US 12,082,946 B2
Ear gel modules and earpiece monitoring devices incorporating same
Shawn M. Stephenson, Raleigh, NC (US)
Assigned to YUKKA MAGIC LLC, Wilmington, DE (US)
Appl. No. 16/964,941
Filed by YUKKA MAGIC LLC, Wilmington, DE (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 15, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/018252
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 24, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/164764, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 29, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/632,686, filed on Feb. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0038161 A1, Feb. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 5/00 (2006.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01); H04R 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/7207 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0059 (2013.01); A61B 5/6817 (2013.01); G02B 6/4202 (2013.01); H04R 1/1016 (2013.01); A61B 2562/0233 (2013.01); A61B 2562/185 (2013.01)] 48 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A biometric monitoring device, comprising:
a housing;
an optical sensor module within the housing that is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from a subject wearing the device, the optical sensor module comprising an optical source and an optical detector;
a first light guide extending from a first location on the housing and defined by a first material, the first light guide opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end of the first light guide is in optical communication with the optical source, and wherein the second end of the first light guide is located external to the housing;
a second light guide, extending from a second location on the housing and defined by the first material, the second light guide comprising, opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end of the second light guide is in optical communication with the optical detector, and wherein the second end of the second light guide is located external to the housing; and
an ear gel module secured to the housing and comprising:
a sound output tube having a free end with an opening;
an ear gel comprising a second material having greater flexibility than the first material and attached to the sound output tube free end, wherein the ear gel extends around a portion of the sound output tube in coaxial relationship therewith, and wherein the ear gel comprises:
a third light guide defined by the second material and having opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end of the third light guide is optically coupled to the second end of the first light guide and secured to a first inner surface of the ear gel; and
a fourth light guide defined by the second material and having opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end of the fourth light guide is optically coupled to the second end of the second light guide and secured to a second inner surface of the each gel.