# US 8,647,270 B2 · Form-fitted monitoring apparatus for health and environmental monitoring

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- Number: US 8,647,270 B2
- Document ID: US8647270B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/692,807
- Filed: 2010-01-25
- Published: 2010-08-26
- Granted: 2014-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2009-02-25
- Assignees: Valencell, Inc.
- Applicants: Steven Francis LeBoeuf; Jesse Berkley Tucker; Michael Edward Aumer
- Inventors: Steven Francis LeBoeuf; Jesse Berkley Tucker; Michael Edward Aumer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8647270B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/0205: Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
- A61B 5/00: Measuring for diagnostic purposes (radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00); Identification of persons
- A61B 5/0013: {Medical image data (A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/002: {Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building (A61B5/0017 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet}
- A61B 5/0024: {for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network}
- A61B 5/0059: {using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence (photoacoustic A61B5/0093; optical measurement of heart rate A61B5/02416; optical measurement of blood flow A61B5/0261; optical measurement of analytes A61B5/1455)}
- A61B 5/0082: {adapted for particular medical purposes}
- A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20)
- A61B 5/02055: {Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature}
- A61B 5/021: Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels
- A61B 5/02427: {Details of sensor}
- A61B 5/02433: {for infrared radiation}
- A61B 5/0261: {using optical means, e.g. infrared light}
- A61B 5/0816: {Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency (measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00)}
- A61B 5/11: Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb {(A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721)}
- A61B 5/1107: {Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ or muscle}
- A61B 5/1118: {Determining activity level}
- A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement}
- A61B 5/1455: using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
- A61B 5/14551: {for measuring blood gases}
- A61B 5/165: {Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety}
- A61B 5/418: {lymph vessels, ducts or nodes}
- A61B 5/4812: {Detecting sleep stages or cycles}
- A61B 5/4845: {Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products (A61B5/4848 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/4848: {Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication}
- A61B 5/486: {Biofeedback (using electroencephalography [EEG] A61B5/375)}
- A61B 5/4866: {Evaluating metabolism (using breath test A61B5/083)}
- A61B 5/4875: {Hydration status, fluid retention of the body}
- A61B 5/4884: {inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing}
- A61B 5/6803: {Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles}
- A61B 5/6815: {Ear}
- A61B 5/6816: {Ear lobe}
- A61B 5/6817: {Ear canal}
- A61B 5/6819: {Nose}
- A61B 5/6826: {Finger}
- A61B 5/6838: {Clamps or clips}
- A61B 5/721: {using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured}
- A61B 5/7214: {using signal cancellation, e.g. based on input of two identical physiological sensors spaced apart, or based on two signals derived from the same sensor, for different optical wavelengths}
- A61B 5/7221: {Determining signal validity, reliability or quality (preventing, reducing or removing noise induced by motion artefacts A61B5/7207; noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus A61B5/7217)}
- A61B 5/725: {using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters (specific diagnostics methods using using bioelectric or biomagnetic signals A61B5/316)}
- A61B 5/7278: {Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesizing signals from measured signals}
- A61B 5/7282: {Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition (cough events A61B5/0823; seizures A61B5/4094; sleep apnoea A61B5/4818)}
- A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)}
- A61B 5/7475: {User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick}
- G02B 6/0001: {specially adapted for lighting devices or systems (lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00)}
- G16H 20/30: relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
- G16H 30/40: for processing medical images, e.g. editing
- G16H 40/63: for local operation
- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- G16H 50/20: for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
- H04R 1/028: {associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles}
- H04R 1/105: {Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335)}
- H04R 1/1091: {Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083}
- A61B 5/024: Measuring pulse rate or heart rate
- A61B 5/02405: {Determining heart rate variability}
- A61B 5/02416: {using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation (A61B5/14552 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/026: Measuring blood flow {(A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/0295: using plethysmography, i.e. measuring the variations in the volume of a body part as modified by the circulation of blood therethrough, e.g. impedance plethysmography
- A61B 5/091: Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
- A61B 5/411: {Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance}
- A61B 5/415: {the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus}
- A61B 5/7207: {of noise induced by motion artifacts}
- A61B 2560/0242: adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
- A61B 2560/0425: Ergonomically shaped housings (A61B2560/0418 takes precedence)
- A61B 2560/0443: Modular apparatus
- A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
- A61B 2562/0233: Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
- Y02A 90/10: Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

