WO2018131020A2

WO2018131020A2 - Apparatus and method for optimally hydrating the human body

Info

Publication number: WO2018131020A2
Application number: PCT/IB2018/052847
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donna ROPER; Gustavo DÍAZ; Jorge Luis SÁNCHEZ; Luzmila DAN
Original assignee: Universidad De Panamá
Priority date: 2018-04-16
Filing date: 2018-04-24
Publication date: 2018-07-19
Also published as: WO2018131020A3

Abstract

The apparatus comprises shoe inserts and a bracelet connected to one another. The shoe inserts (100) comprises a weight sensor (106), a pedometer (108), a hydration sensor (105), a body temperature sensor (103), a battery for the inserts (104), an antenna for the inserts (111) and an information processing unit (102) connected to the sensors and to the antenna configured for processing data collected by the sensors (106, 108, 105, 103). The bracelet (101) comprises a screen (109), an environmental temperature sensor (113) of the bracelet (101), a battery for the bracelet (112) and an antenna for the bracelet (110). A method for optimally hydrating the human body is also proposed which is carried out using the apparatus described above.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPTIMALLY HYDRATING THE HUMAN

BODY

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to shoe inserts which include sensors, an information processor and storage for saving the history of the data of the subject and the quantity of water which they should consume during the day.

The invention is included in the technical field of health, as a way of helping a subject so that they can prevent diseases related to their internal organs. The apparatus comprises the insert which goes inside the shoe and a pulse device (bracelet) which allows the information required by the subject to be sent. Once the subject puts on the shoe with the insert, the insert communicates information based on weight, temperature and calculates the quantity of water that should be consumed and it is shown on the screen. During the day, the quantity of water pending consumption by the subject is updated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that individuals are constantly active given the quantity of work they carry out, and they neglect and do not check their health conditions, which causes high rates of morbidity that in many cases result in death. In spite of the fact that water, the most important component of the body, represents more than 60% of the body, it is secreted through different systems attempting to maintain a homeostatic balance in the body which is of great interest, as is described in the document US20100174156.

These levels are altered in conditions such as climatological, physiological and metabolic conditions to which humans are constantly exposed. The consumption of water prevents diseases associated with the main systems of the body such as the neurological, the excretory, the digestive and the respiratory systems.

The use of sensors in footwear for compiling body information is a known alternative, as in document US7353137. The idea of using an insert to compile the data is described in the document US6360597 where required retroinformation on weight, temperature, hydration and exercise is implemented. The detected weight allows the quantity of water required by an individual to be calculated in litres, verifying the body temperature and the environmental temperature.

These values should not exceed the minimum values required for staying healthy. The document US20100312143 is also known which describes a measurement method. The values obtained are used for implementing the recalculation of the volumes. The document US9164000 is also known in which the temperature is measured by means of non-invasive sensors, as well as the document US20160025513 which describes a pedometer for measuring steps, which are used to calculate the speed of walking with the time and it is extrapolated to obtain the quantity of exercise carried out. At the same time, the use of sensors is known for measuring levels of liquid volume in the body as is described in US20140378849 for calculating the adjustments in the volume of water that must be consumed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists of an apparatus and a method for optimally hydrating the human body. The apparatus comprises sensors which are in shoe inserts designed for remaining housed in the footwear of the user. The apparatus also comprises a bracelet which allows information to be sent concerning the volumes of water that should be consumed by a subject in a period of time.

The invention not only includes the devices, but also the method which will be used to integrate the information of all the components. The time is one of the appealing factors which helps the subject to follow the program for water consumption.

In order to carry out the method, an application is included which performs the necessary calculations and adjustments, taking into account the limit values according to weight, temperature, exercise carried out. For the calculation of the weight, the average generated by weight sensors arranged in the two inserts (one corresponding to each foot of the user) is used since the weight is an important element in the calculation of the liquid volume that must be consumed.

The application is administered with the SaaS (software as a service) model, therefore the management of the data is done from a server to which the user has access by means of an application via the internet to provide more security.

With regard to the body temperature sensor, the higher the value thereof, measured in degree Celsius, the greater the loss of liquid in a period of time. This forces the system to recalculate the projected values. Similarly, at low temperatures, there is less loss of liquid which is very important because if the levels are exceeded, the work which should be carried out by the excretory system increases, not being able to respond to the required speed, and the excess concentrations of electrolytes and sodium are diluted not only in the blood, but also in the rest of the organs, risking hyponatremia.

In the case of illnesses, a body temperature sensor will also show high values, an indication that the subject may be dehydrated in a short time. In these cases, signals are sent to a screen arranged on the bracelet of the apparatus and the corresponding values obtained in the sensors and the values of water volume to be consumed are shown.

The apparatus and the method proposed function optimally when the screen and the bracelet are synchronized; in addition, the subject who interacts should continuously use the apparatus and method to improve the results.

In one preferred exemplary embodiment, the volume of water to be consumed is shown in the number of glasses with a determined volume in litres so that there is no confusion. In the event that the subject, over the course of thirty minutes for example, does not match with the indications, the system, by way of a repetitive process, will reiterate the notifications on the screen of the bracelet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement the description being made and with the object of helping to better understand the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred practical embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, by a set of figures where, in an illustrative and non- limiting manner, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a view in which a user has been represented with the apparatus for optimally hydrating the human body.

Figure 2 shows a view of the shoe insert of the apparatus.

