Repositionable palm module

Abstract

A system for sensing one or more biological features. In some embodiments, the system includes a first wearable instrument; comprising a biometric sensor; a conductive connection between the first wearable device and the second wearable device; and a strap sized and dimensioned to be disposed around the wrist. The system may be capable of securing a first wearable instrument to the strap, securing a second wearable instrument to the strap at a first location relative to the first wearable instrument, and securing the second wearable instrument to the strap at a second location relative to the first wearable instrument.

Description

Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 413,181, entitled "REPOSITIONABLE VOLAR MODULE", filed on Oct. 4, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] One or more aspects in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure relate to biometric monitoring, and more particularly to a repositionable volar module. Background Art

[0003] A biometric monitoring system may be worn on a subject's wrist and may perform various biometric measurements on the dorsal side of the wrist. Some biometric measurements (e.g., biometric measurements based on arterial blood measurements) may be performed on the volar side of the wrist.

[0004] It refers to this general technical environment to which aspects of the present disclosure pertain. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a system, which includes: a first wearable instrument; a second wearable instrument including a biometric sensor; a conductive connection between the first wearable instrument and the second wearable instrument; and a band sized and dimensioned to be disposed around the wrist, the system being capable of: fixing the first wearable instrument to the band; fixing the second wearable instrument to the band at a first position relative to the first wearable instrument; and fixing the second wearable instrument to the band at a second position relative to the first wearable instrument.

[0006] In some embodiments, the conductive connection is configured to supply power from the first wearable instrument to the second wearable instrument.

[0007] In some embodiments, the first wearable instrument includes a battery configured to supply power to the first wearable instrument and the second wearable instrument.

[0008] In some embodiments, the conductive connection is configured to transmit a signal from the second wearable instrument to the first wearable instrument.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first wearable instrument includes a radio configured to transmit measurement data.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first wearable instrument is configured to: receive measurement data obtained by the second wearable instrument; and transmit the measurement data via the radio.

[0011] In some embodiments, the conductive connection portion is further configured to transmit signals from the first wearable instrument to the second wearable instrument.

[0012] In some embodiments: in a first position, the second wearable instrument is spaced apart from the first wearable instrument along the band by a first distance; in a second position, the second wearable instrument is spaced apart from the first wearable instrument along the band by a second distance; and the difference between the first distance and the second distance is less than 5 mm.

[0013] In some embodiments, the difference between the first distance and the second distance is less than 2 mm.

[0014] 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is capable of: fixing the second wearable instrument to the band relative to the first wearable instrument at a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions including a first position and a second position; and the plurality of positions including 5 different positions.

[0015] In some embodiments, the plurality of positions includes 20 different positions within a certain distance range between the first wearable instrument and the second wearable instrument along the band, the distance range including: a first distance, and a second distance that is 5 mm greater than the first distance.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first wearable instrument includes a spectrophotometer.

[0017] In some embodiments, the biometric sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of a photoplethysmography sensor, a speckle volume plethysmography sensor, a speckle imaging sensor, and a diffuse correlation spectroscopy sensor.

[0018] In some embodiments, the system further includes a third wearable instrument, wherein the system is further capable of fixing the third wearable instrument to the band.

[0019] In some embodiments, the system includes one or more processing circuits configured to: receive a series of measurements from the second wearable instrument; and calculate a signal quality metric.

[0020] In some embodiments, the one or more processing circuits are further configured to display the signal quality metric to the user.

[0021] In some embodiments, the signal quality metric is based on a frequency domain analysis of the series of measurements.

[0022] In some embodiments, the signal quality metric is based on a plurality of reference points in a waveform corresponding to the series of measurements.

[0023] In some embodiments, the signal quality metric is based on a morphological analysis of a waveform corresponding to the series of measurements. Description of the Drawings

[0024] Referring to the specification, the claims, and the drawings, these and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be recognized and understood. In the drawings:

[0025] Figure 1A is a side view of a system for monitoring biometrics according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 1B is a side view of a system for monitoring biometrics according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figure 1C is a block diagram of a spectrophotometer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] Figure 2A is a flowchart of a method for adjusting the position of a palm module; and

[0029] Figure 2B is a table showing a display method for displaying a signal quality indicator.

