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 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 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.

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 includes a sensor band configured to be secured around an appendage of a subject, a sensing element secured to the sensor band, a second band configured to be secured to the appendage of the subject in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the sensor band, and at least one member connecting the sensor band and the second band. The sensor band has a first mass and the sensing element has a second mass that is less than the first mass. The sensing element is movably secured to the sensor band via a biasing element, and the biasing element is configured to urge the sensing element into contact with a portion of the appendage. The biasing element o decouples motion of the sensor band from the sensing element, and the at least one member decouples motion between the sensor band and the second band.

Abstract: An ear-worn device includes a speaker, an optical emitter, an optical detector, a processor, and a housing configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the housing encloses the speaker, optical emitter, optical detector, and processor. The housing includes at least one window that exposes the optical emitter and optical detector to the ear of the subject, and the housing includes at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass. Light transmissive material is located between the optical emitter and the at least one window and is configured to deliver light emitted from the optical emitter to an ear region of the subject at one or more predetermined locations. Light transmissive material is positioned between the optical detector and the at least one window and is configured to collect light external to the housing and deliver the collected light to the optical detector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for facilitating the extraction of cleaner biometric signals from biometric monitors. A motion reference signal is generated independently from a biometric signal and then the motion reference signal is used to remove motion artifacts from the biometric signal.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a speaker driver, an optical source secured directly to the speaker driver, an optical detector secured directly to the speaker driver, a first light guide extending outwardly from the optical source and in optical communication with the optical source, and a second light guide extending outwardly from the optical detector and in optical communication with the optical detector. The first light guide is configured to deliver light from the optical source into an ear region of the subject via a distal end thereof, and the second light guide is configured to collect light from the ear region via a distal end thereof and deliver collected light to the optical detector. The hearing aid may include at least one signal processor configured to process signals produced by the optical detector, and at least one of the following: an accelerometer, a humidity sensor, an altimeter, a temperature sensor.

Abstract: A monitoring device includes a sensor band configured to be secured around an appendage of a subject, and a sensing element movably secured to the sensor band via a biasing element. The sensor band has a first mass, and the sensing element has a second mass that is less than the first mass. The biasing element is configured to urge the sensing element into contact with a portion of the appendage, and the biasing element decouples motion of the band from the sensing element. A monitoring device includes a band that is configured to be secured around an appendage of a subject. One or more biasing elements extend outwardly from the band inner surface and are configured to contact the appendage. A sensing element is secured to the band inner surface. The one or more biasing elements decouples motion of the band from the sensing element.

Abstract: A wearable device for detecting and/or measuring physiological information from a subject includes a housing, at least one optical emitter supported by the housing, at least one optical detector supported by the housing, a first light guide supported by the housing, a second light guide supported by the housing, a motion sensor supported by the housing, and a processor supported by the housing. The processor is configured to calculate footsteps, distinguish footsteps from heart beats, and to remove footstep motion artifacts from signals produced by the at least one optical detector. Also, the processor is configured to process signals produced by the at least one optical detector to determine subject heart rate and to produce integrity data about the subject heart rate. The process is further configured to generate a multiplexed output serial data string comprising the subject heart rate and the integrity data.

Abstract: A wearable device for detecting and/or measuring physiological information from a subject includes a housing, at least one optical emitter supported by the housing, at least one optical detector supported by the housing, a motion sensor supported by the housing, and a processor supported by the housing. 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 to produce filtered signals. Also, the processor is configured to process the filtered signals to generate parsed output data by executing one or more processing methods to provide information that is fed into a multiplexed output serial data string comprising motion-related information and physiological information. The multiplexed serial data string includes a plurality of physiological data outputs that can be used by an application-specific interface as required for a particular application.

Abstract: An earbud includes a speaker driver, and a sensor module secured to the speaker driver that is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from a subject wearing the earbud. The sensor module includes a printed circuit board, an optical source secured to the printed circuit board, and an optical detector secured to the printed circuit board. A first light guide may be coupled to the optical source that is configured to deliver light from the optical source into an ear region of the subject via a distal end thereof. A second light guide may be coupled to the optical detector that is configured to collect light from the ear region via a distal end thereof and deliver collected light to the optical detector. One or more additional sensors may be secured to the speaker driver, such as accelerometers, humidity sensors, altimeters, and temperature sensors.

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: An earpiece configured to be positioned within an ear canal of a subject includes a housing, a sensor assembly disposed within the housing, and a cover removably secured to a free end of the housing. The sensor assembly includes at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector. The cover includes at least one light guide configured to guide light from the at least one optical emitter and/or guide light from the ear of the subject to the at least one optical detector. The cover also includes a plurality of stabilizing members extending outwardly from an outer surface of the cover adjacent the at least one light guide. The earpiece may also include at least one ear support fitting associated with the housing that is configured to stabilize the earpiece within the ear canal.

Abstract: A sensor module includes a housing and a sensor assembly disposed within the housing. The sensor assembly includes a base having at least one energy emitter and at least one energy detector, and a guide layer overlying the base in face-to-face relationship. The guide layer has at least one protrusion extending outwardly to accommodate the at least one energy emitter, and a plurality of outwardly extending stabilizing members. The housing has at least one first opening through which the at least one protrusion extends, and a plurality of second openings through which the stabilizing members extend. Some of the stabilizing members have an outwardly extending length that is greater than an outwardly extending length of the at least one protrusion. Some of the stabilizing members are substantially cylindrical and have a circular cross-sectional profile, and some of the stabilizing members are partially cylindrical and have a partially circular cross-sectional profile.

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: An optical adapter is configured to be removably secured to a wearable monitoring device. The monitoring device includes a housing having a portion with a biometric sensor that is wearably positionable adjacent the skin of a subject. The biometric sensor includes an optical emitter and an optical detector. The optical adapter includes a base that is configured to be removably secured to the housing portion. The optical adapter includes a first light guide extending outwardly from the base that is in optical communication with the optical emitter when the base is secured to the housing portion, and a second light guide extending outwardly from the base that is in optical communication with the optical detector when the base is secured to the housing portion. The optical adapter also includes a plurality of stabilizing members extending outwardly from the base.

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 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.