US 20120197093A1
`
`a9y United States
`
`a2y Patent Application Publication
`
`LeBoeuf et al.
`
`(10) Pub. No.: US 2012/0197093 A1
`43) Pub. Date: Aug. 2, 2012
`
`(54) APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR
`MONITORING PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA
`DURING ENVIRONMENTAL
`INTERFERENCE
`
`(76) Inventors: Steven Francis LeBoeuf, Raleigh,
`NC (US); Jesse Berkley Tucker,
`Knightdale, NC (US); Michael
`Edward Aumer, Raleigh, NC (US);
`Eric Douglas Romesburg, Chapel
`Hill, NC (US); Joseph Norman
`Morris, Chapel Hill, NC (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/358,102
`
`(22) Filed: Jan. 25, 2012
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 61/436,664, filed on Jan.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int.CL
`
`AGIB 5/00 (2006.01)
`
`AGIB 6/00 (2006.01)
`
`AGIB 8/00 (2006.01)
`
`HOIL 31/16 (2006.01)
`
`AGIB 5/05 (2006.01)
`(52) US.CL ........ 600/301; 250/226; 600/409; 600/437;
`
`600/436; 600/476
`
`(57) ABSTRACT
`
`Apparatus and methods for attenuating environmental inter-
`ference are described. A wearable monitoring apparatus
`includes a housing configured to be attached to the body of a
`subject and a sensor module that includes an energy emitter
`that directs energy at a target region of the subject, a detector
`that detects an energy response signal—or physiological con-
`dition—from the subject, a filter that removes time-varying
`environmental interference from the energy response signal,
`and at least one processor that controls operations of the
`
`27, 2011. energy emitter, detector, and filter.
`104
`100
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`101 i \ ;
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`LT —>{EMITER MEASURE > Al FILTER PROCESSING
`PULSED ! i
`DRIVE \ ;
`
`TIME-VARYING
`INTERFERENCE
`
`_________ ’ '
`\]40 109
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 2,2012 Sheet 3 of 28 US 2012/0197093 A1
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`INDIRECT {SCATTERED) LIGHT
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 2,2012 Sheet 17 of 28 US 2012/0197093 A1
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`Petitioner WHOOP, Inc. Ex1032
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 2,2012 Sheet 18 of 28 US 2012/0197093 A1
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`Petitioner WHOOP, Inc. Ex1032
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`SPECTRAL-DOMAIN PROCESSING OF HEART
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 2,2012 Sheet 24 of 28 US 2012/0197093 A1
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`SENSOR MODULE
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`Aug. 2,2012 Sheet 25 of 28
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`Petitioner WHOOP, Inc. Ex1032
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`US 2012/0197093 Al
`
`APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR
`MONITORING PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA
`DURING ENVIRONMENTAL
`INTERFERENCE
`
`RELATED APPLICATION
`
`[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to
`U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/436,664 filed Jan.
`27, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
`reference as if set forth in its entirety.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] The present invention relates generally to monitor-
`ing apparatus and methods and, more particularly, to physi-
`ological monitoring apparatus and methods.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0003] Thereis growing market demand for personal health
`and environmental monitors, for example, for gauging overall
`health, fitness, metabolism, and vital status during exercise,
`athletic training, work, public safety activities, dieting, daily
`life activities, sickness, and physical therapy. However, tra-
`ditional wearable health monitors cannot measure physi-
`ological information accurately in typical daily environ-
`ments. For example, environmental interference from
`sunlight, temperature changes, and motion-coupled environ-
`mental noise can present measurement artifacts on wearable
`health monitors. These measurement artifacts can reduce sen-
`sor accuracy, generate false measurements, and prevent accu-
`rate health, fitness, and vital status monitoring. As such,
`improved ways of removing or preventing environmental
`interference from measurements taken from wearable sensors
`are needed.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`[0004] It should be appreciated that this Summary is pro-
`vided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified
`form, the concepts being further described below in the
`Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to iden-
`tify key features or essential features of this disclosure, nor is
`it intended to limit the scope of the invention.