[0030] For a corresponding embodiment, Figure 1A and 1B each of which is drawn to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments of a repositionable palm module provided in accordance with the present disclosure and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present disclosure may be constructed or utilized. The features of the present disclosure are described in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It will be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and structures may be achieved by different embodiments, which are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. As denoted elsewhere herein, like element numbers are intended to indicate like elements or features.

[0032] Figure 1A A system for monitoring biometrics of a subject (e.g., a patient) is shown. As used herein, "biometrics" are physiological parameters, examples of which are given below. The subject may place Figure 1AThe system is worn on her or his wrist. As shown, the system may include a first wearable instrument 105 and a second wearable instrument 110, both of which may be secured to the subject's wrist by a band (e.g., a flexible band) 115 during use. In some embodiments, the first wearable instrument 105 is larger than the second wearable instrument 110. A subject may be accustomed to (and may tend to) wear a wrist-worn device on the dorsal (top side) of the wrist (e.g., in the center dorsal region). Thus, one of the wearable instruments may be worn on the dorsal side of the wrist, and in embodiments where one of the wearable instruments is larger than the other, the larger of the wearable instruments (e.g., the first wearable instrument 105) may be worn on the dorsal side of the wrist. In this configuration, various biometrics may be measured by the first wearable instrument 105. However, some biometrics are easier or only possible to measure on the ventral (palm side) of the wrist, where more direct access to arterial blood flow may be achieved.

[0033] An independent wrist-worn wearable instrument that measures on the ventral side of the wrist may be too bulky (e.g., due to the presence of optics, electronics, or other sensor components) to be comfortably worn on the ventral side of the wrist and may cause discomfort when operating a computer keyboard or mouse or at any time when the subject is in a prone wrist position. In some embodiments, the width of the wearable instrument may be large to cover possible variations in the anatomy such that the relevant area (e.g., the radial or ulnar artery) is at least partially covered. In a system for monitoring biometrics in which a single rigid curved housing includes two wearable instruments (the first wearable instrument is designed to perform measurements on the dorsal side of the wrist and the second wearable instrument is designed to perform measurements on the ventral side of the wrist), the comfort of the subject may be affected by the volume and rigidity of the housing, and if the system fits a subject with a large wrist, the second (ventral) wearable instrument may be improperly positioned on a subject with a small wrist, or vice versa. Even in a system that includes two wearable instruments located on a flexible support (e.g., a band or a loop), if the position of the second wearable instrument relative to the first wearable instrument is fixed, the positioning of the second wearable instrument may be poor for at least some subjects when the first wearable instrument is centered on the dorsal side of the wrist, affecting the signal quality.

[0034] Thus, some embodiments include a first wearable instrument 105 and a second wearable instrument 110 (e.g., as Figure 1A shown), and the second wearable instrument 110 is capable of being independently repositioned relative to the first wearable instrument 105 at relatively large distances with millimeter-level resolution. For example, Figure 1AThe system shown in may be able to fix the second wearable instrument 110 relative to the first wearable instrument 105 at any one of a plurality of positions along the strap 115 (including, for example, a first position and a second position). This adjustability may be made possible by the adjustability of the position of the first wearable instrument 105 along the strap 115, or by the adjustability of the position of the second wearable instrument 110 along the strap 115, or both. Due to differences in human wrist circumferences (e.g., ranging from 136 mm to 193 mm), when the two wearable instruments are in their respective optimal positions, the distance between the first wearable instrument 105 and the second wearable instrument 110 may differ by up to 38 millimeters (mm) for subjects with large wrists and subjects with small wrists. Thus, the strap 115 may be tightened or loosened (e.g., from 136 mm to 193 mm) to accommodate the size of the subject's wrist, and the position of the second wearable instrument 110 on the strap 115 relative to the first wearable instrument 105 may be adjusted (e.g., independently adjusted through a position range spanning 38 mm) such that the second wearable instrument 110 is located at a position on the wrist where an acceptable signal quality can be obtained by one or more biometric sensors in the second wearable instrument 110. Such positions may be on a first relatively narrow zone directly above the radial artery (or on a second relatively narrow zone directly above the ulnar artery), and thus, it may be beneficial for the position of the second wearable instrument 110 to be adjusted relative to the position of the first wearable instrument 105 in relatively fine increments (e.g., increments between 0.1 mm and 5.0 mm).