Figures 3A-B show a view of the bracelet of the apparatus.

Figure 4 shows a diagram with steps of the method for optimally hydrating the human body.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described below with the help of Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 1 shows a person using the apparatus for optimally hydrating the human body. As can be seen in said figure, the apparatus comprises shoe inserts (100) and a bracelet (101 ) which are connected to one another. Figure 2 shows the shoe insert (100) and Figures 3A-B show the bracelet (101 ).

As can be seen in Figure 2, the shoe inserts (100) of the apparatus have a weight sensor (106), a pedometer (108), a hydration sensor (105), a body temperature sensor (103), a battery for the inserts (104), an antenna for the inserts (1 1 1 ) and an information processing unit (102) connected to the sensors and to the antenna configured for processing data collected by the sensors (106, 108, 105, 103).

In Figures 3A-B, the bracelet (101 ) is shown in two different views so that the elements included therein can be discerned with clarity. Figure 3A shows a screen (109) and an environmental temperature sensor (1 13) of the bracket (101 ). Figure 3B shows a battery for the bracelet (1 12) and an antenna for the bracelet (1 10).

The antenna for the bracelet (1 10) is configured for receiving information from the processing unit (102) and from the environmental temperature sensor (1 13) and showing it on the screen (109). The communication between the antennas of the inserts (100) and the bracelet (101 ) is carried out by means of an application by way of the internet.

When the individual who is going to use the apparatus puts in the inserts (100) for the first time, they are synchronized with the bracelet (101 ), assigning the general data (name, age and sex). The first values of weight, body temperature and hydration levels can also be registered, taken with the weight sensor (106), the body temperature sensor (103) and the hydration sensor (105). Said values are sent by means of communication between the antennas (1 1 1 , 1 10) from the processing unit (102) to the bracelet (101 ).

The screen which appears in Figure 3A is a touch screen which will allow for the immediate registration and visualization of the quantity of water that the user should consume during the day, indicating to the user when they should start to consume the liquid.

The reading of the values obtained by the sensors of the inserts (103,

105, 106, 108), the value of the environmental temperature measured with the corresponding sensor (1 13) of the bracelet is processed in the processing unit (102) of the inserts (100) where, according to the input data, the volume of water suggested for the user is calculated. Said suggested volume of water is shown on the screen (109) of the bracelet (101 ). During the day, the user receives information on the consumption which is continuously verified by means of constant sending of readings from the sensors. If the minimum hydration levels are not reached, notification messages are periodically shown on the screen (109).

The information processing unit (102) is preferably a microchip integrated with memory storage and an internal clock. As has been previously described, it is connected to all the sensors (106, 105, 108, 103) and to the antenna (1 1 1 ) for the inserts.

Data on user recognition, messages about litres of water to be consumed, time of water consumption, current time and date, reminder for consumption and verification of compliance is preferably shown on the screen (109).

The method for optimally hydrating the human body is observed in Figure 4 which is carried out with the apparatus previously described. As can be seen in said figure, the method comprises the following steps:

- reading the initial values determined by the sensors of the inserts (103, 105,

106, 108) with the processing unit (102) and storing said values in the processing unit (102);

- reading environmental temperature data from the environmental temperature sensor (1 13) and sending it by means of the antenna for the bracelet (101 ) to the processing unit (102);

- storing the data of said sensors (103, 105, 106, 108, 1 13) and processing said data in the processing unit (102) to obtain a value of water volume;

- sending the value of water volume to the screen (109).

As can also be seen in Figure 4, if the user does not drink water, the method can continue being executed with the following steps:

- sending a reminder with the processing unit (102) to the screen (109);

- re-obtaining the values of the sensors of the inserts (103, 105, 106, 108) and the environmental temperature data of the environmental temperature sensor (1 13);

- storing the data of said sensors (103, 105, 106, 108, 1 13) and processing said data in the processing unit (102) to obtain a new value of water volume;

- sending the new value of water volume to the screen (109).

Claims

1 . An apparatus for optimally hydrating the human body characterized in that it comprises:

- shoe inserts which have:

- a weight sensor;

- a pedometer;

- a hydration sensor;

- a body temperature sensor;

- a battery for the inserts;

- an antenna for the inserts; and

- an information processing unit connected to the sensors and to the antenna configured for processing data collected by the sensors;

- a bracelet which has:

- a screen;

- an environmental temperature sensor;

- a battery for the bracelet; and

- an antenna for the bracelet configured for receiving information from the processing unit and from the environmental temperature sensor and showing it on the screen,

and where the communication between the antennas of the inserts and the bracelet is carried out by means of an application via the internet.

2. The apparatus for optimally hydrating the human body according to claim 1 , characterized in that the screen is a touch screen.

3. The apparatus for optimally hydrating the human body according to claim 1 , characterized in that the processing unit (102) is a microchip integrated with memory storage and an internal clock.

4. A method for optimally hydrating the human body with the apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

- reading the initial values determined by the sensors of the inserts (103, 105, 106, 108) with the processing unit (102) and storing said values in the processing unit (102); - reading environmental temperature data from the environmental temperature sensor (1 13) and sending it by means of the antenna for the bracelet (101 ) to the processing unit (102);

- sending the value of water volume to the screen (109).

5. The method for optimally hydrating the human body according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises the following steps:

- sending a reminder with the processing unit (102) to the screen (109);

- sending the new value of water volume to the screen (109).