Dynamic proprioception

• US 10,561,881 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2016
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tau Orthopedics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tau Orthopedics, Inc.
• Inventors: Matsuura, Belinko K., Matsuura, David G., von Hoffmann, Kaitlin, von Hoffmann, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US15/560,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20180093121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0209 Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 : Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 : Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0666 : worn on the head or face, e.g. combined with goggles or glasses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00185 : using resistance provided by the user, e.g. exercising one body part against a resistance provided by another body part A63B21/068 takes precedence; isometric exercise A63B21/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00189 : using resistance provided by plastic deformable materials, e.g. lead bars or kneadable masses resilient force-resistors made of material having high internal friction A63B21/028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 : using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0053 : using alternators or dynamos
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 : using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 : of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00845 : using electrorheological or magnetorheological fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0087 : of the piston-cylinder type using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/012 : using frictional force-resisters electromagnetically-controlled brakes A63B21/0056
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/023 : Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/028 : made of material having high internal friction, e.g. rubber, steel wool, intended to be compressed resistance provided by plastic deformable materials A63B21/00189
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 : Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/159 : Using levers for transmitting forces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4011 : to the lower limbs means for physically limiting movements of body parts A63B69/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 : to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4025 : Resistance devices worn on the user's body A63B21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4039 : contoured to fit to specific body parts, e.g. back, knee or neck support arrangements for attaching exercising apparatus to the user's body A63B21/4001; handles, pedals, bars or platforms A63B21/4033
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 : Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 : magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 : with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2213/004 : with electrotherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 : Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 : Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 : Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 : Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/202 : glucose
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/205 : P-CO2, i.e. partial CO2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 : P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/42 : rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 : temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/60 : muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/65 : skin conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/02 : for the abdomen, the spinal column or the torso muscles related to shoulders (e.g. chest muscles)
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0482 : primarily by articulating the hip joints A63B23/0211, A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0494 : primarily by articulating the knee joints A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1245 : Primarily by articulating the shoulder joint A63B23/129 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1281 : primarily by articulating the elbow joint
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 : Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 : for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A wearable device such as a garment is disclosed, having at least one resistance element at a motion segment such as a hip or knee. The garment includes at least one sensor, for sensing a parameter. Electronics are provided for processing the sensed parameter, and for providing feedback. Feedback may be in the form of proprioceptive tactile or audible feedback, or in the form of an adjustment of a performance parameter of the wearable device. In one implementation, resistance to movement of the wearer is adjusted up or down in response to changes in power output by the wearer.

Claims

1. A dynamic proprioception garment, comprising:

a waist region, a right leg and a left leg;

a resistance unit associated with at least one of the right and left leg;

a sensor; and

an effector, separate from the resistance unit, for providing proprioceptive feedback to a wearer of the garment.

2. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 1, comprising at least one effector on the left leg and at least one effector on the right leg.

3. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 2, comprising at least one effector on a posterior of the left leg and at least one effector on a posterior of the right leg.

4. The dynamic proprioception garment as m claim 3, comprising electronics configured to activate at least one effector in response to a characteristic of stride reaching a preset alarm limit.

5. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 4, wherein the characteristic comprises stride rate.

6. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 4, wherein the characteristic comprises stride length.

7. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 1, wherein the location of the effector is correlated with a parameter of interest.

8. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 7, wherein the location of the effector is correlated with information relating to blood oxygen saturation.

9. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 7, wherein the location of the effector is correlated with information relating to heart rate.

10. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 7, wherein the location of the effector is correlated with information relating to body temperature.

11. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 7, wherein the location of the effector is correlated with information relating to power exertion.

12. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 7, wherein the location of the effector is correlated with information relating to respiration rate.

13. The dynamic proprioception garment as m claim 1, wherein the effector is configured to change the resistance provided by the resistance unit, in response to data obtained by the sensor.

14. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 1, comprising a left resistance unit having a left housing and a right resistance unit having a right housing.

15. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 14, comprising a left sensor in the left housing and a right sensor in the right housing.

16. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 15, further comprising a transmitter, for transmitting data to a remote device.

17. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 14, comprising a left rotary damper in the left housing and a right rotary damper in the right housing.

18. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 17, wherein the left rotary damper imposes a resistance of at least about 10 inch pounds.

19. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 18, wherein the left rotary damper imposes a resistance of at least about 15 inch pounds.

20. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 18, further comprising a first attachment and a second attachment connected by a pivotable connection.

21. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 20, further comprising a left femoral lever and a right femoral lever.

22. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 21, wherein at least one femoral lever has a length of at least about two inches.

23. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 22, wherein at least one femoral lever has a length of at least about four inches.

24. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a force sensor.

25. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

26. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a bend angle sensor.

27. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a spatial deviation sensor.

28. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a gyroscope.

29. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 14, wherein the effector comprises a vibrator.

30. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 14, wherein the effector produces a sound.

31. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 14, wherein the effector produces a visual indicator.

32. The dynamic proprioception garment as in claim 14, further comprising a processor.