Wireless infant health monitor

Abstract

A system for wirelessly monitoring the health of an infant comprising a sensing module removably disposed within a wearable article. At least a portion of the sensing module can be in contact with an infant's foot. The sensing module can include a processing unit configured to receive and process health readings received by the sensing module. A wireless transmitter can also be in communication with the processing unit. The wireless transmitter can be configured to transmit the processed health readings to a receiving station. The receiving station can indicate an alarm if the processed health readings indicate a health trend that falls outside of a particular threshold.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system for wirelessly monitoring the a health of an infant, the system comprising:
 a sensing module removably disposed disposable within a wearable article, wherein at least a portion of the sensing module is configured to be in contact with the infant's foot; 
 the sensing module comprising:
 a processing unit configured to receive and process health readings received by the sensing module, 
 an accelerometer configured to detect movement of the infant's foot, 
 the accelerometer also configured to determine a current sleeping position of the infant, wherein when determining the current sleeping position of the infant, readings from the accelerometer are allowed to settle and persist for a particular amount of time, and 
 a pulse oximeter configured to detect at least a blood-oxygen level of the infant; and 
 
 wherein the processing unit:
 identifies a particular alarm level based upon a health reading relating to the blood-oxygen level of the infant that was acquired during time periods when the accelerometer did not detect movement of the infant's foot, 
 elevates the particular alarm level to a higher alarm level based upon a reading received from the accelerometer that indicates the current sleeping position of the infant is face down, and 
 triggers an alarm alert at the higher alarm level. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to:
 activate different combinations of photoreceptors and LEDs from a plurality of photoreceptors and LEDs within the pulse oximeter; and 
 identify a particular combination that provides the a strongest relative signal. 
 
     
     
       3. The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the pulse oximeter comprising a plurality of photoreceptors, wherein the processing unit is configured to activate each of the plurality of photoreceptors independently of each other and identify a particular photoreceptor of the plurality of photoreceptors that receives the a strongest relative signal. 
 
     
     
       4. The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the pulse oximeter comprising a plurality of LEDs, wherein the processing unit is configured to activate each of the plurality of LEDs independently of each other and identify a particular LED of the plurality of LEDs that generates a strongest relative signal as received by a particular photoreceptor. 
 
     
     
       5. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to analyze raw pulse oximetry data and compress the data before the data is transmitted to a receiving station. 
     
     
       6. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a receiving station is configured to indicate an alarm when the processed health readings indicate a health trend that falls outside of a particular threshold. 
     
     
       7. The system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the processing unit is configured to disregard abnormal health readings that were detected during the a same time period that the accelerometer detected movement. 
     
     
       8. The system as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a camera that is in communication with the receiving station, wherein the camera is configured to transmit an image when the processed health readings indicate a health trend that falls outside a particular threshold. 
 
     
     
       9. The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the camera transmits an image to a mobile phone. 
     
     
       10. The system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the receiving station comprises software that processes received health readings from the a wireless transmitter. 
     
     
       11. The system as recited in claim in  10 , wherein the software is configured to identify false alarm trends in the received health readings. 
     
     
       12. The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the sensing module comprising a vibrator that is configured to activate in response to abnormal health readings. 
 
     
     
       13. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the wearable article comprises a sock. 
     
     
       14. The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the sensing module is removable from a pouch within the wearable article, such that the wearable article is washable. 
     
     
       15. A method, performed at a processing unit in communication with a sensing module, for monitoring the a health of an infant, the method comprising:
 receiving data from the sensing module that is configured to be in contact with the infant's foot, wherein the received data comprises:
 motion data received from an accelerometer that is configured to be physically coupled to the infant's foot, wherein the motion data indicates movement by the infant, 
 position data received from the accelerometer, wherein:
 the position data indicates a sleeping position of the infant, and 
 the position data from the accelerometer is allowed to settle and persist for a particular amount of time when determining the sleeping position of the infant; 
 
 heart data received from a pulse oximeter, wherein the heart data indicates cardiovascular biometrics associated with the infant; 
 
 determining that a detected health data trend described by the heart data is outside of a threshold; 
 elevating an alarm level associated with the detected health data trend to a higher alarm level based upon a reading received from the accelerometer that indicates a current sleeping position of the infant is face down; and 
 triggering an alarm at the higher alarm level. 
 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein determining whether the detected health data trend is outside of the threshold comprises determining that the detected health data trend remains outside of the threshold for a specific amount of time. 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein determining that the detected health data trend is outside of the threshold comprises:
 receiving information from the accelerometer indicating that the infant is moving; and 
 based upon the detected movement of the infant, tagging the data received from the sensing module. 
 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein upon determining that the reported health data is outside the threshold and that the data received from the sensing module is tagged, determining that the reported health data comprises a false alarm. 
     
     
       19. The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein upon determining that the detected health data trend contained within the transmitted heart data is outside of a threshold, activating a vibrator that is integrated within the sensor module. 
     
     
       20. A system for monitoring the a health of an infant, the system comprising:
 a sensing module that is configured to be in contact with the infant's foot, wherein the sensing module comprises:
 a processing unit configured to receive and process health readings received by the sensing module, 
 an accelerometer configured to detect movement of the infant's foot, 
 the accelerometer also configured to determine a current sleeping position of the infant, wherein when determining the current sleeping position of the infant, readings from the accelerometer are allowed to settle and persist for a particular amount of time, and 
 a pulse oximeter configured to detect at least a blood-oxygen level of the infant; and 
 
 wherein the processing unit:
 identifies a particular alarm level based upon the blood-oxygen level of the infant, 
 elevates the particular alarm level to a higher alarm level based upon a reading received from the accelerometer that indicates the current sleeping position of the infant is face down, and 
 triggers an alarm alert at the higher alarm level. 
 
 
     
     
       21. A system for wirelessly monitoring the a health of an infant, the system comprising:
 a pulse-oximetry sensing module removably disposed disposable within a wearable article, at least a portion of the sensing module is configured to be in contact with the infant's foot; 
 the pulse-oximetry sensing module comprising:
 a processing unit configured to receive and process health readings received by the sensing module, 
 an accelerometer configured to determine a current sleeping position of the infant, wherein when determining the current sleeping position of the infant, readings from the accelerometer are allowed to settle and persist for a particular amount of time, and 
 a pulse oximeter configured to detect at least a blood-oxygen level of the infant; and 
 
 wherein the processing unit:
 generates a particular alarm level based a health reading relating to the blood-oxygen level of the infant, 
 elevates the particular alarm level to a higher alarm level based upon a reading received from the accelerometer that indicates the current sleeping position of the infant is face down, and 
 triggers an alarm alert at the higher alarm level; 
 
 a wireless transmitter in communication with the processing unit and a receiving station; and 
 the receiving station comprising a display.