# US 8,543,197 B2 · Portable device and method for measuring heart rate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,197 B2 - Document ID: US8543197B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/818,142 - Filed: 2007-06-12 - Published: 2007-12-27 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 1999-03-02 - Assignees: Quantum Intech, Inc. - Applicants: Harald Striepe; Alfredo Knecht; Doc L. Childre - Inventors: Harald Striepe; Alfredo Knecht; Doc L. Childre - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543197B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/332: Portable devices specially adapted therefor - A61B 5/02405: {Determining heart rate variability} - A61B 5/02438: {with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient} - A61B 5/16: Devices for psychotechnics (using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00); Testing reaction times {; Devices for evaluating the psychological state} - A61B 5/486: {Biofeedback (using electroencephalography [EEG] A61B5/375)} - A63B 23/185: {Rhythm indicators} - A63B 24/0075: {Means for generating exercise programmes or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases} - A63B 2230/04: heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A portable electronic device monitors the pulse or electrocardiogram of a person by integrated, attachable or wireless sensors. The portable device evaluates this data in real-time to assess heart rate variability coherence, and provide feedback through a variety of sounds and an array of LEDs. The feedback may be in the form of a breathing indicator or pacer usable as a respiratory cycle training system to indicate to the subject when the next breath should be taken. Such feedback may be correlated to the level of coherency the subject achieves. A coherence indicator may be used to provide the subject with real-time information relating to the level of coherence achieved. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable electronic device comprising: a pulse sensor configured to receive pulse data from a subject; a processor electrically connected to the pulse sensor, wherein the processor is configured to determine a power spectrum distribution of the pulse data, to determine a heart rate variability waveform based on the pulse data having a power spectrum distribution (PSD), to determine a coherence level for the subject derived from a PSD peak of said PSD, and to track the PSD peak of the PSD, wherein the PSD peak has an amplitude and frequency which vary over time; a coherence indicator electrically connected to the processor and configured to provide a coherence indication representative of the coherence level of the subject; and a respiration indicator electrically connected to the processor and configured to prompt the subject to breath at a desired respiration frequency which is associated with an increased coherence level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the respiration indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes configured to illuminate in a moving pattern of trailing lights. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the coherence level is further based on a user-selectable coherence challenge level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the desired respiration frequency to account for the subject's natural respiration cycle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the coherence level as a function of a relative amplitude of the PSD peak to a plurality of other peaks in the PSD. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the coherence level increases as the PSD peak approaches the frequency range of between 0.03125 Hertz and 0.234 Hertz. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the coherence level is characterized by at least one of a state of relaxation and increased positive emotions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the coherence level is characterized by a heart rate variability waveform having a sine-wave shape, and wherein the waveform is one of a respiratory sinus arrhythmia wave and a heart rate variability wave. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the pulse sensor is further configured as an operating button of the portable electronic device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the respiration indicator is further configured to display information representative of a heart rate variability range for the subject. ### Claim 11 A method for improving the physiological coherence of a subject using a portable electronic device, the method comprising the acts of: receiving pulse data from a subject; determining a power spectrum distribution of the pulse data, determining a heart rate variability waveform based on the pulse data having a power spectrum distribution (PSD); determining a coherence level for the subject derived from a PSD peak of said PSD; tracking the PSD peak of the PSD, wherein the PSD peak has an amplitude and frequency which vary over time; providing a coherence indication representative of the coherence level of the subject; and prompting the subject to breath at a desired respiration frequency which is associated with an increased coherence level. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein prompting comprises illuminating a plurality of light emitting diodes in a moving pattern of trailing lights. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the coherence level is further based on a user-selectable coherence challenge level. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising the act of adjusting the desired respiration frequency to account for the subject's natural respiration cycle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising the acts of determining the coherence level as a function of a relative amplitude of the PSD peak to a plurality of other peaks in the PSD. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the coherence level increases as the PSD peak approaches the frequency range of between 0.03125 Hertz and 0.234 Hertz. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the coherence level is characterized by at least one of a state of relaxation and increased positive emotions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the coherence level is characterized by a heart rate variability waveform having a sine-wave shape, and wherein the waveform is one of a respiratory sinus arrhythmia wave and a heart rate variability wave. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein receiving pulse data comprises receiving pulse data from a pulse sensor of the portable electronic device, and wherein the method further comprises receiving an operational command from the pulse sensor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying information representative of a heart rate variability range for the subject. ### Claim 21 A portable electronic device comprising: a pulse sensor; a coherence indicator; a respiration indicator; and a processor, electrically coupled to the pulse sensor, coherence indicator and respiration indicator, said processor configured to: receive pulse data from the pulse sensor corresponding to a user, determine a power spectrum distribution of the pulse data, determine a heart rate variability waveform based on the pulse data having a power spectrum distribution (PSD), determine a coherence level for the user derived from a PSD peak of said PSD, track the PSD peak of the pulse data PSD, wherein the PSD peak has an amplitude and frequency which vary over time; provide a coherence indication representative of the coherence level of the subject using the coherence indicator, and prompt the subject, using the respiration indicator, to breath at a desired respiration frequency which is associated with an increased coherence level. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The portable electronic device of claim 21, wherein the respiration indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes configured to illuminate in a moving pattern of trailing lights. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The portable electronic device of claim 21, wherein the coherence level is further based on a user-selectable coherence challenge level. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The portable electronic device of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the desired respiration frequency to account for the subject's natural respiration cycle. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The portable electronic device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to determine the coherence level as a function of a relative amplitude of the PSD peak to a plurality of other peaks in the PSD. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The portable electronic device of claim 25, wherein the coherence level increases as the PSD peak approaches the frequency range of between 0.03125 Hertz and 0.234 Hertz. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The portable electronic device of claim 21, wherein the coherence level is characterized by at least one of a state of relaxation and increased positive emotions. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The portable electronic device of claim 21, wherein the coherence level is characterized by a heart rate variability waveform having a sine-wave shape, and wherein the waveform is one of a respiratory sinus arrhythmia wave and a heart rate variability wave. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The portable electronic device of claim 21, wherein the pulse sensor is further configured as an operating button of the portable electronic device. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The portable electronic device of claim 21, wherein the respiration indicator is further configured to display information relating to a heart rate variability range for the subject.