[0035] Figure 1B shows Figure 1A an embodiment in which the circumference of the strap 115 is adjusted (e.g., loosened) to accommodate a wrist larger than the wrist in Figure 1A and the position of the second wearable instrument 110 on the strap 115 is adjusted such that the second wearable instrument 110 is farther from the first wearable instrument 105 than in the configuration of Figure 1A . Figure 1A and 1B show the electrical connection portion 120 (discussed in further detail below) between the first wearable instrument 105 and the second wearable instrument 110. As used herein, the "circumference of the strap" when the strap 115 is adjusted to a certain size means the inner circumference of the strap 115 (if the strap 115 is a strap that can be opened and closed, when the strap 115 is closed), e.g., the circumference of the strap is the circumference of the largest wrist that the strap 115 will accommodate when so adjusted.

[0036] In some embodiments, the system includes a third wearable instrument that can be secured to the strap 115 at a third position on the wrist. For example, the second wearable instrument 110 can be adjusted to be positioned over the radial artery, and the third wearable instrument can be adjusted to be positioned over the ulnar artery. In this embodiment, the electrical connection between the first wearable instrument 105 and the third wearable instrument or the electrical connection between the second wearable instrument 110 and the third wearable instrument can make it possible to supply power to and receive data from the third wearable instrument (as will be discussed in further detail below for the second wearable instrument 110). In some embodiments, one or more of the wearable instruments do not include a biometric sensor. In this embodiment, such a wearable instrument can include, for example, a battery or processing circuitry (and no biometric sensor), and one or more biometric sensors can be present in one or more of the other wearable instruments (or in the other wearable instrument if there is only one other wearable instrument).

[0037] The size of the strap 115, the position of the first wearable instrument 105 on the strap 115, and the position of the second wearable instrument 110 on the strap 115 can each be held (e.g., prevented from changing after adjustment) by any of a variety of fasteners. As used herein, a "fastener" is a fitting that secures something to a position along the length of the strap 115. Thus, a belt buckle secured to the first end of the strap 115 (e.g., by a strip that extends through a loop in the first end of the strap 115) can be a fastener that has a prong that can be inserted into any one of a plurality of holes in the strap 115 near the second end of the strap 115. Similarly, each of a ladder lock, a cinch lock, a cam buckle, a three-slot slider buckle, a three-slot adjustment buckle, and a hook-and-loop (e.g., Velcro TM ) fastener (which can be used with a belt buckle) is an example of a fastener. In some embodiments, a first fastener is used to set the circumference of the strap 115, a second fastener is used to set the position of the first wearable instrument 105 on the strap 115, and a third fastener is used to set the position of the second wearable instrument 110 on the strap 115.

[0038] The position of the wearable instrument can be set by a buckle. For example, by a buckle directly fixed to the wearable instrument, or in an embodiment where the wearable instrument is fixed to a portion of the strap 115, by the buckle setting the position of this portion of the strap 115 relative to the rest of the strap 115. The strap 115 can be a single (e.g., fabric or elastomer) strip, or it can include more than one (e.g., fabric or elastomer) strip. For example, it can include two pieces connected to the first wearable instrument 105 in a manner similar to a two-piece watchband; it can include a first portion of a first strip connected to the first wearable instrument 105 (e.g., by looping around the first strip) and a second portion of a second strip connected to the first wearable instrument 105 (e.g., by looping around the second strip). In this embodiment, the free end of the first portion (the end of the strip not fixed to the first wearable instrument 105) can be fixed to the free end of the second portion in an adjustable manner, like the corresponding end of a watchband (e.g., using a buckle on the end of the first portion with a pin that can be inserted into any one of a series of holes in the second portion), to accommodate various wrist sizes. In some embodiments, the one-piece strap can pass through each of two gaps between the housing of the first wearable instrument 105 and a corresponding strip fixed to the housing. At each such gap, the strap 115 can change direction, and the strip and the pair of gaps can act as a buckle to fix the first wearable instrument 105 to the strap 115 by friction.

