Device, system and method for physiological data monitoring

Abstract

Described herein is a hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] of a physiological data monitoring system [100], and a method for monitoring and communicating physiological data of a user. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] of the physiological data monitoring system [100] is for monitoring a plurality of physiological data of a user, the physiological data monitoring device [102] comprises of a housing defining multiple faces; and a plurality of interface units [110] of a plurality of monitoring apparatuses installed on any of the multiple faces of the housing, to monitor a plurality of physiological data of the user, each of the plurality of interface units [110] of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses being configured to engage with dedicated body- part of the user, for monitoring the plurality of physiological data of the user. Therefore, the plurality of physiological data of the user can be monitored by a single portable hand- held device.

Description

DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA MONITORINGTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of physiological data monitoring system and method for monitoring and communicating physiological parameters of a user, and particularly to a hand-held physiological data monitoring device of the physiological data monitoring system.BACKGROUND

[0002] This section is intended to provide information relating to the field of the invention and thus, any approach or functionality described below should not be assumed to be qualified as prior art merely by its inclusion in this section.

[0003] Various medical systems are known in the medical industry for various medical purposes. One such example is a physiological data monitoring system that monitors physiological data of a user. Physiological data may include, such as but not limited to, heart rate data, blood oxygen data, pulse rate data, temperature data, skin condition data, blood pressure data, and the like. Typically, household based physiological data monitoring system comprises a physiological data monitoring system comprising a physiological data monitoring device that monitors the physiological data of the user, and a communication unit for wirelessly communicating the monitored physiological data to a server, for optional remote access of the same thereof. In some scenarios, the server may remotely communicate the physiological data of the user to a user device.

[0004] Further, the physiological data monitoring device can be any of a fixed-type physiological data monitoring device, or a portable physiological data monitoring device. Due to its easy portability and ease of use, a handheld physiological data monitoring device has gained attraction. However, the currently known hand held physiological data monitoring device has a single interface unit and thus is usually capable of monitoring a single or limited physiological data of the user. Therefore, a user is required to keep multiple physiological data monitoring devices for monitoring large numbers of physiological data. For example, a user may be required to keep a separate thermometer and a separate blood pressure monitoring device to monitor the temperature and the blood pressure, respectively, of the user. Additionally, synchronization, communication, andmanagement of the physiological data from each of the separate physiological data monitoring devices are also cumbersome.

[0005] Accordingly, in light of the aforementioned drawbacks and several other limitations inherent in the existing art, there is a well-felt need to provide a handheld physiological data monitoring device that is capable of capturing a relatively large number of physiological data of the user.SUMMARY

[0006] This section is intended to introduce certain aspects of the disclosed system and method in a simplified form and is not intended to identify the key advantages or features of the present disclosure.

[0007] The present disclosure relates to a hand-held physiological data monitoring device of a physiological data monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of physiological data of a user, the physiological data monitoring device comprising: a housing defining multiple faces; and a plurality of interface units of a plurality of monitoring apparatuses installed on any of the multiple faces of the housing, configured to monitor a plurality of physiological data of the user. Further, each of the plurality of interface units of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses is configured to engage with a dedicated body part of the user, to enable the plurality of monitoring apparatuses for monitoring the plurality of physiological data of the user.

[0008] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the plurality of interface units comprises: a temperature sensing interface unit of a temperature-data monitoring apparatus, installed on the front face proximal to the top face of the housing; a camera interface unit of an imaging apparatus, installed on the front face proximal to the bottom face of the housing; a blood-data monitoring interface unit of a blood-data monitoring apparatus, installed on the bottom face of the housing; an integrated interface unit of an oximeter apparatus and a galvanic-skin sensing apparatus, and an Electrocardiogram (ECG) interface unit

[0119] of an ECG apparatus, installed on a side face of the housing such that each of the temperature-data monitoring apparatus, the imaging apparatus, the blood-data monitoring apparatus, the oximeter apparatus, the galvanic-skin sensing apparatus and the ECG apparatus, are adapted to monitor a corresponding physiological data of the user.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the temperature sensing interface unit comprises: a ring spacer installed on the front face; an infrared temperature sensor installed within the ring spacer and depressed from the ring spacer such that thetemperature-data monitoring apparatus senses a temperature data of the user, by pointing the temperature sensing interface towards either of a forehead or a hand of the user.

[0010] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the imaging apparatus is used as an otoscope to capture in-ear image data of the user, by inserting the camera interface unit into an auditory canal of the user.

[0011] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the imaging apparatus is used as an in-nose imaging apparatus to capture in-nose image data of the user, by inserting the camera interface unit into a nasal canal of the user.

[0012] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the imaging apparatus is capable of being connected to an ophthalmoscope adaptor, to be used as an ophthalmoscope, to capture eye image data of the user, by pointing the camera interface unit towards an eye of the user. Further, the imaging apparatus is additionally capable of being connected to a dermascope adaptor, to be used as a dermascope to capture skin image data of the user, by pointing the camera interface unit towards skin tissue of the user.

[0013] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a tongue-depressor interface unit is pivotally installed on the front face of the housing, wherein the imaging apparatus is used as a laryngoscope for capturing in-throat image data of the user, by at least partially inserting the hand-held physiological data monitoring device within a mouth of the user, while the tongue depressor holds a tongue of the user in a depressed position, to point the camera interface unit towards a throat of the user.

