Abstract: A heart rate monitor system (100) for monitoring a heart rate of a user is provided. The heart rate monitor system (100) comprises at least one primary heart rate sensor (110) for measuring or determining a heart rate of a user. The at least one primary heart rate sensor (110) has a first power consumption. The heart rate monitor system (100) also comprises at least one secondary sensor (120) for measuring at least one physiological factor influencing the heart rate of a user. The at least one secondary sensor (120) has a second power consumption which is lower than the first power consumption of the at least one primary heart rate sensor (110). The heart rate monitor system (100) further comprises a power management unit (160) for managing an operation and/or power consumption of the at least one primary heart rate sensor (110) based on information (126) from the at least one secondary sensor (120).

Abstract: The invention relates to movement detection apparatus for detecting a hand movement like a hand gesture which may be used for controlling a computer or another device. A light emitting device emits light into tissue at the wrist of a person and a light detection device detects light, which has travelled through the tissue, at the wrist and generates a light detection signal based on the detected light, wherein a hand movement determination unit determines the hand movement based on the light detection signal. When the hand moves, i.e., for instance, when it rotates or when a finger moves, the composition of the tissue, through which the light travels, and hence the light detection signal change. This change in the light detection signal can be used to reliably determine the respective movement of the hand in a way which is very convenient for the person.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical sensor device (1) for determining a blood perfusion parameter of a user. A light source (2) provides coherent light for scattering in a tissue sample (11) and a light detection unit (3) receives scattered coherent light in a re-emission geometry, the light detection unit (3) comprising plural light detection elements (32a; 32b) for capturing light intensity values in increasing distances from the light source (2) in accordance with different tissue depths. An evaluation unit (10) determines contrast values based on the captured light intensities, determines one motion-corrected value of the blood perfusion parameter based on the contrast values associated with the different tissue depths. Moreover, the invention relates to a method determining at least one blood perfusion parameter using the sensor device (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to movement detection apparatus (1) for detecting a hand movement like a hand gesture which may be used for controlling a computer or another device. A light emitting device emits light into tissue at the wrist (5) of a person and a light detection device detects light, which has travelled through the tissue, at the wrist and generates a light detection signal based on the detected light, wherein a hand movement determination unit determines the hand movement based on the light detection signal. When the hand moves, i.e., for instance, when it rotates or when a finger moves, the composition of the tissue, through which the light travels, and hence the light detection signal change. This change in the light detection signal can be used to reliably determine the respective movement of the hand in a way which is very convenient for the person.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable device for determining a heart rate of a person, said portable device comprising: a heart rate measurement unit for measuring the heart rate of the person over time to generate a heart rate signal, a motion measurement unit for measuring the motion of a body part of the person over time to generate a motion signal, and a processing unit which is adapted to measure a signal quality of the heart rate signal, to calculate the heart rate based on the heart rate signal if said signal quality is above a predefined threshold, and to estimate the heart rate based on the motion signal if said signal quality is below said threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photoplethysmography (PPG) apparatus (100), comprising at least one light source (110) configured to generate a beam of source light (114) having a source beam angle (118) and at least one controllable beam angle adapter (120) configured to receive a beam-angle control signal (170) indicative of a modified beam angle (124) to be set, the beam angle adapter (120) being further configured to provide the beam of source light (114) with a modified beam angle (124) to an external object (130). The PPG apparatus (100) comprises at least one PPG sensor(140)configured to provide a sensor signal (145) indicative of source light (150) scattered by the external object (130), and a PPG evaluation and control unit (160) configured to receive the sensor signal (145), to provide the beam-angle control signal (170) and to provide at its output (180) an AC signal component of the sensor signal (145).

Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a method and apparatus for measuring a tissue variation signal (e.g. a photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal) without large direct current (DC) or low frequency (LF) offset which normally limit the sensor accuracy through motion artefacts and/or dynamic range requirements. The proposed solution is based on a separation of the PPG signal from the disturbance. This can be achieved by creation of a modulated PPG signal, or by creation of a differential PPG signal and an optimized sensor configuration which is adapted to remove DC or LF components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable device (10) for determining a heart rate of a person (20), comprising a heart rate measurement unit, a motion measurement unit for measuring the motion of a body part (12), and a processing unit. The processing unit is adapted to measure a signal quality of the heart rate signal and accordingly switch between two calculation modes: If the signal quality is above a predefined threshold, the heart rate is calculated based on the heart rate signal. If the signal quality is so poor that a reliable calculation of the heart rate is technically not possible anymore based on the heart rate signal, the processing unit switches to its second calculation mode, in which the heart rate is estimated based on the motion signal by estimating a heart rate constant, which depends on the frequency of the motion signal, and defining an exponential development of the heart rate, starting at the last reliably measured heart rate and finishing at the estimated heart rate constant.

Abstract: A heart rate monitor system (100) for monitoring a heart rate of a user is provided. The heart rate monitor system (100) comprises at least one primary heart rate sensor (110) for measuring or determining a heart rate of a user. The at least one primary heart rate sensor (110) has a first power consumption. The heart rate monitor system (100) also comprises at least one secondary sensor (120) for measuring at least one physiological factor influencing the heart rate of a user. The at least one secondary sensor (120) has a second power consumption which is lower than the first power consumption of the at least one primary heart rate sensor (110). The heart rate monitor system (100) further comprises a power management unit (160) for managing an operation and/or power consumption of the at least one primary heart rate sensor (110) based on information (126) from the at least one secondary sensor (120).