[0039] The electrical connection portion 120 can include a conductive connection portion that includes one or more (e.g., two or more) conductors, such as for transmitting power or signals between the first wearable instrument 105 and the second wearable instrument 110. The conductive connection portion can include dedicated conductors or shared conductors (e.g., it can include a first power conductor, a first data conductor, and a shared ground conductor, where the shared ground conductor is used for both forming a power connection and a data connection). The electrical connection portion 120 can be used for various functions. For example, the first wearable instrument 105 can include a battery that supplies power both to (i) the circuits and one or more sensors in the first wearable instrument 105 and to (ii) the circuits and one or more sensors in the second wearable instrument 110. As another example, the first wearable instrument 105 can include a radio device and an antenna for wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth TM or Wi-Fi TMcommunications), and the first wearable instrument 105 can relay signals (e.g., commands or data) to and from the second wearable instrument 110. A subject or clinician can use such a mobile device to record or relay measurements obtained by the system (e.g., measurement data obtained by the first wearable instrument 105, or measurement data obtained by the second wearable instrument 110 and relayed by the radio device of the first wearable instrument 105). In such embodiments, for the second wearable instrument 110, it may not be necessary to include, for example, a battery, a radio device, or an antenna, such that it is possible for the second wearable instrument 110 to be smaller than it otherwise would be. Other functions (e.g., a real-time clock, storage of subject-specific data, or encryption and decryption of data) can also be provided by the first wearable instrument 105 to the second wearable instrument 110 to make it possible to further reduce the size of the second wearable instrument 110.

[0040] The palm measurement location of the second wearable instrument 110 can provide an opportunity to take measurements from a location above, for example, radial or ulnar artery blood flow. The terms "palm", "radial", and "ulnar" sensing locations all refer to a part of the wrist that is not the (relatively flat) dorsal side of the wrist. Thus, the palmar side is not limited to any particular physiological location outside of its relationship to the dorsal side of the wrist, and the palmar side includes, for example, the palm side of the wrist. In embodiments where the first wearable instrument 105 and the second wearable instrument 110 include the same one or more sensors, it is possible to allow the user to select the orientation of the wearable instrument relative to the wrist. In this case, from a sensing perspective, the wearable instruments can be interchangeable. In some embodiments, measurements between the first wearable instrument 105 and the second wearable instrument 110 can be compared. In some embodiments, the system (such as Figure 1A the system) can be worn at another location other than on the wrist, such as on the ankle.

[0041] Each of the first wearable instrument 105 and the second wearable instrument 110 can include one or more sensors selected from a variety of sensors suitable for inclusion in a wearable instrument. The measured signal can be optical, including signals measured with coherent or incoherent light, including photoplethysmography, speckle volume plethysmography, speckle imaging, diffuse correlation spectroscopy, visible or infrared absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, radio frequency (RF); acoustic sensing; electrical sensing, including bioimpedance and electrocardiogram; and pressure sensing, including applanation tonometry.

