Patent Description:
The invention is defined in claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

Also disclosed herein is a health monitoring device comprising: a flexible circuit, an absorbent product, and, a processing unit. The flexible circuit comprises: an electrochemical biosensor, a color sensor, an LED, and, a moisture sensor. The electrochemical biosensor comprises a plurality of reference electrodes. The processing unit comprises: a GPS antenna, a power unit, a bluetooth low energy transceiver, a GPS transceiver, a microcontroller, and, an accelerometer. The processing unit is electronically coupled to the flexible circuit.

Also disclosed herein is a health monitoring device, wherein the flexible circuit further comprises: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and, a heart rate sensor.

Also disclosed herein is a health monitoring device, wherein the processing unit further comprises: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and, a heart rate sensor.

Also disclosed herein is a health monitoring device, wherein each of the plurality of reference electrodes detects an analyte selected from the group consisting of albumin, ascorbic acid, bilirubin, blood, creatinine, glucose, hemoglobin, ketones, leukocytes, microalbumin, myoglobin, nitrite, pH, protein, specific gravity, urea, uric acid, urobilinogen, vitamins, and combinations thereof.

Also disclosed herein is a health monitoring device, further comprising a data communication device.

Also disclosed herein is a health monitoring device, wherein the processing unit further comprises an input/output device connection port, wherein the input/output device connection port electronically couples a secondary monitoring device to the processing unit.

Also disclosed herein is a health monitoring device, wherein the secondary monitoring device is selected from the group consisting of pulse oximeters, blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters, blood coagulation meters, blood oxygen monitor, thermometers, apnea monitors, electrocardiogram monitors, fetal monitors, hemoglobin trackers, breathalyzers, capnography monitors, fitness monitors, pedometers, medical monitors, vital sign monitors, cardiac monitors, hemodynamic monitors, respiratory monitors, neurological monitors, body temperature monitors, heart rate monitors, respiratory rate monitors, stress monitors, serotonin biosensors, epilepsy monitors, toxicity monitors, mercury monitors, lead monitors, biosensors, electrochemical biosensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, color sensors, heart rate sensors, accelerometers, and combinations thereof.

Also disclosed herein is a health monitoring device, wherein the secondary monitoring device is a blood oxygen monitor.

Also disclosed herein is a health monitoring device, wherein the flexible circuit and the processing unit are reusable; and, wherein the health monitoring device further comprises an adhesion means to adhere the flexible circuit and the processing unit to the absorbent product.

Also disclosed herein is a health monitoring device, wherein the flexible circuit and the processing unit are disposable.

Also disclosed herein is a health monitoring device, wherein the flexible circuit is integrally formed with the absorbent product.

Also disclosed herein is a health monitoring device comprising: a flexible circuit, an absorbent product, and, a processing unit. The flexible circuit comprises: an electrochemical biosensor, a color sensor, an LED, and, a moisture sensor. The electrochemical biosensor comprises a plurality of reference electrodes. The processing unit comprises: a GPS antenna, a power unit, a bluetooth low energy transceiver, a GPS, transceiver, a microprocessor, a ROM chip, a RAM chip, an analog to digital converter, a digital to analog converter, a serial peripheral interface, a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter, a power regulator, and, an accelerometer. The processing unit is electronically coupled to the flexible circuit.

Also disclosed herein is a computer system comprising: at least one processor unit; at least one memory unit coupled to the at least one processor unit; and, computer readable instructions embodied in the memory unit and executable by the processor unit, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor unit causes the computing system to perform a method of monitoring the health of a user of a health monitoring device. The method comprising: obtaining health data from health monitoring device; recording the health data on the memory unit; transmitting the health data to a data communication device; and, displaying the health data on the data communication device. The health monitoring device comprises: a flexible circuit, an absorbent product, and, a processing unit. The flexible circuit comprises: an electrochemical biosensor, a color sensor, an LED, and, a moisture sensor. The electrochemical biosensor comprises a plurality of reference electrodes. The processing unit comprises: a GPS antenna, a power unit, a bluetooth low energy transceiver, a GPS transceiver, a microcontroller, and, an accelerometer. The processing unit is electronically coupled to the flexible circuit.

Also disclosed herein is a computer system, wherein the health monitoring device further comprises a blood oxygen monitor, wherein the blood oxygen monitor is electronically coupled to the flexible circuit.

Also disclosed herein is a computer system, wherein the obtaining, recording, transmitting and displaying the health data are repeatedly performed at regular, predefined intervals.