[0014] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the blood-data monitoring apparatus is used as one of a glucometer, a uric acid meter, and a lipid meter for correspondingly sensing blood glucose levels data, uric acid levels data, and lipid levels data, of the user, by receiving a blood-infused strip within the blood-data monitoring interface unit.

[0015] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the oximeter apparatus is configured to measure blood oxygen data and heart rate variability data of the user, by receiving one of the fingers of the user within the integrated interface unit.

[0016] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the ECG apparatus is configured to monitor an ECG data of the user, by contacting two fingers of the user with the ECG interface unit.

[0017] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the galvanic-skin sensing apparatus is configured to monitor a galvanic skin response activity data of the user, by receiving one of the fingers of the user within the integrated interface unit.

[0018] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a blood-pressure cuff interface unit of a blood-pressure monitoring apparatus is detachably installed on the rear face of the hand-held physiological data monitoring device.

[0019] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the blood-pressure cuff interface unit comprises: a mounting plate detachably installed on the rear face of the handheld physiological data monitoring device; a blood-pressure cuff fixedly installed on the mounting plate, the blood-pressure cuff being configured to be adjusted between an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration; and a pair of retainers for selectively locking the blood-pressure cuff in the contracted configuration.

[0020] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the blood-pressure monitoring apparatus is capable of monitoring blood-pressure data of the user, by enveloping a brachial region of one of the arms of the user within a blood-pressure cuff.

[0021] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, each of the temperaturedata monitoring apparatus, the imaging apparatus, the blood-data monitoring apparatus, the oximeter apparatus, the galvanic-skin sensing apparatus, and the ECG apparatus comprises a temperature-data processor, an imaging-data processor, a blood-data processor, an oximeter-data processor, ], a galvanic-skin data processor, an ECG data processor, respectively, to receive signals from the temperature sensing interface unit, the camera interface unit, the blood-data monitoring interface unit, the integrated interface unit, and the ECG interface unit for generating a temperature physiological data, an imaging physiological data, a blood physiological data, an oximeter physiological data, , a galvanic- skin physiological data, and the ECG data, respectively.

[0022] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the temperature-data processor, the imaging-data processor, the blood-data processor, the oximeter-data processor, the galvanic-skin data processor, and the ECG data processor, are part of an integrated processor.

[0023] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, each of the temperaturedata processor, the imaging-data processor, the blood-data processor, the oximeter-data processor, the galvanic-skin data processor, and the ECG data processor, is installed either within the hand-held physiological data monitoring device or within a remote server.

[0024] According to yet another aspect of the preset disclosure, the hand-held physiological data monitoring device further comprises of a transceiver unit to transmit signals generated by each of the temperature sensing interface unit, the camera interface unit, the blood-data monitoring interface unit, the integrated interface unit, and the ECG interface unit, to the remote server for enabling the generation of the temperature physiological data, the imaging physiological data, the blood physiological data, the oximeter physiological data, and the galvanic-skin physiological data, respectively, by the temperature-data processor, the imaging-data processor, the blood-data processor, the oximeter-data processor, the galvanic-skin data processor, and the ECG data processor, respectively.

[0025] According to yet another aspect of the preset disclosure, the transceiver unit transmits each of the temperature physiological data, the imaging physiological data, the blood physiological data, the oximeter physiological data, the galvanic-skin physiological data, and the ECG data of the user to the remote server of the physiological data monitoring system.

[0026] According to yet another aspect of the preset disclosure, a physiological data monitoring system is disclosed for monitoring and communicating one or more physiological data of a user, comprising: a hand-held physiological data monitoring device for monitoring a plurality of physiological data of the user; and a communication unit. The comprises: a remote server; and a transceiver unit installed within the hand-held physiological data monitoring device and adapted to: receive the plurality of physiological data of the user from the hand-held physiological data monitoring device, and transmit the plurality of physiological data to the remote server.

[0027] According to yet another aspect of the preset disclosure, the remote server is configured to send at least one alert signal to a user’s mobile device, in case one or more of the plurality of physiological data is above a corresponding one or more of threshold values.

[0028] According to yet another aspect of the preset disclosure, the hand-held physiological data monitoring device is a stethoscope, to transmit heart and lung sound data as one of the plurality of physiological data.

[0029] According to yet another aspect of the preset disclosure, the communication unit transmits the heart and lung sound data in real-time.