[0042] In some embodiments, the wearable instrument can include a spectrophotometer 140( Figure 1C ), which can be used to measure various biomarkers (examples of biometric characteristics that can be measured by the wearable instrument), each of the biomarkers being a concentration of a tissue component of the subject.Figure 1C is a block diagram of a spectrophotometer 140 in some embodiments. Each laser 145 in an array of lasers 145 (e.g., ten or more lasers 145, not all shown) is connected to a wavelength multiplexer 150 (which can be, for example, an arrayed waveguide grating, a stepped grating, or a cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometer). Each laser 145 can include an indium phosphide (InP) reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) coupled to a waveguide on a silicon photonic integrated circuit (silicon PIC). The waveguide on the silicon photonic integrated circuit can include a grating reflector that sets the operating wavelength of the laser. Each laser 145 operates at a different corresponding wavelength and is connected to an input of the wavelength multiplexer 150 corresponding to the operating wavelength of the laser. In operation, one laser is turned on at a time (e.g., by a controller 155, which can be or include processing circuitry), such that the combination of (i) the array of lasers 145 and (ii) the wavelength multiplexer 150 operates as a scanning wavelength light source. In other embodiments, a different scanning wavelength light source (e.g., a single wide tunable laser, or a light source including an array of tunable lasers, each of which can be tuned over a different wavelength range) is used instead of Figure 1C the array of lasers 145 and the wavelength multiplexer 150 shown in Figure 1C In embodiments of, the wavelength spacing between adjacent lasers 145 in wavelength can be between 5 nm and 50 nm, and the wavelength range can be approximately 2000 nm to 2500 nm (e.g., 2080 nm to 2400 nm). In some embodiments, there may be one or more gaps in the set of wavelengths (e.g., if a wavelength band within the range has limited utility due to strong absorption of water in that band).

[0043] The light from the output of the wavelength multiplexer 150 illuminates a sample 152. In some embodiments, a speckle reduction system or coupling optics 160 for generating a beam of a desired shape in the sample 152 can be present between the output of the wavelength multiplexer 150 and the sample 152. After interacting with the sample in the sample 152, the light can be detected by a photodetector 112. In Figure 1C For ease of illustration, the photodetector 112 is shown on the side of the sample 152 opposite the detection light source; in some embodiments, the photodetector 112 is positioned on the same side of the sample as the detection light source, and the detection light can reach the photodetector 112 after scattering one or more times within the sample. This type of optical path is important for measurements made by irradiating a first location on a subject's skin with detection light (transmitted through a transmission window) and detecting the light returning from the skin at a second location near the first location (through a receiving window).

[0044] The photodiode signal can be amplified by a suitable amplifier and converted into a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter, and the resulting digital signal can be fed to the controller 155 for further processing. The power meter 170 and the wavelength meter 175 can measure the optical power and wavelength of the probe light, respectively, and (i) can be corrected (e.g., by the controller 155) by adjusting, for example, the drive current of the laser or the drive current of a heater that controls the corresponding grating temperature of the laser, or (ii) errors in the transmitted power or wavelength can be compensated for when analyzing the data. The ratio of (i) the optical power detected by the photodetector 112 to (ii) the optical power transmitted in the probe light as a function of wavelength can be referred to herein as the "spectrum".

[0045] An estimate of the concentration of a biomarker (e.g., a compound such as glucose, creatinine, urea, lactate, water, or alcohol in the tissue of a subject) can be generated by fitting, for example, the measured spectrum to a combination of characteristic spectra, each characteristic spectrum being the spectrum expected if a single biomarker were present in the sample at a certain reference concentration.

[0046] Some embodiments also include a signal quality metric that a user can refer to in order to locate the optimal position of the second wearable instrument 110. The process of adjusting the second wearable instrument 110 can be as Figure 2A shown, where the second wearable instrument 110 generates a signal that is analyzed by one or more processing circuits (e.g., by the processing circuit of the second wearable instrument 110, or by the processing circuit of the first wearable instrument 105, or by the processing circuit of a portable device (e.g., a mobile phone) that receives the signal from one of the wearable instruments) to generate a signal quality value that can be displayed to the user (e.g., to the subject, or to a clinician adjusting the position of the second wearable instrument 110) using, for example, Figure 2B one of the display techniques shown (shown in the second and third columns, respectively, for improper and proper placement of the second wearable instrument 110 in Figure 2B ). Such display techniques can include, for example, a visual presentation of the relevant signal (e.g., a graph), an indicator LED that changes the blink frequency or color, or an image score or a numerical score displayed on the screen of the wearable device or on the connected mobile device. If the signal quality is poor (e.g., if the signal quality metric is less than a threshold), the user can move the second wearable instrument 110; if the signal quality is good (e.g., if the signal quality metric is greater than a threshold), the user can leave the second wearable instrument 110 in place (or use a fastener to secure it in place).