`
`[0005] According to some embodiments of the present
`invention, a medium (e.g., physiological material of a sub-
`ject), having a region of interest, is monitored via a sensor
`module having at least one energy emitter for interrogating
`the medium with energy to generate an energy response asso-
`ciated with the medium, at least one circuit to drive at least
`one energy emitter, at least one detector for detecting the
`energy response associated with the medium, a filter that
`removes time-varying environmental interference from the
`energy response signal, and a processor that controls opera-
`tions of the energy emitter, detector, and filter.
`
`[0006] According to some embodiments of the present
`invention, a wearable monitoring apparatus includes a hous-
`ing (e.g., an earpiece, earbud, etc.), and a sensor module
`disposed within or attached to the housing. The housing is
`configured to be attached to a body of a subject, for example
`the ear. The sensor module includes an energy emitter, a
`detector, a filter, and at least one processor. The energy emit-
`ter directs energy (e.g., optical energy, acoustic energy, ultra-
`sonic energy, electromagnetic radiation, electrical energy,
`mechanical energy, magnetic energy, nuclear energy, etc.) at
`a target region of the subject and the detector detects an
`
`Aug. 2,2012
`
`energy response signal from the subject. The energy response
`signal is associated with a physiological condition of the
`subject (e.g., heart rate, pulse pressure, respiration rate, lactic
`threshold, blood pressure, volume of blood flow through a
`blood vessel, blood metabolite level, blood oxygen level, size
`ofat least one blood vessel, etc.). The filter removes or attenu-
`ates time-varying environmental interference from the energy
`response signal, wherein the time-varying environmental
`interference is caused by one or more of the following: sun-
`light, ambient light, airflow, temperature, etc.
`
`[0007] The atleast one processor controls operations of the
`energy emitter, detector, and/or filter. In some embodiments
`of the present invention, the at least one processor is config-
`ured to process the detected energy response signal and pro-
`duce an extracted energy response signal.
`
`[0008] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`energy emitter emits pulsed or modulated energy.
`
`[0009] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`energy emitter comprises at least one optical emitter, and the
`detector comprises at least one optical detector. Exemplary
`optical emitters include, but are not limited to, laser diodes
`(LDs), light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and organic light-emit-
`ting diodes (OLEDs). Exemplary optical detectors include,
`but are not limited to, photodetectors, photodiodes, pho-
`totransistors, photoactive resistors, photomultiplier tubes,
`photomultiplier diodes, photodetector modules, and the like.
`[0010] In some embodiments of the present invention, at
`least one portion of the housing comprises optically transmis-
`sive material through which light from the at least one optical
`emitter can pass. In some embodiments of the present inven-
`tion, at least one portion of the housing comprises material
`configured to attenuate (e.g., reduce or block) light reaching
`the at least one optical detector at one or more selected wave-
`lengths.
`
`[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`monitoring apparatus includes at least one analog-to-digital
`(ADC) converter that converts analog signals generated by
`the detector to digital signals.
`
`[0012] According to some embodiments of the present
`invention, a monitoring apparatus includes a housing config-
`ured to be attached to the ear of a subject, and a sensor module
`disposed within or attached to the housing. The sensor mod-
`ule includes an optical emitter, a detector, a motion/position
`sensor, a filter, and at least one processor that controls opera-
`tions of the optical emitter, detector, and/or filter. The optical
`emitter directs optical energy at a target region of the subject
`and the detector detects an optical energy response signal
`from the subject, wherein the energy response signal is asso-
`ciated with a physiological condition of the subject. Light-
`opaque material surrounds at least part of the sensor module
`to prevent ambient light from interfering with the detector.
`Output from the motion/position sensor is associated with the
`motion or position between the housing and ear of the subject.
`The filter removes or attenuates time-varying environmental
`interference from the optical energy response signal, wherein
`the time-varying environmental interference is caused by one
`or more of the following: sunlight, ambient light, airflow, and
`temperature.
`
`[0013] According to some embodiments of the present
`invention, a sensor module includes a printed circuit board
`(PCB), in some cases having opposite first and second sides,
`an optical emitter attached to at least one side of the PCB, an
`optical detector attached to at least one side of the PCB
`adjacent to the optical emitter, an optical filter overlying at
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`least a portion of the optical detector, and light-opaque mate-
`rial adjacent to the optical detector. The optical filter is con-
`figured to attenuate (e.g., reduce or block) light at one or more
`selected wavelengths, and the light-opaque material prevents
`ambient light from interfering with the optical detector.