A monitoring apparatus includes a housing that is configured to be attached to a body of a subject. The housing includes a sensor region that is configured to contact a selected area of the body of the subject when the housing is attached to the body of the subject. The sensor region is contoured to matingly engage the selected body area. The apparatus includes at least one physiological sensor that is associated with the sensor region and that detects and/or measures physiological information from the subject and/or at least one environmental sensor associated with the sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure environmental information. The sensor region contour stabilizes the physiological and/or environmental sensor(s) relative to the selected body area such that subject motion does not impact detection and/or measurement efforts of the sensor(s).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A monitoring apparatus, comprising:
an earbud module configured to be attached to an ear of a subject, the ear having an anti tragus, an acoustic meatus, and an ear canal, wherein the earbud module comprises a sensor region having at least one optical sensor that is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject, wherein the sensor region is contoured to matingly engage at least one portion of the intersection of the anti tragus and acoustic meatus, and wherein the sensor region is oriented in a direction away from the ear canal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor region contour stabilizes the earbud module when the earbud module is attached to the ear of the subject.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one environmental sensor associated with the sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure environmental information.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sensor region is removable and replaceable with another sensor region having a different contour.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a headset and wherein the sensor region is a portion of an earbud housing of the headset.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises a plurality of optical sensors.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one environmental sensor comprises a plurality of environmental sensors.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises:
at least one optical emitter;
a plurality of optical detectors; and
a lens that covers the at least one optical emitter and the plurality of optical detectors, wherein the lens comprises a region that prevents light containing physiological information from reaching at least one of the detectors.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one portion of the lens is configured to guide light transferred from the subject to at least one of the optical detectors.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lens is configured to focus light transferred from the subject to at least one of the optical detectors.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the earbud module comprises an elongated hollow tube extending outwardly therefrom that is configured to be inserted within an ear canal of the subject.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the elongated hollow tube comprises a sensor region having one or more motion sensors associated therewith that are configured to measure motion of the subject, wherein the one or more motion sensors are configured to measure changes in one or more of the following: inertia, capacitance, electrical conductivity, inductance, speed, distance, acceleration, and electromagnetic radiation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover detachably secured to the sensor region.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one portion of the cover is configured to regulate energy transferred from the subject to the at least one optical sensor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one portion of the cover is configured to block energy transferred from the subject to the at least one optical sensor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor region comprises one or more motion sensors configured to measure motion of the subject, and wherein the one or more motion sensors configured to measure motion are configured to measure changes in one or more of the following: inertia, capacitance, electrical conductivity, inductance, speed, distance, acceleration, and electromagnetic radiation.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lens region comprises a portion that vibrates in response to body motion of the subject and modulates light passing through the lens region in proportion to the body motion of the subject.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises:
at least one optical emitter; and
a plurality of optical detectors, wherein at least a portion of the cover is configured to block light from reaching at least one of the optical detectors.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cover comprises a portion that vibrates in response to body motion of the subject and modulates light passing through the cover in proportion to the body motion of the subject.

### Claim 20

A monitoring apparatus, comprising:
an earbud module configured to be attached to an ear of a subject, the ear having an anti tragus, an acoustic meatus, and an ear canal, wherein the earbud module comprises a sensor region having at least one optical sensor that is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject, wherein the sensor region is contoured to matingly engage at least one portion of the intersection of the anti tragus and acoustic meatus, wherein the sensor region is oriented in a direction away from the ear canal, and wherein the sensor region is removably secured to the earbud module via a connector, wherein the connector facilitates ready removal from and attachment to the earbud module.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the sensor region contour stabilizes the earbud module when the earbud module is attached to the ear of the subject.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising at least one environmental sensor associated with the sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure environmental information.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is a headset and wherein the sensor region is a portion of an earbud housing of the headset.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises a plurality of optical sensors.

