MODULAR WEARABLE SENSOR

Abstract

A modular wearable health sensor having a substantially flexible attachment means connected to a housing comprising a power source and at least one processor through a relatively rigid and narrow spine disposed substantially centrally thereon having a variety of clinical and non-clinical uses that provides more comfortable and durable attachment of biometric sensors to a user by allowing the attachment means to contour to the user's body without the housing also being forced to do so along its entire width.

Claims

1. A modular wearable health monitor comprising: a housing comprising a power source and at least one processor configured to process biometric data; a flexible mount configured, during use, to be affixed to a user's body, the mount comprising a body attachment means for affixing said mount to the user's body; and a substantially rigid spine disposed substantially centrally on said flexible mount, the spine comprising an attachment means for removably attaching said housing thereto, wherein said spine is substantially narrower than the mount.

2. The modular wearable health monitor of claim 1 wherein said mount further comprises at least one sensor that, upon fixation of the housing to the spine, is put into electrical and/or optical communication with said housing.

3. The modular wearable health monitor of claim 1 wherein said spine further comprises apertures aligned with features of said housing.

4. The modular wearable health monitor of claim 3 wherein the features of said housing comprise Light Emitting Diodes.

5. The modular wearable health monitor of claim 4 wherein said light emitting diodes are in operative communication with at least one processor contained within said housing, wherein said processor is configured to utilize inputs therefrom to generate data corresponding to blood oxygen saturation measurements.

6. The modular wearable health monitor of claim 5 wherein said mount further comprises at least one EKG sensor configured to be in operative communication with said housing when attached thereto through said spine.

7. The modular wearable health monitor of claim 1 wherein said body attachment means comprises an adhesive.

8. The modular wearable health monitor of claim 7 wherein said adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

9. The modular wearable health monitor of claim 7 wherein said adhesive is a waterproof adhesive.

10. The modular wearable health monitor of claim 1 wherein said modular wearable health monitor is configured to monitor heart rate, heart rate variability, steps taken, respiratory rate, blood oxygen levels, skin temperature, body posture, glucose levels, and galvanic skin response/electro dermal activity.

11. The modular wearable health monitor of claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises an inductive charging module configured to allow inductive charging of said power source.

12. The modular wearable health monitor of claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a programmable button.

13. The modular wearable health monitor of claim 12 wherein said programmable button is configured, when activated, to perform a function selected from the group consisting of record data, alert emergency responders, and mark the data being recorded at that time for later review.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a top, elevation view of a wearable health sensor, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 2A is a top, elevation view of the circuitry-containing portion of a wearable health sensor, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 2B is a top, elevation view of the adhesive portion of a wearable health sensor, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0018] FIG. 3 is side, elevation view of a wearable health sensor wherein the adhesive portion thereof is being flexed, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Now referring to FIG. 1, a top, elevation view of a wearable health sensor 100, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, is shown. The wearable health sensor 100 includes a housing 102 containing circuitry necessary to the operation of the sensor. The wearable health sensor 100 further comprises a mounting strip 104, in embodiments similar in size and shape to a medium sized adhesive bandage, onto which the housing 102 can be affixed. The mounting strip 104 is used to attach the housing 102 to a user and, in embodiments, comprises an adhesive layer disposed opposite the housing 102 such that the mounting strip 104 may be removably attached to a user in any convenient location.

[0020] In embodiments, the mounting strip comprises electrodes 106 in operative communication with the housing 102, when affixed to the mounting strip 104, allowing circuitry contained therein to use the electrodes to monitor biometric data of a user therethrough.

[0021] In embodiments, the mounting strip 104 comprises a release liner 108 disposed on the adhesive portion(s) thereof, to ensure the adhesive is not contaminated prior to use.

