Wearable apparatus having integrated physiological and/or environmental sensors

Abstract

A system includes an earpiece and a telecommunications device in communication with the earpiece. The earpiece includes a power source, a processor configured to process at least one algorithm stored within the earpiece, and an optical sensor. The optical sensor includes at least one optical emitter configured to direct optical energy to a region of an ear of a subject wearing the earpiece and at least one optical detector configured to sense absorbed, scattered, and/or reflected optical energy emanating from the ear region. The telecommunications device is configured to modify the at least one algorithm, to download additional algorithms to the earpiece, and to activate and deactivate the optical sensor.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 an earpiece, comprising:
 a power source; 
 a processor configured to process at least one algorithm stored within the earpiece; and 
 an optical sensor comprising at least one optical emitter configured to direct optical energy to a region of an ear of a subject wearing the earpiece and at least one optical detector configured to sense absorbed, scattered, and/or reflected optical energy emanating from the ear region; and 
   a telecommunications device in communication with the earpiece, wherein the telecommunications device is configured to modify the at least one algorithm, to download additional algorithms to the earpiece, and to activate and deactivate the optical sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical emitter comprises at least one light-emitting diode, and wherein the at least one optical detector comprises at least one solid state photodetector. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one light-emitting diode comprises at least one optical reflector configured to steer light towards the ear region and away from the at least one solid state photodetector. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor further comprises at least one optical filter configured to pass light at one or more selective wavelengths. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to poll the optical sensor at certain time intervals in order to extend the life of the power source. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications device is a cell phone, media player, PDA, or laptop computer, and wherein the telecommunications device is in wireless communication with the earpiece via one or more ad-hoc wireless communication protocols. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the earpiece comprises a speaker, and wherein the telecommunications device is configured to present audio information to the subject via the speaker. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the earpiece further comprises an environmental sensor configured to monitor at least one of the following in a vicinity of the subject: ambient lighting, ambient temperature, ambient pressure, and ambient humidity. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the earpiece further comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with the telecommunications device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the earpiece is an audio headset, a hearing aid, or ear jewelry. 
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising:
 an earpiece, comprising:
 a battery; 
 a digital memory for storing at least one algorithm; 
 a processor configured to process the at least one algorithm; and 
 an optical sensor comprising at least one optical emitter configured to direct optical energy to a region of an ear of a subject wearing the earpiece and at least one optical detector configured to sense absorbed, scattered, and/or reflected optical energy emanating from the ear region; and 
   a telecommunications device in communication with the earpiece, wherein the telecommunications device is configured to modify the at least one algorithm, to download additional algorithms to the earpiece digital memory, and to activate and deactivate the optical sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one optical emitter comprises at least one light-emitting diode, and wherein the at least one optical detector comprises at least one solid state photodetector. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one light-emitting diode comprises at least one optical reflector configured to steer light towards the ear region and away from the at least one solid state photodetector. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the optical sensor further comprises at least one optical filter configured to pass light at one or more selective wavelengths. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to poll the optical sensor at certain time intervals in order to extend the life of the battery. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the telecommunications device is a cell phone, media player, PDA, or laptop computer, and wherein the telecommunications device is in wireless communication with the earpiece via one or more ad-hoc wireless communication protocols. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the earpiece is an audio headset, a hearing aid, or ear jewelry. 
     
     
         18 . A system, comprising:
 an earpiece, comprising:
 a power source; 
 a speaker; 
 a digital memory for storing at least one algorithm; 
 a processor configured to process the at least one algorithm; and 
 an optical sensor comprising at least one optical emitter configured to direct optical energy to a region of an ear of a subject wearing the earpiece and at least one optical detector configured to sense absorbed, scattered, and/or reflected optical energy emanating from the ear region; and 
   a telecommunications device in communication with the earpiece, wherein the telecommunications device is configured to modify the at least one algorithm, to download additional algorithms to the earpiece digital memory, to activate and deactivate the optical sensor, and to present audio information to the subject via the speaker.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one optical emitter comprises at least one light-emitting diode, and wherein the at least one optical detector comprises at least one solid state photodetector. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one light-emitting diode comprises at least one optical reflector configured to steer light towards the ear region and away from the at least one solid state photodetector. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the optical sensor further comprises at least one optical filter configured to pass light at one or more selective wavelengths. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to poll the optical sensor at certain time intervals in order to extend the life of the power source. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the telecommunications device is a cell phone, media player, PDA, or laptop computer, and wherein the telecommunications device is in wireless communication with the earpiece via one or more ad-hoc wireless communication protocols. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the earpiece is an audio headset, a hearing aid, or ear jewelry.