Also disclosed herein is a computer system, the method further comprising providing alerts if the health data falls outside of predefined levels.

Also disclosed herein is a computer system, the method further comprising providing alerts if the rate of change of health data falls outside of predefined rates.

Also disclosed herein is a method of monitoring the health of a user of a health monitoring device, the method comprising: obtaining health data from health monitoring device; recording the health data on the memory unit; transmitting the health data to a data communication device; and, displaying the health data on the data communication device. The health monitoring device comprises: a flexible circuit, an absorbent product, and, a processing unit. The flexible circuit comprises: an electrochemical biosensor, a color sensor, an LED, and, a moisture sensor. The electrochemical biosensor comprises a plurality of reference electrodes. The processing unit comprises: a GPS antenna, a power unit, a bluetooth low energy transceiver, a GPS transceiver, a microcontroller, and, an accelerometer. The processing unit is electronically coupled to the flexible circuit.

Also disclosed herein is a method of monitoring the health of a user of a health monitoring device, wherein the health monitoring device further comprises a blood oxygen monitor, wherein the blood oxygen monitor is electronically coupled to the flexible circuit.

Also disclosed herein is a method of monitoring the health of a user of a health monitoring device, wherein the obtaining, recording, transmitting and displaying the health data are repeatedly performed at regular, predefined intervals.

Also disclosed herein is a method of monitoring the health of a user of a health monitoring device, the method further comprising providing alerts if the health data falls outside of predefined levels.

Also disclosed herein is a method of monitoring the health of a user of a health monitoring device, the method further comprising providing alerts if the rate of change of health data falls outside of predefined rates.

Also disclosed herein is a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions embodied therein, the computer readable instructions being configured to implement a method of monitoring the health of a user of a health monitoring device when executed, the method comprising: obtaining health data from health monitoring device; recording the health data on the memory unit; transmitting the health data to a data communication device; and, displaying the health data on the data communication device. The health monitoring device comprises: a flexible circuit, an absorbent product, and, a processing unit. The flexible circuit comprises: an electrochemical biosensor, a color sensor, an LED, and, a moisture sensor. The electrochemical biosensor comprises a plurality of reference electrodes. The processing unit comprises: a GPS antenna, a power unit, a bluetooth low energy transceiver, a GPS transceiver, a microcontroller, and, an accelerometer. The processing unit is electronically coupled to the flexible circuit.

Also disclosed herein is a non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein the health monitoring device further comprises a blood oxygen monitor, wherein the blood oxygen monitor is electronically coupled to the flexible circuit.

Also disclosed herein is a non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein the obtaining, recording, transmitting and displaying the health data are repeatedly performed at regular, predefined intervals.

Also disclosed herein is a non-transitory computer readable medium, the method further comprising providing alerts if the health data falls outside of predefined levels.

Also disclosed herein is a non-transitory computer readable medium, the method further comprising providing alerts if the rate of change of health data falls outside of predefined rates.

The advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

As depicted in <FIG>, a health monitoring device <NUM> usable with various embodiments of the present invention comprises a flexible circuit <NUM>, an absorbent product <NUM>, and, a processing unit <NUM>. The flexible circuit <NUM> comprises an electrochemical biosensor <NUM>, a color sensor <NUM>, an LED <NUM>, and, a moisture sensor <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the electrochemical biosensor <NUM> comprises a plurality of reference electrodes 121a. The plurality of reference electrodes <NUM> detects an analyte selected from the group consisting of albumin, ascorbic acid, bilirubin, blood, creatinine, glucose, hemoglobin, ketones, leukocytes, microalbumin, myoglobin, nitrite, pH, protein, specific gravity, urea, uric acid, urobilinogen, vitamins, and combinations thereof.

As depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the processing unit <NUM> comprises a GPS antenna <NUM>, a power unit <NUM>, a bluetooth low energy transceiver <NUM>, a GPS transceiver <NUM>, a microcontroller <NUM>, and, an accelerometer <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> is electronically coupled to the flexible circuit <NUM>. In some embodiments the processing unit <NUM> may communicate wirelessly with the sensors of the flexible circuit <NUM>. Bluetooth low energy is preferred for the safety of the user, as bluetooth low energy has lower radiation exposure.

