Electro-optical inclination detector and device comprising such a detector for generating an alarm as a function of the inclination of the body, or of a part of the body, of an individual

• US 20030067654A1
• Filed: 10/23/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alain Zozime, Gerard Dumoutier
• Original Assignee: Alain Zozime, Gerard Dumoutier
• Inventors: Dumoutier, Gerard, Zozime, Alain
• Application Number:
  US10/278,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067654A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg

Abstract

The invention concerns an inclination detector comprising a displacement guide, a member mobile along the displacement guide, and means cooperating with the mobile member to control an alarm generator based on the inclination of the displacement guide. The invention is characterised in that said means comprise electrooptical transmitter and receiver for respectively transmitting and receiving an optical beam so as to activate or deactivate the alarm generator when the mobile member obstructs the optical beam by moving along the displacement guide. Preferably, the mobile member as well as the electrooptical transmitter and receiver are arranged in a sealed displacement guide. The inventive detector is fixed to an undergarment enabling a user to acquire and integrate a movement adapted to the spine.

Claims

1. Inclination detector, comprising a displacement guide, a member which can move along the displacement guide, and means which interact with the mobile member so as to control an alarm generator as a function of the inclination of the displacement guide, characterised in that these means comprise an electro-optical transmitter and an electro-optical receiver, for respectively transmitting and receiving an optical beam so as to activate or deactivate the alarm generator when the mobile member blocks the optical beam by moving along the displacement guide.

2. Detector according to claim 1, characterised in that the mobile member is in the form of a weight.

3. Detector according to claim 1, characterised in that the mobile member is in the form of a ball or a cylinder which moves in a groove of the housing.

4. Detector according to claim 2, characterised in that the electro-optical transmitter and the electro-optical receiver are separated from one another so as to permit the insertion of a shutter member for the optical beam, which is mounted on the weight so as to project from it.

5. Detector according to claim 1, characterised in that the mobile member or the housing is made from a plastic material.

6. Detector according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises channels which allow a gas to flow in the displacement guide when the mobile member is moving inside it.

7. Detector according to claim 6, characterised in that it comprises bars which are inserted inside the channels in order to adjust the flow of the gas in the displacement guide.

8. Detector according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises wedges for adjusting the displacement travel of the mobile member along the displacement guide.

9. Device designed for generating an alarm as a function of the inclination of the body, or of a part of the body, of an individual, comprising an anatomical support intended to be worn by the individual, and one or more inclination detectors according to one of the preceding claims, which are each fixed on the anatomical support and are joined to an alarm generator, characterised in that the mobile member as well as the electro-optical transmitter and the electro-optical receiver of the detectors are arranged in a leaktight displacement guide, in order to make it possible to wash the anatomical support without removing the detectors.

10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the alarm generator is arranged in a leaktight housing fixed to the anatomical support.

11. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that it comprises an electronics unit, joined to the alarm generator and to each detector, for acquiring and processing the signals indicating the crossing of inclination thresholds (α

SB) or (α

SH) delivered by the electro-optical receiver of each detector, which unit is arranged in a leaktight housing fixed to the anatomical support.

12. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the anatomical support is an undergarment.