EXHIBIT 2109
`EXHIBIT 2109
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`IPR2017—003 17
`CONDITIONAL MOTION TO AMEND
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`VALENCELL, INC.
`EXHIBIT 2109 — PAGE 1
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`IPR2017-00317
`CONDITIONAL MOTION TO AMEND
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`VALENCELL, INC.
`EXHIBIT 2109 - PAGE 1
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING
`USING LIGHT-GUIDING EARBUDS
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`RELATED APPLICATION
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`This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.
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`Provisional Patent Application No. 61/208,567 filed 02/25/2009, U.S. Provisional
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`Patent Application No. 61/208,574 filed 02/25/2009, and U.S. Provisional Patent
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`5
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`Application No. 61/212,444 filed 4/13/2009.
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for
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`physiological monitoring and, more particularly, to wireless physiological
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`monitoring with light-guiding audio earbuds.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`There is growing market demand for personal health and
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`environmental monitors, for example, for gauging overall health and metabolism
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`during ·exercise, athletic training, dieting, daily life activities, sickness, and
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`physical therapy. However, traditional health monitors and environmental
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`monitors may be bulky, rigid, and uncomfortable - generally not suitable for use
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`during daily physical activity. There is also growing interest in generating and
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`comparing health and environmental exposure statistics of the general public
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`and particular demographic groups. For example, collective statistics enable the
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`healthcare industry and medical community to direct healthcare resources to
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`where they are most highly valued. However, methods of collecting these
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`statistics may be expensive and laborious, often utilizing human-based
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`recording/analysis steps at multiple sites.
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`As such, improved ways of collecting, storing and analyzing
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`physiological information are needed. In addition, improved ways of seamlessly
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`extracting physiological information from a person during everyday life activities,
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`especially during high activity levels, are essential for enhancing fitness training
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`and healthcare quality, promoting and facilitating prevention, and re~ucing
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`healthcare costs.
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`IPR2017-00317
`CONDITIONAL MOTION TO AMEND
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`VALENCELL, INC.
`EXHIBIT 2109 - PAGE 2
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`SUMMARY
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`In view of the above discussion, apparatus and methods for
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`monitoring various physiological factors are provided. According to some
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`embodiments of the present invention, real-time, noninvasive physiological
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`s monitors include a plurality of compact sensors integrated within small, low(cid:173)
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`profile devices. Physiological data, and in some cases environmental data, is
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`collected and wirelessly transmitted into a wireless network, where the data is
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`stored and/or processed.
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`In some embodiments of the invention, an earpiece functions as a
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`physiological monitor. In some embodiments, the earpiece is, or includes, an
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`earbud. In some embodiments, the earbud is a light-guiding earbud designed to
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`direct optical energy to and from a particular region of the ear.
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`In some embodiments, the earpiece combines physiological
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`monitoring with a wireless personal communicator. The earpiece can take
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`advantage of commercially available open-architecture wireless paradigms, such
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`as Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, or ZigBee. In some embodiments, a small, compact
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`earpiece contains at least one microphone and one speaker, and is configured to
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`transmit information wirelessly to a recording device such as, for example, a cell
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`phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and/or a computer. The earpiece
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`contains a plurality of sensors for monitoring personal health and environmental
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`exposure. Health and environmental information, sensed by the sensors is
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`transmitted wirelessly, in real-time, to a recording device, capable of processing
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`and organizing the data into meaningful displays, such as charts. In some
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`embodiments, an earpiece user may monitor health and environmental exposure
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`data in real-time, and may also access records of collected data throughout the
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`day, week, month, etc., by observing charts and data through an audio-visual
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`display.
