Method and device for measuring physiological parameters at the wrist

Abstract

A wrist-mounted device for measuring at least one physiological parameter of the user. The present invention enables such a measurement to preferably be transformed into clinically useful information about the user. Such information may then optionally be sent to medical personnel, for example at a contact and/or monitoring center, through a gateway device. The gateway device preferably communicates with the wrist-mounted device of the present invention through a wireless communication channel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for measuring at least one physiological parameter of a subject, comprising: 
 (a) a fastening article for being fastened to a wrist of the user;    (b) a sensor for measuring at least one physiological parameter of the user, said sensor being in contact with at least a portion of said wrist and said sensor being attached to said fastening article; and    (c) a processor for receiving a signal from said sensor and for converting said at least one measurement to form medical information.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor is an analog sensor, the device further comprising an A/D (analog to digital) converter for receiving an analog signal from said sensor and for converting said analog signal to a digital signal, said digital signal being sent to said processor.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein a rate of sampling by said A/D converter is determined by said processor.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said rate of sampling is at least partially determined according to a type of physiological parameter being measured.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said physiological parameter is heart-related.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said physiological parameter includes at least one of heart rate and blood pressure.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of a piezoceramic transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, a resistive strain gauge and a pressure sensor with fiber-optic components.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said physiological parameter includes variability in heart rate.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said physiological parameter includes breathing rate.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said physiological parameter includes at least one of arrhythmia and overall cardiac rhythm.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said physiological parameter includes body movements.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said body movements include presence of abnormal body movements.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said physiological parameter includes body temperature.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (d) a non-volatile memory for storing at least one instruction for execution by said processor.    
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (e) a communication unit for at least transmitting data.    
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said communication unit also transmits a device identifier for uniquely identifying the device.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said communication unit also receives data.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said fastening article is a wristband.  
     
     
         19 . A system for measuring at least one physiological parameter of a subject, comprising: 
 (a) a device for measuring the at least one physiological parameter, comprising: 
 (i) a fastening article for being fastened to a wrist of the user;  
 (ii) a sensor for measuring at least one physiological parameter of the user, said sensor being in contact with at least a portion of said wrist and said sensor being attached to said fastening article;  
 (iii) a communication unit for at least transmitting data; and  
   (b) a gateway device for receiving said transmitted data for being monitored.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said transmitted data is monitored manually.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 (c) a remote server in communication with said gateway device, said remote server providing said transmitted data to a human operator for manual monitoring.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of a communication link between said gateway device and said remote server includes a telephonic connection.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said transmitted data is monitored at least partially automatically by said gateway device.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said device and said gateway device communicate bi-directionally, such that a message transmitted from said device is acknowledged by said gateway device, and such that if said gateway device does not acknowledge correct reception of said message, said device transmits said message again.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said device for measuring the at least one physiological parameter further comprises: 
 (iv) a processor for receiving a signal from said sensor and for converting at least one measurement to form medical information.    
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of a communication link between said device and said gateway device is a wireless link.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of a communication link between said device and said gateway device is a wired link.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said communication unit of said device also receives data, such that communication between said device and said gateway device includes an acknowledge procedure.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said device automatically performs a measurement of the physiological parameter upon manual activation of an alarm function by the subject.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said data is automatically transmitted to said gateway device upon said manual activation.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said device automatically and periodically performs a measurement of the physiological parameter.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein said data is automatically transmitted to said gateway device if said measurement is outside of an acceptable range.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said measurement is combined with another measurement of at least one other parameter to determine if said measurements are outside of said acceptable range.  
     
     
         34 . A method for monitoring a physiological parameter of a user, comprising: 
 providing a device for monitoring the physiological parameter, said device being attached to at least a portion of the user at a pulse point of the user;    monitoring the physiological parameter through said pulse point; and    if a level of the physiological parameter of the user is outside of an expected range, transmitting an alarm.    
     
     
         35 . A device for measuring at least one physiological parameter of a subject, comprising: 
 (a) a fastening article for being fastened to a wrist of the user;    (b) a piezoceramic sensor for measuring at least one physiological parameter of the user at a pulse point of said wrist and said sensor being attached to said fastening article; and    (c) a processor for receiving a signal from said sensor and for converting said at least one measurement to form medical information.