[0047] The signal quality metric can be calculated in various ways based on the waveform measured by the second wearable instrument 110. Such waveforms can be represented by a series of measurements. For example, for a signal affected by arterial blood flow (such as a photoplethysmogram signal or a speckle volume plethysmogram signal), the signal quality metric can be a measure of the extent to which the signal exhibits cardiac cycle characteristics. For example, a frequency domain analysis can be performed on the signal power within the first six pulse rate harmonics and compared to (i) the signal power at frequencies between the first six pulse rate harmonics or (ii) the signal power at frequencies above the sixth pulse rate harmonic. For example, the signal quality metric can be calculated as the ratio of (i) the total power of the first six pulse rate harmonics to (ii) the total power of the signal. As another example, fiducial points corresponding to cardiac cycle characteristics (such as S1 and S2 heart sounds) can be identified in the signal, and the consistency of their relative timing can be used to calculate the signal quality metric (e.g., over several cycles, the signal quality metric can be the fraction of the number of fiducial points that fall within 15% of the period of the cardiac cycle (the time when they are expected to occur)). In other examples, a morphology-based classifier can be employed, where the signal quality metric is a measure of the goodness of fit of the signal to a nominal or ideal signal. Some embodiments further include the ability to calibrate the first wearable instrument 105 or the second wearable instrument 110 based on feedback from the signal quality metric and other measurement parameters that may change due to repositioning of the sensors. For example, the sensitivity of the first sensor in the second wearable instrument 110 may be proportional to the signal quality metric (derived from the first sensor or the second sensor); in such a case, the first sensor can be calibrated based on the signal quality metric.

[0048] As used herein, a "portion" of something means "at least some" of that thing and thus can refer to less than the whole or the whole of that thing. Thus, a "portion" of a thing includes the whole of the thing as a special case, i.e., the whole of the thing is an example of a portion of the thing. As used herein, when a second quantity is "within Y" of a first quantity X, it means that the second quantity is at least X - Y and the second quantity is at most X + Y. As used herein, when a second number is "within Y%" of a first number, it means that the second number is at least (1 - Y / 100) times the first number and the second number is at most (1 + Y / 100) times the first number. The word "or" as used herein is inclusive, such that for example "A or B" means (i) A, (ii) B, and (iii) either A and B.

[0049] As used herein, each of the terms "processing circuitry" and "processing device" is used to denote any combination of hardware, firmware, and software for processing data or digital signals. Processing circuitry hardware may include, for example, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), general or special purpose central processing units (CPUs), digital signal processors (DSPs), graphics processing units (GPUs), and programmable logic devices (e.g., field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)). In processing circuitry as used herein, each function is either performed by hardware configured to perform that function (i.e., hardwired), or by more general purpose hardware (such as a CPU) configured to execute instructions stored in a non-transitory storage medium. Processing circuitry may be fabricated on a single printed circuit board (PCB), or distributed across several interconnected PCBs. One processing circuitry may contain other processing circuitry; for example, one processing circuitry may include two processing circuitries: an FPGA and a CPU interconnected on a PCB.

[0050] As used herein, when a method (e.g., an adjustment) or a first quantity (e.g., a first variable) is said to be "based on" a second quantity (e.g., a second variable), this means that the second quantity is an input to the method or affects the first quantity, e.g., the second quantity may be an input (e.g., the sole input or one of several inputs) to a function that calculates the first quantity, or the first quantity may be equal to the second quantity, or the first quantity may be the same as the second quantity (e.g., the same one or more locations stored in a memory).

[0051] For ease of description, spatial relative terms, such as "under", "below", "lower", "beneath", "above", "upper", etc., may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another (one or more) element(s) or (one or more) feature(s) as shown in the figures. It should be understood that such spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, an element described as "under" or "below" or "beneath" another element or feature would then be oriented "above" the other element or feature. Thus, the example terms "under" and "beneath" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly. Additionally, it should be understood that when a layer is referred to as being "between" two layers, it can be the only layer between the two layers, or there can also be one or more intervening layers.

