Description:BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a health monitor and particularly to a wearable medical device for continuous health monitoring.
Description of Related Art
[002] The global demand for wearable medical devices has grown due to the increasing focus on continuous health observation in patients with chronic illnesses, elderly individuals, and athletes. These devices allow for the tracking of critical physiological parameters such as heart rate and other vital signs. As healthcare systems shift toward preventive care and remote monitoring, wearable technology has assumed a pivotal role in providing early alerts and uninterrupted health data.
[003] Despite advancements in sensing technology, a fundamental limitation exists in the energy efficiency of these devices. Conventional implementations often rely on general-purpose microcontrollers or non-specialized application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). These hardware configurations consume excessive power, even during idle states, leading to frequent battery depletion and requiring users to recharge devices regularly. Such drawbacks hinder the practicality of uninterrupted health monitoring, particularly in scenarios where reliability is crucial.
[004] Existing solutions do not fully address power management challenges in wearable medical devices. Real-time health data analysis demands significant computational resources, and current designs fail to optimize power during inactive periods or when health indicators remain stable. Moreover, continuous signal processing and data transmission without intelligent control contribute to energy wastage.
[005] There is thus a need for an improved and advanced wearable medical device for continuous health monitoring that can administer the aforementioned limitations in a more efficient manner.
SUMMARY
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a wearable medical device for continuous health monitoring. The device comprising a wearable peripheral adapted to be worn by a user on a body part. The wearable peripheral comprises a data measurement unit adapted to measure health parameters of the user by capturing electrical impulses from the body part. The wearable peripheral further comprises a data acquisition unit adapted to convert the captured electrical impulses into a raw digital format. The wearable peripheral further comprises a processing unit communicatively connected to the data acquisition unit. The processing unit is configured to receive the raw digital format of the electrical impulses; preprocess the raw digital format of the electrical impulses by conducting noise filtration and signal normalization; check for anomalies in the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses; conduct, using error-tolerant techniques, approximation of computing stages, upon detection of anomalies in the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses; extract, using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based signal processing, key health parameters from the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses; and transmit the extracted key health parameters to a computing device.
[007] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention further provide a method for continuous health monitoring using a wearable medical device. The method comprising steps of receiving a raw digital format of electrical impulses from a data acquisition unit; preprocessing the raw digital format of the electrical impulses by conducting noise filtration and signal normalization; checking for anomalies in the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses; conducting, using error-tolerant techniques, approximation of computing stages, upon detection of anomalies in the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses; extracting, using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based signal processing, key health parameters from the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses; and transmitting the extracted key health parameters to a computing device.
[008] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on their particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a wearable medical device for continuous health monitoring.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a wearable medical device that achieves ultra-low power usage through event-driven detection, approximate computing, and dynamic voltage-frequency scaling to enable a longer battery life.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a wearable medical device that supports timely detection and analysis of health abnormalities without delays for enhancing clinical reliability.
[0011] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a wearable medical device that allows operation without mandatory external recharging.
[0012] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a wearable medical device that uses efficient AI models for signal interpretation, providing precise health insights while conserving computational resources.
[0013] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a wearable medical device that features a miniaturized VLSI-based layout that brings together multiple functional units into a small, wearable form factor suitable for everyday use.
[0014] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0015] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a wearable medical device for continuous health monitoring, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a processing unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for continuous health monitoring using a wearable medical device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0022] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0023] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a wearable medical device 100 (hereinafter referred to as the device 100) for continuous health monitoring, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 may be adapted to be worn by a user. Upon wearing, the device 100 may be adapted to measure health parameters of the user. Further, the device 100 may be adapted to transmit the measured health parameters to the user and/or a caretaker upon detection of anomalies in the measured health parameters.
[0025] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the device 100 may incorporate non-limiting hardware components to enhance the processing speed and efficiency such as the device 100 may comprise a wearable peripheral 102, a data measurement unit 104, a data acquisition unit 106, a processing unit 108, an energy harness unit 110, a battery 112, a communication unit 114, and a computing device 116. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hardware components of the device 100 may be integrated with computer-executable instructions for overcoming the challenges and the limitations of the existing devices.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the wearable peripheral 102 may be adapted to be worn on a body part of the user. The body part may be, but not limited to, a wrist, an arm, a chest, a neck, an ankle, a forehead, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any body part of the user, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies, eligible for accommodation of the wearable peripheral 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the wearable peripheral 102 may comprise securing means such as, but not limited to, a Velcro, a latch-lock, a needle-belt, a rachet, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any securing means, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies, for securing the wearable peripheral 102 on the body part of the user. In an embodiment of the present invention, the wearable peripheral 102 may comprise the data measurement unit 104, the data acquisition unit 106, and the processing unit 108.
[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the data measurement unit 104 may be adapted to measure the health parameters of the user by capturing electrical impulses from the body part. The data measurement unit 104 may be adapted to encapsulate an Electrocardiogram (ECG) for measuring heart function, an Electroencephalogram (EEG) for measuring heart activity and brain functions, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any sensors and/or peripherals, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies, that may be encapsulated in the data measurement unit 104. The health parameters may be, but not limited to, a heartrate, a body temperature, a blood oxygen level, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any health parameters, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies, that may be measured by the data measurement unit 104.