[0030] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of monitoring and communicating one or more physiological data of a user is disclosed. The method comprises: monitoring, by the hand-held physiological data monitoring device, a plurality of physiological data of the user; receiving, by the transceiver unit, the plurality of physiological data of the user from the hand-held physiological data monitoring device, and transmitting, by the transceiver unit, the plurality of physiological data to a remote server; and raising, by the remote server, at least one alert signal to a user’s mobile device, in case one or more of the physiological parameters is above a corresponding one or more of threshold values.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] In order to explain the technical solution in the embodiments of the present application more clearly, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments are briefly introduced below. It is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the application. For those skilled in the art, without any creative work, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0032] Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a physiological data monitoring system, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 2 illustrates a first perspective view of the physiological data monitoring device, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 3 illustrates a second perspective view of the physiological data monitoring device, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 4 illustrates a third perspective view of the physiological data monitoring device, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 5 illustrates a fourth perspective view of the physiological data monitoring device, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 6 illustrates a further perspective view of the physiological data monitoring device, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0038] Figure 7 illustrates a further perspective view of the physiological data monitoring device, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 7a illustrates a rear perspective view of the physiological data monitoring device, exploded from a cuff interface unit, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 7b illustrates a rear perspective view of the physiological data monitoring device, installed with the cuff interface unit of Figure 7a, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 8a, illustrates a user wearing the physiological data monitoring device of Figure 7b used as the blood-pressure monitoring apparatus for monitoring blood-pressure data of the user, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 8a’, illustrates the user wearing the physiological data monitoring device of Figure 8a, carrying a user device of the communication unit, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 8b, illustrates a user wearing the physiological data monitoring device of Figure 2 used as the temperature monitoring apparatus for monitoring temperature data of the user, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 8c, illustrates a user wearing the physiological data monitoring device of Figure 2 used as part of either of an oximeter apparatus or galvanic skin sensing apparatus for monitoring either of the oximeter physiological data, and the galvanic-skin physiological data of the user, exploded from a cuff interface unit, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0045] Figure 8d, illustrates a user wearing the physiological data monitoring device of Figure 2 used as the imaging apparatus for monitoring auditory canal data of the user, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0046] Figure 8e, illustrates a user wearing the physiological data monitoring device of Figure 2 used as the ECG apparatus for monitoring ECG data of the user, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0047] Figure 9 illustrates a flowchart of a method for monitoring and communicating the physiological data of the user, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0048] Figure 10a illustrates a first perspective view of another embodiment of the physiological data monitoring device of another embodiment of the physiological data monitoring apparatus of the physiological data monitoring system, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0049] Figure 10b illustrates a second perspective view of another embodiment of the physiological data monitoring device of another embodiment of the physiological data monitoring apparatus of the physiological data monitoring system, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0050] Figure 10c illustrates a third perspective view of another embodiment of the physiological data monitoring device of another embodiment of the physiological data monitoring apparatus of the physiological data monitoring system, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0051] Figure lOd illustrates a side view of another embodiment of the physiological data monitoring device of another embodiment of the physiological data monitoring apparatus of the physiological data monitoring system, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0052] Figure Ila illustrates one view of a user wearing the physiological data monitoring device of Figure 10 used as the stethoscope apparatus for monitoring heart and lung sound data of the user, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0053] Figure 11b illustrates another view of the user wearing the physiological data monitoring device of Figure Ila, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, that the embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereinafter can each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other features. An individual feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or might address only one of the them. Some of the problems discussed above might not be fully addressed by any of the features described herein. Exemplified embodiments of the present invention are described below and illustrated in various drawings in which reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings.

[0055] Referring to Fig. 1, a physiological data monitoring system

[0100] for monitoring and communicating a plurality of physiological data of a user is disclosed. The physiological data monitoring system

[0100] comprises a hand-held physiological data monitoring device

[0102] and a communication unit

[0104] , The hand-held physiological data monitoring device

[0102] is adapted to monitor the plurality of physiological data of the user, while the communication unit

[0104] is adapted to communicate the plurality of physiological data to a transceiver unit

[0106] , The transceiver unit

[0106] is carried by the user or by a relative or caregiver of the user. For such purposes, the communication unit

[0104] comprises a transceiver unit

[0106] installed within the hand-held physiological datamonitoring device

[0102] and is capable of transmitting the plurality of physiological data to the transceiver unit

[0106] through a remote server. Details of the communication unit

[0104] will be described later in the forth-coming description.

[0056] In the present invention, the hand-held physiological data monitoring device

[0102] (hereinafter interchangeably referred to as “Monitoring device”) incorporates features of a plurality of monitoring apparatuses (hereinafter interchangeably referred to as “Monitoring apparatuses”). It may be noted that some of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses may be formed integrally within the monitoring device

[0102] , while other of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses may be formed by connecting the monitoring device

[0102] to an adaptor. In the present invention, the monitoring device

[0102] incorporates a temperature-data monitoring apparatus, an imaging apparatus, a blood-data monitoring apparatus, an oximeter apparatus, a galvanic-skin sensing apparatus and, a blood-pressure monitoring apparatus. Each of the aforementioned monitoring apparatuses, is known to deploy an interface unit and a processor for monitoring the physiological data.

[0057] In the present invention, the monitoring device

[0102] includes a plurality of interface units

[0110] installed onto or within a housing of the monitoring device

[0102] to define the plurality of monitoring apparatuses. Moreover, in the present invention, the processor of each of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses, may be either of a unary processor, a dedicated processor for each of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses (as shown in fig. 1), a unary processor installed within the remote server, and / or a dedicated processor installed within the remote server. All such variations of positioning of the processor are within the scope of the present disclosure. Constructional details of the monitoring device

[0102] , incorporating the plurality of interface units

[0110] and thereby forming the plurality of monitoring apparatuses, are now explained in detail.

[0058] Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the monitoring device

[0102] comprises a housing defining multiple faces, and the plurality of interface units

[0110] of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses installed on any of the multiple faces of the housing.

[0059] The housing of the physiological data monitoring device

[0102] is adapted to encase and protect the internal electronic components of the physiological data monitoring device

[0102] , The housing is essentially a cuboidal housing that defines multiple faces, such as a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a rear face, a first side face, and a second side face.

