Earpiece monitor
An earpiece monitor configured to be worn by a subject includes a battery, an earpiece fitting configured to be inserted within an ear canal of an ear of the subject, a reflective pulse oximeter configured to measure pulse rate and pulse intensity of the subject, a motion sensor configured to monitor footsteps and head motion of the subject, a digital memory for storing at least one algorithm, and a processor configured to process signals from the reflective pulse oximeter and the motion sensor using the at least one algorithm to generate as assessment of a health state of the subject. The earpiece fitting is configured to transmit sound to the inner ear or eardrum of the subject. The assessment of the health state of the subject may include an assessment of subject physiological stress and/or an assessment of overall subject health.
1. An earpiece monitor configured to be worn by a subject, the earpiece monitor comprising:
a battery configured to power the earpiece monitor;
an earpiece fitting configured to be inserted within an ear canal of an ear of the subject, wherein the earpiece fitting is configured to transmit sound to an inner ear or eardrum of the subject;
a reflective pulse oximeter configured to measure pulse rate and pulse intensity of the subject;
a motion sensor configured to monitor footsteps and head motion of the subject;
a digital memory for storing at least one algorithm; and
a processor configured to process signals from the reflective pulse oximeter indicating the measured pulse rate and pulse intensity of the subject using the at least one algorithm and configured to analyze the measured pulse rate and pulse intensity and the monitored footsteps and head motion to generate an assessment of a cardiopulmonary health state of the subject.
2. The earpiece monitor of claim 1 , wherein the reflective pulse oximeter is further configured to monitor blood oxygenation.
3. The earpiece monitor of claim 1 , wherein the reflective pulse oximeter is further configured to monitor blood glucose from a tympanic membrane of the ear of the subject.
4. The earpiece monitor of claim 1 , further comprising an acoustic sensor configured to measure acoustic energy from the subject.
5. The earpiece monitor of claim 1 , further comprising an environmental sensor configured to monitor at least one of the following in a vicinity of the subject: ambient lighting, ambient temperature, ambient pressure, and ambient humidity.
6. The earpiece monitor of claim 1 , further comprising a speaker in communication with the earpiece fitting.
7. The earpiece monitor of claim 6 , wherein the digital memory further comprises at least one algorithm configured to process audible information for presentation to the subject via the speaker.
8. The earpiece monitor of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece monitor further comprises an IR radiation sensor configured to monitor IR radiation emitted by a tympanic membrane of the ear of the subject.
9. The earpiece monitor of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece monitor is configured to communicate wirelessly with at least one other earpiece monitor.
10. The earpiece monitor of claim 1 , wherein the reflective pulse oximeter and the motion sensor are configured to be polled for reading out data at certain time intervals to extend battery life.
11. The earpiece monitor of claim 1 , further comprising an earpiece support configured to fit between the ear and the head of the subject and configured to support the earpiece fitting within the ear.
12. The earpiece monitor of claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver configured to communicate the processed signals from the reflective pulse oximeter and the motion sensor wirelessly between the earpiece monitor and a remote device.
13. The earpiece monitor of claim 12 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to enable wireless downloads of algorithms between the earpiece monitor and a remote device.
14. The earpiece monitor of claim 1 , further comprising an earpiece body configured to support the earpiece fitting within the ear of the subject, wherein the earpiece body houses the battery, the reflective pulse oximeter, the motion sensor, the digital memory, and the processor.
15. The earpiece monitor of claim 14 , wherein the earpiece body and the earpiece fitting are one and the same structure that fits within the ear of the subject.