract

A vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus comprising a housing structure that is adapted to be coupled with a set of handcuffs and to contain a plurality of modules and units; a first module that is located within the housing structure and adapted to measure a wearer's heartrate via a sensor; a second module that is located within the housing structure and is adapted to measure the wearer's respiration rate via a sensor; a controller unit that is located within the housing structure, is configured to relay instructional programs to the modules and units which causes the modules and units to operate, and the controller unit receives data from the modules and inputs that data into associated algorithms that produce corresponding output signals; a communication unit that is located within the housing structure and receives the output signals from the controller unit and is adapted to relay the output signals to a user; and a rechargeable power unit located within the housing structure that is accessed by a port on an exterior of the housing structure, provides power to the vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus's other modules and units, and having a receiver which connects with an exterior power source via the port.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs comprising:
(a) a housing structure having an exterior and interior, adapted to be coupled and uncoupled with the set of handcuffs used by a law enforcement official for detainment of a wearer, the interior of the housing structure containing a plurality of modules and units, the exterior of the housing structure constructed to generally have a complimentary shape to the set of handcuffs, the exterior of the housing structure configured to contact the wearer's wrist while the set of handcuffs is engaged in a locked position on the wearer's wrist during detainment, and the housing structure being constructed to allow access to the set of handcuff's locking mechanism;
(b) a first sensor module having an interior portion of the first sensor module located within the interior of the housing structure and an exterior portion of the first sensor module protruding through the exterior of the housing structure, the exterior portion of the first sensor module making contact with the wearer's wrist while the set of handcuffs is engaged in the locked position on the wearer, and the first sensor module comprising an SpO2 sensor adapted to measure a first vitals measurement;
(c) a second sensor module having an interior portion of the second sensor module located within the interior of the housing structure and an exterior portion of the second sensor module protruding through the exterior of the housing structure, the exterior portion of the second sensor module making contact with the wearer's wrist while the set of handcuffs is engaged in the locked position on the wearer, the second sensor module comprising a second sensor, other than the SpO2 sensor, adapted to measure a second vitals measurement, and wherein this sensor is selected from the group consisting of a photoplethysmography sensor, a bioimpedance sensor, a dermal temperature sensor, an electrocardiogram sensor, and an electrodermal activity sensor;
(d) a controller unit that is located within the interior of the housing structure, the controller unit being configured to relay instructional programs to the modules and units which cause the modules and units to operate, the controller unit receiving the first vitals measurement and the second vitals measurement from the first sensor module and second sensor module, respectively, and, upon detection of at least one of the first vitals measurement and the second vitals measurement outside of given parameters, producing at least one corresponding output signal related to the wearer's at least one of the first vitals measurement and the second vitals measurement outside of given parameters;
(e) a communication unit that is located within the interior of the housing structure and receives the at least one corresponding output signal from the controller unit and is adapted to relay the at least one corresponding output signal to the law enforcement official to alert the law enforcement official of the wearer's medical issue via a speaker; and
(f) a rechargeable power unit located within the interior of the housing structure that is accessed by a port on the exterior of the housing structure, provides power to the vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus's other modules and units, and having a receiver which connects with an exterior power source via the port.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module comprises a photoplethysmography sensor to measure the second vitals measurement which is the wearer's heart rate and relays that data to the controller unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs of claim 2, further comprising a third sensor module having an interior portion of the third sensor module located within the interior of the housing structure and an exterior portion of the third sensor module protruding through the exterior of the housing structure, the exterior portion of the third sensor module making contact with the wearer's wrist while the set of handcuffs is engaged in the locked position on the wearer, and the third sensor module comprising a bioimpedance sensor adapted to measure a third vitals measurement and relay that data to the controller unit which, upon detection of the third vitals measurement outside of given parameters, produces at least one corresponding output signal for the third vitals measurement to send to the communication unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs of claim 3, further comprising a fourth sensor module which is an ambient temperature sensor having an interior portion of the fourth sensor module located within the interior of the housing structure and an exterior portion of the fourth sensor module protruding through the exterior of the housing structure, and the fourth sensor module measuring and relaying the ambient temperature to the controller unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs of claim 4, further comprising a GPS module that is located within the interior of the housing structure and is adapted to send location data to the controller unit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs of claim 5, further comprising a display unit on the exterior of the housing structure that displays the wearer's at least one vitals measurement received from the communication unit to visually alert the law enforcement official of the wearer's medical issue.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs of claim 6, wherein the communication unit transmits the wearer's at least one vitals measurement and medical issue to an external receiver capable of alerting the law enforcement official of the wearer's medical issue and wherein the communication unit includes at least one unit selected from the group consisting a Bluetooth™ communicator, a mobile network communicator, a Wi-Fi™ communicator, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs of claim 4, further comprising a display unit on the exterior of the housing structure that displays the wearer's at least one vitals measurement and visually alerts the law enforcement official of the wearer's medical issue.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs of claim 8, wherein the communication unit transmits the wearer's at least one vitals measurement and medical issue to an external receiver that can alert the law enforcement official of the wearer's medical issue and wherein the communication unit includes at least one unit selected from the group consisting a Bluetooth™ communicator, a mobile network communicator, a Wi-Fi™ communicator, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs of claim 4, wherein the housing structure is constructed to provide tamper and damage protection to the protruding exterior portions of the first sensor module, the second sensor module, the third sensor module, and the fourth sensor module.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs of claim 1, wherein the housing structure is configured to allow one, unconnected cuff of the set of handcuffs to be coupled with the housing structure before attaching a connection portion to the coupled cuff through a connection hole in the housing structure to connect the coupled cuff to the other cuff of the set of handcuffs.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs of claim 1, further comprising a functionality button on the housing structure.

