An earbud-type wearable (A hearable) with vital parameter sensors for early detection and prevention of heat-stroke

Abstract

Heat-stroke has become a serious problem in Japan, especially for elderly citizens. For the early detection and prevention of heat-stroke, a wearable health monitor for in-ear use is developed which is subsequently called 'Hearable'. It aims to measure three vital parameters: Core body temperature, sweat rate and sweat or interstitial sodium ion (Na+) concentration. The eardrum is a good place to measure the core body temperature, because it is close to the carotid artery and the brain. We develop a hearable prototype and it consists of an audio earbud, a sensor earbud and a micro controller. Concerning the sensor earbud, a present prototype includes an eardrum (tympanic) temperature sensor and a sweat rate sensor and we implement two variants. Variant-1 focuses on the sweat rate sensing using a humidity temperature sensor located close to the eardrum and Variant-2 focuses on the eardrum temperature sensing using an IR temperature sensor. Concerning the sweat rate sensing, unlike conventional sweat sensors, our prototypes do not include an air flow pump, which is typically used to determine the air flow rate. We demonstrate the accuracy of sweat rate sensing based on the air flow rate measured from the evaporation of defined amount of water. We use Variant-2 to demonstrate the monitoring of the eardrum temperature and the sweat rate to differentiate a calm state and jogging.