In some embodiments, the flexible circuit <NUM> further comprises a temperature sensor <NUM>, a humidity sensor <NUM>, and, a heart rate sensor <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the processing unit <NUM> further comprises a temperature sensor <NUM>, a humidity sensor <NUM>, and, a heart rate sensor <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the health monitoring device <NUM> may further comprise a data communication device <NUM>. The data communication device includes wired and wireless computing devices, such as mobile phones, smart phones, personal computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, or dedicated devices to receive data from the health monitoring device <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the health monitoring device <NUM> may further comprise an input/output device connection port <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>), wherein the input/output device connection port <NUM> electronically couples a secondary monitoring device <NUM> to the processing unit <NUM>. A cable that utilizes USB, micro USB, pin connectors, other known electrically coupling connectors known to one skilled in the art, or combinations thereof, may be used to electronically couple the secondary monitoring device <NUM> to the processing unit <NUM>. An example of a secondary monitoring device <NUM> is a pulse oximeters 181a. In alternative embodiments, the secondary monitoring device <NUM> does not utilize a cable to communicate with the processing unit <NUM>; instead, the secondary monitoring device <NUM> may communicate wirelessly (e.g., by bluetooth) with the processing unit <NUM>. Among the many advantages of wireless communication is not having wires and cables interfering with the user's comfort. Another advantage of wireless communication is that the present invention may utilize numerous secondary monitoring devices <NUM>, and would not be limited to the number of available input/output device connection ports <NUM>.

Other secondary monitoring devices <NUM> include, but are not limited to, blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters, blood coagulation meters, blood oxygen monitor, thermometers, apnea monitors, electrocardiogram monitors, fetal monitors, hemoglobin trackers, breathalyzers, capnography monitors, fitness monitors, pedometers, medical monitors, vital sign monitors, cardiac monitors, hemodynamic monitors, respiratory monitors, neurological monitors, body temperature monitors, heart rate monitors, respiratory rate monitors, stress monitors, serotonin biosensors, epilepsy monitors, toxicity monitors, mercury monitors, lead monitors, biosensors, electrochemical biosensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, color sensors, heart rate sensors, accelerometers, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the secondary monitoring device <NUM> is a blood oxygen monitor <NUM>. The blood oxygen monitor <NUM> is electronically coupled to the processing unit <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the flexible circuit <NUM> and the processing unit <NUM> (including electrochemical biosensor <NUM>, the color sensor <NUM>, the LED <NUM>, the moisture sensor <NUM>, the GPS antenna <NUM>, the power unit <NUM>, the bluetooth low energy transceiver <NUM>, the GPS transceiver <NUM>, the microcontroller <NUM>, the accelerometer <NUM>, the microprocessor <NUM>, the ROM chip 166a, the RAM chip 166b, the analog to digital converter 166c, the digital to analog converter 166d, the serial peripheral interface 166e, the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter 166f, the power regulator <NUM>, the temperature sensor <NUM>, the humidity sensor <NUM>, and the heart rate sensor <NUM>) are reusable. The health monitoring device <NUM> may further comprise an adhesion means to adhere the flexible circuit <NUM> and the processing unit <NUM> to the absorbent product <NUM>. The adhesion means include, but is not limited to, adhesive tape, velcro, clips, pins, glue, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the flexible circuit <NUM> and the processing unit <NUM> and their components are waterproof. With regard to the moisture sensor <NUM>, the humidity sensor <NUM>, and the electrochemical sensor <NUM>, these components are waterproof except where the components receive analytes from urine, blood, stool, menses, or combinations thereof.

In other embodiments, the flexible circuit <NUM> and the processing unit <NUM> are disposable. In such embodiments, the flexible circuit <NUM> and the processing unit <NUM> may be integrally formed with the absorbent product. As shown in <FIG>, the moisture sensor <NUM>, color sensor <NUM> and electrochemical biosensor <NUM> (other disposable components are not depicted for clarity purposes) are inserted in between layers of absorbent product <NUM>.