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`In some embodiments, an earpiece can integrate personal
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`physiological and environmental exposure information with biofeedback and
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`personal entertainment. In other embodiments of the present invention, earpiece
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`monitor devices enable a variety of networks, applications, games, and business
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`methods.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, a monitoring
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`IPR2017-00317
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`EXHIBIT 2109 - PAGE 3
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`apparatus includes a housing configured to be attached to the body of a person,
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`one or more physiological sensors and one or more environmental sensors
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`supported by (within and/or on) the housing. Each physiological sensor is
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`configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the person,
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`s
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`and each environmental sensor is configured to detect and/or measure
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`environmental conditions in a vicinity of the person wearing the apparatus. The
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`apparatus also includes a signal processor that is configured to receive and
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`process signals produced by the physiological and environmental sensors. A
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`wireless transmitter is responsive to the signal processor and is configured to
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`10 wirelessly transmit physiological and environmental sensor signals as processed
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`by the signal processor from the signal processor to a remote terminal in real(cid:173)
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`time.
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`Each physiological sensor is configured to detect and/or measure
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`one or more of the following types of physiological information: heart rate, pulse
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`rate, breathing rate, blood flow, heartbeat signatures, cardio-pulmonary health,
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`organ health, metabolism, electrolyte type and/or concentration, phy~ical activity,
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`caloric intake, caloric metabolism, blood metabolite levels or ratios, blood pH
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`level, physical and/or psychological stress levels and/or stress level indicators,
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`drug dosage and/or dosimetry, physiological drug reactions, drug chemistry,
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`biochemistry, position and/or balance, body strain, neurological functioning, brain
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`activity, brain waves, blood pressure, cranial pressure, hydration level,
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`auscultatory information, auscultatory signals associated with pregnancy,
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`physiological response to infection, skin and/or core body temperature, eye
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`muscle movement, blood volume, inhaled and/or exhaled breath volume,
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`physical exertion, exhaled breath physical and/or chemical composition, the
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`presence and/or identity and/or concentration of viruses and/or bacteria, foreign
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`matter in the body, internal toxins, heavy metals in the body, anxiety, fertility,
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`ovulation, sex hormones, psychological mood, sleep patterns, hunger and/or
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`thirst, hormone type and/or concentration, cholesterol, lipids, blood panel, bone
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`density, organ and/or body weight, reflex response, sexual arousal, mental
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`and/or physical alertness, sleepiness, auscultatory information, response to
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`external stimuli, swallowing volume, swallowing rate, sickness, voice
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`characteristics, voice tone, voice pitch, voice volume, vital signs, head tilt,
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`allergic reactions, inflammation response, auto-immune response, mutagenic
`response, DNA, proteins, protein levels in the blood, water content of the blood,
`pheromones, internal body sounds, digestive system functioning, cellular
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`regeneration response, healing response, stem cell regeneration response
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`Each environmental sensor is configured to detect and/or measure
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`one or more of the following types of environmental information: climate,
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`humidity, temperature, pressure, barometric pressure, soot density, airborne
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`particle density, airborne particle size, airborne particle shape, airborne particle
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`identity, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic
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`hydrocarbons (PAHs), carcinogens, toxins, electromagnetic energy, optical
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`radiation, X-rays, gamma rays, microwave radiation, terahertz radiation,
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`ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, radio waves, atomic energy alpha
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`particles, atomic energy beta-particles, gravity, light intensity, light frequency,
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`light flicker, light phase, ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide,
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`sulfides, airborne pollution, foreign material in the air, viruses, bacteria,
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`signatures from chemical weapons, wind, air turbulence, sound and/or acoustical
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`energy, ultrasonic energy, noise pollution, human voices, animal sounds,
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`diseases expelled from others, exhaled breath and/or breath constituents of
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`others, toxins from others, pheromones from others, industrial and/or
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`transportation sounds, allergens, animal hair, pollen, exhaust from engines,
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`vapors and/or fumes, fuel, signatures for mineral deposits and/or oil deposits,
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`snow, rain, thermal energy, hot surfaces, hot gases, solar energy, hail, ice,
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`vibrations, traffic, the number of people in a vicinity of the person, coughing
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`and/or sneezing sounds from people in the vicinity of the person, loudness
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`and/or pitch from those speaking in the vicinity of the person.
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`In some embodiments, the signal processor is configured to
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`process signals produced by the physiological and environmental sensors into
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`signals that can be heard and/or viewed by the person wearing the apparatus. In
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`some embodiments, the signal processor is configured to selectively extract
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`environmental effects from signals produced by a physiological sensor arid/or
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`selectively extract physiological effects from signals produced by an
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`environmental sensor.
