Methods and apparatus for monitoring alertness of an individual utilizing a wearable device and providing notification

A wearable apparatus for monitoring fatigue and notifying a user, the wearable apparatus comprising:

• a motion sensor configured to monitor motion of the user;
• a notification generator configured to issue a stimulus and to generate a warning to the user in response to receipt of a signal;
• a processor coupled to the motion sensor and the notification generator, the processor configured to:
• obtain a base responsiveness profile of the user for a prescribed motion;
• generate a current responsiveness profile of the user for the prescribed motion from the monitored motion of the user in response to the stimulus,
• wherein the monitored motion includes the prescribed motion;
• determine whether the user response to the stimulus exceeds a predetermined threshold of the base responsiveness profile by comparing the current responsiveness profile to the base responsiveness profile;
• and
• send the signal to the notification generator when the user response exceeds the predetermined threshold of the base responsiveness profile;
• and
• a support configured to support the motion sensor, notification generator, and processor on the user.

A method of monitoring alertness of a user and notifying the user, comprising:

• obtaining, with a wearable apparatus configured to measure parameters of a prescribed motion, a base responsiveness profile of the user based on the parameters of the prescribed motion;
• issuing, with a notification generator, a stimulus to the user to perform the prescribed motion;
• monitoring, with the wearable apparatus, a response of the user to the stimulus;
• generating a current responsiveness profile from the user response to the stimulus;
• determining whether the user response to the stimulus exceeds a predetermined threshold of the base responsiveness profile by comparing the current responsiveness profile to the base responsiveness profile;
• and
• generating an alarm to alert the user, with the notification generator, when the response exceeds the predetermined threshold.

A wearable apparatus for monitoring fatigue and notifying a user, the wearable apparatus comprising:

• sensors configured to measure biomarkers of the user;
• a notification generator configured to generate a warning to the user in response to receipt of a signal;
• a processor coupled to the sensors and the notification generator, the processor configured to:
• obtain the biomarker measurements from the sensors;
• generate a personal circadian rhythm for the user, and the position of the user along that circadian rhythm, using the measured biomarkers;
• identify a risk level for the user by assessing the personal circadian rhythm of the user and the position of the user along that personal circadian rhythm;
• send the signal to the notification generator when the risk level is in a predetermined range;
• and
• a support configured to support the motion sensor, notification generator, and processor on the body of the user.

A method of monitoring alertness of a user, comprising:

• positioning a wearable apparatus on the user's body, wherein the apparatus is configured to measure one or more biomarkers of the user selected from the group consisting of skin temperature, heart rate, and galvanic skin response;
• correlating the one or more biomarkers to establish an estimated personal circadian rhythm for the user;
• determining the user's position within the user's estimated personal circadian rhythm based on the detected changes in the one or more biomarkers of the user over time;
• and
• determining, based on the estimated personal circadian rhythm of the user and the position of the user along the estimated personal circadian rhythm, an alertness level of the user.

A method for monitoring fatigue and notifying a user, comprising:

• affixing on the body of the user an apparatus comprising:
• sensors and processors configured to detect and monitor biomarkers of the user, wherein the biomarkers are selected from the group consisting of skin temperature, heart rate, and galvanic skin response;
• and
• a notification generator;
• generating an estimated personal circadian rhythm for the user based upon the measured biomarkers;
• determining a dynamic risk level for the user based on the estimated personal circadian rhythm of the user, and the position of the user along that estimated personal circadian rhythm;
• sending a signal to the notification generator when the identified risk level is in a predetermined range such that the notification generator alerts the user and/or a third party of the identified risk level.