For example, <FIG> shows an example of an absorbent product <NUM> that includes a waterproof layer <NUM>, an extra absorbent layer <NUM>, and a wickaway liner <NUM>. The components would be inserted between the extra absorbent layer <NUM>, and the wickaway liner <NUM>. The absorbent product <NUM> shown in <FIG> is for illustrative purposes and the present invention is not limited to use with absorbent products with the illustrated configuration. In some embodiments, the color sensor <NUM> may detect color changes (due to urine, blood, stool, menses, or combinations thereof) to the extra absorbent layer <NUM>, the wickaway liner <NUM>, or both. For example, the present invention may notify a caretaker that an occurrence of an event (urination, bleeding, a bowel movement, menstruation, or combinations thereof) has occurred. If a user has an event, then the moisture sensor <NUM>, humidity sensor <NUM>, or both, are activated. The activation will indicate to the caretaker that an event has occurred. After the moisture sensor <NUM>, humidity sensor <NUM>, or both, are activated, the color sensor <NUM> and the LED <NUM> are triggered to activate to capture the color of the stained extra absorbent layer <NUM>, the wickaway liner <NUM>, or both. The color detected will inform the caretaker whether the event is urination, bleeding, a bowel movement, menstruation, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the processing unit <NUM> of the health monitoring device <NUM> comprises, in place or in addition to a microcontroller <NUM>, a microprocessor <NUM>, a ROM chip 166a, a RAM chip 166b, an analog to digital converter 166c, a digital to analog converter 166d, a serial peripheral interface 166e, a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter 166f, and, a power regulator <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

In other arrangements usable with embodiments of the present invention, a computer system comprises at least one processor unit, at least one memory unit coupled to the at least one processor unit, and, computer readable instructions embodied in the memory unit and executable by the processor unit, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor unit causes the computing system to perform a method of monitoring the health of a user of a health monitoring device <NUM>. The method <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, comprises obtaining health data from health monitoring device <NUM>, recording the health data on the memory unit, transmitting the health data to a data communication device <NUM>, and, displaying the health data on the data communication device <NUM>.

In other arrangements usable with embodiments of the present invention, a method of monitoring the health of a user of a health monitoring device comprises obtaining health data from health monitoring device <NUM>, recording the health data on the memory unit, transmitting the health data to a data communication device <NUM>, and, displaying the health data on the data communication device <NUM>.

In other arrangements usable with embodiments of the present invention, a non-transitory computer readable medium has computer readable instructions embodied therein, the computer readable instructions being configured to implement a method of monitoring the health of a user of a health monitoring device when executed, the method comprises obtaining health data from health monitoring device <NUM>, recording the health data on the memory unit, transmitting the health data to a data communication device <NUM>, and, displaying the health data on the data communication device <NUM>. "Non-transitory computer readable medium" may not include a transitory signal.

In some arrangements, the obtaining, recording, transmitting and displaying the health data are repeatedly performed at regular, predefined intervals.

In some arrangements, the method <NUM> further comprises providing alerts if the health data falls outside of predefined levels. For example, the health monitoring device <NUM> may be designed with predetermined levels for a certain amount of moisture or humidity (via the moisture sensor <NUM> and the humidity sensor <NUM>, respectively) to notify a caretaker or the user of the health monitoring device that the absorbent product <NUM> needs to be replace. The moisture sensor may also be utilized to measure the amount of water in urine. For example, if the amount of water is lower than normal, then it may indicate that more substances in the urine; if the amount of water is greater than normal, then it may indicate that less substances in the urine. Taking body temperature as another example, the average normal body temperature is generally <NUM> degrees fahrenheit. Throughout the day, body temperature will normally range from <NUM> to <NUM> degrees fahrenheit. The predefined levels may be set at <NUM> to <NUM> degrees fahrenheit. As a result, an alert is provided to the caretaker if the body temperature falls below <NUM> or rises above <NUM> degrees fahrenheit. A body temperature over <NUM> degrees fahrenheit often means a fever caused by an infection or illness.

In some arrangements, the method <NUM> further comprises providing alerts if the rate of change of health data falls outside of predefined rates. Again with body temperature as an example, the average normal body temperature is generally <NUM> degrees fahrenheit. Throughout the day, body temperature will normally range from <NUM> to <NUM> degrees fahrenheit. The predefined rate may be defined at a set rate, for example, +/- <NUM> degrees fahrenheit per <NUM> minutes. As a result, an alert is provided to the caretaker if the rate of change in body temperature changes (increases or decreases) greater than <NUM> degrees every <NUM> minutes. Alternatively, the predefined rate may be defined by the recording the user's normal change in rate of the user's body temperature. For example, the user's body temperature may normally change +/- <NUM> degrees fahrenheit per <NUM> minutes. As a result, an alert is provided to the caretaker if the rate of change in body temperature changes (increases or decreases) greater than <NUM> degrees every <NUM> minutes.

The health monitoring device <NUM> may have predetermined levels for the analytes to be detected by the electrochemical biosensor <NUM>. For example, ranges for the following analytes include:.