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`IPR2017-00317
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`EXHIBIT 2109 - PAGE 5
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`In some embodiments, the signal processor is configured to
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`process signals produced by the physiological and environmental sensors into
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`signals that can be heard and/or viewed by the person wearing the apparatus. In
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`some embodiments, the signal processor is configured to selectively extract
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`environmental effects from signals produced by a physiological sensor and/or
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`selectively extract physiological effects from signals produced by an
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`environmental sensor.
`In some embodiments of the present invention, a monitoring
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`apparatus configured to be worn by a person includes a physiological sensor
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`that is oriented in a direction towards the person and an environmental sensor
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`that is oriented in a direction away from the person. A buffer material is
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`positioned between the physiological sensor and environmental sensors and is
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`configured to selectively reflect and/or absorb energy emanating from the
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`environment and/or the person.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, a monitoring
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`apparatus may include a receiver that is configured to receive audio and/or video
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`information from a remote terminal, and a communication module that is
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`configured to store and/or process and/or play audio and/or video information
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`received from the remote terminal. In some embodiments, the communication
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`20 module may be configured to alert (e.g., via audible and/or visible and/or
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`physical alerts) a person wearing the apparatus when a physiological sensor
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`detects certain physiological information from the person and/or when an
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`environmental sensor detects certain environmental information from the vicinity
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`of the person. In some embodiments, the communication module is configured to
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`audibly present vital sign information to the person wearing the apparatus. In
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`some embodiments, the communication module may be configured to store
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`content generated by the person.
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`In some embodiments, the apparatus is an earpiece module that is
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`configured to be attached to the ear of a person, and includes a speaker,
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`30 microphone, and transceiver that is electronically connected to the speaker and
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`microphone and that permits bidirectional wireless communications between the
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`earpiece module and a remote terminal, such as a cell phone. The transceiver
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`(e.g., a Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, or ZigBee transceiver) is electronically connected to
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`the signal processor and is configured to transmit physiological and
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`environmental sensor signals from the signal processor to the remote terminal.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, an earpiece
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`module is configured to be attached to the ear of a person and includes an
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`optical emitter that directs optical energy towards a particular region of ear and
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`an optical detector configured to detect secondary optical energy emanating
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`from the said region. In some embodiments, the signal processor may be
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`configured to extract secondary optical energy and remove optical noise. In
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`some embodiments, the optical detector may include an optical filter configured
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`to pass secondary optical energy at selective wavelengths.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, an earpiece
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`module that is configured to be attached to the ear of a person includes an ear
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`hook that is configured to attach to an ear of a person.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, an earpiece
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`15 module may include an earpiece fitting configured to be inserted near or within
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`the ear canal of a person wearing the earpiece. The earpiece fitting may include
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`one or more physiological sensors configured to detect information from within
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`the ear canal.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, an earbud may
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`integrate a light-guiding layer and lensing. The light guide may be coupled to an
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`. optical source, and optical emitter, and the ear region. The light guide may
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`include a cladding layer for promoting optical confinement, and the light guide
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`may be molded over an acoustic cavity structure. The light guide may be
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`coupled in parallel and/or perpendicular to the optical emitter and detector.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, an earbud may
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`include a flexible optical emitter.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, an earbud may be
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`luminescent. Luminescent light may be generated by optical excitation from an
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`optical emitter.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, an earbud may
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`integrate a sensor module containing a plurality of sensor elements for
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`measuring physiological information and at least one noise source for measuring
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`noise information. The physiological sensors of the sensor module may
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`generate a signal that includes physiological information plus unwanted noise
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`information. The noise may be removed by combining the physiological plus
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`noise information from the sensor module with noise information from the noise
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`source of the sensor module via an adaptive filter method. The output of the
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`adaptive filter may be a physiological signal that is wholly or partially free of
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`noise. In a specific embodiment, motion-related noise from running may be
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`removed from the physiological plus noise signal generated by a PPG sensor for
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`measuring heart rate.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, the noise source
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`input of an adaptive filter may include a "blocked channel" of optical energy, an
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`inertial sensor, or environmental energy. In a specific embodiment, the
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`environmental energy may be unwanted ambient optical noise.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, a
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`processor/multiplexor processes physiological signals and noise signals into a
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`data string. This data string may contain information relating to physiological
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`information and motion-related information. The processing method may include
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`pre-adaptive signal conditioning, adaptive filtering, and parameter extraction.