### Claim 13

A vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus comprising:
(a) a set of handcuffs used by a law enforcement official for detainment of a wearer and having an attached housing structure, the housing structure having an exterior and interior, the interior of the housing structure containing a plurality of modules and units, the exterior of the housing structure being constructed to generally have a complimentary shape to the set of handcuffs, and the exterior of the housing structure configured to contact the wearer's wrist during detainment while the set of handcuffs is engaged in a locked position on the wearer's wrist;
(b) a first sensor module having an interior portion of the first sensor module located within the interior of the housing structure and an exterior portion of the first sensor module protruding through the exterior of the housing structure, the exterior portion of the first sensor module making contact with the wearer's wrist while the set of handcuffs is engaged in the locked position on the wearer, and the first sensor module comprising an SpO2 sensor adapted to measure a first vitals measurement;
(c) a second sensor module that is-having an interior portion of the second sensor module located within the interior of the housing structure and an exterior portion of the second sensor module protruding through the exterior of the housing structure, the exterior portion of the second sensor module making contact with the wearer's wrist while the set of handcuffs is engaged in the locked position on the wearer, the second sensor module comprising another sensor, other than an SpO2 sensor, adapted to measure a second vitals measurement, and wherein this sensor is selected from the group consisting of a photoplethysmography sensor, a bioimpedance sensor, a dermal temperature sensor, an electrocardiogram sensor, and an electrodermal activity sensor;
(d) a controller unit that is located within the interior of the housing structure, the controller unit being configured to relay instructional programs to the modules and units which cause the modules and units to operate, the controller unit receiving the first vitals measurement and the second vitals measurement from the first sensor module and second sensor module, respectively, and, upon detection of at least one of the first vitals measurement and second vitals measurement outside of given parameters, producing at least one corresponding output signal related to the wearer's at least one of the first vitals measurement and the second vitals measurement outside of given parameters;
(e) a communication unit that is located within the interior of the housing structure and receives the at least one corresponding output signal from the controller unit and is adapted to relay the at least one corresponding output signal to the law enforcement official to alert the law enforcement official of the wearer's medical issue via a speaker; and
(f) a rechargeable power unit located within the interior of the housing structure that is accessed by a port on the exterior of the housing structure, provides power to the vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus's other modules and units, and having a receiver which connects with an exterior power source via the port.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second sensor module comprises a photoplethysmography sensor to measure the second vitals measurement which is the wearer's heart rate and relays that data to the controller unit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The vitals monitoring apparatus coupled with a set of handcuffs of claim 14, wherein the housing structure further comprises at least one access panel which, when the housing structure is uncoupled from the set of handcuffs, provides access to the modules and units that are within the housing structure.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a third sensor module having an interior portion of the third sensor module located within the interior of the housing structure with an exterior portion of the third sensor module protruding through the exterior of the housing structure, the exterior portion of the third sensor module making contact with the wearer's wrist while the set of handcuffs is engaged in the locked position on the wearer, and the third module comprising a bioimpedance sensor adapted to measure a third vitals measurement and relay that data to the controller unit which, upon detection of the third vitals measurement outside of given parameters, produces at least one corresponding output signal for the third vitals measurement to send to the communication unit.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a GPS module that is located within the interior of the housing structure and is adapted to send location data to the controller unit.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a display unit on the exterior of the housing structure that displays the wearer's at least one vitals measurement received from the communication unit and visually alerts the law enforcement official of the wearer's medical issue.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus of claim 18, wherein the communication unit transmits the wearer's at least one vitals measurement and medical issue to an external receiver that can alert the law enforcement official of the wearer's medical issue and wherein the communication unit includes at least one unit selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth™ communicator, a mobile network communicator, a Wi-Fi™ communicator, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus of claim 16, wherein the housing structure is constructed to provide tamper and damage protection to the protruding exterior portions of the first sensor module, the second sensor module, and the third sensor module.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus of claim 20, wherein the housing structure further comprises at least one access panel which provides access to the modules and units that are within the housing structure.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The vitals monitoring handcuff apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a functionality button on the housing structure.