`[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`optical filter has a surface area greater than a surface area of
`the optical detector, and the optical filter overlies the optical
`detector such that a periphery of the optical filter overlaps a
`periphery of the optical detector.
`
`[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention,
`light-opaque material surrounds the optical emitter and opti-
`cal detector such that the optical emitter and optical detector
`are not in direct optical communication with each other. In
`some embodiments of the present invention, the light-opaque
`material includes a first aperture in communication with the
`optical emitter, and a second aperture in communication with
`the optical detector.
`
`[0016] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`sensor module includes a lens positioned above at least one of
`the optical emitter and filter. The lens may include respective
`first and second portions configured to matingly engage
`respective first and second apertures in the light-opaque mate-
`rial.
`
`[0017] In other embodiments of the present invention, a
`firstlens is positioned within the first aperture and is in optical
`communication with the optical emitter, and a second lens is
`positioned within the second aperture and is in optical com-
`munication with the optical detector. The first lens focuses
`light emitted by the optical emitter and the second lens
`focuses light toward the optical detector.
`
`[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, a
`second optical detector is attached to the PCB second side.
`[0019] According to other embodiments of the present
`invention, an earbud for a headset includes a housing that is
`configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, a
`speaker, and at least one sensor module disposed within or
`attached to the housing. The at least one sensor module
`includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having opposite first
`and second sides, an optical emitter attached to at least one
`side of the PCB that directs electromagnetic radiation at a
`target region of the ear, an optical detector attached to at least
`one side ofthe PCB adjacent to the optical emitter that detects
`an energy response signal associated with a physiological
`condition of the subject from the subject, and an optical filter
`overlying at least a portion of the optical detector, wherein the
`optical filter is configured to attenuate (e.g., reduce or block)
`light at one or more selected wavelengths. A filter may be
`included that removes time-varying environmental interfer-
`ence from the energy response signal. Time-varying environ-
`mental interference may be caused by one or more of the
`following: sunlight, ambient light, airflow, temperature, etc.
`The at least one sensor module may include at least one
`processor that controls operations of the optical emitter, opti-
`cal detector, and/or filter.
`
`[0020] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`optical filter has a surface area greater than a surface area of
`the optical detector, and the optical filter overlies the optical
`detector such that a periphery of the optical filter overlaps a
`periphery of the optical detector.
`
`[0021] In some embodiments of the present invention,
`light-opaque material surrounds the optical emitter and opti-
`cal detector such that the optical emitter and optical detector
`are not in direct optical communication with each other. In
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`Aug. 2,2012
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`some embodiments of the present invention, the light-opaque
`material includes a first aperture in communication with the
`optical emitter, and a second aperture in communication with
`the optical detector.
`
`[0022] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`at least one sensor module include a lens positioned above at
`least one of the optical emitter and filter. The lens may include
`respective first and second portions configured to matingly
`engage respective first and second apertures in the light-
`opaque material.
`
`[0023] In other embodiments of the present invention, a
`firstlens is positioned within the first aperture and is in optical
`communication with the optical emitter, and a second lens is
`positioned within the second aperture and is in optical com-
`munication with the optical detector. The first lens focuses
`light emitted by the optical emitter and the second lens
`focuses light toward the optical detector.
`
`[0024] In some embodiments of the present invention, a
`second optical detector is attached to the PCB second side.
`[0025] Insome embodiments of the present invention, one
`or more portions of the earbud housing include optically
`transmissive material through which light from the optical
`emitter can pass.
`
`[0026] Insome embodiments of the present invention, one
`or more portions of the housing include material configured
`to attenuate (e.g., reduce or block) light reaching the optical
`detector at one or more selected wavelengths.
`
`[0027] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`at least one sensor module includes an analog-to-digital
`(ADC) converter that converts analog signals generated by
`the optical detector to digital signals.
`
`[0028] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`at least one sensor module includes at least one motion/
`position sensor attached to at least one side of the PCB.
`[0029] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`at least one sensor module housing includes a soft material
`which deforms when inserted within an ear and that facilitates
`retention of the earbud within an ear. In other embodiments,
`the at least one sensor module housing has a shape that facili-
`tates retention of the earbud within an ear.