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`In some embodiment of the present invention, a chipset may
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`comprise at least one sensor element, noise source element, signal processor,
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`input/output line, digital control, and power regulator. This chipset may be
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`integrated within a light-guiding earbud, and this earbud may be part of a mono
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`or stereo headset.
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`Fig. 1 illustrates a light-guiding earbud with optical coupling parallel
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`to the light guide.
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`Fig. 2 illustrates a light-guiding earbud with optical coupling
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`perpendicular to the light guide.
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`Fig. 3 illustrates a light-guiding earbud with optical coupling parallel
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`to the light guide that directs light out of the earbud at specific regions along the
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`earbud.
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`Fig. 4 illustrates a light-guiding earbud with optical coupling
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`isotropic to the light guide that directs light out of the earbud at specific regions
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`along the earbud.
`Fig. 5 illustrates a light-guiding earbud with a flexible optical
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`emission region.
`Fig. 6 illustrates a top view and side view of a light-guiding earbud
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`5 wherein light is directed out of the audio cavity.
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`Fig. 7 illustrates a light-guiding earbud wherein the light-guiding
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`region is designed to diffuse light and/or to generate luminescence.
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`Fig. 8 illustrates relevant anatomy of the ear.
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`Fig. 9 illustrates a light-guiding earbud wherein a sensor module is
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`located near the earbud periphery.
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`Fig. 10 illustrates a sensor module that may be located near the
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`periphery of an earbud.
`Fig. 11 summarizes a method of removing noise from a noisy
`physiological signal using an adaptive filter and a noise source.
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`Fig. 12 summarizes time-dependent data collected from a light-
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`guiding earbud worn by a person on a treadmill, wherein the data from the
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`physiological signal and noise source are displayed for low motion and high
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`motion.
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`Fig. 13 summarizes processed physiological signal data from
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`Fig.12, wherein the signal processing includes two methods: 1) an adaptive filter
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`.of Fig. 11 + beat finder and 2) a beat finder only.
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`Fig. 14 illustrates a method by which physiological information is
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`extracted from sensor signals.
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`Fig. 15 illustrates a method by which sensor signals are
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`processed into a digital data string including activity data and physiological data.
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`Fig. 16 shows a particular embodiment of the digital data string of
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`Fig.15.
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`Fig. 17 illustrates a particular embodiment of a wireless mono
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`headset incorporating a light-guiding earbud and associated electronics.
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`Fig. 18 summarizes the optical interaction between the sensor
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`module of Fig. 10 and the skin.
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`Fig. 19 illustrates a particular embodiment of a wireless stereo
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`headset incorporating a light-guiding earbud and associated electronics.
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`Fig. 20 illustrates a specific embodiment of a chipset comprising
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`the invention.
`Fig. 21 illustrates a specific embodiment of a stereo chipset
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`comprising the invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with
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`reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the
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`invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many
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`different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set
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`forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will
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`be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to
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`those skilled in the art.
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`Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, the
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`thickness of certain lines, layers, components, elements or features may be
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`exaggerated for clarity.
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`The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
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`particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.
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`As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the
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`plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be
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`further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in
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`this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
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`operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or
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`addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
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`components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes
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`any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
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`Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
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`scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood
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`by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further
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`understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries,
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`should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning
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`in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted
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`in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity
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`and/or clarity.
`It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being
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`"on", "attached" to, "connected" to, "coupled" with, "contacting", etc., another
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`s
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`element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or
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`contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In
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`contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, "directly on",
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`"directly attached" to, "directly connected" to, "directly coupled" with or "directly
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`contacting" another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will
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`also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or
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`feature that is disposed "adjacent" another feature may have portions that
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`overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.
