Abstract:
Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for providing a personal wellness monitor (PWM) that may be used to measure and store physiological parameters indicative of sustained activity by a User. Data collected by the PWM may be correlated over time with relation to a particular activity mode. Activity modes monitored may include walking, sleeping, exercising, or other activities. The User may be alerted by the PWM as predetermined physiological parameters are reached. Data from the PWM may be uploaded to a Data Center and stored for analysis and historical record in a central database, accessible by the User. The User&#39;s historical record may be pertinent in determining changes in health and wellness.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PREVIOUS APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from previously filed Provisional Application No. 60/561,935 filed on Apr. 14, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present technology relates to apparatus and methods for monitoring the health of individuals. More particularly, the present technology provides apparatus and methods for providing continuous monitoring and evaluation of an individual&#39;s wellness.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The development of apparatus and methods for monitoring indications of an individual&#39;s health status is a continuously developing field that has been of interest for a long time. Early forms of health determination often required a trip to a health care provider or hospital where specialized equipment operated by trained personnel may be used to determine health related parameters for an individual. Such parameters might include relatively easily monitored conditions including, but not limited to, weight, blood pressure, pulse rate, and temperature. More sophisticated technology might be required for more advanced monitoring requirements such as blood oxygen level or blood and/or other body fluid composition determination.  
         [0004]     Individuals who require prolonged health monitoring may be required to return to their health care providers on a regular basis or arrange for a nurse or other individual to visit them in order to be able to continuously monitor their health condition. Such home care can be expensive and inconvenient to all involved. Prior attempts have been made to address this home health care issue by developing home based monitoring equipment. Such equipment, however, is often expensive, bulky and difficult to operate. In some cases, home based equipment must be connected to a telephone or other communications connection and still may require the real time attention of a nurse or technician to instruct a home bound patient as to operational procedures.  
         [0005]     Another area of concern in the area of health and wellness monitoring relates to long term monitoring. It may be important to be able to track an individual&#39;s ongoing health and wellness related parameters for extended periods of time in order to detect and evaluate developing trends. Such long-term activities may require repeat visits to or by a health care provider or long term use of home health monitoring equipment. In order to address the difficulties associated with such long-term monitoring, efforts have been made to develop portable monitoring devices. These efforts have not been entirely successful, however, as the devices developed have often been bulky and/or difficult to operate.  
         [0006]     Yet another area of concern in the area of health and wellness monitoring relates to the more current interest in personal wellness monitoring and, in particular, to monitoring an otherwise healthy individual&#39;s wellness as such individuals seek to maintain or improve their physical well-being. Such individuals may simply wish to monitor physiological and biometric properties. Alternatively, they may be interested in embarking on various improvement regimens such as exercise programs where they may wish to track variations in physiological and biometric properties to assess the effectiveness of such programs. The use of known health care monitoring equipment or the protracted interaction with health care providers to implement monitoring activities for extended periods may not be practical or effective especially if real time monitoring is necessary or important.  
         [0007]     While various implementations of health monitoring apparatus have been developed, and while various combinations of health and wellness information gathering methods have been developed, no design has emerged that generally encompasses all of the desired characteristics as hereafter presented in accordance with the subject technology.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In view of the recognized features encountered in the prior art and addressed by the present subject matter, an improved apparatus and methodology for monitoring personal wellness on an ongoing or continuous basis has been developed.  
         [0009]     In an exemplary configuration, a Personal Wellness Monitor (PWM) has been developed as a small electronic device that may be configured to be worn by an individual and to provide periodic measurements of selected physiological and biometric properties of the wearer. Measurements obtained may be stored in an onboard memory device for later retrieval. In one of its simpler forms, the PWM in accordance with the present technology may correspond to a wristband mounted device physically resembling a watch although other wear options are envisioned as will be discussed later.  
         [0010]     One positive aspect of the PWM in accordance with the present technology is that a user may comfortably wear the device for extended periods. The ability to comfortably wear the device for extended periods provides not only easy of use but additional motivation to continue use of the PWM device to provide the long term data necessary to effectively monitor relatively slowly changing physiological and biometric properties as might occur from a regular and extended exercise program.  
         [0011]     In accordance with aspects of certain embodiments of the present subject matter, methodologies are provided to selectively monitor different types of physical activities and to store individual sequential records based on each activity type. Activity types may be manually identified to set a mode of operation for the PWM device. In accordance with related aspects of the present technology, activity types may be automatically identified.  
