Hearing Device Heart Rate Monitoring Motion Artifact Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing device users face challenges with inaccurate heart rate monitoring due to movement, which affects the reliability of heart rate sensors.
Innovation Solution
A hearing system that determines heart rate values based on motion data and a heart rate probability distribution function, allowing for more accurate heart rate monitoring and efficient operation by adjusting settings or disabling heart rate measurements during motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a heart rate sensor is used to monitor heart rate, then heart rate monitoring capability is provided, but movement of the user affects measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces motion data as an intermediary variable to mediate between the heart rate sensor output and the final heart rate determination. The motion data serves as a indicator variable that helps identify when motion artifacts are present, allowing the system to selectively process or discard heart rate measurements based on the user's motion state, thereby improving measurement precision during movement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the heart rate sensor based on motion conditions. When motion is detected through motion data, the system adjusts how heart rate measurements are processed - either by applying correction algorithms, weighting measurements differently, or disabling the sensor temporarily - thereby maintaining measurement precision across varying motion states
2Reliability
If heart rate measurements are continuously taken, then heart rate monitoring is maintained, but computational efficiency decreases due to motion artifact processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling of motion data to determine when full heart rate processing is necessary versus when simplified processing suffices. By periodically checking motion indicators and adjusting processing intensity accordingly, the system maintains continuous monitoring capability while optimizing computational efficiency during periods of known motion states
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial processing actions based on motion conditions. When motion is detected, the system may perform only essential filtering or use motion-corrected algorithms rather than full processing pipelines, applying just enough computational effort to maintain reliability while avoiding excessive computation that would reduce productivity
Data Source
AI summary
An illustrative hearing system may be configured to receive, from a motion sensor included in a hearing device configured to be worn by a user, motion data representative of motion of the user while the user wears the hearing device and an output signal generated by a heart rate sensor in contact with the user. The hearing system may be further configured to determine, based the motion data, a heart rate probability distribution function and to determine, based on the output signal and the heart rate probability distribution function, a heart rate value for the user.