Apparatus for Coupling to Computing Devices and Measuring Physiological Data

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for measuring and monitoring biometric or physiological parameters in a user-friendly and convenient manner are disclosed. Relevant physiological parameters of the user may be measured as the user normally operates a computing device or other hand-operated or hand-held device. These parameters are measured using an accessory of the device such as a laptop case, a tablet computer case, a smartphone case, or a smart watch or smart armband. The accessory may include at least two or three electrodes for taking an electrocardiogram or other physiological parameters. The measured parameters are transmitted to the computing device. The computing device can be normally used while a physiological parameter monitoring and measurement application loaded onto the computing device operates in the background to receive the measured parameters.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An electrocardiogram (ECG) detection apparatus for use with a wireless telecommunications device, the apparatus comprising:
 a case configured to fit over the telecommunications device, the case having an outer back surface, at least two outer side surfaces perpendicular to the back surface, and a front region through which a screen of the telecommunications device held in the case may be viewed;   a first electrode on or adjacent to one of the at least two outer side surfaces;   a second electrode on the outer back surface, the second electrode having an outer contact surface; and   a third electrode on the outer back surface, the third electrode having an outer contact surface;   wherein the outer contact surfaces of the second and third electrodes are recessed relative to at least a portion of the outer back surface so that the outer contact surfaces of the second and third electrodes do not contact a table surface when the case is placed on the table surface with the outer back surface facing the table surface;   further wherein the second and third electrodes are arranged so that a patient can touch the outer contact surface of the second electrode with just a left hand and the outer contact surface of the third electrode with just a right hand, while holding the first electrode against a leg and can view the screen of the telecommunications device held in the case.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said leg is a left leg of said patient. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , comprising an ultrasound transmitter. 
     
     
         20 . An ECG detecting wristwatch for sensing an ECG of a wearer, said ECG detecting wristwatch comprising
 a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode is configured to sense a first electric potential on a first skin surface of a subject, and said second electrode is configured to sense a second electric potential on a second skin surface of said subject;   a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a first wireless signal to a mobile computing device;   a receiver configured to receive a second wireless signal from said mobile computing device;   a processor coupled to said first and said second electrodes, said wireless transmitter, and said receiver; and   a non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with a computer program including instructions executable by said processor that cause said processor to encode said first and said second electric potentials into said first wireless signal, transmit said wireless signal with said wireless transmitter to said mobile computing device, and execute an instruction associated with said second wireless signal received by said receiver from said mobile computing device.   
     
     
         21 . The ECG detecting wristwatch of  claim 20 , wherein said instruction associated with said second wireless signal comprises an instruction to deactivate said first and second electrodes. 
     
     
         22 . The ECG detecting wristwatch of  claim 20 , wherein said instruction associated with said second wireless signal comprises an instruction to sense said first and second electric potentials with said first and said second electrodes. 
     
     
         23 . The ECG detecting wristwatch of  claim 20 , wherein said first wireless signal transmitted comprises an ultrasound signal. 
     
     
         24 . The ECG detecting wristwatch of  claim 23 , wherein said ultrasound signal comprises a frequency of above about 17 kHz; 
     
     
         25 . An ECG sensing system that senses and displays a six lead ECG of a subject, said ECG sensing system comprising
 a mobile computing device comprising a housing, a display screen, a memory, and a processor, said processor coupled to said display screen and said memory;   a first electrode coupled to said housing and said processor, a second electrode coupled to said housing and said processor, and a third electrode coupled to said housing and said processor, wherein said first electrode is configured to sense a first electric potential comprising an electric potential on a skin surface of a left upper extremity of said subject, said second electrode is configured to sense a second electric potential comprising an electric potential on a skin surface of said right upper extremity of said subject, and said third electrode is configured to sense a third electric potential comprising an electric potential on a skin surface of a left lower extremity of said subject;   wherein said memory comprises a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, said non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with a computer program including instructions executable by said processor to generate a lead I from a relationship comprising lead I=(said first electric potential−said second electric potential), generate a lead II from a relationship comprising lead II=(said third electric potential−said second electric potential), generate a lead III from a relationship comprising lead III=(said third electric potential−said first electric potential), generate a lead aVR from a relationship comprising aVR=−(lead I+lead II)/2, generate a lead aVL from a relationship comprising aVL=lead I−(lead II)/2, generate a lead aVF from a relationship comprising aVF=lead II−(lead I)/2, and display said six lead ECG on said display screen, said six lead ECG comprising said lead I, said lead II, said lead III, said lead aVR, said lead aVL, and said lead aVF; and   wherein said mobile computing device consists of a smartphone or a tablet computer.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said first, second and third electrical potentials comprise an electronic tag, said electronic tag comprising an identity of said subject. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said instructions, when executed by said processor further causes said processor to sense a baseline heart rate of said subject. 
     
     
         28 . A method for measuring a six lead ECG of a subject, said method comprising
 providing said subject a mobile computing device comprising a housing, a display screen, a memory, and a processor, said processor coupled to said display screen and said memory, wherein a first electrode is coupled to said housing and said processor, a second electrode is coupled to said housing and said processor, and a third electrode is coupled to said housing and said processor,   sensing with said first electrode a first electric potential comprising an electric potential on a skin surface of a left upper extremity of said subject, with said second electrode a second electric potential comprising an electric potential on a skin surface of said right upper extremity of said subject and with said third electrode a third electric potential comprising an electric potential on a skin surface of a left lower extremity of said subject;   generating a lead I from a relationship comprising lead I=(said first electric potential−said second electric potential), a lead II from a relationship comprising lead II=(said third electric potential−said second electric potential), a lead III from a relationship comprising lead III=(said third electric potential−said first electric potential), a lead aVR from a relationship comprising aVR=−(lead I+lead II)/2, a lead aVL from a relationship comprising aVL=lead I−(lead II)/2, and a lead aVF from a relationship comprising aVF=lead II−(lead I)/2; and   displaying said six lead ECG on said display screen, said six lead ECG comprising said lead I, said lead II, said lead III, said lead aVR, said lead aVL, and said lead aVF; and   wherein said mobile computing device comprises a smartphone or a tablet computer.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said first, second and third electrical potentials comprise an electronic tag, said electronic tag comprising an identity of said subject. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , comprising sensing a baseline heart rate of said subject.