         [0012]     In accordance with certain aspects of other embodiments of the present subject matter, methodologies have been developed to provide visual indications based on real time analysis of data collected based on physiological and biometric properties of the PWM device user. Visual indications may be employed to assist the user in reaching and/or maintaining certain biometric targets.  
         [0013]     In accordance with yet additional aspects of further embodiments of the present subject matter, apparatus and accompanying methodologies have been developed to collect and evaluate long term data to track the user&#39;s progress toward prescribed or target goals relating to his or her own personal wellness.  
         [0014]     According to yet still other aspects of additional embodiments of the present subject matter, apparatus and methodologies have been developed to facilitate user data collection by providing convenient methodologies for transmitting collected data to a central processing facility for evaluation.  
         [0015]     In accordance with yet still further aspects of still further embodiments of the present subject matter, methodologies have been developed to provide guidance to PWM users based on evaluations of collected data to assist the user in reaching his/her personal wellness goals.  
         [0016]     Additional objects and advantages of the present subject matter are set forth herein or will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the detailed description herein. Also, it should be further appreciated that modifications and variations to the specifically illustrated, referred and discussed features and elements hereof may be practiced in various embodiments and uses of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter. Variations may include, but are not limited to, substitution of equivalent means, features, or steps for those illustrated, referenced, or discussed, and the functional, operational, or positional reversal of various parts, features, steps, or the like.  
         [0017]     Still further, it is to be understood that different embodiments, as well as different presently preferred embodiments, of the present subject matter may include various combinations or configurations of presently disclosed features, steps, or elements, or their equivalents (including combinations of features, parts, or steps or configurations thereof not expressly shown in the figures or stated in the detailed description of such figures). Additional embodiments of the present subject matter, not necessarily expressed in the summarized section, may include and incorporate various combinations of aspects of features, components, or steps referenced in the summarized objects above, and/or other features, components, or steps as otherwise discussed in this application. Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon review of the remainder of the specification. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of an exemplary physical configuration of a Personal Wellness Monitor (PWM) in accordance with the present technology;  
         [0020]      FIG. 1   a  illustrates a rear view of a Personal Wellness Monitor (PWM) in accordance with the present technology;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates the exemplary mounting arrangement of the Personal Wellness Monitor (PWM) of  FIG. 1  on a wristband;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates operational components of a exemplary Personal Wellness Monitor in accordance with the present technology;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary configuration of a kiosk usable for data collection from a Personal Wellness Monitor; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  diagrammatically illustrates an operational overview and system flow diagram of the general operation of the data gathering and evaluation aspects of the present technology.  
         [0025]     Repeat use of reference characters throughout the present specification and appended drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     As discussed in the Summary of the Invention section, the present subject matter is particularly concerned with an improved apparatus and methodology for monitoring personal wellness on an ongoing or continuous basis.  
         [0027]     Selected combinations of aspects of the disclosed technology correspond to a plurality of different embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that each of the exemplary embodiments presented and discussed herein should not insinuate limitations of the present subject matter. Features or steps illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used in combination with aspects of another embodiment to yield yet further embodiments. Additionally, certain features may be interchanged with similar devices or features not expressly mentioned which perform the same or similar function.  
         [0028]     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the subject Personal Wellness Monitor system and process. Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary physical configuration of a Personal Wellness Monitor (PWM)  100  in accordance with the present technology. As may be seen from  FIG. 1 , the PWM  100  may be configured as a small electronic device that may be attached to the arm, wrist or other appendage of an individual user. In an exemplary embodiment, PWM  100  may be attached to an adjustable wristband  200  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , however such user attachment method is not a specific limitation of the present technology it only being required that the PWM  100  be associated with the user in a manner permitting detection of particular selected parameters to be detected. In other exemplary embodiments of the present technology, a PWD  100  may be attached to the arm, wrist or other appendage of an individual user by way an expandable bracelet or cuff or any other suitable means.  
         [0029]     In accordance with aspects of certain embodiments of the present technology a PWD  100  may have more than one assigned or registered user. The device may be separately correlated to each user by way of, for example, an incorporated radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, as will be discussed more fully later. Such correlation of device to user is applicable to all situations whether a PWM device is registered to single or multiple users. For ease of understanding, however, the present discussion will assume that a single user is registered to a single PWD  100 .  
