Monitoring Devices with Wireless Earpiece Modules

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 audio headset, comprising:
 a pair of earpiece modules, each adapted to be positioned at a respective ear of a person, each earpiece module comprising:   a speaker configured to provide sound transmission from a source;   at least one physiological sensor configured to sense physiological information from the person; and   a transceiver,   wherein the earpiece modules are in wireless communication with each other via their respective transceivers, and wherein each earpiece module is configured to transmit signals from its at least one physiological sensor, via its transceiver, to the other earpiece module and/or to a remote device.   
     
     
         2 . The audio headset of  claim 1 , wherein each earpiece module is configured to transmit signals from its at least one physiological sensor, via its transceiver, to the other earpiece module and/or to the remote device in substantially real time. 
     
     
         3 . The audio headset of  claim 1 , wherein each transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver, Wi-Fi transceiver, or ZigBee transceiver or is interoperable with a wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         4 . The audio headset of  claim 1 , wherein each earpiece module comprises a signal processor configured to receive and process signals produced by its at least one physiological sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The audio headset of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one physiological sensor comprises at least one optical emitter configured to direct optical energy to a region of the ear of the person, and at least one optical detector configured to sense light absorbed, scattered, and/or reflected by the ear region. 
     
     
         6 . The audio headset of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one physiological sensor comprises at least one thermal sensor, at least one acoustic sensor, or at least one mechanical sensor. 
     
     
         7 . An audio headset, comprising:
 a pair of earpiece modules, each adapted to be positioned at a respective ear of a person, each earpiece module comprising:   a speaker configured to provide sound transmission from a source;   at least one environmental sensor configured to sense one or more environmental conditions in a vicinity of the person; and   a transceiver,   wherein the earpiece modules are in wireless communication with each other via their respective transceivers, and wherein each earpiece module is configured to transmit signals from its at least one environmental sensor, via its transceiver, to the other earpiece module and/or to a remote device.   
     
     
         8 . The audio headset of  claim 7 , wherein each earpiece module is configured to transmit signals from its at least one environmental sensor, via its transceiver, to the other earpiece module and/or to the remote device in substantially real time. 
     
     
         9 . The audio headset of  claim 7 , wherein each transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver, Wi-Fi transceiver, or ZigBee transceiver or is interoperable with a wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         10 . The audio headset of  claim 7 , wherein each earpiece module comprises a signal processor configured to receive and process signals produced by its at least one environmental sensor. 
     
     
         11 . An audio headset, comprising:
 a pair of earpiece modules, each adapted to be positioned at a respective ear of a person, each earpiece module comprising:   a speaker configured to provide sound transmission from a source;   at least one physiological sensor configured to sense physiological information from the person;   at least one environmental sensor configured to sense one or more environmental conditions in a vicinity of the person; and   a transceiver,   wherein the earpiece modules are in wireless communication with each other via their respective transceivers, and wherein each earpiece module is configured to transmit signals from its at least one physiological sensor and its at least one environmental sensor, via its transceiver, to the other earpiece module and/or to a remote device.   
     
     
         12 . The audio headset of  claim 11 , wherein each earpiece module is configured to transmit signals from its at least one physiological sensor and at least one environmental sensor, via its transceiver, to the other earpiece module and/or to the remote device in substantially real time. 
     
     
         13 . The audio headset of  claim 11 , wherein each transceiver is Bluetooth transceiver, Wi-Fi transceiver, or ZigBee transceiver or is interoperable with a wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         14 . The audio headset of  claim 11 , wherein each earpiece module comprises a signal processor configured to receive and process signals produced by its at least one physiological sensor and at least one environmental sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The audio headset of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one physiological sensor comprises at least one optical emitter configured to direct optical energy to a region of the ear of the person, and at least one optical detector configured to sense light absorbed, scattered, and/or reflected by the ear region. 
     
     
         16 . The audio headset of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one physiological sensor comprises at least one thermal sensor, at least one acoustic sensor, or at least one mechanical sensor.