Abstract: A monitoring device includes a housing configured to be attached to a body of a subject. An optical emitter, optical detector, and sensor for measuring motion noise are located within the housing. Light transmissive material is in optical communication with the optical emitter and detector and is configured to deliver light from the optical emitter to one or more locations of the body of the subject and to collect light external to the housing and deliver the collected light to the detector. A signal processor is configured to receive and process signals produced by the optical detector and the motion noise sensor, and to remove noise from the signals produced by the optical detector. The signal processor may generate physiological parameters for the subject such as heart rate, blood flow, blood pressure, VO2max, heart rate variability, respiration rate, and blood gas/analyte level.

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: Methods and apparatus for qualifying and quantifying excitation-dependent physiological information extracted from wearable sensors in the midst of interference from unwanted sources are provided. An organism is interrogated with at least one excitation energy, energy response signals from two or more distinct physiological regions are sensed, and these signals are processed to generate an extracted signal. The extracted signal is compared with a physiological model to qualify and/or quantify a physiological property. Additionally, important physiological information can be qualified and quantified by comparing the excitation wavelength-dependent response, measured via wearable sensors, with a physiological model.

Abstract: An apparatus worn by a subject includes an energy-harvesting power source, at least one physiological sensor and/or at least one environmental sensor coupled to the energy-harvesting power source. The at least one physiological sensor senses physiological information from the subject and the at least one environmental sensor senses environmental information in a vicinity of the subject. The energy-harvesting power source may include one or more of the following: a solar cell module configured to collect and store solar energy, a piezoelectric device or a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device configured to collect and store energy caused by movement of the subject and/or energy emanating from an environment in which the subject is located, a thermoelectric or thermovoltaic device configured to collect and store energy caused by thermal energy or temperature gradients in an environment in which the subject is located, a cranking or winding mechanism configured to store mechanical energy.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a subject includes detecting subject head motion via a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor associated with a device worn by the subject, such as a device worn on a region of the head or a headset attached to an ear. The head motion information from the MEMS sensor is processed to determine subject head displacement relative to an origin and/or to identify footstep information, and the processed head motion information is transmitted to a remote device. Processing the head motion information from the MEMS sensor may be performed via at least one processor associated with the device worn by the subject and/or via a second device in telemetric communication with the MEMS sensor. The method may include processing head motion information from the MEMS sensor to determine if the subject has fallen down and/or is not moving.

Abstract: An earbud cover is configured to be removably attached to, and at least partially cover, an audio earbud. The removable earbud cover includes at least one light guide configured to guide light from at least one optical emitter associated with the audio earbud to a region of a body of a subject wearing the audio earbud and/or guide light from the body of the subject to at least one optical detector associated with the audio earbud. The removable earbud cover may include at least one alignment member that facilitates stability of the audio earbud when inserted within an ear of the subject. The removable earbud cover may include at least one lens region, at least one light diffusion region, and/or at least one luminescence region in optical communication with the at least one light guide.

Abstract: Monitoring apparatus and methods are provided for assessing a physiological condition of a subject. At least two types of physiological information are detected from a subject via a portable monitoring device associated with the subject, and an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject is made using the at least two types of physiological information, wherein each type of physiological information is individually insufficient to make the physiological condition assessment. Environmental information from a vicinity of a subject also may be detected, and an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject may be made using the environmental information in combination with the physiological information. Exemplary physiological information may include subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate. Exemplary environmental information may include humidity level information in the vicinity of the subject.

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 device configured to be attached to the ear of a person includes a base, an earbud housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, and a cover surrounding the earbud housing. The base includes a speaker, an optical emitter, and an optical detector. The cover includes light transmissive material that is in optical communication with the optical emitter and the optical detector and serves as a light guide to deliver light from the optical emitter into the ear canal of the subject wearing the device at one or more predetermined locations and to collect light external to the earbud housing and deliver the collected light to the optical detector.

Abstract: A method of generating a data string containing physiological and motion-related information includes sensing physical activity of a subject via at least one motion sensor attached to the subject, sensing physiological information from the subject via at least one photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor attached to the subject, and processing signals from the at least one motion sensor and signals from the at least one PPG sensor into a serial data string of physiological information and motion-related information. A plurality of subject physiological parameters can be extracted from the physiological information, and a plurality of subject physical activity parameters can be extracted from the motion-related information.

Abstract: A monitoring device configured to be attached to the body of a subject includes an outer layer and an inner layer secured together. The inner layer includes light transmissive material and has inner and outer surfaces. A base is secured to at least one of the outer and inner layers and includes an optical emitter and optical detector. A layer of cladding material is positioned near the outer surface of the inner layer, and at least one window is formed in the layer of cladding material that serves as a light-guiding interface to the body of the subject. The light transmissive material delivers light from the optical emitter to the body of the subject along a first direction and collects light from the body of the subject and delivers the collected light in a second direction to the optical detector. The first and second directions are substantially parallel.

Abstract: A monitoring device configured to be attached to the ear of a person includes a base, an earbud housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, and a cover surrounding the earbud housing. The base includes a speaker, an optical emitter, and an optical detector. The cover includes light transmissive material that is in optical communication with the optical emitter and the optical detector and serves as a light guide to deliver light from the optical emitter into the ear canal of the subject wearing the device at one or more predetermined locations and to collect light external to the earbud housing and deliver the collected light to the optical detector.

Abstract: A monitoring device includes a housing configured to be attached to a body of a subject. An optical emitter, optical detector, and sensor for measuring motion noise are located within the housing. Light transmissive material is in optical communication with the optical emitter and detector and is configured to deliver light from the optical emitter to one or more locations of the body of the subject and to collect light external to the housing and deliver the collected light to the detector. A signal processor is configured to receive and process signals produced by the optical detector and the motion noise sensor, and to remove noise from the signals produced by the optical detector. The signal processor may generate physiological parameters for the subject such as heart rate, blood flow, blood pressure, VO2max, heart rate variability, respiration rate, and blood gas/analyte level.

Abstract: Monitoring apparatus and methods are provided for assessing a physiological condition of a subject. At least two types of physiological information are detected from a subject via a portable monitoring device associated with the subject, and an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject is made using the at least two types of physiological information, wherein each type of physiological information is individually insufficient to make the physiological condition assessment. Environmental information from a vicinity of a subject also may be detected, and an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject may be made using the environmental information in combination with the physiological information. Exemplary physiological information may include subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate. Exemplary environmental information may include humidity level information in the vicinity of the subject.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for attenuating environmental interference are described. A wearable monitoring apparatus includes a housing configured to be attached to the body of a subject and a sensor module that includes an energy emitter that directs energy at a target region of the subject, a detector that detects an energy response signal—or physiological condition—from the subject, a filter that removes time-varying environmental interference from the energy response signal, and at least one processor that controls operations of the energy emitter, detector, and filter.

Abstract: A monitoring device configured to be attached to the body of a subject includes an outer layer and an inner layer secured together. The inner layer includes light transmissive material and has inner and outer surfaces. A base is secured to at least one of the outer and inner layers and includes an optical emitter and optical detector. A layer of cladding material is positioned near the outer surface of the inner layer, and at least one window is formed in the layer of cladding material that serves as a light-guiding interface to the body of the subject. The light transmissive material delivers light from the optical emitter to the body of the subject along a first direction and collects light from the body of the subject and delivers the collected light in a second direction to the optical detector. The first and second directions are substantially parallel.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a subject includes attaching a sensor module having at least one optical emitter and detector to a body of the subject, delivering light from the at least one optical emitter into the body of the subject via a first light guide that is in optical communication with the at least one optical emitter, and collecting light from the body of the subject via a second light guide that is in optical communication with the at least one optical detector. The first light guide has a proximal end optically coupled to the at least one optical emitter and delivers light from the at least one optical emitter via a distal end thereof. The second light guide has a proximal end optically coupled to the at least one optical detector and collects light from the body of the subject via the distal end thereof.

Abstract: A monitoring device includes a housing configured to be attached to a body of a subject. An optical emitter, optical detector, and sensor for measuring motion noise are located within the housing. Light transmissive material is in optical communication with the optical emitter and detector and is configured to deliver light from the optical emitter to one or more locations of the body of the subject and to collect light external to the housing and deliver the collected light to the detector. A signal processor is configured to receive and process signals produced by the optical detector and the motion noise sensor, and to remove noise from the signals produced by the optical detector. The signal processor may generate physiological parameters for the subject such as heart rate, blood flow, blood pressure, VO2max, heart rate variability, respiration rate, and blood gas/analyte level.

Abstract: A sensor module for detecting and/or measuring physiological information from a subject includes a housing with at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector supported by the housing. A first light guide is in optical communication with the at least one optical emitter and is configured to deliver light from the at least one optical emitter into a body of a subject. A second light guide is in optical communication with the at least one optical detector and is configured to collect light from the body of the subject. The sensor module includes a motion sensor and a processor. The motion sensor is configured to sense motion information from the subject and the processor is configured to remove motion artifacts from signals produced by the at least one optical detector in response to signals produced by the motion sensor.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a subject includes positioning an earbud within an ear of the subject, wherein the earbud housing encloses at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector, and wherein light transmissive material is external to the housing and in optical communication with the at least one optical emitter and detector via at least one window in the housing. Light is delivered from the at least one optical emitter through the at least one window and into an ear region of the subject via the light transmissive material, and light external to the housing is collected and delivered through the at least one window to the at least one optical detector via the light transmissive material. Motion of the subject is measured via a motion sensor, and signals produced by the at least one optical detector are processed to selectively remove effects from subject motion.