[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the data acquisition unit 106 may receive the electrical impulses captured by the data measurement unit 104. The data acquisition unit 106 may be configured to convert the captured and/or the received electrical impulses into a raw digital format.
[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 108 may be communicatively connected to the data acquisition unit 106. The processing unit 108 may further be configured to execute computer-executable instructions to generate an output relating to the device 100. According to embodiments of the present invention, the processing unit 108 may be, but not limited to, a Programmable Logic Control (PLC) unit, a microprocessor, a development board, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the processing unit 108 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 108 may further be explained in conjunction with FIG. 2.
[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the data measurement unit 104, the data acquisition unit 106, and the processing unit 108 may be designed on an Ultra-Low Power Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) chip (not shown). The Ultra-Low Power Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) chip may be designed using an Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). The Ultra-Low Power Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) chip may combine the data measurement unit 104, the data acquisition unit 106, and the processing unit 108 in a miniaturized form factor. Further, the Ultra-Low Power Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) chip may renderer the device 100 as lightweight, wearable, and power efficient.
[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the energy harness unit 110 may be adapted to harvest electrical energy from heat and motion of the body part of the user. In an embodiment of the present invention, the energy harness unit 110 may be adapted to harvest electrical energy from solar irradiation present in ambiguity of the user. The harvested electrical energy may be transmitted to the processing unit 108. Further, a surplus of the electrical energy may be stored in the battery 112. The energy harness unit 110 may be, but not limited to, a piezoelectric medium, a quartz crystal, an ionic capacitor, a solar panel, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the energy harness unit 110, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the battery 112 may be adapted to store the electrical energy harvested by the energy harness unit 110. Further, the battery 112 may be adapted to transmit the stored energy to the processing unit 108. The battery 112 for energy storage and supply may be of any composition such as, but not limited to, a Nickel-Cadmium battery, a Nickel-Metal Hydride battery, a Zinc-Carbon battery, a Lithium-Ion battery, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any composition of the battery 112, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the communication unit 114 may be adapted to establish a communicative link between the processing unit 108 and the computing device 116. The communicative link may be enabled by involvement of a cloud database, such that the health parameters may be dispatched to the cloud database, and further, the dispatched health parameters may then be transmitted to the computing device 116. The communication unit 114 may be wireless means such as, but not limited to, a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) modem, a Bluetooth chip, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the communication unit 114, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the computing device 116 may be an electronic device used by the user. The computing device 116 may further be used by a caretaker and/or a medical specialist corresponding to the user, in an embodiment of the present invention. The computing device 116 may be adapted to receive the health parameters via the communication unit 114. The received health parameters may enable the caretaker and/or a medical specialist to diagnose health ailments in the user. Further, the computing device 116 may enable the user to review the health parameters. The computing device 116 may be, but not limited to, a smartphone, a laptop, a tablet, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the computing device 116, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the processing unit 108, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The processing unit 108 may comprise the computer-executable instructions in form of programming modules such as a data receiving module 200, an anomaly checking module 202, a data extraction module 204, and a data transmission module 206.
[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the data receiving module 200 may be configured to receive the raw digital format of the electrical impulses from the data acquisition unit 106. The data receiving module 200 may further be configured to preprocess the raw digital format of the electrical impulses by conducting noise filtration and signal normalization. The noise filtration and signal normalization may remove unwanted artifacts and improve signal clarity. The data receiving module 200 may be configured to transmit the preprocessed raw digital format to the anomaly checking module 202.
[0037] The anomaly checking module 202 may be activated upon receipt of the preprocessed raw digital format from the data receiving module 200. The anomaly checking module 202 may configured to check for anomalies in the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses. The anomalies may be checked using event-driven detection stage. The event-driven detection stage may be such as, but not limited to, irregular heartbeats, abnormal brainwave patterns, and so forth.
[0038] The anomaly checking module 202 may be configured to compare the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses with a sample set representing a healthy human. Upon comparison, if the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses is unable to be matched with the sample set, then the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses may be flagged as anomalous. Further, the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses may be conducted using error-tolerant techniques. The error-tolerant techniques may apply approximation of computing stages to interpolate a severity of the detected anomalies. The anomaly checking module 202 may be configured to transmit the detected anomalies and the severity of the detected anomalies to the data extraction module 204.
[0039] The data extraction module 204 may be activated upon receipt of the detected anomalies and the severity of the detected anomalies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the data extraction module 204 may be configured to deploy an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based signal processing. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) based signal processing may extract key health parameters from the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses. The key health parameters may be extracted on a basis of the detected anomalies and the severity of the detected anomalies. In an exemplary scenario, if the anomalies for a corresponding user may be detected as ‘arterial infibulation’, then the Artificial Intelligence (AI) based signal processing may extract key health parameters relating to a heart of the user, as the ‘arterial infibulation’ is an anomaly correlated with a heart of the user. The data extraction module 204 may be configured to transmit the extracted key health parameters to the data transmission module 206.
