US 4,566,461 AGranted

Health fitness monitor

OwnerMichael Lubell, Stephen Marksinventors

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Abstract

A heart rate monitor device suitable for use in monitoring aerobic exercise training, automatically calculates a fitness parameter for a subject by monitoring the subject's heart rate and pacing the subject through a submaximal exercise stress test protocol. A microprocessor in the device is fed data peculiar to the individual subject, and then generates pacing signals to produce audible tones or beeps. The stride frequency, or rate of the tones varies at intervals so that the subject can exercise by running at progressively faster speeds. At the point of exhaustion, or maximum heart rate, the subject's maximal oxygen uptake capacity is calculated, based on the elapsed time, and is displayed as a fitness parameter. The subject's exercise level is automatically monitored based on his or her exercise heart rate, maximum heart rate, and rest heart rate.

Claims17

Dependent claims

In a personal fitness level monitor system for monitoring fitness parameters of an animate subject as a function of heat rate during exercise training, of the type comprising heart beat sensor means worn on said animate subject to sense said subject's heart beat;

data entry means for entering selected data peculiar to said subject;
display means for displaying said entered selected data and one or more fitness parameters calculated on the basis of said entered selected data and the detected heart beats of said subject;
and microprocessor means for storing said entered data and calculations exercise heart rate HRE from said detected heart beats and calculating said one or more fitness parameters based on the entered data and heart rate data, said system including timing means for use in measuring the heart rate of the subject on the basis of said detected heart beats;
and indicator means providing an indication to said subject of the level of training exercise;
the improvement wherein said fitness parameters include a maximal oxygen uptake parameter VO.sub.2max as a fitness index;
and said microprocessor means includes:
(1) means for establishing an exercise protocol in which the subject exercises at a first relatively low effort level for a first period, and at progressively higher effort levels for corresponding successive periods, means for continuously measuring the heart rate in said microprocessor means based on said detected heart beat of said subject while the latter is exercising at each of said effort levels according to said protocol;
(2) means for halting the exercise protocol when the exercise heart rate HRE of said subject reaches a maximum heart rate HR.sub.M predetermined from said selected data, and means for storing the maximum heart rate HR.sub.M and elapsed time T from the commencement of said exercise protocol until said maximum heart HR.sub.M rate is attained;
(3) means for calculating and storing said fitness index according to a relationship
VO.sub.2max =aT+b
where a and b are experimentally derived coefficients;
and
(4) means for causing said display means to display the calculated fitness index VO.sub.2max.

10 more elements

A method of monitoring the oxygen uptake capacity of a human subject during exercise training wherein heart beat sensor means are worn on said subject to sense said subject's heart beat wherein selected data peculiar to said subject including the subject's height H, weight M, and gender are employed;

and wherein a maximal oxygen uptake parameter VO.sub.2max is calculated as a fitness index;
the method comprising the steps of
(1) recording the weight M, height H, and gender of the subject as said selected data;
(2) measuring the heart rate of said subject while at rest and recording such heart rate as a resting heart rate HR.sub.R ;
(3) establishing an exercise protocol for said subject at a rate that varies according to a prescribed protocol in which said exercise effort level gradually increases, and continuously measuring the exercise heart rate HRE of the subject while exercising according to said protocol;
(4) halting the exercise protocol when the exercise heart rate HR.sub.E attains a maxium heart rate HR.sub.M predetermined from the data recorded in step (1), and recording the maximum heart rate HR.sub.M and elapsed time T from the commencement of said exercise protocol until said maximum heart rate HR.sub.M is attained;
and
(5) calculating said fitness index according to the relationship
VO.sub.2max =a T+b
where a and b are experimentally derived coefficients.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/466,671Filed 15 Feb 1983
Granted: 28 Jan 1986
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A63B 71/0686
Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities: timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric…
A61B 5/024
Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the cardiovascular system, e.g. pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow: measuring pulse…
A61B 5/222
Ergometry, e.g. by using bicycle type apparatus: combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
A61B 5/6831
Means for maintaining contact with the body: straps, bands or harnesses