Device and method for monitoring human heart rate and alerting for cardiac arrhythmia events

1 . A device for monitoring a human heart rate and alerting a human of a cardiac arrhythmia event comprising:

a photoplethysmography sensor for attachment to an ear lobe of the human; and

a housing for mounting on one temple arm of an eyeglass frame to be worn by the human comprising:

an input for operable connection to the photoplethysmography sensor;

a processor;

a memory storing instructions that cause the processor to determine whether a heart rate is below a first threshold of between 36-44 beats per minute to indicate a bradycardia event and above a second threshold of between 130-150 beats per minute to indicate a tachycardia event; and

a multi-color LED positioned near an anterior portion of the housing and oriented inwardly toward a head of the human to emit light within a peripheral field of vision of the human, wherein the LED is configured to emit a first color when the processor determines that the heart rate is either below the first threshold and a second color different from the first color when the processor determines that the heart rate is above the second threshold, wherein the device provides visual alerts only and does not dispense any medication or therapeutic substances.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold is 40 beats per minute and the second threshold is 130 beats per minute.

3 . The device of claim 1 , in which the housing further comprises a charging port.

4 . The device of claim 1 , in which the housing has a longitudinally concave bottom surface for frictional engagement with a temple arm of the eyeglass frame.

5 . The device of claim 1 , in which the LED is positioned near an anterior portion of the housing and oriented inwardly toward a human's head.

6 . A method for monitoring a human heart rate and providing an alert to a cardiac arrhythmia event comprising steps of:

providing a device comprising:

a photoplethysmography sensor attachable to an ear lobe of the human; and

a housing mountable to an anterior portion of a temple arm of an eyeglass frame comprising:

an input for operable connection to the photoplethysmography sensor; and

a multi-color LED positioned to emit light that will be within a peripheral view of the human wearing the eyeglass frame;

monitoring heart rate via the photoplethysmography sensor;

determining whether the heart rate is below a first threshold of between 36-44 beats per minute to indicate a bradycardia event and above a second threshold of between 130-150 beats per minute to indicate a tachycardia event;

upon detection of either a bradycardia event or a tachycardia event, activating the LED upon detection of a bradycardia event, activating the LED to emit a first color; and upon detection of a tachycardia event, activating the LED to emit a second color different from the first color, wherein the method provides visual alerts only without dispensing any medication or therapeutic substances.

7 . The method of claim 6 , in which the LED emits light at a sufficient intensity to ensure perceptibility under daylight conditions.

8 . A device for monitoring a human heart rate and alerting a human of a cardiac arrhythmia event comprising:

a photoplethysmography sensor for attachment to an ear lobe of the human;

a housing for mounting on one temple arm of an eyeglass frame to be worn by the human comprising:

a wired connection to the photoplethysmography sensor;

a processor;

a power source;

a memory storing instructions that cause the processor to determine whether a heart rate is below a first threshold of between 36-44 beats per minute to indicate a bradycardia event and above a second threshold of between 130-150 beats per minute to indicate a tachycardia event; and

a multi-color LED positioned near an anterior portion of the housing and oriented inwardly toward a head of the human to emit light within a peripheral field of vision of the human, wherein the LED is configured to emit a first color when the processor determines that the heart rate is below the first threshold and emit a second color different from the first color when the processor determines that the heart rate is above the second threshold, wherein the device provides visual alerts only and does not dispense any medication or therapeutic substances.