`
`[0030] In some embodiments of the present invention, a
`portion of the at least one sensor module housing includes
`optically transmissive material through which light from the
`optical emitter can pass, and wherein the housing includes a
`soft material adjacent to the optically transmissive material
`which deforms when inserted within an ear and that facilitates
`retention of the earbud within an ear.
`
`[0031] In some embodiments of the present invention, a
`portion of the at least one sensor module housing includes
`material configured to diffuse light from the optical detector
`and/or diffuse light to the optical detector.
`
`[0032] Insome embodiments of the present invention, the
`at least one sensor module comprises two sensor modules in
`spaced apart relationship.
`
`[0033] According to other embodiments of the present
`invention, a method of monitoring at least one physiological
`property of a subject includes directing pulsed energy at a
`target region of the subject via an energy emitter, obtaining a
`first energy response signal from the subject when the emitter
`is on, obtaining a second energy response signal from the
`subject when the emitter is off, and processing the first and
`second energy response signals via an interference filter to
`produce a processed energy response signal that is associated
`with a physiological condition (e.g., heart rate, pulse pres-
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`sure, respiration rate, lactic threshold, blood pressure, volume
`of'blood flow through a blood vessel, blood metabolite level,
`blood oxygen level, size of at least one blood vessel, etc.) of
`the subject, wherein the filter removes or attenuates time-
`varying environmental interference caused by one or more of
`the following: sunlight, ambient light, airflow, temperature,
`etc. Directing pulsed energy at a target region may include
`directing energy selected from the group consisting of optical
`energy, acoustic energy, ultrasonic energy, electromagnetic
`radiation, electrical energy, magnetic energy, mechanical
`energy, nuclear energy, etc.
`
`[0034] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`interference filter employs a spectral method to remove or
`attenuate time-varying environmental interference. In some
`embodiments of the present invention, the interference filter
`employs an FIR filtering method to remove or attenuate time-
`varying environmental interference.
`
`[0035] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`processed energy response signal is transmitted to a remote
`device, for example wirelessly transmitted.
`
`[0036] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`environmental interference may comprise ambient light, sun-
`light, room light, wind, sound, mechanical interference, elec-
`trical interference, temperature changes, or the like.
`
`[0037] Insome embodiments of the present invention, the
`geometrical configuration of an emitter and detector may be
`oriented to maximize the collection of the energy response
`signal associated with physiological conditions and to mini-
`mize the collection of the unwanted scattered light response.
`[0038] In some embodiments, multiple emitters, detectors,
`lenses, light guides, and/or diffusion regions may be
`employed within a sensor module.
`
`[0039] Emitters and detectors, according to some embodi-
`ments of the present invention, may be configured to generate
`a more universal earbud sensor design. In some embodi-
`ments, this may be achieved by employing a diffusion area.
`[0040] In some embodiments of the present invention, an
`earbud may comprise an interchangeable tip, wherein optical
`coupling may be integrated within the earbud to communicate
`light to/from the ear region through the interchangeable tip.
`[0041] In some embodiments of the present invention, a
`physiological condition monitored, such as heart rate, for
`example, may be modulated to improve filtering and then
`demodulated to generate the desired output.
`
`[0042] In some embodiments of the present invention, an
`interference filter may employ at least one motion/position
`sensor to remove interference from a desired physiological
`signal, such as to remove motion-coupled sunlight interfer-
`ence from a heart rate signal.
`
`[0043] According to some embodiments of the present
`invention, a wearable monitoring apparatus includes a sub-
`strate configured to be attached to a body of a subject, and a
`sensor module attached to the substrate. The substrate may be
`configured to surround a portion of a body, and may be
`flexible. For example, the substrate may be a wristband, arm-
`band, legband, neckband, waistband, ankleband, footband,
`handband, ringband, headband, etc. In other embodiments,
`the substrate is configured to be adhesively attached to the
`body of the subject, similar to a bandage.
