Multi-sensor system, device, and method for deriving human status information

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/638,588 filed Aug. 11, 2003, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/602,537, filed Jun. 23, 2000, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,038. U.S. application Ser. No. 09/602,537 was a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/595,660, filed Jun. 16, 2000.

The present invention relates to a system for monitoring health, wellness and fitness, and in particular, to a system for collecting, using a sensor device, and storing at a remote site data relating to an individual\'s physiological state, lifestyle, and various contextual parameters, and making such data and analytical information based on such data available to the individual, preferably over an electronic network.

Research has shown that a large number of the top health problems in society are either caused in whole or in part by an unhealthy lifestyle. More and more, our society requires people to lead fast-paced, achievement-oriented lifestyles that often result in poor eating habits, high stress levels, lack of exercise, poor sleep habits and the inability to find the time to center the mind and relax. Recognizing this fact, people are becoming increasingly interested in establishing a healthier lifestyle.

Traditional medicine, embodied in the form of an HMO or similar organizations, does not have the time, the training, or the reimbursement mechanism to address the needs of those individuals interested in a healthier lifestyle. There have been several attempts to meet the needs of these individuals, including a perfusion of fitness programs and exercise equipment, dietary plans, self-help books, alternative therapies, and most recently, a plethora of health information web sites on the Internet. Each of these attempts are targeted to empower the individual to take charge and get healthy. Each of these attempts, however, addresses only part of the needs of individuals seeking a healthier lifestyle and ignores many of the real barriers that most individuals face when trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle. These barriers include the fact that the individual is often left to himself or herself to find motivation, to implement a plan for achieving a healthier lifestyle, to monitor progress, and to brainstorm solutions when problems arise; the fact that existing programs are directed to only certain aspects of a healthier lifestyle, and rarely come as a complete package; and the fact that recommendations are often not targeted to the unique characteristics of the individual or his life circumstances.

An apparatus for monitoring human status parameters is disclosed which includes at least two sensors adapted to be worn on an individual\'s body. At least one of the sensors is a physiological sensor selected from the group consisting of respiration sensors, temperature sensors, heat flux sensors, body conductance sensors, body resistance sensors, body potential sensors, brain activity sensors, blood pressure sensors, body impedance sensors, body motion sensors, oxygen consumption sensors, body chemistry sensors, body position sensors, body pressure sensors, light absorption sensors, body sound sensors, piezoelectric sensors, electrochemical sensors, strain gauges, and optical sensors. The sensors are adapted to generate data indicative of at least a first parameter of the individual and a second parameter of the individual, wherein the first parameter is a physiological parameter. The apparatus also includes a processor that receives at least a portion of the data indicative of the first parameter and the second parameter. The processor is adapted to generate derived data from at least a portion of the data indicative of a first parameter and a second parameter, wherein the derived data comprises a third parameter of the individual. The third parameter is an individual status parameter that cannot be directly detected by either of the at least two sensors.

In an alternate embodiment, an apparatus for monitoring human status parameters is disclosed that includes at least two sensors adapted to be worn on an individual\'s body selected from the group consisting of physiological sensors and contextual sensors, wherein at least one of the sensors is a physiological sensor. The sensors are adapted to generate data indicative of at least a first parameter of the individual and a second parameter of the individual, wherein the first parameter is physiological. The apparatus also includes a processor for receiving at least a portion of the data indicative of at least a first parameter and a second parameter, the processor being adapted to generate derived data from the data indicative of at least a first parameter and a second parameter. The derived data comprises a third parameter of the individual selected from the group consisting of ovulation state, sleep state, calories burned, basal metabolic rate, basal temperature, physical activity level, stress level, relaxation level, oxygen consumption rate, rise time, time in zone, recovery time, and nutrition activity. The third parameter is an individual status parameter that cannot be directly detected by any of the at least two sensors.

In either embodiment of the apparatus, the at least two sensors may be both physiological sensors, or may be one physiological sensor and one contextual sensor. The apparatus may further include a housing adapted to be worn on the individual\'s body, wherein the housing supports the sensors or wherein at least one of the sensors is separately located from the housing. The apparatus may further include a flexible body supporting the housing having first and second members that are adapted to wrap around a portion of the individual\'s body. The flexible body may support one or more of the sensors. The apparatus may further include wrapping means coupled to the housing for maintaining contact between the housing and the individual\'s body, and the wrapping means may support one or more of the sensors.

Either embodiment of the apparatus may further include a central monitoring unit remote from the at least two sensors that includes a data storage device. The data storage device receives the derived data from the processor and retrievably stores the derived data therein. The apparatus also includes means for transmitting information based on the derived data from the central monitoring unit to a recipient, which recipient may include the individual or a third party authorized by the individual. The processor may be supported by a housing adapted to be worn on the individual\'s body, or alternatively may be part of the central monitoring unit.

The apparatus may be further adapted to obtain life activities data of the individual, wherein the information transmitted from the central monitoring unit is also based on the life activities data. The central monitoring unit may also be adapted to generate and provide feedback relating to the degree to which the individual has followed a suggested routine. The feedback may be generated from at least a portion of at least one of the data indicative of at least a first parameter and a second parameter, the derived data and the life activities data. The central monitoring unit may also be adapted to generate and provide feedback to a recipient relating to management of an aspect of at least one of the individual\'s health and lifestyle. This feedback may be generated from at least one of the data indicative of a first parameter, the data indicative of a second parameter and the derived data. The feedback may include suggestions for modifying the individual\'s behavior.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of a system for monitoring physiological data and lifestyle over an electronic network according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the sensor device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the central monitoring unit shown in FIG. 1;

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