Albumin and creatinine - a ratio of albumin (mcg/L) to creatinine (mg/L) of less than <NUM> is normal. A ratio of <NUM>-<NUM> signifies microalbuminuria and ratios above <NUM> signifies macroalbuminuria. Abnormal levels of creatinine may be indicative of kidney failure, heart attacks, and muscle destruction.

Normal ranges for ascorbic acid are from about <NUM> to about <NUM>/dL. Levels of ascorbic acid that are less than <NUM>/dL indicate significant deficiency. Prolonged deficiency may cause scurvy. Excess urine ascorbic acid may be indicative of kidney stones.

Bilirubin is not normally present in urine. Presence of bilirubin in urine is an early indicator of liver disease.

Blood is not normally found in urine. The presence of hemoglobin in the urine may be indicative of hemoglobinuria or hematuria. The presence of myoglobin may be indicative of muscle injury. The presence of blood may also be indicative of kidney disorders and diseases, and urine duct disease.

Glucose is not normally present in urine. Glucosuria is the presence of glucose in urine, which may be the result of excessively high blood glucose levels, a sign of diabetes. Other causes of glucosuria include hormonal disorders, pregnancy, kidney and liver diseases, and diabetes.

Ketones are not normally found in urine. The presence of ketones may be an early indication of insufficient insulin, which may be characteristic of a person with diabetes.

Normal range of urine leukocytes are about <NUM> to about <NUM> white blood cells per high power field. High levels of white blood cells may indicate an infection, such as kidney or urinary tract infections.

Normal ranges of microalbumin is from about <NUM> to about <NUM>/L. Abnormal levels of microalbumin may be indicative of cardiovascular and kidney diseases.

Urine is normally free of nitrite. Many bacteria can convert nitrate (a normal substance in urine) to nitrite. Therefore, the presence of nitrite in urine may indicate the presence of bacteria or a bacterial infection.

Typical pH values of urine is about pH <NUM>, but may range from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. Because the kidneys play an important role in maintaining acid-base balance of the body, non-typical pH values may indicate kidney problems and acidosis.

Normally, there is no or only a small amount of protein in urine. One of the proteins measured is albumin. Proteinuria is an elevated level of urine protein. Proteinuria may result from fever, stress, and exposure to cold. Protein in urine may also indicate cardiovascular and kidney diseases.

Specific gravity is a measure of urine concentration. A specific gravity of <NUM> indicates concentrated urine, which is urine with substances dissolved in the urine. A high specific gravity (concentrated urine) may be indicative of fever, diarrhea, excessive perspiration, vomiting, hepatic disease, and heart failure. A low specific gravity (diluted urine) may be indicative of antidiuretic hormone deficiency, kidney infections, and calcium and potassium deficiencies.

Urobilinogen is normally present in urine in low concentrations. Urobilinogen levels greater than <NUM>/dL may be indicative of liver diseases.

The electrochemical biosensor may detect analytes found in urine, blood, stool and menses.

Preferably, the power unit <NUM> is a coin battery, a thin disposable bio-safe and environmentally-safe battery, or a rechargeable module. Charging of the power unit <NUM> may be done by a wired or wireless means.

The LED <NUM> provides light for the color sensor <NUM> to get a reading. The LED <NUM> will turn on for a moment while the color sensor <NUM> gets a reading and then the LED <NUM> will turn off. Preferably the LED <NUM> will be multi-color, for example, an RGBW (red, green, blue & white) LED. The color sensor <NUM> and the LED <NUM> may be separate; alternatively, the color sensor <NUM> may have an LED as part of the color sensor <NUM>.

Preferably, any connecting wires between any of the components of the health monitoring device <NUM> will be flexible for comfort and fitting purposes of the user.

Claim 1:
A computer-implemented method for providing an indication of a type of bodily waste, the method comprising:
detecting, using a first sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>) of a disposable article, an occurrence of an event, wherein the event corresponds to an excretion of bodily waste;
in response to detecting the occurrence of an event, activating a second sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the disposable article, wherein the second sensor is different from the first sensor;
capturing, using the second sensor, color information associated with the bodily waste, wherein the captured color information is informative of a type of bodily waste from a plurality of predefined types of bodily waste, wherein the plurality of predefined types of bodily waste are urination, bleeding, a bowel movement, menstruation, and combinations thereof; and
providing an output to a caretaker indicative of the type of bodily waste.