Method of controlling prosthetic devices with smart wearable technology

• US 10,111,761 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dow, Eli M., Fitzsimmons, Thomas D., Harvey, Joseph D., Rohde, Douglas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US14/862,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20160378100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4155 characterised by programme execution, i.e. part programme or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a programme
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45168 Bone prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

A method, computer program product and computer system for mode selection of a prosthesis is provided. A processor of a wearable device receives a first input from a user. A processor of a wearable device determines the first input indicates a change to a mode of operation of the prosthesis. A processor of a wearable device sends a first command to the prosthesis to change the mode of operation of the prosthesis.

Claims

1. A method for mode selection of a prosthesis, the method comprising:

receiving, by a wearable device, a first input from a user, wherein (i) the wearable device is a ring that comprises a rotatable housing with a touch surface sensitive surface, and (ii) the first user input comprises the user touching the touch surface;

determining, by the wearable device, the first input indicates a change to a user-activated mode of operation of the prosthesis;

sending, by the wearable device, a first command to the prosthesis to change the user-activated mode of operation of the prosthesis;

in response to receiving the first command by the prosthesis, operating one or more control devices of the prosthesis to change a current user-activated mode of operation of the prosthesis based, at least in part, on the determined user-activated mode of operation associated with the received first input;

receiving, by the wearable device, a second input from a user;

determining, by the wearable device, the second input indicates an activation operation of the prosthesis;

sending, by the wearable device, a second command to the prosthesis to activate the prosthesis; and

in response to receiving the second command by the prosthesis, operating the one or more control devices of the prosthesis to perform an action associated with the current user-activated mode of operation of the prosthesis.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

in response to the user rotating the rotatable housing, sending, by the wearable device, the first command.

3. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

in response to the user contacting the touch sensitive surface, sending, by the wearable device, the second command.

4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

determining, by the wearable device, an identity of the user;

identifying, by the wearable device, a profile of the user based, at least in part, of the identity of the user; and

connecting, by the wearable device, to a prosthetic device associated with the profile of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

in response to a detection that the wearable device is removed, preventing, by the wearable device, the sending of the first command.