### Claim 25 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one environmental sensor comprises further comprising a plurality of environmental sensors.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises:
at least one optical emitter;
a plurality of optical detectors; and
a lens that covers the at least one optical emitter and the plurality of optical detectors, wherein the lens comprises a region that prevents light containing physiological information from reaching at least one of the detectors.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least one portion of the lens is configured to guide light transferred from the subject to at least one of the optical detectors.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the sensor region comprises a portion that vibrates in response to body motion of the subject and modulates light passing through the sensor region in proportion to the body motion.

### Claim 29 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least one portion of the sensor region overlies at least a portion of the at least one optical sensor and is configured to guide energy transferred from the subject to the at least one optical sensor.

### Claim 30 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the sensor region comprises a lens configured to focus light transferred from the subject to the at least one optical sensor.

### Claim 31 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the earbud module comprises a plurality of sensor regions, each configured to contact a respective selected area of the ear of the subject when the earbud module is attached to the ear of the subject, each contoured to matingly engage a respective selected ear area, and further comprising at least one optical sensor associated with each sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject.

### Claim 32 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the earbud module comprises a plurality of sensor regions, each configured to contact a respective selected area of the ear of the subject when the earbud module is attached to the ear of the subject, each contoured to matingly engage a respective selected ear area, wherein at least one sensor region has one or more sensors associated therewith that are configured to measure motion of the subject, and wherein at least one sensor region has one or more sensors associated therewith that are configured to measure physiological information from the subject.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the one or more sensors configured to measure motion of the subject are configured to measure changes in one or more of the following: inertia, capacitance, electrical conductivity, inductance, speed, distance, acceleration, and electromagnetic radiation.

### Claim 34 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a cover detachably secured to the sensor region.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The apparatus of claim 34, wherein at least one portion of the cover is configured to regulate energy transferred from the subject to the at least one optical sensor.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

The apparatus of claim 34, wherein at least one portion of the cover is configured to block energy transferred from the subject to the at least one optical sensor.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one portion of the cover is configured to block light from passing therethrough.

### Claim 38 (depends on 36)

The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the cover comprises a portion that vibrates in response to body motion of the subject and modulates light passing through the sensor region in proportion to the body motion.

### Claim 39

A monitoring apparatus, comprising:
an earbud module configured to be attached to an ear of a subject, the ear having an anti tragus, an acoustic meatus, and an ear canal, wherein the earbud module comprises a sensor region having at least one electromagnetic emitter and at least one electromagnetic sensor, wherein the sensor region emits electromagnetic energy to at least one portion of the intersection of the anti-tragus and acoustic meatus in a direction away from the ear canal and/or detects electromagnetic energy from at least one portion of the intersection of the anti-tragus and acoustic meatus in a direction away from the ear canal, and wherein the at least one electromagnetic sensor comprises one or more of the following: an optical sensor, a capacitive sensor, an acoustic sensor, an auscultatory sensor, a pressure sensor, or a color sensor.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising at least one environmental sensor associated with the sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure environmental information.

### Claim 41 (depends on 39)

The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the apparatus is a headset and wherein the sensor region is a portion of an earbud housing of the headset.

### Claim 42 (depends on 39)

The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the at least one electromagnetic sensor comprises a plurality of electromagnetic sensors.

### Claim 43 (depends on 40)

The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the at least one environmental sensor comprises a plurality of environmental sensors.

### Claim 44 (depends on 39)

The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the sensor region comprises one or more motion sensors configured to measure motion of the subject, and wherein the one or more motion sensors configured to measure motion are configured to measure changes in one or more of the following: inertia, capacitance, electrical conductivity, inductance, speed, distance, acceleration, and electromagnetic radiation.

### Claim 45 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the earbud module comprises a plurality of sensor regions, each configured to contact a respective selected area of the ear of the subject when the earbud module is attached to the ear of the subject, each contoured to matingly engage a respective selected ear area, and further comprising at least one optical sensor associated with each sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject.