Abstract: A monitoring device configured to be attached to a subject includes a sensor configured to detect and/or measure physiological information and a processor coupled to the sensor. The sensor includes at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector. The processor receives and analyzes signals produced by the sensor, and the processor changes wavelength of light emitted by the at least one optical emitter in response to detecting a change in subject activity. For example, the processor instructs the at least one optical emitter to emit shorter wavelength light in response to detecting an increase in subject activity, and the processor instructs the at least one optical emitter to emit longer wavelength light in response to detecting an decrease in subject activity. Detecting a change in subject activity may include detecting a change in at least one subject vital sign and/or subject motion.

Abstract: A monitoring device configured to be attached to a subject includes a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor configured to measure a plurality of physiological parameters from the subject, a motion sensor configured to detect an activity state of the subject, and a processor coupled to the PPG sensor and the motion sensor. The PPG sensor is configured to measure each physiological parameter in a respective one of a plurality of time intervals. The processor instructs the PPG sensor to measure a first one of the plurality of physiological parameters if the activity state is at or above a threshold, and to measure a second one of the plurality of physiological parameters if the activity state is below the threshold.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes a housing that is configured to be attached to a body of a subject. The housing includes a sensor region that is configured to contact a selected area of the body of the subject when the housing is attached to the body of the subject. The sensor region is contoured to matingly engage the selected body area. The apparatus includes at least one physiological sensor that is associated with the sensor region and that detects and/or measures physiological information from the subject and/or at least one environmental sensor associated with the sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure environmental information. The sensor region contour stabilizes the physiological and/or environmental sensor(s) relative to the selected body area such that subject motion does not impact detection and/or measurement efforts of the sensor(s).

Abstract: A method of determining a ventilatory threshold for a subject engaged in an activity includes sensing heart rate information, breathing rate information, and motion information from the subject via a monitoring device worn by the subject; analyzing the heart rate information to identify one or more points in time where heart rate increased at a steady subject workload; and identifying the ventilatory threshold for the subject as occurring at a point in time where an increase in breathing rate lagged an increase in heart rate. The method also includes modifying when the ventilatory threshold for the subject occurs in time by presenting to the subject musical audio having a tempo correlated to frequency characteristics of a heart rate and/or breathing rate of the subject.

Abstract: A monitoring device configured to be attached to a body of a subject includes a sensor configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject, and at least one actuator that is configured to adjust the stability of the monitoring device relative to the subject body in response to the sensor detecting a change in subject activity, a change in environmental conditions, a change in time, and/or a change in location of the subject.

Abstract: An earpiece module includes a housing configured to be attached to an ear of a person, a first audio sensor within the housing configured to detect auscultatory sounds from an ear canal of the ear and generate a physiological information signal from the auscultatory sounds, and a second audio sensor within the housing and oriented in a direction towards an outside environment of the person. The second audio sensor is configured to detect sounds external to the person including voice sounds and footstep sounds, and to generate an environmental information signal from the external sounds. A processor is configured to receive the physiological information signal and the environmental information signal, process the external sounds in the physiological information signal and the environmental information signal to reduce the voice sounds and the footstep sounds from the physiological information signal and generate a cleaner physiological information signal.

Abstract: A method of producing subject-specific metric statistics includes collecting physiological data and meta data from a subject via a sensor system. The sensor system includes at least one sensor element, at least one signal processor, and memory in communication with the at least one signal processor. The collected data is processed via the at least one signal processor to determine a plurality of metric features from the collected data. The plurality of metric features are processed using one or more data clustering techniques via the at least one signal processor to generate at least one subject-specific metric statistic and at least one sensor metric. The at least one subject-specific metric statistic and the at least one sensor metric may be displayed via a display associated with a client device.

Abstract: Wearable apparatus for monitoring various physiological and environmental factors are provided. Real-time, noninvasive health and environmental monitors include a plurality of compact sensors integrated within small, low-profile devices, such as earpiece modules. Physiological and environmental data is collected and wirelessly transmitted into a wireless network, where the data is stored and/or processed.

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.