         [0030]     With further reference to  FIG. 1 , it will be seen that PWM  100  is provided with a housing  110  enclosing a number of electronic components as will be more fully described later with reference to  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , PWM  100  is provided with a front panel  120  on which is mounted a number of control and display elements to provide a user with operational control of the PWM  100  as well as visual indications of data and other information as may be useful to the user. Principal components mounted on the front panel  120  to the PWM  100  include a mode switch  130 , a display panel  140  and a visual indicator  150 , each of which will be more fully described later.  
         [0031]     With reference to  FIG. 1   a , a rear view of PWM  100  is shown and illustrates an exemplary location for a sensor array  190 . Sensor array  190  may correspond to a number of individual sensors as will be more fully explained later with reference to  FIG. 3 , however, in brief, sensor array  190  may correspond to a number of individual sensors that provide, in cooperation with additional control circuitry, for the automatic and periodic measurements of physiological and biometric properties including heart pulse rate, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), changes in motion (accelerometer), and other such physiological and biometric measurements as may be deemed important.  
         [0032]     With further reference to  FIG. 1 , display panel  140  is configured to provide visual indications of the various physiological and biometric properties monitored by PWM  100  as well as PWM  100 &#39;s operational status. Thus in an exemplary embodiment, display panel  140  may correspond to a liquid crystal display (LCD) and light emitting diode (LED) display combination or other suitable display device and may display information in the form of operational indicia  142 , bar graph or other graphical information  144 , battery charge level  146 , and operational mode  148 , in the illustrated example, a “walking” mode. These displays may optionally be provided as color displays where variations in color may be associated with different visual cues for the user.  
         [0033]     The PWM  100  incorporates a paddle switch or other user-selectable mode switch  130  that allows a user to select among various activity modes. These modes may include (but are not limited to): sleep, eating, meditating, walking, jogging, swimming, weight training, yoga/pilates, profession (work), entertainment, driving, yard work, set resting pulse rate (5 minutes after arising from sleep), Wellness Score, relaxation (as defined by the user), auto select, and other such modes as may be deemed necessary or desirable.  
         [0034]     With reference now to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated an exemplary configuration of operational components  300  of an exemplary Personal WelIness Monitor (PWM)  100  in accordance with the present technology. The electronic circuit required to provide operational enablement of the PWM  100  may, in an exemplary embodiment, correspond to a microprocessor  310 , associated sensors  320 - 326 , display device  340  and other elements as will be described later. Microprocessor  310  may correspond to a microcontroller depending on the desired operational capabilities of the PWM  100 . For example, if a relatively simple construction or model of PWM  100  is desired, for example, one capable of limited operation, a microcontroller may be used. A more functionally advanced model of PWM  100  may require more sophisticated onboard processing capability and, thus, may require the use of a microprocessor.  
         [0035]     Operation of the PWM  100  may be characterized as corresponding to a series of measurement sweeps made in periodic intervals. In an exemplary configuration, such measurement sweeps may be performed every 20 seconds, i.e., 3 times per minute. Measurements made during each sweep are stored in non-volatile memory  312  that may correspond to a portion of microprocessor  310  or may be provided as a separate internal memory located within the PWD  100 . In either case the memory is sized to provide adequate data storage for a preselected time frame based on the number and types of measurements to be taken. In an exemplary embodiment of the PWM  100  the memory is selected to provide sufficient storage to store at least 7 days of activity and providing for at least 8 bytes of information per measurement sweep and may correspond to a memory capacity of at least 254Kbytes.  
         [0036]     With further reference to  FIG. 3 , PWM  100  operational circuitry  300  may include a number of sensors  320 - 326 , each configured to be responsive to selected physiological or biometric properties such as those previously mentioned including heart pulse rate, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), changes in motion (accelerometer), and other such physiological and biometric measurements as may be deemed important. For example, sensor  320  may correspond to an infrared sensitive diode that may be used to detect blood flow from which may be calculated both heart pulse rate and blood pressure.  
         [0037]     Sensor  322  may correspond to a multi-axis accelerometer whose outputs may be used to calculate relative motion of the user. In some embodiments of the present technology such motion calculations may also be use to automatically determine the type of activity the user is undertaking. Such automatic activity detection may be employed in an “auto select” mode as previously mentioned or, in some embodiments of the present technology, may be provided as the sole method of operational mode selection.  