[0040] The data transmission module 206 may be activated upon receipt of the extracted key health parameters from the data extraction module 204. In an embodiment of the present invention, the data transmission module 206 may be configured to transmit the extracted key health parameters to the computing device 116. Further, the data transmission module 206 may be configured to transmit an informational digest involving, the detected anomalies, the severity of the detected anomalies, a definition of detected anomalies, a first aid, precautions, long-term recommendations, and so forth. Further, data transmission module 206 may be configured to dynamically adjust power distribution to the data measurement unit 104 and the data acquisition unit 106 using a voltage and frequency scaling.
[0041] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 for continuous health monitoring using the device 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] At step 302, the device 100 may receive the raw digital format of the electrical impulses.
[0043] At step 304, the device 100 may preprocess the raw digital format of the electrical impulses by conducting the noise filtration and the signal normalization.
[0044] At step 306, the device 100 may check for anomalies in the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses. If no anomalies may be detected then the method 300 may proceed to a step 308. Else, the method 300 may proceed to a step 310.
[0045] At step 308, the device 100 may detect no presence of the anomalies in the user, and the method 300 may revert to the step 302.
[0046] At step 310, the device 100 may detect the presence of the anomalies in the user.
[0047] At step 312, the device 100 may conduct approximation of the computing stages using the error-tolerant techniques.
[0048] At step 314, the device 100 may extract key health parameters from the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses using the Artificial Intelligence (AI) based signal processing.
[0049] At step 318, the device 100 may dynamically adjust the power distribution to the data measurement unit 104 and the data acquisition unit 106 using the voltage and frequency scaling.
[0050] At step 320, the device 100 may check for presence of the heat and motion of the body part of the user. If the heat and motion of the body part of the user may be detected then the method 300 may proceed to a step 320. Else, the method 300 may proceed to a step 322.
[0051] At step 320, the device 100 may activate the energy harness unit 110 adapted to harvest the electrical energy from the heat and motion of the body part of the user.
[0052] At step 322, the device 100 may activate the battery 112 adapted to transmit the stored electrical energy to the processing unit 108.
[0053] At step 324, the device 100 may transmit the extracted key health parameters to the computing device 116.
[0054] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.
[0055] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. , Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A wearable medical device (100) for continuous health monitoring, the device (100) comprising:
a wearable peripheral (102) adapted to be worn by a user on a body part, the wearable peripheral (102) comprises:
a data measurement unit (104) adapted to measure health parameters of the user by capturing electrical impulses from the body part;
a data acquisition unit (106) adapted to convert the captured electrical impulses into a raw digital format; and
a processing unit (108) communicatively connected to the data acquisition unit (106), characterized in that the processing unit (108) is configured to:
receive the raw digital format of the electrical impulses;
preprocess the raw digital format of the electrical impulses by conducting noise filtration and signal normalization;
check for anomalies in the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses;
conduct, using error-tolerant techniques, approximation of computing stages, upon detection of anomalies in the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses;
extract, using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based signal processing, key health parameters from the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses; and
transmit the extracted key health parameters to a computing device (116).
2. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extracted key parameters are transmitted to the computing device (116) via a communication unit (114).
3. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (108) is configured to dynamically adjust power distribution to the data measurement unit (104) and to the data acquisition unit (106) using a voltage and frequency scaling.
4. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising an energy harness unit (110) adapted to harvest electrical energy from heat and motion of the body part of the user, wherein the harvested electrical energy is transmitted to the processing unit (108).
5. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a battery (112) adapted to store and transmit electrical energy to the processing unit (108).
6. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data measurement unit (104) encapsulates an Electrocardiogram (ECG) for measuring heart function, an Electroencephalogram (EEG) for measuring heart activity and brain functions, or a combination thereof.
7. A method (300) for continuous health monitoring using a wearable medical device (100), the method (300) is characterized by step of:
receiving a raw digital format of electrical impulses from a data measurement unit (104) and a data acquisition unit (106);
preprocessing the raw digital format of the electrical impulses by conducting noise filtration and signal normalization;
checking for anomalies in the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses;
conducting, using error-tolerant techniques, approximation of computing stages, upon detection of anomalies in the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses;
extracting, using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based signal processing, key health parameters from the preprocessed digital format of the electrical impulses; and
transmitting the extracted key health parameters to a computing device (116).
8. The method (300) as claimed in claim 7, comprising a step of dynamically adjusting power distribution to the data measurement unit (104) and to the data acquisition unit (106) using voltage and frequency scaling.
9. The method (300) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the extracted key parameters are transmitted to the computing device (116) via a communication unit (114).
10. The method (300) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the data measurement unit (104) encapsulates an Electrocardiogram (ECG) for measuring heart function, an Electroencephalogram (EEG) for measuring heart activity and brain functions, or a combination thereof.
Date: April 17, 2025
Place: Noida

Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant