ADHESIVELY MOUNTED APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING PHYSIOLOGICAL AND CONTEXTUAL STATUS
The invention comprises an apparatus for determining the contextual or physiological status of the individual wearing the apparatus. The apparatus is designed to be consumable or disposable. In most embodiments the invention comprises an adhesive housing. In some embodiments, two different sensors are secured to the housing. The apparatus is in electronic communication with a processing unit that can derive analytical status data by using the data received from the two sensors. In some embodiments, the processing unit is programmed to to control other devices, or is programmed to trigger an event. In still other embodiments, the apparatus is in electronic communication with a separate computing device, which may contain the processing unit.
1 - 98 . (canceled)
99 . An apparatus for monitoring an individual's physiological or contextual status, said apparatus comprising:
a housing with an adhesive material operable to removably attached said housing to the individual;
a first sensor mounted within said housing, said first sensor operable to generate heart-related data of the individual;
a second sensor mounted within said housing, said second sensor operable to generate data related to a change in resistance across the individual's skin; and
a processing unit mounted within said housing in electronic communication with said first and second sensors, said processing unit programmed to use both of said heart-related data from said first sensor and said data related to the change in resistance across the individual's skin from said second sensor to derive analytical status data.
100 . The apparatus according to claim 99 wherein said housing is comprised of a flexible material.
101 - 104 . (canceled)
105 . The apparatus of claim 99 wherein said heart-related data of said individual comprises at least one of: heart rate data, pulse rate data, beat-to-beat variability data, EKG data, respiration rate data, blood pressure data, and oxygen consumption data.
106 . The apparatus of claim 99 wherein said second sensor comprises at least two electrodes.
107 . The apparatus of claim 99 wherein said second sensor comprises a GSR sensor.
108 . The apparatus of claim 106 wherein said at least two electrodes comprise a textured surface.
109 . The apparatus of claim 107 wherein said GSR sensor comprises a skin contacting surface, said skin contacting surface being textured.
110 . The apparatus of claim 99 further comprising a computing device in electronic communication with said processing unit.
111 . The apparatus of claim 110 wherein said processing unit is located within said computing device.
112 . The apparatus of claim 110 wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, a personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.
113 . The apparatus of claim 111 wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, a personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.
114 . The apparatus of claim 99 further comprising an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to the individual.
115 . The apparatus of claim 114 wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.
116 . The apparatus of claim 110 wherein said computing device comprises an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.
117 . The apparatus of claim 116 wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.
118 . The apparatus of claim 99 wherein said processing unit is programmed to control a separate apparatus based on said analytical status data.
119 . The apparatus of claim 99 wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.
120 . The apparatus of claim 99 wherein said processing unit is programmed to control an interactive electronic media device based on said analytical status data.
121 . The apparatus of claim 110 wherein said computing device is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.
122 . The apparatus of claim 110 wherein said computing device is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.
123 . The apparatus of claim 111 wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.
124 . The apparatus of claim 111 wherein said processing unit is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.
125 . The apparatus of claim 99 further comprising a display means displaying said analytical status data.
126 . The apparatus of claim 125 wherein said display means is an electrochemical display.
127 . The apparatus of claim 99 wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of nutrition.
128 . The apparatus of claim 99 wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of sleep.
129 . The apparatus of claim 99 wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of activity level.
130 . The apparatus of claim 99 wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of stress.
131 . The apparatus of claim 99 wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of mind centering.
132 - 201 . (canceled)