Abstract: A vital signs monitoring system which comprises at least one optical vital signs sensor (100) configured to measure or determine vital signs of a user and to output an output signal. Said optical vital signs sensor (100) comprises at least one laser light source (110) configured to generate laser light, which is directed towards a skin (1000) of a user, and at least one photo detector unit (120) configured to detect light which is indicative of an absorption or reflection of the laser light from the at least one light source (100) in or from the skin (1000) of the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a physiological property determination apparatus (1) for determining a physiological property like a pulse rate of a person. The apparatus may be configured to be worn on the wrist like a watch. A controller (8) separately controls at least two light sources (3, 4, 5) for emitting at least two light beams having different wavelengths into tissue of the person and a light detector (6) having a two-dimensional detection surface (12) detects light, which has travelled through the tissue, wavelength-dependently and generates a wavelength-dependent two-dimensional image based on the detected light. Based on the generated wavelength-dependent two-dimensional image the physiological property is determined. The separate control of the light sources allows for an independent optimization of the illumination and detection processes for each wavelength, which in turn can lead to an improved determination of the physiological property based on the wavelength-dependent two-dimensional image.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device for measuring a heart rate of a user. Said optical device comprises: —two light sources (1,2) for emitting light into the skin of the user, —a sensor (3) for sensing the light signals emitted by each of the two light sources and reflected through the skin of the user so as to determine the heart rate of the user. The two light sources (1,2) are situated at different distances from the sensor such that the light signals received from each of the two light sources have a different penetration depth into the skin.

Abstract: PPG sensor emits light at at least three wavelengths (Y1-Y3) and detects the reflected light. The PPG sensor comprises a motion correction unit for correcting motion artefacts from the detected light signals by subtracting the output signal of the detected light at the second wavelength (Y2) from an average of an output signal of the detected light at the first and third wavelength (Y1, Y3). The three wavelengths (Y1-Y3) are arranged around 550 nm. The second wavelength (Y2) is arranged equal distantly between the first and third wavelength.

Abstract: A heart rate monitor system having at least one primary heart rate sensor (110) for measuring or determining a heart rate of a user and for outputting an output signal (HR) is provided. The output signal (HR) is based at least on measured heart beats and/or artifacts. The heart rate monitor system also comprises a model unit (132) for estimating or predicting a heart rate (HRM) of a user based on a model stored in the model unit (132) and the information received from at least one secondary sensor (120) measuring at least one physiological factor influencing heart rate of a user. The heart rate monitor system furthermore comprises a processing unit (131) for correlating the output signal (HR) received from the primary sensor (110) with the estimated or predicted hear rate (HRM) received from the model unit (132) to differentiate the measured heart beats from the artifacts.

Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a method and apparatus for measuring a tissue variation signal (e.g. a photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal) without large direct current (DC) or low frequency (LF) offset which normally limit the sensor accuracy through motion artefacts and/or dynamic range requirements. The proposed solution is based on a separation of the PPG signal from the disturbance. This can be achieved by creation of a modulated PPG signal, or by creation of a differential PPG signal and an optimized sensor configuration which is adapted to remove DC or LF components.

Abstract: Movement detection apparatus for detecting a hand movement The invention relates to movement detection apparatus (1) for detecting a hand movement like a hand gesture which may be used for controlling a computer or another device. A light emitting device emits light into tissue at the wrist (5) of a person and a light detection device detects light, which has travelled through the tissue, at the wrist and generates a light detection signal based on the detected light, wherein a hand movement determination unit determines the hand movement based on the light detection signal. When the hand moves, i.e., for instance, when it rotates or when a finger moves, the composition of the tissue, through which the light travels, and hence the light detection signal change. This change in the light detection signal can be used to reliably determine the respective movement of the hand in a way which is very convenient for the person.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device for measuring a heart rate of a user. Said optical device comprises: two light sources (1,2) for emitting light into the skin of the user, a sensor (3) for sensing the light signals emitted by each of the two light sources and reflected through the skin of the user so as to determine the heart rate of the user. The two light sources (1,2) are situated at different distances from the sensor such that the light signals received from each of the two light sources have a different penetration depth into the skin.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system and method for managing a sleep session of a subject. Managing the sleep session is based on cardiac activity in the subject during the sleep session. Cardiac activity, as monitored via one or more sensors worn on an extremity of the subject and/or placed at a distance from the subject, is used to determine periods of slow wave sleep. Sensory stimulation is delivered to the subject during the periods of slow wave sleep to enhance slow wave activity. Wearing a sensor on an extremity, and/or placing a sensor at a distance from the subject during sleep, as opposed to the subject wearing an EEG cap, is more comfortable for the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring a physiological parameter of a user carrying said device. The device comprises a sensor (22) comprising at least two sensor elements (221, 222, 223) for detecting a sensor signal and a carrier (26) carrying said sensor, wherein electrical contacts (34) of said sensor elements lead on, into or through said carrier. One or more frames (41, 42, 43) carried by said carrier are formed around said sensor and/or said individual sensor elements, and an insulator material (32) is filled between said one or more frames and the sensor and/or the sensor elements surrounded by the respective frame without covering the top surface of the respective sensor element facing away from the carrier.