Physiological Monitoring Devices and Methods Using Optical Sensors
A monitoring device configured to be attached to a subject includes a sensor configured to detect and/or measure physiological information and a processor coupled to the sensor. The sensor includes at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector. The processor receives and analyzes signals produced by the sensor, and the processor changes wavelength of light emitted by the at least one optical emitter in response to detecting a change in subject activity. For example, the processor instructs the at least one optical emitter to emit shorter wavelength light in response to detecting an increase in subject activity, and the processor instructs the at least one optical emitter to emit longer wavelength light in response to detecting an decrease in subject activity. Detecting a change in subject activity may include detecting a change in at least one subject vital sign and/or subject motion.
1 . A monitoring device configured to be attached to a subject, the monitoring device comprising:
a sensor configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject, wherein the sensor comprises at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector; and
a processor coupled to the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to receive and analyze signals produced by the sensor, and wherein the processor changes wavelength of light emitted by the at least one optical emitter in response to detecting a change in subject activity.
2 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the processor instructs the at least one optical emitter to emit shorter wavelength light in response to detecting an increase in subject activity, and wherein the processor instructs the at least one optical emitter to emit longer wavelength light in response to detecting an decrease in subject activity.
3 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein detecting a change in subject activity comprises detecting a change in at least one subject vital sign, wherein the at least one vital sign includes subject heart rate, subject blood pressure, subject temperature, subject respiration rate, and/or subject perspiration rate.
4 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein detecting a change in subject activity comprises predicting a type of activity.
5 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , further comprising a motion sensor, and wherein detecting a change in subject activity comprises detecting a change in subject motion via the motion sensor.
6 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device is configured to be positioned at or within an ear of the subject, or secured to an appendage of the subject.
7 . A method of monitoring a subject via a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device includes a sensor configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject and a processor coupled to the sensor that is configured to receive and analyze signals produced by the sensor, wherein the sensor includes at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector, the method comprising changing wavelength of light emitted by the at least one optical emitter via the processor in response to detecting a change in subject activity.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein changing wavelength of light emitted by the at least one optical emitter in response to detecting a change in subject activity comprises:
instructing the at least one optical emitter via the processor to emit shorter wavelength light in response to detecting an increase in subject activity; and
instructing the at least one optical emitter via the processor to emit longer wavelength light in response to detecting an decrease in subject activity.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein detecting a change in subject activity comprises detecting a change in at least one subject vital sign, wherein the at least one vital sign includes subject heart rate, subject blood pressure, subject temperature, subject respiration rate, and/or subject perspiration rate.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the monitoring device includes a motion sensor, and wherein detecting a change in subject activity comprises detecting a change in subject motion via the motion sensor.
11 . A monitoring device configured to be attached to a subject, the monitoring device comprising:
a sensor configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject, wherein the sensor comprises at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector; and
a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to receive and analyze signals produced by the sensor, and wherein the processor instructs the at least one optical emitter to emit a different wavelength of light during each of a series of respective time intervals such that a respective different physiological parameter can be measured from the subject during the respective intervals via the at least one optical detector.
12 . The monitoring device of claim 11 , wherein the monitoring device is configured to be positioned at or within an ear of the subject, or secured to an appendage of the subject.
13 . A method of monitoring a subject via a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device includes a sensor configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject and a processor coupled to the sensor that is configured to receive and analyze signals produced by the sensor, wherein the sensor includes at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector, the method comprising:
emitting a different wavelength of light during each of series of respective time intervals; and
measuring a respective different physiological parameter of the subject during each of the time intervals via the at least one optical detector.
14 . A method of monitoring a subject wearing a PPG sensor device having at least one processor, the method comprising:
processing PPG sensor readings via the at least one processor to determine if the subject is located indoors or outdoors; and
selecting a PPG sensor polling routine associated with indoor or outdoor conditions depending on whether the subject is located indoors or outdoors, respectively.
15 . The method of claim 14 ,
wherein, if the subject is located indoors, the PPG sensor polling routine is configured to direct the PPG sensor to utilize light with at least one visible wavelength and at least one infrared (IR) wavelength; and
wherein, if the subject is located outdoors, the PPG sensor polling routine is configured to direct the PPG sensor to utilize light with at least two distinct IR wavelengths or two different IR wavelength bands.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising determining blood and/or tissue oxygenation of the subject via the PPG sensor.