Method and apparatus for body impact protection
First Claim
1. A system for protecting a patient from a fall, said system comprising:
- at least one airbag disposed relative to the patient such that said airbag is interposed between the patient and expected injurious hard surfaces, and means for inflating said airbag;
motion sensors operably connected to the patient, said motion sensors being operable to detect vertical motion of the patients pelvis, horizontal motion of the patients pelvis, rotation of the patient'"'"'s pelvis, vertical motion of the patient'"'"'s thorax, horizontal motion of the patient'"'"'s thorax, and rotation of the patient'"'"'s thorax;
a control system operable to receive and interpret signals from the motion sensor and control the means for inflating the airbag, said control system being programmed to interpret motion sensor signals falling within a first set of predetermined parameters as typical movement of the patient and to interpret motion sensor signals falling within a second set of predetermined parameters as a fall, said control means being further programmed to operate the means for inflating the airbag to inflate the airbag upon determination of a fall.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to active protective garments which are inconspicuously worn by an individual and which activate upon certain conditions being met. Activation causes inflation of regions of the active protective garment to provide padding and impact cushioning for the wearer. The invention is an active protective garment such as pair of shorts or pants, a jacket, a vest, underwear, and the like. The garments comprise multiple layers of material that constrain pockets or regions that are inflatable by a source of compressed gas or foam. The garments also comprise sensors to detect ballistic parameters such as acceleration, distance, relative acceleration, and rotation. The sensor information is used to determine whether activation is required. Detection and activation are accomplished in a very short time period in order to offer maximal protection for the individual wearing the garment. The system comprises a computer or logic controller that monitors the sensor data in real time and coordinates the information from all sensors. The system calculates velocity, distance, and rotational velocity. A rule-based system is used to detect a complex fall in progress and discriminate said fall in progress from the events of every day life. The pockets or inflatable regions of the garment protect the individual against falls and other impacts that may cause bone fracture or organ damage.
298 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for protecting a patient from a fall, said system comprising:
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at least one airbag disposed relative to the patient such that said airbag is interposed between the patient and expected injurious hard surfaces, and means for inflating said airbag;
motion sensors operably connected to the patient, said motion sensors being operable to detect vertical motion of the patients pelvis, horizontal motion of the patients pelvis, rotation of the patient'"'"'s pelvis, vertical motion of the patient'"'"'s thorax, horizontal motion of the patient'"'"'s thorax, and rotation of the patient'"'"'s thorax;
a control system operable to receive and interpret signals from the motion sensor and control the means for inflating the airbag, said control system being programmed to interpret motion sensor signals falling within a first set of predetermined parameters as typical movement of the patient and to interpret motion sensor signals falling within a second set of predetermined parameters as a fall, said control means being further programmed to operate the means for inflating the airbag to inflate the airbag upon determination of a fall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18)
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15. The system for detecting a fall of a patient, said system comprising:
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a garment adapted to be worn over the thorax of the patient;
a stay secured to the garment such that it is vertically oriented relative to the patient, and extends from the lower torso to the upper torso of the patient when the garment is worn;
a first motion sensor array fixed to the stay near the lower torso when worn;
a second motion sensor array fixed to the stay near the upper torso when worn;
an airbag secured to the garment;
a control system operable to receive and interpret signals from the motion sensors and control inflation of the airbag, said control system programmed to cause inflation of the airbag based when the signal from the motion sensors match predetermined parameters indicating that the patient is falling.
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Specification