         [0038]     Sensor  324  may correspond to a temperature sensor for detection the body temperature of a user, while sensor  326  may correspond to a moisture sensitive sensor that may provide information relative to body moisture loss. Alternative choices of sensors as well as additional (or fewer) sensors may be selected as desired or necessary to provide data input to the PWM  100  as necessary for its particular design.  
         [0039]     Measurements are correlated to both the sweep (i.e.; measurements made each  20  seconds) and modes (i.e.; “Walking”) in which they occur and may be stored as individual sequential records in non-volatile memory  312 . If sufficient storage is available within non-volatile memory  312 , a relational data structure may be established to provide easier correlation of data relative to the individual user.  
         [0040]     Each mode has associated with it an optimal pulse rate (OPR) for the user, indicating the state of the body achieved during the activity. This OPR is based on factors maintained in the PWM  100  such as age, sex, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Impedance Analysis (BIA) fat content, athletic condition, and such other wellness and physiological measurement requirements as deemed necessary. Entry of these data may be accomplished manually by operation of mode switch  350  (corresponding to mode switch  130  of  FIG. 1 ) and control switches  352 ,  354  illustrated in  FIG. 3  or downloaded to the PWM  100  by a data station as will be explained more fully later with respect to  FIG. 4 .  
         [0041]     In order to calibrate PWD  100 , the user&#39;s resting pulse rate (RPR) is obtained for a short period following rest and stored in non-volatile memory  312 . It is assumed that the resting pulse rate is a valid indication of the user&#39;s physiological resting state and can be correlated to the user&#39;s basal metabolic rate (BMR). Other physiological parameters may be used in addition to RPR to calculate BMR as deemed appropriate. For continued accuracy of measurement, recalibration of RPR may be performed at least once a week. The RPR may be used as a baseline for data analysis and historical comparisons.  
         [0042]     In order to correlate the user&#39;s optimal pulse rate (OPR) to a particular mode, the PWM  100  may utilizes a series of light-emitting diodes  142  ( FIG. 1 ) or other visual cues to provide feedback as the user moves towards (and eventually achieves) OPR. Visual cues may include monitor-based histograms and other such cues as are deemed appropriate or necessary, including audio and tactile feedback cues. For example, if a user has an OPR of  85  for the mode of “walking,” the PWM may indicate a 50% OPR as measured against the RPR by illuminating an amber LCD, and 100% of OPR as measured against RPR by illuminating a green LCD. The green LCD would continue to be illuminated for as long as the user maintained OPR for the Mode.  
         [0043]     Certain modes necessitate going from a higher pulse rate to the resting pulse rate (RPR), which then becomes the optimal pulse rate (OPR). For example, if a user has an OPR (RPR) of 48 for the mode of “meditating”, and the user enters the mode at a pulse rate of 80, the PWM may indicate a 50% OPR by illuminating an amber LCD, and 100% of OPR by illuminating a green LCD. The green LCD would continue to be illuminated for as long as the user maintained OPR (RPR) for the mode.  
         [0044]     PWM  100  may display a “Wellness Score” that may be calculated based, for example, on a correlation of body mass index (BMI) with selected “wellness” changes exhibited by the User over time. The score may be based on a logarithmic scale of, for example, 0 to 1000, with exponential improvement being shown at as BMI approaches optimal values for the user. The score may be calculated for the individual user based on the percentage of time the OPR is maintained during the course of the day and the mode being measured. This Wellness Score is available to the user at any time on the display panel  140  ( FIG. 1 ) by selecting the “score” mode using mode switch  130 .  
         [0045]     With further reference to  FIG. 3 , PWM  100  contains a Radio-frequency Identification (“RFID”) chip  360  or other non-invasive and contact less user identification system that uniquely identifies the user. PWM  100  may also include a contact less smart chip  370  (CSC) or other central processing unit with associated memory and integrated bus that enables the PWM  100  to perform bi-directional data communication with properly equipped external devices and systems, for example, Data Stations. Finally, PWM  100  may be battery operated by way of battery  380 . Battery  380  may be a rechargeable batter and may be recharge as a function of the data exchange process through Data Stations or may be recharged by way of a separate battery charger device (not shown) including a built-in solar cell charging arrangement mounted on PWM  100 .  