[0060] The plurality of interface units

[0110] of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses are installed on any of the multiple faces of the housing. The plurality of interface units

[0110] comprises: a temperature sensing interface unit

[0112] of a temperature-data monitoring apparatus installed on the front face proximal to the top face of the housing; a camera interface unit

[0114] of an imaging apparatus installed on the front face proximal to the bottom face of the housing; a blood-data monitoring interface unit

[0116] of a blooddata monitoring apparatus installed on the bottom face of the housing; an integrated interface unit

[0118] for an oximeter apparatus and a galvanic-skin sensing apparatus; and an Electrocardiogram (ECG) interface unit

[0119] for an ECG apparatus. Each of the plurality of interface units

[0110] of each of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses is adapted to monitor the corresponding physiological data of the user.

[0061] The temperature sensing interface unit

[0112] of the temperature-data monitoring apparatus comprises a ring spacer installed on the front face of the housing, and an infrared temperature sensor installed within the ring spacer and is depressed from the ring spacer. The temperature-data monitoring apparatus is configured to sense temperature data of the user by pointing the temperature sensing interface toward either a forehead or a hand of the user. The ring spacer can be of any shape, such as (but not limited to) a round shape, a pentagonal shape, or a rectangular shape and the like. However, the placement of the temperature sensing interface unit

[0112] is not limiting to the present invention and a person skilled in the art may envision other placements for the temperature sensing interface unit

[0112] within the housing of the monitoring device

[0102] ,

[0062] The camera interface unit

[0114] of the imaging apparatus is employed to capture an image of a body part of the user, such that the captured image details about a specific body part such as an auditory canal image data, an eye image data, a skin image data, an in-nose image data, and an in-throat image data. The camera interface unit

[0114] of the imaging apparatus is swiveably installed on the front face of the housing, to be capable of swivelling at an angle ranging from 0 to 360 degrees about a rotational axis.

[0063] Referring to Fig. 6, in an embodiment, the imaging apparatus is an otoscope employed to capture an in-ear image data of the user, by inserting the camera interface unit

[0114] into an auditory canal of the user and thereby producing auditory canal image data.

[0064] In another embodiment, the imaging apparatus is capable of being connected to an ophthalmoscope adaptor, to be used as an ophthalmoscope to capture the eye image data of the user by pointing the camera interface unit

[0114] towards an eye of the user.

[0065] In yet another embodiment, the imaging apparatus is capable of being connected to a derma-scope adaptor, to be used as a derma-scope to capture skin image data of the user by pointing the camera interface unit

[0114] towards a skin tissue of the user.

[0066] In yet another embodiment, the imaging apparatus is an in-nose imaging apparatus employed to capture an in-nose image data of the user, by inserting the camera interface unit

[0114] into a nasal canal of the user and thereby producing in-nose image data.

[0067] Referring to Fig. 6, in yet another embodiment, the imaging apparatus is capable of being used as a laryngoscope for capturing in-throat image data of the user, by at least partially inserting the hand-held physiological data monitoring device

[0102] within a mouth of the user, while a tongue depressor holds a tongue of the user in a depressed position, to point the camera interface unit

[0114] towards a throat of the user.

[0068] The tongue-depressor interface unit

[0113] comprises a tongue depressor pivotally installed on the front face of the housing to hold the tongue of the user in a depressed position and enable the camera interface unit

[0114] to be pointed towards the throat of the user.

[0069] Consequently, all the captured image data such as the auditory canal image data, the eye image data, the in-throat image data, the in nose image data, and the skin image data, are capable of detailing and retrieving one or more abnormalities present in the auditory canal, nasal canal, eye, in-throat or skin of the user.

[0070] The blood-data monitoring interface unit

[0116] , installed on the bottom face of the housing of the blood-data monitoring apparatus is used as one of a glucometer, a uric acid meter, and a lipid meter for correspondingly sensing blood glucose levels data, uric acid levels data, and lipid levels data, of the user, by receiving a blood-infused strip within the blood-data monitoring interface unit

[0116] ,

[0071] The integrated interface unit

[0118] comprises of the oximeter apparatus and the galvanic-skin sensing apparatus. The oximeter apparatus is configured to measure blood oxygen data and heart rate data of the user by receiving one of the fingers of the user within the integrated interface unit

[0118] , The oximeter apparatus works by using light to measure the blood oxygen data and by sensing rhythmic change in blood volume with each heartbeat to determine the heart rate variability and extracting heart rate data of the user.

[0072] Further, the galvanic-skin sensing apparatus is configured to monitor a galvanic skin response activity data of the user, by receiving one of the fingers of the user within the integrated interface unit

[0118] , The galvanic skin sensing apparatus works by measuringelectrical conductance of the skin that changes with sweat gland activity, thereby producing galvanic skin response activity data of the user.

[0073] Referring to Fig. 7, The ECG interface unit

[0119] comprises of the ECG apparatus. The ECG apparatus is configured to measure an ECG data of the user, by receiving two of the fingers of the user within the ECG interface unit

[0119] , The ECG interface unit

[0119] is installed on a side face of the monitoring device

[0102] , The ECG apparatus works by heart's rhythm, rate, and overall function, to determine the ECG data of the user.

[0074] Referring to Fig. 7a and 7b, the blood-pressure cuff interface unit

[0120] of a bloodpressure monitoring apparatus is detachably installed on the rear face of the hand held physiological data monitoring device

[0102] , The blood-pressure cuff interface unit

[0120] comprises a mounting plate detachably installed on the rear face of the monitoring device

[0102] ; a blood-pressure cuff fixedly installed on the mounting plate, the blood-pressure cuff being configured to be adjusted between an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration; and a pair of retainers for selectively locking the blood-pressure cuff in the contracted configuration. The blood-pressure monitoring apparatus is capable of monitoring a blood-pressure data of the user, by enveloping the brachial region of one of the arms of the user within the blood-pressure cuff.

