Wearable to monitor exposure to UV radiation

Abstract

A wearable or attachable device comprising a sensor configured to provide user-specific burn rate times providing an indication to the user when they are exposing themselves to harmful levels of radiation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of. U.S. application Ser. No. 16 / 126,081 filed Sep. 10, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15 / 257,812 filed Sep. 6, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 214,803 filed on Sep. 4, 2015 and titled “Wearable To Monitor Exposure To UV Radiation,” the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The subject matter described herein relates to a wearable device and in particular to a wearable device that can monitor a wearers exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.BACKGROUND[0003]Overexposure to UVA and UVB rays from the sun can cause many problems such as wrinkling, premature aging, sunspots, and even the deadliest form of skin cancer, Melanoma. Many people are unaware of when they have become overexposed.[0004]Clothing does not prevent UV rays from reaching the skin and causing da...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a device that can be worn and connected to a mobile phone. This device can send and receive data to the phone, which can then store and share the data with a medical service provider. The technical effect is to enable a person to easily collect and share data with a medical tool.

Problems solved by technology

Overexposure to UVA and UVB rays from the sun can cause many problems such as wrinkling, premature aging, sunspots, and even the deadliest form of skin cancer, Melanoma.

Clothing does not prevent UV rays from reaching the skin and causing damage.

One way to detect if a piece of clothing fully protects a person is holding it up to the sun, if any light goes through it can still be harmful.

Any person, especially a child, is susceptible to the damage of the sun's UV rays.

Also, even when living in areas where there is relatively little Sunlight, the UV rays can still damage skin year-round.

UVB rays cause sunburn and are the most noticeable, but both UVA and UVB rays can penetrate through clouds, so even on a cloudy day the sun can be very harmful to the skin.

UVA rays can be harmful even indoors.

UVA rays penetrate through glass allowing them to be harmful even when indoors.

In limited quantities, UVB rays can be beneficial to life, for example in the intake of Vitamin D, however overexposure can be very harmful to humans, especially as the ozone layer gets more depleted more UVB rays penetrate and reach ground level and create greater harm.

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