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`Spatially relative terms, such as "under", "below", "lower", "over",
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`"upper" and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one
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`element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated
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`in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended
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`to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition
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`to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures
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`is inverted, elements described as "under" or "beneath" other elements or
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`features would then be oriented "over" the other elements or features. Thus, the
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`exemplary term "under" can encompass both an orientation of "over" and
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`"under". The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other
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`orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted
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`accordingly. Similarly, the terms "upwardly", "downwardly", "vertical", "horizontal"
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`and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless
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`specifically indicated otherwise.
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`The term "earpiece" includes any type of device that may be
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`attached to or near the ear of a user and may have various configurations,
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`without limitation.
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`The term "real-time" is used to describe a process of sensing,
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`processing, or transmitting information in a time frame which is equal to or
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`shorter than the minimum timescale at which the information is needed. For
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`example, the real-time monitoring of pulse rate may result in a single average
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`pulse-rate measurement every minute, averaged over 30 seconds, because an
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`instantaneous pulse rate is often useless to the end user. Typically, averaged
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`physiological and environmental information is more relevant than instantaneous
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`changes. Thus, in the context of the present invention, signals may sometimes
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`be processed over several seconds, or even minutes, in order to generate a
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`"real-time" response.
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`The term "monitoring" refers to the act of measuring, quantifying,
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`qualifying, estimating, sensing, calculating, interpolating, extrapolating, inferring,
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`deducing, or any combination of these actions. More generally, "monitoring"
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`refers to a way of getting information via one or more sensing elements. For
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`example, "blood health monitoring" includes monitoring blood gas levels, blood
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`hydration, and metabolite/electrolyte levels.
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`The term "physiological" refers to matter or energy of or from the
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`body of a creature (e.g., humans, animals, etc.). In embodiments of the present
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`invention, the term "physiological" is intended to be used broadly, covering both
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`physical and psychological matter and energy of or from the body of an
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`organism. However, in some cases, the term "psychological" is called-out
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`separately to emphasize aspects of physiology that are more closely tied to
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`conscious or subconscious brain activity rather than the activity of other organs,
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`tissues, or cells.
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`The term "psychosocial stress" refers to events of psychological or
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`social origin which challenge the homeostatic state of biological systems.
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`The term "body" refers to the body of a person (or animal) that may
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`utilize an earpiece module according to embodiments of the present invention.
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`25 Monitoring apparatus, according to embodiments of the present invention may
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`be worn by humans and animals.
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`In the following figures, earpieces will be illustrated and described
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`for attachment to the ear of the human body. However, it is to be understood that
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`embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those worn by humans.
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`30 Moreover, monitoring apparatus according to embodiments of the present
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`invention are not limited to earpiece modules and/or devices configured to be
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`attached to or near the ear. Monitoring apparatus according to embodiments of
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`the present invention may be worn on various parts of the body.
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`VALENCELL, INC.
`EXHIBIT 2109 - PAGE 12
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`Some embodiments of the present invention may arise from a
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`discovery that the ear is an ideal location on the human body for a wearable
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`health and environmental monitor. The ear is a relatively immobile platform that
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`does not obstruct a person's movement or vision. Devices located along the ear
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`s
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`have access to the inner-ear canal and tympanic membrane (for measuring core
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`body temperature), muscle tissue (for monitoring muscle tension), the pinna and
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`earlobe (for monitoring blood gas levels), the region behind the ear (for
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`measuring skin temperature and galvanic skin response), and the internal carotid
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`artery (for measuring cardiopulmonary functioning). The ear is also at or near the
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`point of exposure to: environmental breathable toxicants of interest (volatile
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`organic compounds, pollution, etc.; noise pollution experienced by the ear; and
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`lighting conditions for the eye. Furthermore, as the ear canal is naturally
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`designed for transmitting acoustical energy, the ear provides an optimal location
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`for monitoring internal sounds, such as heartbeat, breathing rate, and mouth
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`15 motion.
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`Bluetooth-enabled and/or other personal communication earpiece
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`modules may be configured to incorporate physiological and/or environmental
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`sensors, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Bluetooth
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`earpiece modules are typically lightweight, unobtrusive devices that have
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`become widely accepted socially. Moreover, Bluetooth earpiece modules are
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`cost effective, easy to use, and are often worn by users for most of their waking
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`hours while attending or waiting for cell phone calls. Bluetooth earpiece modules
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`configured according to embodiments of the present invention are advantageous
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`because they provide a function for the user beyond health monitoring, such as
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`personal communication and multimedia applications, thereby encouraging user
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`compliance. Exemplary physiological and environmental sensors that may, be
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`incorporated into a Bluetooth or other type of earpiece module include, but are
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`not limited to accelerometers, auscultatory sensors, pressure sensors, humidity
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`sensors, color sensors, light intensity sensors, pressure sensors, etc.
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`Wireless earpiece devices, both mono (single earbud) and stereo
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`(dual earbuds), incorporating low-:profile sensors and other electronics,
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`according to embodiments of the present invention, offer a platform for
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`performing near-real-time personal health and environmental monitoring in
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`IPR2017-00317
`CONDITIONAL MOTION TO AMEND
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`VALENCELL, INC.
`EXHIBIT 2109 - PAGE 13
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`wearable, socially acceptable devices. The capability to unobtrusively monitor an
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`individual's physiology and/or environment, combined with improved user
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`compliance, is expected to have significant impact on future planned health and
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`environmental exposure studies. This is especially true for those that seek to link
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`environmental stressors with personal stress level indicators. The large scale
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`commercial availability of this low-cost device can enable cost-effective large
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`scale studies. The combination of monitored data with user location via GPS
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`data can make on-going geographic studies possible, including the tracking of
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`infection over large geographic areas. The commercial application of the
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`proposed platform encourages individual-driven health maintenance and
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`promotes a healthier lifestyle through proper caloric intake and exercise.
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`Accordingly, some embodiments of the present invention combine
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`a personal communications earpiece device with one or more physiological
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`and/or environmental sensor. Other embodiments may combine physiological
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`and/or environmental sensors into an earpiece device.
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`Some embodiments of the present invention may arise from the
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`discovery that the optical coupling into the blood vessels of the ear varies
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`between individuals. Thus, an earbud with integrated light-guiding, wherein the
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`light is guided to multiple and/or select regions along the earbud, can assure that
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`each individual wearing the earbud will generate an optical signal related to
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`blood flow through the blood vessels. Optical coupling of light to a particular ear
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`region of one person may not yield photoplethysmographic signals for each
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`person. Therefore, coupling light to multiple regions assures at least one blood(cid:173)
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`vessel-rich region will be interrogated for each person wearing the light-guiding
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`earbud. Coupling multiple regions of the ear to light may also be accomplished
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`by diffusing light from a light source within the earbud.
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`Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to devices
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`that communicate wirelessly. In some embodiments of the present invention,
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`devices configured to monitor an individual's physiology and/or environment may
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`be wired to a device that stores and/or processes data. In some embodiments,
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`this information may be stored on the earpiece module itself.
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`Many of the components of the invention are depicted in multiple
`figures. For example, the earbud base 101 of Fig. 11 may be the same as the
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`IPR2017-00317
`CONDITIONAL MOTION TO AMEND
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`VALENCELL, INC.
`EXHIBIT 2109 - PAGE 14
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`SLEBOEUF.011A
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`earbud base 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, and 901. The optical detector 102
`may be the same as 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, and 702. The acoustic generator
`103 may be the same as 203, 303, 403, 503, 603, 703, and 903. The optical
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`emitter 104 may be the same as 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, and 704. The light-
`guiding region 109 may be the same as 209, 309, 409, 509, 609, 709, and 909.
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`s
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`The invention may be enabled by the fact that several commercial
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`off-the-shelf parts may be assembled into novel compact, mobile, wearable
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`articles for physiological monitoring. For example, the earbud base 101 may
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`include a printed circuit board, electrical connectors, or plastics. The optical
`detector 102 may be a photodiode, photodetector, phototransistor, thyristor, or
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`other solid state device. The acoustic generator 103 may be a compact speaker,
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`such as an inductive s