[0075] In practical implementations, functionalities of the aforementioned plurality of monitoring apparatuses can be activated / deactivated remotely by a physician. Thus, the physician can receive the physiological data of the physiological apparatus, for which the physician has activated / deactivated the functionality.

[0076] The plurality of monitoring apparatuses is further connected to a plurality of dedicated processing units, such as: a temperature-data processor

[0126] , an imaging-data processor

[0128] , a blood-data processor

[0130] , an oximeter-data processor

[0132] , a galvanic-skin data processor

[0134] , and an ECG data processor

[0135] , respectively, to receive signals from the each of the plurality of interface units

[0110] , for generating a temperature physiological data, an imaging physiological data, a blood physiological data, an oximeter physiological data, and a galvanic-skin physiological data, respectively, wherein each of the plurality of processing units, are installed either within the hand-held physiological data monitoring device

[0102] or within the remote server

[0122] , In one embodiment, the temperature-data processor

[0126] , the imaging-data processor

[0128] , the blood-data processor

[0130] , the oximeter-data processor

[0132] , the galvanic-skin data processor

[0134] , and the ECG data processor

[0135] , are part of an integrated processor.

[0077] The transceiver unit

[0106] of the physiological data monitoring device

[0102] is connected to the plurality of processing units and is adapted to transmit each of the temperature physiological data, the imaging physiological data, the blood physiological data, the oximeter physiological data, and the galvanic-skin physiological data of the user, to the remote server

[0122] of the monitoring device

[0102] of the physiological data monitoring system

[0100] ,

[0078] The remote server

[0122] is configured to send at least one alert signal to a user device, in case one or more of the plurality of physiological data is above a corresponding one or more of threshold values. The user device

[0108] can be either of a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a smartwatch, a desktop, or similar devices.

[0079] Referring to fig. 6, the method for monitoring and communicating one or more physiological data of the user starts at step

[0202] by monitoring, by the monitoring device

[0100] , a plurality of physiological data of the user.

[0080] At step

[0204] , the transceiver unit

[0106] receives, the plurality of physiological data of the user from the monitoring device

[0102] ,

[0081] At step

[0206] , the transceiver unit

[0106] transmits the plurality of physiological data to the remote server.

[0082] At step

[0208] , the remote server

[0122] raises at least one alert signal to the user device

[0108] , in case one or more of the physiological data is above a corresponding one or more of threshold values.

[0083] In implementation, the user monitors either of the plurality of physiological data for example, the temperature data, by pointing the temperature sensing interface unit

[0112] of the temperature data monitoring apparatus towards either of the forehead or the hand of the user (as shown in Fig. 8b). Further, the temperature data is received by the temperaturedata processor

[0126] for processing the temperature data and sends the temperature physiological data to the transceiver unit

[0106] , The temperature physiological data is received by the transceiver unit

[0106] which then transmits the temperature physiological data to the remote server

[0122] , Upon receiving the temperature physiological data from the transceiver unit

[0106] the remote server

[0122] raises, at least one alert signal to the user device

[0108] , in case the temperature physiological data is above the corresponding one or more of threshold values.

[0084] In another implementation, the user monitors either of the plurality of physiological data for example, the auditory image data, the in-nose image data, the eyeimage data, the skin image data, and in-throat image data. The auditory canal image data is captured by the camera interface unit

[0114] of the imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus is an otoscope employed to capture an in-ear image data of the user, by inserting the camera interface unit

[0114] into an auditory canal of the user and thereby producing auditory canal image data (as shown in Fig. 8d). Similarly, the in-nose image data is captured by the camera interface unit

[0114] of the imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus is an in-nose imaging apparatus employed to capture the in-nose image data of the user, by inserting the camera interface unit

[0114] into the nasal canal of the user and thereby producing in-nose image data. The eye image data is captured by the imaging apparatus, capable of being connected to the ophthalmoscope adaptor, to be used as the ophthalmoscope, to capture an eye image data of the user, by pointing the camera interface unit

[0114] towards the eye of the user. The skin image data is captured by the imaging apparatus, capable of being connected to the derma-scope adaptor, to be used as the dermascope to capture the skin image data of the user, by pointing the camera interface unit

[0114] towards the skin tissue of the user. The in-throat image data is captured by the imaging apparatus, capable of being is used as the laryngoscope for capturing in-throat image data of the user, by at least partially inserting the monitoring device

[0102] within the mouth of the user, while the tongue depressor interface unit

[0113] of the tongue depressor holds the tongue of the user in the depressed position, to point the camera interface unit

[0114] towards the throat of the user. Accordingly, all the captured image data such as the auditory canal image data, the in-nose image data, the eye image data, the in-throat image data and the skin image data are sent to the imaging data processor to obtain the imaging physiological data. The imaging physiological data, thereafter, is sent to the transceiver unit

[0106] , The imaging physiological data, received by the transceiver unit

[0106] is transmitted to the remote server

[0122] , Upon receiving the imaging physiological data from the transceiver unit

[0106] the remote server

[0122] raises, at least one alert signal to the user device

[0108] , in case the imaging physiological data is above the corresponding one or more of threshold values.

