Method and apparatus for sensing body gesture, posture and movement

• US 20040024312A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Inventors: Zheng, Yongping
• Granted Patent: US 6,984,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4523 Tendons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence

Abstract

A method for indirectly assessing the gesture, posture or movement of a body part of a person includes transmitting an ultrasound signal into the soft tissue, particularly the muscle, of body part and manipulating the reflected ultrasound signal to obtain parameter data. The parameter data is compared to reference information to obtain gesture, posture or movement information for the body part. Apparatus includes an ultrasound transmitter and receiver for transmitting, a signal processor, and a processor for storing reference information and determining gesture, posture or movement information for the body part.

Claims

1. A method for indirectly assessing the gesture, posture or movement of a body part of a person including:

applying an ultrasound transmitter and receiver to a body part to be monitored,

using the transmitter to transmit an ultrasound signal into the body part and receiving a reflected and/or scattered ultrasound signal at the receiver,

manipulating the reflected and/or scattered ultrasound signal to obtain parameter data, and

comparing the parameter data to reference information to obtain gesture or posture information for the body part.

2. A method for indirectly assessing the gesture, posture or movement of a body part of a person including:

applying an ultrasound transducer or transducer array to a body part to be monitored,

using a transmitter to transmit an ultrasound signal into the body part and receiving a reflected and/or scattered ultrasound signal at the receiver via the ultrasound transducer or transducer array,

manipulating the reflected and/or scattered ultrasound signal to obtain parameter data, and comparing the parameter data to reference information to obtain gesture or posture information for the body part.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 including analysing changes in gesture or posture to determine movement information for the body part.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ultrasound signal is transmitted into muscle tissue used to manipulate the body part.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ultrasound signal is transmitted into tendon tissue linking muscle tissue and the body part.

6. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein parameter information is one or more of amplitude, phase, flight-time, frequency spectrum and waveform pattern of the reflected signal.

7. A method as claimed in claim 2 including initial training for obtaining reference information, the training including:

using the transmitter to transmit one or more training signals into the body part and receiving reflected and/or scattered training signals at the receiver via the ultrasound transducer or transducer array,

manipulating the reflected and/or scattered training signals to obtain training parameter data, wherein the training parameter data includes one or more of amplitude, phase, flight-time, frequency spectrum and waveform pattern of the reflected training signals, and

storing the training parameter data as reference information.

8. A method for indirectly assessing the gesture, posture or movement of a body part of a person including:

applying an ultrasound transducer or transducer array to a body part to be monitored,

using a transmitter to transmit ultrasound signals into the body part and receiving reflected and/or scattered ultrasound signals at the receiver,

manipulating the reflected and/or scattered ultrasound signals to obtain a plurality of parameter data, and

comparing changes in the parameter data to determine movement information for the body part.

9. An apparatus for indirectly assessing the gesture, posture or movement of a body part of a person including:

an ultrasound transducer or transducer array for attaching to a body part to be monitored,

an ultrasound transmitter and receiver for transmitting an ultrasound signal into the body part and receiving a reflected and/or scattered ultrasound signal,

a signal processor for manipulating the reflected ultrasound signal to obtain parameter information, and

a processor for storing reference information and comparing the parameter information to said reference information to determine gesture, posture or movement information for the body part.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further including a data collector for receiving and storing the reflected and/or scattered signal and/or parameter information.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ultrasound transmitter is adapted and arranged to transmit the ultrasound signal into muscle tissue, and the receiver is adapted and arranged to receive the reflected and/or scattered ultrasound signals for the muscle tissue via the ultrasound transducer or transducer array.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein at least the processor is implemented on a computer, the computer including a display to graphically illustrate the gesture, posture or movement information for the body part.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ultrasound transducer, transmitter and receiver, signal processor, and the processor are integrated into a compact unit that can be worn on the body part.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ultrasound transducer, transmitter and receiver, signal processor, and the processor are integrated into a compact unit that can be embedded in the body part.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ultrasound transducer is integrated with other types of sensors for monitoring the gesture, posture, and movement of the body part.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ultrasound transducer has a flat shape.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ultrasound transducer is attached on the body surface by adhesive materials on the transducer surface.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ultrasound transducer is embedded in the inner surfaces of a prosthesis socket.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ultrasound transducer array is arranged on a flexible substance.

20. A method for indirectly assessing the gesture, posture or movement of a body part of a person including:

applying an ultrasound transmitter and receiver to a body part to be monitored,

applying a tissue stimulator on the body part to manipulate muscle and/or tendon tissue of the body part,

using the transmitter to transmit a detecting ultrasound signal into the body part and receiving a reflected and/or scattered ultrasound signal at the receiver,

processing the reflected and/or scattered ultrasound signal to obtain the stiffness information of the muscle and/or tendon tissue, and

comparing the stiffness information to reference information to obtain gesture or posture information for the body part.

21. An apparatus for indirectly assessing the gesture, posture or movement of a body part of a person including:

an ultrasound transducer or transducer array for attaching to a body part to be monitored,

an ultrasound transmitter and receiver for transmitting a detecting ultrasound signal into the body part and receiving a reflected and/or scattered ultrasound signal,

a tissue stimulator for manipulating muscle and/or tendon tissues of the body part,

a signal processor for processing the reflected ultrasound signal to obtain the tissue stiffness information, and

a processor for storing reference information and comparing the tissue stiffness information to said reference information to determine gesture, posture or movement information for the body part.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the tissue stimulator is a compressor for loading and unloading the muscle and/or tendon tissues in a static way.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the tissue stimulator is a low frequency vibrator for vibrating the muscle and/or tendon tissues.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the tissue stimulator is a second ultrasound transmitter for transmitting a stimulating ultrasound beam into the muscle and/or tendon tissues.