Hearable Audioplethysmography for Sensor-Free HRV Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing health monitoring devices are often obtrusive, uncomfortable, and require additional hardware, leading to reduced user adherence due to inconvenience and increased cost, power consumption, and bulkiness.
Innovation Solution
A hearable device, such as an earbud, performs audioplethysmography by forming a seal in or around the ear to create an acoustic circuit, transmitting and receiving acoustic signals to monitor heart rate variability and blood pressure without additional sensors, using a calibration procedure to select tones that enhance signal-to-noise ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional health monitoring devices are used, then measurement capability is provided, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hearable device performs multiple functions including audio playback, acoustic signal transmission for health monitoring, and biometric measurement using its existing components. The same speaker and microphone used for audio communication are utilized for transmitting acoustic signals through the ear canal to detect heart rate variability and blood pressure, eliminating the need for separate sensing hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the hearable's own acoustic components to perform self-diagnosis and health monitoring. The speaker transmits acoustic signals that propagate through the ear canal, and the microphone receives the modified signals, allowing the device to monitor its user's physiological state without external auxiliary sensors.
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to enhance monitoring capabilities, then measurement accuracy improves, but device cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hearable device performs multiple functions including audio playback, acoustic signal transmission for health monitoring, and biometric measurement using its existing components. The same speaker and microphone used for audio communication are utilized for transmitting acoustic signals through the ear canal to detect heart rate variability and blood pressure, eliminating the need for separate sensing hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system modifies acoustic signal parameters (frequency, amplitude, phase) to optimize propagation through the ear canal and enhance the signal-to-noise ratio for detecting physiological changes. A calibration procedure adjusts these parameters to select optimal tones for monitoring, improving accuracy without additional hardware.
3Ease of operation
If health monitoring features are integrated into hearables, then accessibility and portability improve, but measurement reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A calibration procedure is performed before monitoring to establish baseline acoustic characteristics and optimize signal transmission parameters. This preliminary calibration ensures that the hearable can accurately detect physiological changes by adjusting frequency and amplitude parameters to the optimal values for each user's ear canal characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the acoustic signal transmission and uses feedback from the received signals to adjust parameters in real-time. The modified acoustic characteristics are analyzed to detect physiological changes, and the system adapts its transmission parameters to maintain optimal signal-to-noise ratio throughout the monitoring process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a reliable, portable, and affordable means of health monitoring, improving user experience and accessibility by reducing device size, cost, and power usage while enhancing measurement accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting and receiving acoustic signals that at least partially propagate within a user's car canal
Implementation Method 2
an active acoustic method capable of sensing subtle physiologically-related changes observable at a user's outer and middle car
Implementation Method 3
This seal enables formation of an acoustic circuit, which includes the seal, the hearable, the car canal, and an ear drum of the car
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and apparatuses are described that perform heart rate variability detection using a hearable. A hearable, such as an earbud, is capable of performing a novel physiological monitoring process termed herein audioplethysmography, which is an active acoustic method capable of sensing subtle physiologically-related changes observable at a user's outer and middle ear. Instead of relying on other auxiliary sensors, such as optical or electrical sensors, audioplethysmography involves transmitting and receiving acoustic signals to monitor a user's biometrics, including heart rate variability and/or blood pressure. In addition to being relatively unobtrusive, some hearables can be configured to support audioplethysmography without the need for additional hardware. As such, the size, cost, and power usage of the hearable can help make health monitoring accessible to a larger group of people and improve the user experience with hearables.