[0085] In yet another implementation, the user monitors either of the plurality of physiological data for example, the blood data and the blood pressure-data. The blood data is extracted by the blood-data monitoring interface unit

[0116] of the blood-data monitoring apparatus. The blood-data monitoring interface unit

[0116] is used as one of the glucometer, the uric acid meter, and the lipid meter for correspondingly sensing blood glucose levelsdata, uric acid levels data, and lipid levels data, of the user, by receiving the blood-infused strip within the blood-data monitoring interface unit

[0116] , The blood-pressure data is extracted by blood-pressure cuff interface unit

[0120] of the blood-pressure monitoring apparatus by enveloping the brachial region of one of the arms of the user within the bloodpressure cuff (as shown in Fig. 8a and Fig. 8a’). Further, the blood data and the blood pressure data is received by blood-data processor

[0130] for processing the blood data and the blood pressure data and sends the physiological blood data and the physiological blood pressure data to the transceiver unit

[0106] , The physiological blood data and the physiological blood pressure data is received by the transceiver unit

[0106] which then transmits the physiological blood data and the physiological blood pressure data to the remote server

[0122] , Upon receiving the physiological blood data and the physiological blood pressure data from the transceiver unit

[0106] the remote server

[0122] raises, at least one alert signal to the user device

[0108] , in case the temperature physiological data is above the corresponding one or more of threshold values.

[0086] In yet another implementation, the user monitors either of the plurality of physiological data for example, the blood oxygen data and the heart rate data. The blood oxygen data and the heart rate data is extracted by the integrated interface unit comprising the oximeter apparatus. One of the fingers of the user is received within the integrated interface unit

[0118] , which then measures the blood oxygen data and the heart rate data by the oximeter apparatus (as shown in Fig. 8c). Further, the blood oxygen data and the heart rate data is received by the oximeter-data processor

[0132] for processing the blood oxygen data and the heart rate data and sends the blood oxygen physiological data and the heart rate physiological data to the transceiver unit

[0106] , The blood oxygen physiological data and the heart rate physiological data is received by the transceiver unit

[0106] which then transmits the blood oxygen physiological data and the heart rate physiological data to the remote server

[0122] , Upon receiving the blood oxygen physiological data and the heart rate physiological data from the transceiver unit

[0106] the remote server

[0122] raises, at least one alert signal to the user device

[0108] , in case the temperature physiological data is above the corresponding one or more of threshold values. In one embodiment, the oximeter-data processor

[0132] is capable of analysing a variability in the heart rate data, to determine a stress score, such that one or more alerts are generated in case the stress score reaches beyond a threshold value. In yet another implementation, the user monitors either of the plurality of physiological data for example, the galvanic skin response activity data. Thegalvanic skin response activity data is extracted by the integrated interface unit

[0118] comprising the galvanic skin sensing apparatus. One of the fingers of the user is received within the integrated interface unit

[0118] , which then measures the galvanic skin response activity by the galvanic skin sensing apparatus. Further, the galvanic skin response activity data is received by the galvanic-skin data processor

[0134] , for processing the galvanic skin response activity data and sends a galvanic skin response activity physiological data to the transceiver unit

[0106] , The galvanic skin response activity physiological data is received by the transceiver unit

[0106] which then transmits the galvanic skin response activity physiological data to the remote server

[0122] , Upon receiving galvanic skin response activity physiological data from the transceiver unit

[0106] , the remote server

[0122] raises, at least one alert signal to the user device

[0108] , in case the temperature physiological data is above the corresponding one or more of threshold values.

[0087] In yet another implementation, the user monitors either of the plurality of physiological data for example, the ECG data of the user. The ECG data is extracted by the ECG interface unit

[0119] comprising the ECG apparatus. Two of the fingers of the user are received upon the ECG interface unit

[0119] , which then measures the ECG data by the ECG apparatus (as shown in Figs. 8e). Further, the blood oxygen data and the heart rate data is received by the oximeter-data processor

[0132] for processing the blood oxygen data and the heart rate data and sends the blood oxygen physiological data and the heart rate physiological data to the transceiver unit

[0106] , The blood oxygen physiological data and the heart rate physiological data is received by the transceiver unit

[0106] which then transmits the blood oxygen physiological data and the heart rate physiological data to the remote server

[0122] , Upon receiving the blood oxygen physiological data and the heart rate physiological data from the transceiver unit

[0106] the remote server

[0122] raises, at least one alert signal to the user device

[0108] , in case the temperature physiological data is above the corresponding one or more of threshold values. In one embodiment, the oximeter-data processor

[0132] is capable of analysing a variability in the heart rate data, to determine a stress score, such that one or more alerts are generated in case the stress score reaches beyond a threshold value.

[0088] Although, the present disclosure is described to be focussed on the monitoring device

[0102] for the monitoring apparatuses capable of monitoring and communicating the plurality of physiological data, the concept of the present disclosure may also extend to another embodiment of the monitoring device

[0102] , i.e. stethoscope

[0121] for themonitoring apparatus i.e. the stethoscope apparatus for monitoring and communicating a physiological parameter i.e. a heart and lung sounds of the user to the user device

[0108] , as is shown in Fig. lOa-lOd. The stethoscope

[0121] , as shown in figs. lOa-lOd, includes a bottom portion housing a diaphragm [121’] capable of sensing heart and lung sounds, a top portion housing electronics of the stethoscope for reading the heart and lung sounds sensed by the diaphragm [121 ’] and thus determine the heart rate and lung data, and an intermediate connection portion that may be used as holding region by the user while monitoring the heart and lung sound data of the user. The bottom portion of the stethoscope

