Physiological Monitoring Apparatus

Abstract

Wearable apparatus for monitoring various physiological and environmental factors are provided. Real-time, noninvasive health and environmental monitors include a plurality of compact sensors integrated within small, low-profile devices, such as earpiece modules. Physiological and environmental data is collected and wirelessly transmitted into a wireless network, where the data is stored and/or processed.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An earring configured to be attached to an ear of a subject, the earring comprising:
 at least one physiological sensor configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject; and   a transmitter configured to transmit signals from the at least one physiological sensor to a remote device.   
     
     
         2 . The earring of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one environmental sensor configured to detect and/or measure one or more environmental conditions in a vicinity of the subject, and wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit signals from the at least one environmental sensor to the remote device. 
     
     
         3 . The earring of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one signal processor configured to receive and process signals produced by the at least one physiological sensor, and wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit signals processed by the at least one physiological sensor to the remote device. 
     
     
         4 . The earring of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one signal processor configured to receive and process signals produced by the at least one environmental sensor, and wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit signals processed by the at least one environmental sensor to the remote device. 
     
     
         5 . The earring of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one physiological sensor comprises at least one electrochemical sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The earring of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one physiological sensor comprises at least one electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The earring of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one physiological sensor comprises:
 at least one optical emitter configured to direct light to a region of the ear of the subject; and   at least one optical detector configured to detect light absorbed, scattered, and/or reflected by the ear region.   
     
     
         8 . An earring configured to be attached to an ear of a subject, the earring comprising:
 at least one optical emitter configured to direct light to a region of the ear of the subject;   at least one optical detector configured to detect light absorbed, scattered, and/or reflected by the ear region; and   a transmitter configured to transmit signals from the at least one optical detector to a remote device.   
     
     
         9 . The earring of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one signal processor configured to receive and process signals produced by the at least one optical detector, and wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit signals processed by the at least one optical detector to the remote terminal. 
     
     
         10 . The earring of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one motion sensor configured to measure subject motion. 
     
     
         11 . The earring of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one signal processor configured to pre-process signals produced by the at least one optical detector and/or the at least one motion sensor for further processing by a portable telecommunication device and/or to process the signals produced by the at least one optical detector and/or the at least one motion sensor to produce processed signals containing cleaner physiological information about the subject. 
     
     
         12 . The earring of  claim 11 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit pre-processed signals and/or processed signals to the portable telecommunication device. 
     
     
         13 . An earring configured to be attached to an ear of a subject, wherein the earring comprises a transdermal drug delivery system. 
     
     
         14 . The earring of  claim 13 , wherein the transdermal drug delivery system is configured to administer a drug to the subject via iontophoresis. 
     
     
         15 . The earring of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to monitor a drug dosage of the transdermal drug delivery system. 
     
     
         16 . The earring of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to monitor physiological effects of a drug delivered to the subject via the transdermal drug delivery system. 
     
     
         17 . The earring of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to monitor the physiological effects of the drug delivered to the subject via the transdermal drug delivery system in real-time.