[0052] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to limit the inventive concept. As used herein, "substantially", "about" and similar terms are used as approximations and not as terms of degree, and are intended to account for the inherent deviations of measured or calculated values recognized by persons skilled in the art.

[0053] Any numerical range described herein is intended to include all sub-ranges having the same numerical precision within the range. For example, a range of "1.0 to 10.0" or "between 1.0 and 10.0" is intended to include all sub-ranges between the minimum value 1.0 and the maximum value 10.0 (including the minimum and maximum values), that is, having a minimum value equal to or greater than 1.0 and a maximum value equal to or less than 10.0, for example, such as 2.4 to 7.6. Similarly, a range described as "within 35% of 10" is intended to be all sub-ranges between the minimum value 6.5 (i.e., (1 - 35 / 100) multiplied by 10) and the maximum value 13.5 (i.e., (1 + 35 / 100) multiplied by 10) (including the minimum and maximum values), that is, having a minimum value equal to or greater than 6.5 and a maximum value equal to or less than 13.5, for example, such as 7.4 to 10.6. Any maximum numerical limitation described herein is intended to include all lower numerical limitations contained therein, and any minimum numerical limitation described in this specification is intended to include all higher numerical limitations contained therein.

[0054] Although exemplary embodiments of the relocatable palm module have been specifically described and illustrated herein, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it should be understood that the relocatable palm module constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure may be embodied in other ways than as specifically described herein. The invention is also defined in the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A system, comprising: A first wearable instrument; A second wearable instrument including a biometric sensor; A conductive connection part between the first wearable instrument and the second wearable instrument; and A band sized and dimensioned to be disposed around a wrist, The system being capable of: Fixing the first wearable instrument to the band; Fixing the second wearable instrument to the band at a first position relative to the first wearable instrument; And Fixing the second wearable instrument to the band at a second position relative to the first wearable instrument.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the conductive connection part is configured to supply power from the first wearable instrument to the second wearable instrument.

3. The system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first wearable instrument includes a battery configured to supply power to the first wearable instrument and the second wearable instrument.

4. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conductive connection part is configured to transmit a signal from the second wearable instrument to the first wearable instrument.

5. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first wearable instrument includes a radio device configured to transmit measurement data.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the first wearable instrument is configured to: Receive measurement data obtained by the second wearable instrument; and Transmit the measurement data via the radio device.

7. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conductive connection part is further configured to transmit a signal from the first wearable instrument to the second wearable instrument.

8. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: In the first position, the second wearable instrument is spaced apart from the first wearable instrument by a first distance along the band; In the second position, the second wearable instrument is spaced apart from the first wearable instrument by a second distance along the band; and The difference between the first distance and the second distance is less than 5 mm.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the difference between the first distance and the second distance is less than 2 mm.

10. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system is capable of: Fixing the second wearable instrument to the band at a plurality of positions relative to the first wearable instrument, the plurality of positions including the first position and the second position; and The plurality of positions includes 5 different positions.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of positions includes 20 different positions within a certain distance range between the first wearable instrument and the second wearable instrument along the band, the distance range including: A first distance, and A second distance that is 5 mm greater than the first distance.

12. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first wearable instrument includes a spectrophotometer.

13. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biometric sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of a photoplethysmography sensor, a speckle volume plethysmography sensor, a speckle imaging sensor, and a diffuse correlation spectroscopy sensor.

14. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a third wearable instrument, wherein the system is further capable of fixing the third wearable instrument to the belt.

15. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more processing circuits configured to: receive a series of measurements from the second wearable instrument; and calculate a signal quality metric.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the one or more processing circuits are further configured to display the signal quality metric to the user.

17. The system according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the signal quality metric is based on a frequency domain analysis of the series of measurements.

18. The system according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the signal quality metric is based on a plurality of reference points in the waveform corresponding to the series of measurements.

19. The system according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the signal quality metric is based on a morphological analysis of the waveform corresponding to the series of measurements.

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