Posture and body movement measuring system

• US 20070169364A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MicroStrain, Inc. (Spectris PLC)
• Inventors: Townsend, Christopher, Arms, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/512
• 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 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4561 Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature A61B5/1116 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg

Abstract

A system for measuring a living subject having a spine comprises a flexible strip, a first sensor, a processor, and a data storage device. The flexible strip, the first sensor, the processor, and the data storage device are located along the spine of the living subject. The first sensor, the processor and the data storage device are connected for collecting data related to bending of the flexible strip for determining a curvature of the spine of the living subject. The data from the first sensor is processed in the processor and stored in the storage device. One embodiment includes a transmitter for transmitting the data. Other embodiments include feedback and provide information about time duration in a posture.

Claims

1. A system for measuring a living subject having a spine, comprising a flexible strip, a first sensor, a processor, and a data storage device, wherein said flexible strip, said first sensor, said processor, and said data storage device are located along the spine of the living subject, wherein said first sensor, said processor and said data storage device are connected for collecting data related to bending of said flexible strip for determining a curvature of the spine of the living subject, wherein said data from said first sensor is processed in said processor and stored in said storage device.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first sensor includes a first solid state inclination measuring device.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor includes a program for detecting a plurality of postures based on said curvature of the spine.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein said processor includes a program for detecting at least one from the group consisting of a kyphotic curvature of the spine and a lordotic curvature of the spine.

5. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein said processor includes a program for detecting lateral curvature of the spine.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor includes a program for detecting twisting of the spine.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a component for measuring time duration, wherein said component for measuring time duration is for measuring the duration of time the subject has been in a posture.

10. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor includes a program to measure the time the living subject has had a measured curvature of the spine.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said processor includes a program to determine whether said time exceeds a preset value.

12. A system as recited in claim 11, further including a feedback mechanism, wherein said processor further includes a program to activate said feedback mechanism to prompt the subject to move if said time exceeds said preset value.

13. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein said processor includes a program to measure the time the living subject has had a kyphotic curvature of the spine and to determine whether said time exceeds a preset value.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, further including a feedback mechanism, wherein said processor includes a program to determine whether magnitude of curvature of the spine exceeds a preset value, and wherein said processor further includes a program to activate said feedback mechanism to prompt the subject to move if said magnitude exceeds said preset value.

15. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second sensor for attaching to the subject for distinguishing lying, sitting, and standing positions.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said second sensor includes a second inclination measuring device for determining inclination with respect to the gravity vector.

17. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said living subject includes a hip joint and a body segment below said hip joint, wherein said second sensor includes a second solid state inclination measuring device, wherein said second inclination measuring device is for attaching to said second body segment below said hip joint.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, further comprising a first housing and a second housing, wherein said first inclination measuring device is included in said first housing and wherein said second inclination measuring device is included in said second housing.

19. A system as recited in claim 18, further comprising a third housing, wherein said processor and said storage device are included in said third housing.

20. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a housing wherein said processor and said storage device are including in said housing.

21. A system as recited in claim 20, further comprising an attaching structure, wherein said attaching structure is for attaching said housing to the living subject.

22. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a transmitter and a receiver, wherein said first sensor is connected to provide data to said transmitter transmitter for transmission to said receiver.

23. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitter is located along the spine of the living subject.

8. A system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a mechanism for determining whether said time duration exceeds a preset value.

9. A system as recited in claim 9, further comprising an indicator for prompting the subject to move if said time duration exceeds said preset value.

24. A system for measuring a living subject having a spine, comprising a flexible strip, a first sensor, a transmitter and a receiver, wherein said flexible strip, said first sensor, and said transmitter are located along the spine of the living subject, wherein said first sensor is located for obtaining data related to bending of said flexible strip for determining a curvature of the spine of the living subject, wherein said transmitter is connected to provide data from said first sensor for transmission to said receiver.

25. A system as recited in claim 24, further comprising a housing wherein said transmitter is including in said housing.

26. A system as recited in claim 25, further comprising an attaching structure, wherein said attaching structure is for attaching said housing to the living subject.

27. A system for communicating to a user, comprising a first sensor, a second sensor, a processor, a storage device, and a feedback mechanism, wherein said first sensor is for placing on a first body segment of the user, wherein said second sensor is for placing on a second body segment of the user, wherein said processor and said storage device are for placing on the user, wherein multiple points of data from said first sensor and from said second sensor are processed in said processor to provide an output, wherein said output is stored in said storage device as a function of time, wherein said processor is programmed to direct said feedback mechanism to communicate to the user at least one from the group including information and instruction in response to said multiple points of time dependent output, wherein data from said first sensor is independent of location of said second sensor.

28. A system as recited in claim 27, wherein said processor includes a program for directing said feedback mechanism to provide at least one from the group consisting of information and instruction in response to said multiple points of time dependent output indicating at least one from the group consisting of inactivity, activity of a joint during an interval of time that is less than a preset level of activity, a range of motion of a joint during an interval of time that is less than a preset range of motion, and vibration during an interval of time that is greater than a preset amount of vibration.

29. A system as recited in claim 27, wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are for determining posture, wherein said processor includes a program for providing feedback to the user based on time duration the subject has been in a posture.

30. A system as recited in claim 29, wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are for determining spine curvature.

31. A system as recited in claim 29, further comprising a mechanism for determining whether said time duration exceeds a preset value.

32. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said feedback mechanism includes an indicator for prompting the subject to move if said time duration exceeds said preset value.