         [0046]     Data Stations may correspond to a stand-alone kiosk  400  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  or computer connectivity ports or devices such as a USB (or other data transfer type) computer connection that allow the exchange of user data from the PWM  100  to the Data Station. When user data has been exchanged from the PWM  100 , the non-volatile memory  312  may be flushed and data acquisition in the PWM  100  begun again. With reference to  FIG. 4 , stand-alone kiosks  400  may be provided at various locations including both public and private locations. For example, in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology, stand-alone kiosks  400  may be placed in shopping malls or other public locations to afford users the opportunity to download data from their PWM  100  as well as to receive data from a central database as will be described later with respect to  FIG. 5 .  
         [0047]     Stand-alone kiosk  400  may correspond to a platform  410  supporting a display panel  420  by way of support columns  412 ,  414 . Display panel  420  may include a display device  430  as well as a number of control devices and/or communication ports  440 - 448  used to activate the stand-alone kiosk  400  and provide communications between a PWM  100  and the stand-alone kiosk  400 . Communication between PWM  100  and the stand-alone kiosk may be carried out by direction connection of PWM  100  to a port on the kiosk, or by other, non-contact type connections including, but not limited to, WiFi, Bluetooth, optical, or inductive coupling. The stand-alone kiosk  400  may be coupled to the central database via a telephone line and modem or by some other available communication connection including, but not limited to, direct, dedicated lines, ethernet connections, WiFi and Internet connections.  
         [0048]     With reference now to  FIG. 5 , there is diagrammatically illustrated an operational overview and system flow diagram  500  of the general operation of the data gathering and evaluation aspects of the present technology. As illustrated, various Data Stations  510 ,  512 ,  514 ,  516  may be configured to relay PWM  100  data to a central database  530  (Central DB). The various Data Stations may be associated with a number of different facets of the general operation of the data gathering and evaluation aspects of the present technology. In an exemplary embodiment of the present technology, one or more of Data Stations  510 ,  512 ,  514 ,  516  may be provided. It should be understood that although only a single one of each of the illustrated types of Data Stations is illustrated, multiple ones of such Data stations might be provided.  
         [0049]     In the exemplary embodiment of the present technology illustrated in  FIG. 5 , Data Station  516  may correspond to previously mentioned stand-alone kiosks  400  that may be placed in a public location such as a shopping mall or other public area. Data Station  510  and  512  may be physically similarly configured to stand-alone kiosks  400  but may be place in alternate, private locations corresponding to a Wellness Center  510  or other Partner location  512 . Data Station  514  may be configured to correspond to a home use data transfer arrangement to be associated with a home computer.  
         [0050]     As may be seen from operational overview and system flow diagram  500 , certain operational differences may be applied depending on Data Station location. Data Stations located at Wellness Center  510  and Partner location  512  may be configured so as not to collect a fee from users for use of the Data Station as such use may be provided through membership agreements between the user and owners of the location. Data Stations at Public Kiosks  516  may be configured to collect a usage fee while a Data Station associated with Home Computer  514  may be configured to transfer data based on a monthly fee arrangement with the Central DB provider.  
         [0051]     Regardless of the Data Station used, data from PWM  100  may be transferred to Central DB  530  via a communication link  520  that may correspond to any of the previously mentioned communications methodologies including telephone modem, direct, and Internet connection or other communications methodologies as may be available or made available. Upon receipt of data from PWM  100  at the Central DB  530 , the data may be converted to sequential User records and stored in a relational database format (RDBMS) where at least a User ID, Mode, and Date/Time of Measurement may be used as primary keys along with the User&#39;s unique ID (as maintained in the RFID chip  360 ).  
         [0052]     The Central DB  530  correlates the time-based measurements with mode to create time-based activity and physiology charts, i.e., Wellness Charts. These Wellness Charts may be made available to the user, and can be viewed in a number of ways including, but not limited to, optimal pulse rate (OPR) by Mode, OPR by time of day, OPR by day of week, and/or OPR by month. Review of the User&#39;s Wellness Charts  540  may provide insight into subtle changes in the User&#39;s physiology, such as slight irregular variations in the resting pulse rate (RPR) and a powerful window into the User&#39;s physiology over time. In addition, evaluation of the User&#39;s Wellness Charts  540  may be used to provide Dietary Suggestions  550  or Lifestyle Suggestions  560  to PWM users through selected Data Stations, e.g., Data Station  512  associated with a Partners location. Lifestyle Suggestions  560  may involve a variety of suggestion areas that may be related to or associated with possible areas in which improvements or adjustments in the user&#39;s lifestyle may be made in order to advance a user&#39;s goal of improved personal wellness.  
         [0053]     While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.