Methods And Devices For Central Photoplethysmographic Monitoring

Abstract

Provided according to embodiments of the present invention are methods of monitoring individuals that include securing a photoplethysmography probe to at least one of a pre-auricular region and a post-auricular region of the individual and obtaining photoplethysmography signals from the photoplethysmography probe. Photoplethysmography probes and helmets related to such methods are also described herein.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of monitoring an individual comprising
 securing a photoplethysmography probe to at least one of a pre-auricular region and a post-auricular region of the individual;   obtaining photoplethysmography signals from the photoplethysmography probe; and   processing the photoplethysmography signals with a processing module.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photoplethysmography probe is secured to the pre-auricular region of the individual. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photoplethysmography probe is secured to the post-auricular region of the individual. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processed photoplethysmography signals are analyzed to determine at least one of a blood flow and a blood oxygen saturation of the individual. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photoplethysmography probe is embedded into a helmet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein processing the photoplethysmographys signals comprises separating the photoplethysmography signals into an isolated AC component signal stream and an isolated DC component signal stream. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the isolated AC component signal stream and the isolated DC component signal stream are analyzed to monitor the individual. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photoplethysmography probe obtains photoplethysmography signals from the temporal artery. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photoplethysmography probe is a reflectance probe. 
     
     
         10 . A photoplethysmography probe, comprising
 a wiring harness, and a probe base structure comprising an LED and a photodetector on the wiring harness,   wherein the wiring harness is configured to secure around a user's ear and the probe base structure is at a distal end of the wiring harness and configured to secure to a pre-auricular region of the user, or the probe base structure is at a proximal end of the wiring harness and configured to secure to a post-auricular region of the user.   
     
     
         11 . The photoplethysmography probe of  claim 10 , further comprising a connector at the proximal end of the wiring harness. 
     
     
         12 . The photoplethysmography probe of  claim 10 , wherein the photoplethysmography probe is a reflectance probe. 
     
     
         13 . The photoplethysmography probe of  claim 10 , wherein the probe base structure is at the distal end of the wiring harness and configured to secure to the pre-auricular region of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The photoplethysmography probe of  claim 10 , wherein the probe base structure is at the proximal end of the wiring harness and configured to secure to the post-auricular region of the user. 
     
     
         15 . The photoplethysmography probe of  claim 14 , further comprising an elongated body portion curved to wrap around at least a portion of the user's ear. 
     
     
         16 . A helmet comprising a photoplethysmography probe configured to secure to at least one of a pre-auricular or post-auricular region of a user. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet of  claim 16 , wherein the photoplethysmography probe is embedded into a padding of the helmet. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet of  claim 16 , wherein the photoplethysmography probe comprises a wiring harness, and a probe base structure comprising an LED and a photodetector on the wiring harness,
 wherein the wiring harness is configured to secure around a user's ear and the probe base structure is at a distal end of the wiring harness and configured to secure to a pre-auricular region of the user, or the probe base structure is at a proximal end of the wiring harness and configured to secure to a post-auricular region of the user.   
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 18 , wherein the probe base structure is at the distal end of the wiring harness and configured to secure to the pre-auricular region of the user. 
     
     
         20 . The helmet of  claim 16 , wherein the probe base structure is at the proximal end of the wiring harness and configured to secure to the post-auricular region of the user.