EXHIBIT 2115
`EXHIBIT 2115
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`USOO8923941B2
`
`US 8,923,941 B2
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(12) United States Patent
`
`LeBoeuf et a1.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Dec. 30, 2014
`
`(54) METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR
`GENERATING DATA OUTPUT CONTAINING
`PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MOTION-RELATED
`INFORMATION
`
`(71) Applicant: Valencell, Inc., Raleigh, NC (US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Steven Francis LeBoeuf, Raleigh, NC
`(US); Jesse Berkley Tucker, Knightdale,
`NC (US); Michael Edward Aumer,
`Raleigh, NC Q1S)
`
`(73) Assignee: Valencell, Inc., Raleigh, NC (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. N0.: 14/184,396
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`Filed:
`
`Feb. 19, 2014
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2014/0171755 A1
`
`Jun. 19,2014
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 12/691,388, filed on
`Jan. 21, 2010, now Pat. No. 8,700,111.
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 61/208,567, filed on Feb.
`25, 2009, provisional application No. 61/208,574,
`filed on Feb. 25, 2009, provisional application No.
`61/212,444,
`filed on Apr. 13, 2009, provisional
`application No. 61/274,191, filed onAug. 14, 2009.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`A613 5/00
`H04R 1/10
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(Continued)
`
`(52) US. Cl.
`CPC ................. A613 5/4812 (2013.01); A613 5/00
`(2013.01); A61B 5/6815 (2013.01);
`
`(Continued)
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC .......................................................... 600/310
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,086,229 A
`
`2/1992 Rosenthal et a1.
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`JP
`
`2 077 091 A2
`7-241279
`
`7/2009
`9/1995
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Notification of Transmittal ofthe International Search Report and the
`Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, or the
`Declaration corresponding to International Application No. PCT/
`US2013/070271; Date of Mailing: Feb. 26, 2014; International
`Search Report; Written Opinion of the International Searching
`Authority; 13 pages.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Rodney Fuller
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiMyers Bigel Sibley &
`Sajovec
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method of generating a data string containing physiological
`and motion-related information includes sensing physical
`activity of a subject via at least one motion sensor attached to
`the subject, sensing physiological information from the sub-
`ject via at least one photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor
`attached to the subject, and processing signals from the at
`least one motion sensor and signals from the at least one PPG
`sensor into a serial data string of physiological information
`and motion-related information. A plurality of subject physi-
`ological parameters can be extracted from the physiological
`information, and a plurality of subject physical activity
`parameters can be extracted from the motion-related infor-
`mation. The serial data string is parsed out such that an appli-
`cation-specific interface can utilize the physiological infor-
`mation and motion-related information for an application that
`generates statistical relationships between subject physi-
`ological parameters and subject physical activity parameters
`in the physiological information and motion-related informa-
`tion.
`
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`21 Claims, 21 Drawing Sheets
`
`2\
`
`3|!
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`20
`
`
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`

`

`US 8,923,941 B2
`
`Page2
`
`(
`
`(51)
`
`(200601)
`(2006-01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`-
`A613 ”203
`A613 5/11 _
`A6IB 5/1453
`A613 5/0476
`A613 5716
`52) US Cl
`-
`-
`-
`CPC ............ A6IB5/6838(2013.01);H04R1/1091
`(2013.01);A6IB 5/02055 (2013.01);A6IB
`5/6803 (2013.01);H04R1/105(2013.01);
`A613 5/1118(2013.01);A6IB 5/1455
`(2013-01);A6IB 5/721(2013-01);A613
`5/0082 (2013.01);A61B 5/0059 (2013.01);
`A613 5/0476 (2013.01);A6IB 5/14551
`(2013.01);A6IB 5/165(2013.01);A6IB
`.
`.
`574848 (2013’01)’A61B5/4866(2013’01)’
`A613 5/0013 (2013~01);A613 5/0084
`(2013.01);A6IB5/11(2013.01);A6IB5/7214
`(2013.01);A6]B5/411(2013.01);A6IB5/415
`.
`.
`(2013.01),161354125203113090fi65113
`‘
`/
`(
`-
`)
`USPC .......................................................... 600/310
`
`
`
`8,251,903 B2
`8,512,242 B2
`20 3/0109030 A
`20 4/0034293 A
`20 4/0054291 A
`20 4/0225207 A
`20 5/0043600 A
`20 5/0177034 A.
`20 5/0209516 A
`20 5/0223299 A.
`20 6/0009685 A
`20 8/0076372 A
`38 gjg‘fggéfg g
`20 8/0177162 A
`20 9/0030350 A
`20 9/0054752 A
`38 381232;; 2‘
`a.
`20 9/0287067 A *
`2010/0168531 A
`2010/0217103 A
`3810;823:323 :
`2012/0179011 A
`2012/0197093 A
`2013/0131519 A
`
`
`
`
`
`8/2 12 LeBoeufet al.
`8/2 13 LeBoeufet 31.
`6/2
`3 Uchida etal.
`2/2
`4 Kimball
`3/2
`4 Schulz etal.
`11/2
`4 Bae et a1.
`2/2
`5 Diab etal.
`8/2
`5 Beaumont
`9/2
`5 Fraden
`10/2
`5 Banet
`1/2
`6 Finarov etal.
`31:2
`8 Derogusker et a1.
`4g g 2:113:13
`7/2
`8 Bae et a1.
`1/2
`9 Yang et a1.
`2/2
`9 Jennalagadda eta].
`131% 0; 1;?er frill-
`,
`101 e a .
`11/2 09 Dorogusker et a1.
`7/2 10 Shaltiset a1.
`/2 10 Abdul-Hafiz et a1.
`1% 1(1) xchombieletal.
`7
`'i son eta .
`7/2 12 Moon etal.
`8/2 12 LeBoeufet a1.
`572 13 LeBoeufetal.
`
`
`
`......... 600/300
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,596,987 A
`6,078,829 A
`6,080,110 A
`2:310:23
`,
`,
`6,783,501 B2
`gfiggggg 3%
`7,107,088 B2
`7,209,775 132
`8,055,319 B2
`
`1/1997 Chance
`6/2000 Uchida et a1.
`6/2000 Thorgersen
`31/3383 Fransefflal.
`.. maiet
`.
`8/2004 Takahashi et a1.
`13/338: 3:210 et a1.
`9/2006 Aceti
`4/2007 Bae etal.
`11/2011 Oh et a1.
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`wo
`
`9/1997
`9-253062
`11/1997
`9—299342
`4/2000
`2000-116611
`1/2001
`2001-025462
`7/2007
`2007-185348
`3/2013
`wo 2013/038296 A1
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Fitrainer “The Only Trainer Yon Need”; http://itamieom; Down-
`loaded Feb. 26, 2010;©2008 F1Trran1erTM;2pages.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 2014
`
`Sheet 1 of 21
`
`US 8,923,941 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`I32
`
`HG. 2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 2014
`
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`US 8,923,941 B2
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`P
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`FIG. 4B
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
`
`Sheet 5 of 21
`
`US 8,923,941 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 30,2014
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`Sheet 11 0121
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`US 8,923,941 132
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 30,2014
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
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`Sheet 13 of 21
`
`US 8,923,941 B2
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 30,2014
`
`Sheet 14 of 21
`
`US 8,923,941 132
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
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`Sheet 15 of 21
`
`US 8,923,941 B2
`
`RAW SIGNAL IN 10W MOTION
`
`5020
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`89101112131415
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`
`74
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
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`Sheet 16 of 21
`
`US 8,923,941 B2
`
`400
`
`\ 200180
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`
`I 60
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`3000
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`
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`
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`
`FIG. 15
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`
`PRE—ADAPTIVE SIGNAL CONDITIONING
`
`PARAMETER EXTRACTION
`
`ADAPTIVE FILTERING
`
`FIG. 16
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
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`Sheet 17 of 21
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`US 8,923,941 B2
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`PROCESSOR/
`MULTIPLEXER
`
`
`
` ____________________
`
`
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
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`Sheet 18 of 21
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`US 8,923,941 B2
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`
`
`FIG. 19
`
`-ENSOR
`_OISESOURCES
`
`INPUT/OUTPUT
`
`i i
`
`SENSORS
`i -0WER
`SIGNALE- PROCESSING
`
`I | '
`
`|
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`U.
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`IPR2017—00321
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
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`Sheet 20 of 21
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`US 8,923,941 B2
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`FIG.22A
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`FIG.223
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 2014
`
`Sheet 21 0f21
`
`US 8,923,941 B2
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`US 8,923,941 B2
`
`1
`METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR
`GENERATING DATA OUTPUT CONTAINING
`PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MOTION-RELATED
`
`INFORMATION
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation application of US.
`patent application Ser. No. 12/691,388, filed Jan. 21, 2010,
`now US. Pat. No. 8,700,] l 1, which claims the benefit of and
`priority to US. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/208,
`567 filed Feb. 25, 2009, US. Provisional Patent Application
`No. 61/208,574 filed Feb. 25, 2009, U.S. Provisional Patent
`Application No. 61/212,444 filed Apr. 13, 2009, and US.
`Provisional Patent Application No. 61/274,191 filed Aug. 14,
`2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
`reference as if set forth in their entireties.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to physiological
`monitoring and, more particularly, to physiological monitor-
`ing apparatus.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`There is growing market demand for personal health and
`environmental monitors, for example, for gauging overall
`health and metabolism during exercise, athletic training, diet-
`ing, daily life activities, sickness, and physical therapy. How-
`ever, traditional health monitors and environmental monitors
`may be bulky, rigid, and uncomfortableigenerally not suit-
`able for use during daily physical activity. There is also grow-
`ing interest in generating and comparing health and environ-
`mental exposure statistics ofthe general public and particular
`demographic groups. For example, collective statistics may
`enable the healthcare industry and medical community to
`direct healthcare resources to where they are most highly
`valued. However, methods of collecting these statistics may
`be expensive and laborious, often utilizing human-based
`recording’analysis steps at multiple sites.
`As such, improved ways of collecting, storing and analyz-
`ing physiological
`information are needed.
`In addition,
`improved ways of seamlessly extracting physiological infor-
`mation from a person during everyday life activities, espe-
`cially during high activity levels, may be important for
`enhancing fitness training and healthcare quality, promoting
`and facilitating prevention, and reducing healthcare costs.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`It should be appreciated that this Summary is provided to
`introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, the
`concepts being further described below in the Detailed
`Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key
`features or essential features of this disclosure, nor is it
`intended to limit the scope of the invention.
`According to some embodiments of the present invention,
`a headset configured to be attached to the ear of a person
`includes a base, an earbud housing extending outwardly from
`the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a
`subject, and a cover surrounding the earbud housing. The base
`includes a speaker, an optical emitter, and an optical detector.
`The cover includes light transmissive material that is in opti-
`cal communication with the optical emitter and the optical
`detector and serves as a light guide to deliver light from the
`optical emitter into the ear canal of the subject wearing the
`
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`headset at one or more predetermined locations and to collect
`light external to the earbud housing and deliver the collected
`light to the optical detector. The optical emitter, via the light-
`guiding cover, directs optical energy towards a particular
`region of ear and the optical detector detects secondary opti-
`cal energy emanating from the ear region. In some embodi-
`ments, the optical detector may include an optical filter con-
`figured to pass
`secondary optical energy at
`selective
`wavelengths. In some embodiments, the light transmissive
`material of the cover may be configured, for example via the
`use of cladding and/or light reflective material, such that the
`cover serves as a light guide that is coupled in parallel to the
`optical emitter and detector. In some embodiments, the light
`transmissive material of the cover may be configured, for
`example via the use of cladding and/or light reflective mate-
`rial, such that the cover serves as a light guide that is coupled
`perpendicular to the optical emitter and detector.
`In some embodiments, the headset may include various
`electronic components secured to the base. For example, the
`headset may include one or more environmental sensors con-
`figured to detect and/or measure environmental conditions in
`a vicinity of the headset. The headset may include a signal
`processor configured to receive and process signals produced
`by the optical detector. For example, in some embodiments, a
`signal processor may be configured to extract secondary opti-
`cal energy and remove optical noise or environmental noise.
`The headset may include a signal processor configured to
`receive and process signals produced by the one or more
`environmental sensors. In addition, the headset may include a
`transmitter configured to transmit signals processed by the
`signal processor to a remote device in real time. Headsets
`according to embodiments of the present invention may uti-
`lize, for example, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, or other wire-
`less transmitters.
`
`In some embodiments, a housing is secured to and overlies
`the base so as to enclose and protect the speaker, optical
`emitter and optical detector, as well as other electronic com-
`ponents secured to the base (e.g., sensors, processor, trans-
`mitter etc.).
`The earbud housing is in acoustical communication with
`the speaker and has at least one aperture through which sound
`from the speaker can pass. The light-guiding cover surround-
`ing the earbud housing also includes at least one aperture
`through which sound from the speaker can pass. The cover
`may be formed from a soft, resilient material, such as silicone
`which deforms when inserted within an ear canal of a subject.
`In some embodiments, the cover includes an alignment mem-
`ber that facilitates alignment of the earbud housing within an
`ear canal of a subject.
`Light directed into the ear of a subject from a light emitter
`and the subsequent collection of light at a light detector,
`according to embodiments of the present invention, may be
`utilized for detecting and/or measuring, among other things,
`body temperature, skin temperature, blood gas levels, muscle
`tension, heart rate, blood flow, cardiopulmonary functions,
`etc.
`
`In some embodiments of the present invention, the light-
`guiding cover may include a lens that is in optical communi-
`cation with the optical emitter and/or optical detector. The
`lens may be configured to focus light emitted by the optical
`emitter and/or to focus collected light toward the optical
`detector. In some embodiments, multiple lenses may be
`incorporated into a light-guiding cover.
`In some embodiments, the light-guiding cover may include
`a light diffusion region in optical communication with the
`light transmissive material that diffuses light emitted by the
`optical detector.
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`US 8,923,941 B2
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`In some embodiments, the light-guiding cover may include
`a luminescence-generating region, such as a phosphor-con-
`taining region, that is in optical communication with the light
`transmissive material. The luminescence-generating region
`may be embedded within the light-guiding cover and/or on a
`surface of the light-guiding cover. The luminescence-gener-
`ating region is configured to receive light emitted by the
`optical emitter and convert at least a portion of the received
`light to light having a different wavelength from that of the
`received light.
`In some embodiments, the light-guiding cover includes
`one or more grooves formed therein. Each groove is config-
`ured to direct external light to the optical detector.
`In some embodiments, the light transmissive material of
`the light-guiding cover is configured to direct light from the
`optical emitter to a plurality oflocations at an outer surface of
`the cover for delivery into an ear canal of a subject.
`In some embodiments, the light transmissive material of
`the light-guiding cover is a translucent material or includes
`translucent material in selected locations.
`
`In some embodiments, a light reflective material is on at
`least a portion of one or both ofthe inner and outer surfaces of
`the light-guiding cover.
`According to some embodiments of the present invention,
`a light-guiding earbud for a headset includes light transmis-
`sive material that is in optical communication with an optical
`emitter and optical detector associated with the headset. The
`light transmissive material is configured to deliver light from
`the optical emitter into the ear canal ofa subject at one or more
`predetermined locations and to collect light external to the
`earbud housing and deliver the collected light to the optical
`detector. In some embodiments, the light emitter and light
`detector may be integral with the earbud. For example, in
`some embodiments, a flexible optical emitter is incorporated
`within the earbud and is in optical communication with the
`light transmissive material.
`In some embodiments, an earbud includes at least one lens
`in optical communication with the light transmissive mate-
`rial. Each lens may be configured to focus light from the
`optical emitter onto one or more predetermined locations in
`the ear of a subject and/or to focus collected external light
`onto the optical detector.
`In some embodiments of the present invention, an earbud
`may include luminescent material. Luminescent light is gen-
`erated from optical excitation ofthe luminescent material by
`an optical emitter.
`In some embodiments of the present invention, an earbud
`may integrate a sensor module containing aplurality of sensor
`elements for measuring physiological information and at
`least one noise source for measuring noise information. A
`“noise source”, as used herein, refers to a sensor, such as an
`optical sensor, inertial sensor, electrically conductive sensor,
`capacitive sensor, inductive sensor, etc., and derives it name
`from the fact that it is a source of input to a filter, such as an
`adaptive filter described below.
`The physiological sensors of the sensor module may gen-
`erate a signal that includes physiological information plus
`noise information. The noise may be removed by combining
`the physiological information and noise information from the
`sensor module with noise information from the noise source
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`of the sensor module via an electronic filtering method, such
`as a signal processing technique. Specific examples of such
`signal processing techniques include FIR (Finite Impulse
`Response), IIR (Infinite Impulse Response),
`informatics,
`machine learning, and adaptive filter methods. The output of 65
`the adaptive filter may be a physiological signal that is wholly
`or partially free of noise. In some embodiments, motion-
`
`related noise from a subject activity such as running may be
`removed from the physiological plus noise signal generated
`by a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor for measuring
`blood constituent levels or blood flow properties, such as
`blood oxygen level, V02, or heart rate.
`In some embodiments of the present invention, the noise
`source input of an adaptive filter may include a “blocked
`channel” of optical energy, an inertial sensor, or environmen-
`tal energy. In some embodiments, the environmental energy
`may be unwanted ambient optical noise.
`In some embodiments ofthe present invention, a processor/
`multiplexor processes physiological signals and noise signals
`into a data string. This data string may contain information
`relating to physiological
`information and motion-related
`information. The processing method may include signal pro-
`cessing techniques such as pre-adaptive signal conditioning,
`adaptive filtering, and parameter extraction.
`In some embodiments, an earbud includes one or more
`sensor modules that includes one or more sensors for sensing
`physiological information and environmental information,
`such as noise, for example. As such, the earbud may function
`as a physiological monitor as well as an environmental moni-
`tor. In some embodiments, the earbud may include a micro-
`processor that is in electrical communication with the sensor
`module(s). For example, a microprocessor incorporated into
`an earbud may be configured to execute an adaptive filter
`algorithm to remove noise from at least one signal generated
`by a sensor module in the earbud. A microprocessor may also
`be configured to process information from the one or more
`sensors to generate a digital output string, wherein the digital
`output string includes a plurality of physiological and
`motion-related information.
`
`Physiological sensors that may be incorporated into head-
`sets and/or earbuds, according to some embodiments of the
`present invention, may be configured to detect and/or mea-
`sure one or more of the following types of physiological
`information: heart rate, pulse rate, breathing rate, blood flow,
`V02, VOzmax, heartbeat
`signatures, cardio-pulmonary
`health, organ health, metabolism, electrolyte type and/or con-
`centration, physical activity, caloric intake, caloric metabo-
`lism, blood metabolite levels or ratios, blood pH level, physi-
`cal and/or psychological stress levels and/or stress level
`indicators, drug dosage and/or dosimetry, physiological drug
`reactions, drug chemistry, biochemistry, position and/or bal-
`ance, body strain, neurological functioning, brain activity,
`brain waves, blood pressure, cranial pressure, hydration level,
`auscultatory information, auscultatory signals associated
`with pregnancy, physiological response to infection, skin and/
`or core body temperature, eye muscle movement, blood vol-
`ume, inhaled and/or exhaled breath volume, physical exer-
`tion, exhaled breath physical and/or chemical composition,
`the presence and/or identity and/or concentration of Viruses
`and/or bacteria, foreign matter in the body, internal toxins,
`heavy metals in the body, anxiety, fertility, ovulation, sex
`hormones, psychological mood, sleep patterns, hunger and/or
`thirst, hormone type and/or concentration, cholesterol, lipids,
`blood panel, bone density, organ and/or body weight, reflex
`response, sexual arousal, mental and/or physical alertness,
`sleepiness, auscultatory information, response to external
`stimuli, swallowing volume, swallowing rate, sickness, voice
`characteristics, voice tone, voice pitch, voice volume, vital
`signs, head tilt, allergic reactions, inflammation response,
`auto-immune response, mutagenic response, DNA, proteins,
`protein levels in the blood, water content of the blood, phero-
`mones, internal body sounds, digestive system functioning,
`cellular regeneration response, healing response, stem cell
`regeneration response, etc.
`
`IPR2017—00321
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`US 8,923,941 B2
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`5
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`Environmental sensors that may be incorporated into head-
`sets and/or earbuds, according to some embodiments of the
`present invention, may be configured to detect and/or mea-
`sure one or more of the following types of environmental
`information: climate, humidity, temperature, pressure, baro-
`metric pressure, soot density, airborne particle density, air-
`borne particle size, airborne particle shape, airborne particle
`identity, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), hydrocarbons,
`polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carcinogens, tox-
`ins, electromagnetic energy, optical
`radiation, X-rays,
`gamma rays, microwave radiation, terahertz radiation, ultra-
`violet radiation,
`infrared radiation, radio waves, atomic
`energy alpha particles, atomic energy beta-particles, gravity,
`light
`intensity,
`light frequency,
`light flicker,
`light phase,
`ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, sul-
`fides, airborne pollution, foreign material in the air, viruses,
`bacteria, signatures from chemical weapons, wind, air turbu-
`lence, sound and/or acoustical energy, ultrasonic energy,
`noise pollution, human voices, animal sounds, diseases
`expelled from others, exhaled breath and/or breath constitu-
`ents of others, toxins from others, pheromones from others,
`industrial and/or transportation sounds, allergens, animal
`hair, pollen, exhaust from engines, vapors and/or fumes, fuel,
`signatures for mineral deposits and/or oil deposits, snow, rain,
`thermal energy, hot surfaces, hot gases, solar energy, hail, ice,
`vibrations, traflic, the number of people in a vicinity of the
`person, coughing and/or sneezing sounds from people in the
`vicinity of the person,
`loudness and/or pitch from those
`speaking in the vicinity of the person.
`According to some embodiments of the present invention,
`earbuds for headsets may include a chipset having at least one
`sensor element, noise source element, signal processor, input/
`output line, digital control, and power regulator.
`Light-guiding earbuds according to the various embodi-
`ments of the present invention may be utilized with mono
`headsets (i.e., headsets having one earbud) as well as stereo
`headsets (i .e., headsets having two earbuds).Additionally, the
`light-guiding region of earbuds, according to embodiments of
`the present invention, may be integrated not only into an
`earbud cover and earbud housing, but also into each or all
`components of an earbud. Moreover, light-guiding earbuds
`according to the various embodiments of the present inven-
`tion may be utilized with hearing aids, body jewelry, or any
`other attachment that can be placed near the head region, such
`as eye glasses or shades, a headband, a cap, helmet, visor, or
`the like.
`
`According to some embodiments of the present invention,
`a monitoring device includes a circular band capable of encir-
`cling a finger ofa subject, and a base having an optical emitter
`and an optical detector attached to the circular band. The
`circular band includes light transmissive material in optical
`communication with the optical emitter and optical detector
`that is configured to deliver light from the optical emitter to
`one or more portions of the finger of the subject and to collect
`light from one or more portions ofthe finger ofthe subject and
`deliver the collected light to the optical detector. In some
`embodiments, the circular band includes first and second
`concentric body portions.
`In some embodiments, the circular band includes a lens
`region in optical connnunication with the optical emitter that
`focuses light emitted by the optical emitter and/or that col-
`lects light reflected from a finger. In some embodiments the
`circular band includes a phosphor-containing region in opti-
`cal communication with the light transmissive material,
`wherein the phosphor-containing region receives light emit-
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`ted by the optical emitter and converts at least a portion ofthe
`received light to light having a different wavelength from the
`received light.
`In some embodiments, the light transmissive material of
`the circular band has an outer surface and an inner surface,
`and a cladding material, such as light reflective material, is on
`(or near) at least a portion of one or both ofthe inner and outer
`surfaces.
`
`In some embodiments, the base includes one or more ofthe
`follo