Method and apparatus for deriving and reporting a physiological status 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 method for identifying and reporting a physiological event of an individual comprising:
associating at least two wearable physiological sensors with the body of said individual, said sensors comprising at least a pulse rate sensor and a heat flux sensor;
continuously collecting sensor output signals from said at least two wearable physiological sensors for a period of time from said individual, while said individual is experiencing said physiological event;
collecting physiological data while said individual is experiencing said physiological event and such physiological data is additional data related to said physiological event of said individual;
using a processor to provide a mathematical operation defining the association of said additional data related to said physiological event of said individual with said sensor output signals;
deriving values using said processor of said physiological event of said individual from said sensor output signals based on said association; and
modifying said mathematical operation using said processor to form a modified mathematical operation based upon said derivation of said values of said physiological event of said individual, such that said derived values of said physiological event are predictive of said event.
2. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising the step of deriving the values of said physiological event for said individual solely by applying said modified mathematical operation to said sensor output signals.
3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving input from said individual.
4. A system for identifying and reporting a physiological status of an individual, comprising:
at least two wearable physiological sensors associated with the body of said individual generating sensor output signals, said sensors comprising at least a pulse rate sensor and a heat flux sensor;
a memory circuit containing: (i) stored mathematical operations for the identification of physiological status of said individual from said sensor output signals and (ii) collected sensor output signals relating to measured physiological data;
a processor in electronic communication with said sensors and said memory circuit for: (i) receiving said sensor output signals from said at least two sensors, (ii) applying said stored mathematical operations to said sensor output signals to derive said physiological status of said individual; (iii) modifying said mathematical operations in accordance with said derivation of said values of said quantitative physiological status of said individual such that such that said modified series of mathematical operations are consistently similar to said collected physiological data within a defined tolerance range; and
a display, in electronic communication with said processor for displaying the derived physiological values for said individual.
5. A system as described in claim 4 , wherein said physiological status is selected from the group consisting of: beat to beat variability of heartbeats, respiration, energy expenditure, heart rate, blood pressure, and PVCs.
6. A system according to claim 4 , wherein said sensors are noninvasive.
7. A system according to claim 4 , wherein said processor is mounted within a wearable device comprising said sensor.
8. A system according to claim 4 , wherein further comprising an input device for receiving input from said individual.
9. A system according to claim 4 , further comprising a transceiver circuit, in electronic communication with said processor, for transmission of said sensor output signals.
10. A system according to claim 9 , wherein said processor further comprises multiple processors and wherein said transceiver circuit is adapted to facilitate communication therebetween.
11. A device identifying and reporting a physiological condition of an individual, comprising:
at least two wearable physiological sensors associated with the body of said individual generating sensor output signals, said sensors comprising at least a pulse rate sensor and a heat flux sensor;
a memory circuit containing stored mathematical operations for the derivation of a physiological condition of said individual from said sensor output signals;
a processor in electronic communication with said sensors and said memory circuit for: (i) receiving said sensor output signals from said at least two sensors and (ii) applying said stored mathematical operations to said sensor output signals to derive said physiological condition; and
a display, in electronic communication with said processor for displaying the derived physiological condition for said individual.
12. A device as described in claim 11 , wherein said physiological condition is selected from the group consisting of: beat to beat variability of heartbeats, respiration, energy expenditure, heart rate, blood pressure, and PVCs.
13. A device according to claim 11 , wherein said sensors are affixed to a device worn on the skin of said individual.
14. A device according to claim 13 , wherein said device is adapted to be mounted on the upper arm of the individual.
15. A device according to claim 13 , wherein said processor is mounted within said device.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reporting occurrence of the physiological event to the user.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein said processor is provided in a wearable device.
18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reporting to the user when a goal has been reached.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physiological event is selected from the group consisting of ovulation, sleep onset, awakening, a stress increase and a stress decrease.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physiological event is selected from the group consisting of a rise time, a recovery time and a time-in-zone when the heat rate was above 85% of a target maximum rate.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physiological event is identified by detecting and identifying a beat-to-beat variability of the individual's pulse rate.
22. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using the physiological to derive a basal metabolic rate for said individual.