[0022] In embodiments, the housing 102 is reusable and contains a power supply. The power supply, in embodiments, is a rechargeable battery that may be recharged using inductive charging technology, a charging port, or other charging technologies, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In other embodiments, an internal disposable battery is user-replaceable. In still other embodiments, a capacitor is used as a power source, enabling rapid charging.

[0023] In embodiments, the housing 102 comprises a function button 110, which can be programmed to perform a variety of functions, as necessary or desired.

[0024] Now referring to FIG. 2A, a top, elevation view of the circuitry-containing portion of a wearable health sensor 100, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, is shown.

[0025] FIG. 2B shows a top, elevation view of a mounting strip 104, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the housing 102 has been removed therefrom. From this figure, it can be seen that the mounting strip comprises a relatively narrow spine 200 that is disposed substantially centrally on the mounting strip 104. Furthermore, the spine comprises a connector 204 disposed substantially centrally thereon. The connector 204 is configured to provide electrical connectivity between the housing 102 and mounting strip 104, which, in embodiments, contains a variety of sensors (e.g. electrodes 106) and/or pass-throughs for sensors contained within the housing 102.

[0026] For example, in embodiments, apertures 208 in the spine 200 of mounting strip 104 align with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) disposed on the bottom of the housing 102, allowing for the measurement of oxygen saturation in a user. In embodiments, thee apertures 208 are used to enable three frequency blood oxygen saturation measurement.

[0027] In embodiments, fiber optic wires, fiber optic cables, light pipes, and/or similar light-conveying means are disposed in the mounting strip 104 and positioned to align with light-emitting elements in the housing 102. Many additional sensor types could be used in conjunction with the wearable health sensor 100 described herein, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0028] In embodiments, the mounting strip 104 utilizes magnets 202 to secure the housing 102 thereto, utilizing corresponding magnetic materials disposed in the housing 102. In embodiments, these magnets 202 are phased magnets 202 that act to repel the housing 102 from the mounting strip 104 if the orientation of the two is incorrect (i.e. 180 off), discouraging users from assembling the components incorrectly.

[0029] The spine 200 is, in embodiments, connected to electrodes through flexible connections 206, which may be wires, traces, or other types of flexible connections, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0030] Now referring to FIG. 3, the flexibility of the present invention is demonstrated through an illustration of the mounting strip 104 and release liner 108 in a highly flexed position, wherein the housing 102 is shown not to substantially limit the flexibility of the mounting strip 104, due to its attachment thereto only using the relatively narrow spine 200 thereof. By limiting the width of the area of attachment of the housing 102 to the mounting strip 104, the flexibility of the mounting strip 104 is vastly improved, enhancing both user comfort and the ability of the mounting strip 104 to remain attached to a user for long periods of time, since the mounting strip 104 is allowed to more freely contour itself to the user. Furthermore, the housing 102 can be made larger than previously feasible, since it does not need to lie flat against a user's body (i.e. the mounting strip 104 is free to contour itself to a user's body independently of the housing 102).

[0031] The modularity of the present invention further reduces the waste involved with prior art health sensors, by allowing the replacement of mounting strips 104 that no longer retain the housing 102 to a user adequately while allowing the more expensive and environmentally harmful circuitry and power sources to be reused.

[0032] Embodiments further allow for a housing 102 to be mounted on a variety of mounting strips 104, each of which may contain different sensors and/or pass-throughs, thereby reducing their cost, compared to a mounting strip 104 that provides measurement capabilities that are not needed in a given situation.

[0033] Lastly, the modular wearable health sensor 100 described herein allows a user to easily remove the housing 102 when required, allowing them to engage in activities that may have been prevented when using prior art systems (e.g. a non-waterproof housing could be removed prior to showering or swimming, whereas prior art systems that are not removable from adhesive mounts might have to be covered or be made waterproof, resulting in additional expense).

[0034] The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Each and every page of this submission, and all contents thereon, however characterized, identified, or numbered, is considered a substantive part of this application for all purposes, irrespective of form or placement within the application. This specification is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure.