Abstract: A client device includes a display and a processor configured to obtain a data stream from a remote sensor via a communication protocol. The remote sensor is a physiological sensor monitoring a subject and/or an environmental sensor monitoring an environment in a vicinity of the subject, and the data stream includes a sensor metric, a metric identifier, and dynamically updated integrity information about the sensor metric. The processor is also configured to identify a statistical distribution function associated with the remote sensor via a function selector associated with the communication protocol, and display, via the display, the sensor metric with statistical information about the sensor metric using the identified statistical distribution function.

Abstract: A light-guiding earpiece configured to be worn by a subject includes a base comprising a speaker and at least one optical detector, a housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, and a flexible optical emitter configured to be conformable to at least a portion of the earpiece. The housing encloses the speaker and comprises at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass. The flexible optical emitter may be integrally formed within the housing, and the housing may include translucent material that forms a light-guiding region through which light from the flexible optical emitter can pass. The optical detector may be a flexible optical detector.

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 cover is configured to be removably attached to and at least partially cover a hearing aid earpiece. The removable cover includes light transmissive material in at least one portion thereof that is configured to guide light from at least one optical emitter associated with the hearing aid earpiece to a region of a body of a subject wearing the hearing aid earpiece and/or guide light from the body of the subject to at least one optical detector associated with the hearing aid earpiece. The removable cover may include at least one alignment member that facilitates stability of the hearing aid earpiece when inserted within an ear of the subject. The removable 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 light transmissive material.

Abstract: A monitoring device configured to be attached to a body of a subject includes a sensor having at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector, and a processor coupled to the sensor. The processor is configured to instruct the at least one optical emitter to emit a different wavelength of light into the body of the subject during each of a series of respective time intervals. The processor is configured to measure a respective different physiological parameter from signals produced by the at least one optical detector upon receiving light from the body of the subject during each of the respective time intervals.

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: An apparatus includes a digital camera configured to capture a plurality of images of a region of a body of a subject, a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor configured to sense blood flow information from the subject, and a processor in communication with the digital camera and the PPG sensor. The processor is configured to analyze a blood flow information signal from the PPG sensor and determine a heart rate frequency and/or a breathing rate frequency of the subject. The processor is also configured to analyze the plurality of images and determine whether or not a portion of the region of the body is modulating at a frequency that is similar to the heart rate frequency and/or the breathing rate frequency of the subject.

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 a 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. Once an activity characteristic is determined, the processor is configured to select a biometric signal extraction algorithm or circuit in response to the activity characteristic of the subject, and then process physiological sensor signals via the biometric signal extraction algorithm or circuit to produce physiological information about the subject.

Abstract: A monitoring device includes a band capable of at least partially encircling a portion of a body of a subject. An optical source and an optical detector are supported by the band. A first light guide is in optical communication with the optical source and a second light guide is in optical communication with the optical detector. A distal end of the first light guide is configured to deliver light from the optical source into the body, and a distal end of the second light guide is configured to collect light from the body and deliver collected light to the optical detector. The first and second light guides define respective first and second axial directions that diverge outwardly from the band such that light rays directed into the body via the first light guide cannot overlap with light rays collected by the second light guide.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a subject includes detecting subject head motion information via a microelectromechanical systems sensor associated with an earpiece worn by the subject, processing, via a processor associated with the earpiece, the head motion information to determine subject head displacement relative to an origin and to determine if the subject has fallen down and/or is not moving, and transmitting the processed head motion information to a remote device. The method further includes communicating corrective action to the subject from the remote device and/or communicating corrective action for the subject from the remote device to a third party. The earpiece may include an audio headset, a hearing aid, or an earpiece fitting.

Abstract: An ear worn device includes an optical source, an optical detector, and a housing supporting the optical source and optical detector. The housing is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject and includes a first light guide in optical communication with the optical source and a second light guide in optical communication with the optical detector. A distal end of the first light guide is configured to deliver light from the optical source into the ear, and a distal end of the second light guide is configured to collect light from the ear and deliver collected light to the optical detector. The first and second light guides define respective first and second axial directions that are outwardly diverging such that light rays directed into the ear via the first light guide cannot overlap with light rays collected by the second light guide.

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: An optical sensor module for detecting and/or measuring physiological information that can be integrated into a wearable device, such as a headset, a wristband, a ring, etc., includes a housing supporting an optical source and an optical detector. The housing overlies the optical source and optical detector and includes a first light guide comprising light transmissive material in optical communication with the optical source and a second light guide comprising light transmissive material in optical communication with the optical detector. The first and second light guides define respective first and second axial directions that are outwardly diverging. When the sensor module is in use and placed adjacent the skin of a user, light rays emanating from the optical source and directed into the skin of the user cannot overlap with light rays returning through the skin of the user.

Abstract: A monitoring device configured to be attached to a subject includes a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor configured to measure physiological information from the subject, a blood flow stimulator, and a processor configured to process signals from the PPG sensor to determine a signal-to-noise level of the signals. In response to a signal-to-noise level determination, the processor is configured to instruct the blood flow stimulator to increase blood perfusion at a location where the PPG sensor is attached to the subject. The signal-to-noise level determination may be a determination that the signal-to-noise level is below a threshold level. The blood flow stimulator may be a heating element or light source configured to heat the location of the subject.

Abstract: A client device includes a display and a processor configured to obtain a data stream from a remote sensor via a communication protocol. The remote sensor is a physiological sensor monitoring a subject and/or an environmental sensor monitoring an environment in a vicinity of the subject, and the data stream includes a sensor metric, a metric identifier, and dynamically updated integrity information about the sensor metric. The processor is also configured to identify a statistical distribution function associated with the remote sensor via a function selector associated with the communication protocol, and display, via the display, the sensor metric with statistical information about the sensor metric using the identified statistical distribution function.

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 wearable biometric monitoring device includes a physiological sensor configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from a subject wearing the device, a motion sensor, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to receive signals produced by the physiological sensor and the motion sensor, and process the signals while the subject moves their mouth or ear to determine signal quality produced by the physiological sensor. The biometric monitoring device may include a transmitter, and the at least one processor communicates information to the subject regarding the signal quality via the transmitter. The at least one processor may inform the subject that the device is being worn correctly if the signal quality is acceptable, and may inform the subject that the device is not being worn correctly if the signal quality is not acceptable.

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 monitoring device configured to be attached to a subject includes a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor configured to measure physiological information from the subject, and at least one processor configured to process signals from the PPG sensor to determine heart rate and RR-interval (RRi) for the subject, and to determine a heart rate pattern for the subject over a period of time. The at least one processor is configured to change a sampling frequency of the PPG sensor for determining RRi in response to the determined heart rate pattern. The at least one processor is configured to reduce the sampling frequency of the PPG sensor in response to determining a pattern of heart rate below a threshold.

Abstract: A monitoring device configured to be attached to a subject includes a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor configured to detect/measure physiological information from the subject, and a processor configured to process the physiological information to detect subject stress, and to determine an origin of the subject stress. The processor can determine the origin of the subject stress by increasing a sampling rate of the PPG sensor to collect higher acuity physiological information. The processor also can determine the origin of the subject stress by processing data from the PPG sensor to determine whether the subject is likely to have atrial fibrillation. In response to determining that the subject is likely to have atrial fibrillation, the processor can increase a frequency of pulsing of an optical emitter of the PPG sensor and/or increase a sampling rate of the PPG sensor to collect higher acuity data for diagnosing that atrial fibrillation is truly occurring.