Abstract: A method of controlling a biometric parameter, such as heart rate and/or breathing rate, of a subject engaged in an activity includes sensing the biometric parameter via a monitoring device worn by the subject, determining frequency characteristics of the biometric parameter, and presenting to the subject musical audio having a tempo correlated to the frequency characteristics of the biometric parameter. The tempo of the musical audio presented to the subject may be changed in order to cause a change in the biometric parameter. A method of modulating heart rate of a subject engaged in an activity includes sensing a breathing rate of the subject via a monitoring device worn by the subject, and then presenting to the subject musical audio having a tempo selected to change the breathing rate by an amount sufficient to cause a change in the heart rate.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes a housing that is configured to be attached to a body of a subject. The housing includes a sensor region that is configured to contact a selected area of the body of the subject when the housing is attached to the body of the subject. The sensor region is contoured to matingly engage the selected body area. The apparatus includes at least one physiological sensor that is associated with the sensor region and that detects and/or measures physiological information from the subject and/or at least one environmental sensor associated with the sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure environmental information. The sensor region contour stabilizes the physiological and/or environmental sensor(s) relative to the selected body area such that subject motion does not impact detection and/or measurement efforts of the sensor(s).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring a subject are described. A monitoring device configured to be attached to a body of a subject includes a sensor that is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject and at least one motion sensor configured to detect and/or measure subject motion information. The physiological sensor and motion sensor are in communication with a processor that is configured to receive and analyze signals produced by the physiological sensor and motion sensor. The processor is configured to process motion sensor signals to identify an activity characteristic of the subject.

Abstract: A wearable device includes a housing with a window and an electronic module supported by the housing. The electronic module includes a photoplethysmography sensor, a motion sensor, and a signal processor that processes signals from the motion sensor and signals from the photoplethysmography sensor. The signal processor is configured to remove frequency bands from the photoplethysmography sensor signals that are outside of a range of interest using a band-pass filter to produce pre-conditioned signals, and to further process the pre-conditioned signals using the motion sensor signals to reduce motion artifacts from footsteps during subject running. The device includes non-air light transmissive material in optical communication with the photoplethysmography sensor and the window that serves as a light guide for the photoplethysmography sensor. The window optically exposes the photoplethysmography sensor to a body of a subject wearing the device via the non-air light transmissive material.

Abstract: Wearable apparatus for monitoring various physiological and environmental factors are provided. Real-time, noninvasive health and environmental monitors include a plurality of compact sensors integrated within small, low-profile devices, such as earpiece modules. Physiological and environmental data is collected and wirelessly transmitted into a wireless network, where the data is stored and/or processed.

Abstract: Wearable apparatus for monitoring various physiological and environmental factors are provided. Real-time, noninvasive health and environmental monitors include a plurality of compact sensors integrated within small, low-profile devices, such as earpiece modules. Physiological and environmental data is collected and wirelessly transmitted into a wireless network, where the data is stored and/or processed.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes a housing that is configured to be attached to a body of a subject. The housing includes a sensor region that is configured to contact a selected area of the body of the subject when the housing is attached to the body of the subject. The sensor region is contoured to matingly engage the selected body area. The apparatus includes at least one physiological sensor that is associated with the sensor region and that detects and/or measures physiological information from the subject and/or at least one environmental sensor associated with the sensor region that is configured to detect and/or measure environmental information. The sensor region contour stabilizes the physiological and/or environmental sensor(s) relative to the selected body area such that subject motion does not impact detection and/or measurement efforts of the sensor(s).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring a subject are described. A monitoring device configured to be attached to a body of a subject includes a sensor that is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject and at least one motion sensor configured to detect and/or measure subject motion information. The physiological sensor and motion sensor are in communication with a processor that is configured to receive and analyze signals produced by the physiological sensor and motion sensor. The processor is configured to process motion sensor signals to identify an activity characteristic of the subject.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a subject via a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor configured to detect and/or measure PPG information from the subject includes changing, via a processor, signal analysis frequency of the PPG sensor signals, optical wavelength emission of the PPG sensor, and/or PPG sensor interrogation power at predetermined times. Each predetermined time is associated with measuring at least one different biometric parameter from a plurality of biometric parameters.

Abstract: A wearable device includes a housing with a window and an electronic module supported by the housing. The electronic module includes a photoplethysmography sensor, a motion sensor, and a signal processor that processes signals from the motion sensor and signals from the photoplethysmography sensor. The signal processor is configured to remove frequency bands from the photoplethysmography sensor signals that are outside of a range of interest using a band-pass filter to produce pre-conditioned signals, and to further process the pre-conditioned signals using the motion sensor signals to reduce motion artifacts from footsteps during subject running. The device includes non-air light transmissive material in optical communication with the photoplethysmography sensor and the window that serves as a light guide for the photoplethysmography sensor. The window optically exposes the photoplethysmography sensor to a body of a subject wearing the device via the non-air light transmissive material.

Abstract: A monitoring device configured to be attached to a body of a subject includes a sensor configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject, and a processor coupled to the sensor that is configured to receive and analyze signals produced by the sensor. The processor is configured to change signal analysis frequency and/or sensor interrogation power in response to detecting a change in subject activity, a change in subject stress level, a change in environmental conditions, a change in time, and/or a change in location of the subject.