Method and apparatus for identifying and reporting a physiological condition of an individual utilizing physiological and contextual parameters
View Patent ↗Various methods and apparatuses for measuring a state parameter of an individual using signals based on one or more sensors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first set of signals is used in a first function to determine how a second set of signals is used in one or more second functions to predict the state parameter. In another embodiment, first and second functions are used where the state parameter or an indicator of the state parameter may be obtained from a relationship between the first function and the second function. The state parameter may, for example, include calories consumed or calories burned by the individual. Various methods for making such apparatuses are also disclosed.
1. A wearable device for identifying and reporting a cumulative physiological condition of an individual, comprising:
at least one wearable physiological sensor for generating an electronic output in the form of a sensor output;
a memory circuit containing stored mathematical algorithms for an identification of a particular cumulative physiological condition of said individual from said sensor output, said particular cumulative physiological condition selected from the group consisting of fatigue, ketosis, acute dehydration, drowsiness, edema, hypertension, shock, drowsiness, ovulation, fever, anemia and hypothermia, said mathematical algorithms for the identification of said particular cumulative physiological condition of said individual being derived from a previous sensor output compiled during a period of time that said particular cumulative physiological condition was known to have existed in said individual;
a processor in electronic communication with said sensors and said memory circuit, the processor executing said stored mathematical algorithms using said sensor output to generate an output that identifies the presence of said particular cumulative physiological condition, wherein said particular cumulative physiological condition is fatigue and wherein said fatigue is identified using two functions of the stored mathematical algorithms, the two functions comprising a first function and second function for measuring total energy expenditure (TEE), the first function differing from the second function by an ability to measure a thermal effect of food (TEF), wherein the TEE comprises a sum of energy expenditures, TEE=BMR+AE+TEF+AT, wherein BMR is basal metabolic rate, an amount of energy expended by a body during rest, AE is activity energy expenditure, an amount of energy expended during physical activity, TEF is thermic effect of food, an amount of energy expended while digesting and processing food that is eaten, and AT is adaptive thermogenesis; and
a display, in electronic communication with said processor which outputs said identification.
2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said sensors are affixed to a device worn on the skin of said individual.
3. A device according to claim 2 , wherein said device is mounted on the upper arm of the individual.
4. A device according to claim 2 , wherein said processor is mounted within said device.
5. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver circuit, in electronic communication with said processor, for transmission of said presence of said particular physiological condition to said display, wherein said display is remote from said processor.
6. A device according to claim 5 , wherein said processor further comprises multiple processors and further comprising a transceiver circuit, in electronic communication with said processors, wherein said transceiver circuit is adapted to facilitate communication between said multiple processors.
7. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said mathematical algorithms include continuous prediction of said particular cumulative physiological condition during a period of time that said processor is receiving said sensor output signals.
8. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said mathematical algorithms include a context detector for weighting a probability that a set of the sensor output signals illustrate a presence of said particular cumulative physiological condition for said individual.
9. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one physiological sensor comprises two or more sensors.
10. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one physiological sensor comprises two or more physiological sensors selected from the group consisting of: a heart rate sensor, a respiration rate sensor, a skin temperature sensor, a GSR sensor, an accelerometer, and a blood pressure sensor.
11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the TEF comprises 10% of calories consumed by the individual.
12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said particular physiological condition is fatigue, wherein said fatigue is identified using: said at least one sensor to measure the wearer's hydration level, sleep time, stress and energy expenditure levels; and an estimation of the individual's caloric intake.
13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor comprises a heat flux sensor and a skin temperature sensor and wherein said particular cumulative physiological condition is fatigue.
14. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the particular cumulative physiological condition is identified partly by a stored mathematical algorithm that takes into account adaptive thermogenesis, a mechanism for modifying an individual's metabolism for extreme temperatures.