[0121] is an interface unit of the monitoring device

[0100] , that defines a peripheral extended region and a central diaphragm region thereof, such that the bottom portion can be pressed against a user’s chest, to monitor the heart and lung sound data of the user. Thus, the peripheral extended region forms a passive noise isolation barrier around the diaphragm [121’] in the central diaphragm region. Further, the stethoscope

[0121] also defines an actuating button that activates the stethoscope

[0121] to monitor the heart and lung sound data upon activation, while the stethoscope

[0121] stops monitoring the heart and lung sound data upon deactivation. Additionally, the stethoscope

[0121] also defines a status alert unit that alerts the user of activation / deactivation of the stethoscope

[0121] , Figure Ila and 11b illustrates that the user wearing the stethoscope

[0121] , for monitoring the heart and lung sound data thereof. The stethoscope

[0121] also comprises the communication unit

[0104] that transmits the heart and lung sound data to the user device via the remote server

[0122] , Various components of the communication unit of the monitoring apparatuses may also be envisioned and is not repeated herein for the sake of brevity. Details of the method of monitoring and communicating the heart and lung sound data by the stethoscope

[0121] , is similar to the aforementioned method of monitoring and communication the plurality of physiological data of the user by the plurality of physiological data apparatus and is not repeated herein for the sake of brevity. Most importantly, the communication unit of the stethoscope

[0121] , performs real-time transmission and recording of heart and lung sounds, as part of the heart rate data, for further calculations of heart rate parameters.

[0089] Various advantages of the monitoring device

[0102] include a portable, handheld physiological data monitoring device

[0102] for measuring the plurality of physiological data of the user from a singular monitoring device

[0102] , The plurality of physiological data includes heart rate data, blood oxygen data, pulse rate data, temperature data, skin image data, eye image data, in-throat image data, auditory image data, in-nose image data,blood pressure data, and galvanic skin activity data, all-inclusive in the monitoring device. The monitoring device

[0102] further processes and analyzes the physiological data based on one or more threshold values corresponding to each of the plurality of physiological data of the user and sends one or more signals to the user device

[0108] , Thereby, providing a multifunctional and compact monitoring device for extracting the plurality of physiological data of the user, and thus contributing to better healthcare. Additionally, the monitoring device

[0102] of the present disclosure is crucial for enhancing user experience and maximizing the value of physiological data monitoring.

[0090] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described hereinabove, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations, and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.LIST OF COMPONENTS100 - Physiological data monitoring system102 - Hand-held physiological data monitoring device104 - Communication Unit106- Transceiver Unit108 - User device110 - Plurality of interface units112 - Temperature sensing interface unit113 - Tongue-depressor interface unit114 - Camera interface unit116 - Blood-data monitoring interface unit118- Integrated interface unit119 - ECG interface unit120 - Blood-pressure cuff interface unit121 - Stethoscope121’ - Diaphragm122 - Remote server124 - Plurality of processing units 126 - Temperature-data processor128 - Imaging-data processor130 - Blood-data processor132 - Oximeter-data processor134 - Galvanic-skin data processor 135 - ECG data processor200 - Method for monitoring and communicating one or more physiological data of the user202-208- Steps of method for monitoring and communicating one or more physiological data of the user

Claims

I / We claim,1. A hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] of a physiological data monitoring system [100] for monitoring a plurality of physiological data of a user, the physiological data monitoring device [102] comprising: a housing defining multiple faces; and a plurality of interface units [110] of a plurality of monitoring apparatuses installed on any of the multiple faces of the housing, to monitor a plurality of physiological data of the user, each of the plurality of interface units [110] of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses being configured to engage with a dedicated body-part of the user, to enable the plurality of monitoring apparatuses for monitoring the plurality of physiological data of the user.

2. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of interface units [110] comprises: a temperature sensing interface unit [112] of a temperature-data monitoring apparatus, installed on the front face proximal to the top face of the housing; a camera interface unit [114] of an imaging apparatus, installed on the front face proximal to the bottom face of the housing; a blood-data monitoring interface unit [116] of a blood-data monitoring apparatus, installed on the bottom face of the housing; an integrated interface unit [118] of an oximeter apparatus and a galvanic-skin sensing apparatus; and an Electrocardiogram (ECG) interface unit [119] of an ECG apparatus, installed on a side face of the housing; each of the temperature-data monitoring apparatus, the imaging apparatus, and the blood-data monitoring apparatus, the oximeter apparatus, the galvanic-skin sensing apparatus, and the ECG apparatus, being adapted to monitor a corresponding physiological data of the user.

3. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 2, wherein the temperature sensing interface unit [112] comprises:a ring spacer installed on the front face; an infrared temperature sensor installed within the ring spacer and depressed from the ring spacer, the temperature-data monitoring apparatus being configured to sense temperature data of the user, by pointing the temperature sensing interface towards either of a forehead or a hand of the user.

4. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 2, wherein the imaging apparatus is used as an otoscope to capture in-ear image data of the user, by inserting the camera interface unit [114] into an auditory canal of the user.

5. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 2, wherein the imaging apparatus is used as an in-nose imaging apparatus to capture in-nose image data of the user, by inserting the camera interface unit [114] into a nasal canal of the user.

6. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 2, wherein the imaging apparatus is capable of being connected to an ophthalmoscope adaptor, to be used as an ophthalmoscope, to capture eye image data of the user, by pointing the camera interface unit [114] towards the eye of the user.

7. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 2, wherein the imaging apparatus is capable of being connected to a derma-scope adaptor, to be used as a derma-scope to capture skin image data of the user, by pointing the camera interface unit [114] towards a skin tissue of the user.

8. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 1, comprises a tongue-depressor interface unit pivotally installed on the front face of the housing, wherein the imaging apparatus is used as an laryngoscope for capturing in-throat image data of the user, by at least partially inserting the hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] within a mouth of the user, while the tongue depressor holds a tongue of the user in a depressed position, to point the camera interface unit [114] towards a throat of the user.

9. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 2, wherein the blood-data monitoring apparatus is used as one of a glucometer, a uric acid meter, and a lipid meter for correspondingly sensing blood glucose levels data, uric acid levels data, and lipid levels data, of the user, by receiving a blood-infused strip within the blood-data monitoring interface unit [116],10. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 2, wherein the oximeter apparatus is configured to measure blood oxygen data and heart rate variability data of the user, by receiving one of the fingers of the user within the integrated interface unit [118],11. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 2, wherein the galvanic-skin sensing apparatus is configured to monitor a galvanic skin response activity data of the user, by receiving one of the fingers of the user within the integrated interface unit [118],12. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ECG apparatus is configured to monitor an ECG data of the user, by contacting two fingers of the user with the ECG interface unit [119],13. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 1, comprises a blood-pressure cuff interface unit [120] of a blood-pressure monitoring apparatus, detachably installed on the rear face of the hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102],14. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 13, wherein the blood-pressure cuff interface unit [120] comprises: a mounting plate detachably installed on the rear face of the hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102; a blood-pressure cuff fixedly installed on the mounting plate, the blood-pressure cuff being configured to be adjusted between an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration; and a pair of retainers for selectively locking the blood-pressure cuff in the contracted configuration.

15. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blood-pressure monitoring apparatus is capable of monitoring blood-pressure data of the user, by enveloping a brachial region of one of the arms of the user within the blood-pressure cuff.

16. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in any of the previous claims, wherein each of the temperature-data monitoring apparatus, the imaging apparatus, the blood-data monitoring apparatus, the oximeter apparatus, the galvanic-skin sensing apparatus, and the ECG apparatus comprises a temperature-data processor [126], an imaging-data processor [128], a blood-data processor [130], an oximeter-data processor[132], a galvanic-skin data processor [134], an ECG data processor [135], respectively, to receive signals from the temperature sensing interface unit [112], the camera interface unit [114], the blood-data monitoring interface unit [116], the Integrated interface unit [118], and the ECG interface unit [119], for generating a temperature physiological data, an imaging physiological data, a blood physiological data, an oximeter physiological data, a galvanic-skin physiological data, and the ECG data, respectively.

17. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 16, wherein the temperature-data processor [126], the imaging-data processor [128], the blooddata processor [130], the oximeter-data processor [132], the galvanic-skin data processor [134], and the ECG data processor [135], are part of an integrated processor.

18. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 17, wherein each of the temperature-data processor [126], the imaging-data processor [128], the blood-data processor [130], the oximeter-data processor [132], the galvanic-skin data processor [134], and the ECG data processor [135], is installed either within the hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] or within a remote server [122],19. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claims 16, 17, and 18, further comprises a transceiver unit [106] to transmit signals generated by each of the temperature sensing interface unit [112], the camera interface unit [114], the blooddata monitoring interface unit [116], the integrated interface unit [118], and the ECG interface unit [119], to the remote server [122] for enabling the generation of the temperature physiological data, the imaging physiological data, the blood physiological data, the oximeter physiological data, and the galvanic-skin physiological data, respectively, by the temperature-data processor [126], the imaging-data processor [128], the blood-data processor [130], the oximeter-data processor [132], the galvanic-skin data processor [134], and the ECG data processor [134], respectively.

20. The hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claims 16, 17, and 18, further comprises a transceiver unit [106] to transmit each of the temperature physiological data, the imaging physiological data, the blood physiological data, the oximeter physiological data, the galvanic-skin physiological data, and the ECG data, of the user to the remote server [122] of the physiological data monitoring system [100],21. A physiological data monitoring system [100] for monitoring and communicating one or more physiological data of a user, comprising:a hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] as claimed in claim 1, for monitoring a plurality of physiological data of the user; and a communication unit [104], comprising:• a remote server [122]; and• a transceiver [106] installed within the hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102], and adapted to: o receive the plurality of physiological data of the user from the hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102]; and o transmit the plurality of physiological data to the remote server [122],22. The physiological data monitoring system [100] as claimed in claim 21, wherein the remote server [122] is configured to send at least one alert signal to a user device [108], in case one or more of the plurality of physiological data is above a corresponding one or more of threshold values.

23. The physiological data monitoring system [100] as claimed in claim 21, wherein the hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] is a stethoscope, to transmit heart and lung sound data as one of the plurality of physiological data.

24. The physiological data monitoring system [100] as claimed in claims 21 and 23, wherein the communication unit [104] transmits the heart and lung sound data in real-time.

25. A method of monitoring and communicating one or more physiological data of a user, the method comprising: monitoring, by the hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102] of claim 1, a plurality of physiological data of the user; receiving, by the transceiver unit [106], the plurality of physiological data of the user from the hand-held physiological data monitoring device [102]; transmitting, by the transceiver unit [106], the plurality of physiological data to a remote server [122]; and raising, by the remote server [122], at least one alert signal to a user device [108], in case one or more of the physiological parameters is above a corresponding one or more of threshold values.

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