`
`[0044] The sensor module includes an energy emitter, a
`detector, a filter, and at least one processor. The energy emit-
`ter directs energy (e.g., optical energy, acoustic energy, ultra-
`sonic energy, electromagnetic radiation, electrical energy,
`mechanical energy, magnetic energy, nuclear energy, etc.) at
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`Aug. 2,2012
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`a target region of the subject and the detector detects an
`energy response signal from the subject. The energy response
`signal is associated with a physiological condition of the
`subject (e.g., heart rate, pulse pressure, respiration rate, lactic
`threshold, blood pressure, volume of blood flow through a
`blood vessel, blood metabolite level, blood oxygen level, size
`ofat least one blood vessel, etc.). The filter removes or attenu-
`ates time-varying environmental interference from the energy
`response signal, wherein the time-varying environmental
`interference is caused by one or more of the following: sun-
`light, ambient light, airflow, temperature, etc.
`
`[0045] The atleast one processor controls operations of the
`energy emitter, detector, and/or filter. In some embodiments
`of the present invention, the at least one processor is config-
`ured to process the detected energy response signal and pro-
`duce an extracted energy response signal.
`
`[0046] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`energy emitter emits pulsed or modulated energy.
`
`[0047] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`energy emitter comprises at least one optical emitter, and the
`detector comprises at least one optical detector. Exemplary
`optical emitters include, but are not limited to, LDs, LEDs,
`and OLEDs. Exemplary optical detectors include, but are not
`limited to, photodetectors, photodiodes, phototransistors,
`photoactive resistors, photomultiplier tubes, photomultiplier
`diodes, photodetector modules, and the like.
`
`[0048] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`apparatus includes optically transmissive material through
`which light from the at least one optical emitter can pass. In
`some embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus
`includes material configured to attenuate (e.g., reduce or
`block) light reaching the at least one optical detector at one or
`more selected wavelengths.
`
`[0049] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
`monitoring apparatus includes at least one ADC converter
`that converts analog signals generated by the detector to digi-
`tal signals.
`
`[0050] The detectors that may be incorporated into head-
`sets, earbuds, and/or substrates (e.g., wristbands, armbands,
`legbands, neckbands, waistbands, anklebands, footbands,
`handbands, ringbands, headbands, etc.) according to some
`embodiments of the present invention, may be configured to
`detect and/or measure one or more of the following types of
`physiological information/conditions: heart rate, pulse rate,
`breathing rate, blood flow, VO,, VO,max, heartbeat signa-
`tures, cardio-pulmonary health, organ health, metabolism,
`electrolyte type and/or concentration, physical activity,
`caloric intake, caloric metabolism, blood metabolite levels or
`ratios, blood pH level, physical and/or psychological stress
`levels and/or stress level indicators, drug dosage and/or
`dosimetry, physiological drug reactions, drug chemistry, bio-
`chemistry, position and/or balance, body strain, neurological
`functioning, brain activity, brain waves, blood pressure, cra-
`nial pressure, hydration level, auscultatory information, aus-
`cultatory signals associated with pregnancy, physiological
`response to infection, skin and/or core body temperature, eye
`muscle movement, blood volume, inhaled and/or exhaled
`breath volume, physical exertion, exhaled breath physical
`and/or chemical composition, the presence and/or identity
`and/or concentration of viruses and/or bacteria, foreign mat-
`ter in the body, internal toxins, heavy metals in the body,
`anxiety, fertility, ovulation, sex hormones, psychological
`mood, sleep patterns, hunger and/or thirst, hormone type
`and/or concentration, cholesterol, lipids, blood panel, bone
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`density, organ and/or body weight, reflex response, sexual
`arousal, mental and/or physical alertness, sleepiness, auscul-
`tatory information, response to external stimuli, swallowing
`volume, swallowing rate, sickness, voice characteristics,
`voice tone, voice pitch, voice volume, vital signs, head tilt,
`allergic reactions, inflammation response, auto-immune
`response, mutagenic response, DNA, proteins, protein levels
`in the blood, water content of the blood, pheromones, internal
`body sounds, digestive system functioning, cellular regenera-
`tion response, healing response, stem cell regeneration
`response, etc.
`
`[0051] It is noted that aspects of the invention described
`with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated in a
`different embodiment although not specifically described
`relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and/or features of
`any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combi-
`nation. Applicant reserves the right to change any originally
`filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including