Apparatus controlling electrical stimulation and/or health training/monitoring

• US 20090240305A1
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shin, Kun-soo, Yeo, Hyung-sok, Han, Wan-taek, Lee, Jeong-hwan, Whang, Jin-sang
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/395 Details of stimulation, e.g. nerve stimulation to elicit EMG response
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2213/004 with electrotherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and medium for generating electrical stimulation, including an electromyogram detector detecting an electromyographic signal of a body, a fatigue index calculator calculating a fatigue index indicating a degree of muscle fatigue by converting the electromyographic signal detected by the electromyogram detector during a predetermined time unit into a frequency-domain electromyographic signal, and an electrical stimulation signal generator adjusting an electrical stimulation signal according to the calculated fatigue index and generating the electrical stimulation signal. Accordingly, a health training/monitoring apparatus can include an electrical stimulation generator adjusting an electrical stimulation signal according to a degree of fatigue and generating the electrical stimulation signal, a physical activity monitor monitoring a physical activity using at least one of a heart rate measurer and an accelerometer, and a mode selector selectively driving the electrical stimulation generator or the physical activity monitor according to an amount of the physical activity.

Claims

1. A health training/monitoring apparatus, comprising:

an electrical stimulation generator to adjust an electrical stimulation signal based on a degree of fatigue, of a muscle of a body, and generating the adjusted electrical stimulation signal;

a physical activity monitor to monitor a physical activity of a user using at least one of a heart rate measurer and an accelerometer for the body; and

a mode selector selectively driving the electrical stimulation generator or the physical activity monitor based on an amount of the monitored physical activity.

2. The health training/monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation generator comprises:

an electromyogram detector to detect an electromyographic signal of the body;

a fatigue index calculator to calculate a fatigue index indicating the degree of fatigue by converting the detected electromyographic signal, detected during a predetermined time unit, into a frequency-domain electromyographic signal; and

an electrical stimulation signal generator to adjust the electrical stimulation signal based on the calculated fatigue index and to generate the adjusted electrical stimulation signal.

3. The health training/monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the physical activity monitor comprises:

the heart rate measurer to measure a heart rate using a predetermined electrode attached to the body;

the accelerometer to measure an acceleration of physical movement of the body; and

an activity output unit to output at least one of a physical activity pattern and calories expended based on the measured heart rate and/or the measured acceleration

4. The health training/monitoring apparatus of claim 3, wherein the accelerometer measures the acceleration of the physical movement in any one of a one-axis direction, two-axis direction, or three-axis direction.

5. The health training/monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mode selector drives the physical activity monitor when an output waveform of the accelerometer is greater than a predetermined threshold value and drives the electrical stimulation generator when the output waveform of the accelerometer is not greater than the predetermined threshold value.

6. The health training/monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a waist belt or a patch.

7. The health training/monitoring apparatus of claim 6, wherein the waist belt or the patch comprises:

a first layer comprising a plurality of electrodes for measuring the heart rate, a plurality of electrodes for the electrical stimulation, and a plurality of electrodes for the measuring of the electromyographic signal; and

a second layer comprising the accelerometer measuring the acceleration of the physical movement and a predetermined controller.

8. The health training/monitoring apparatus of claim 7, wherein an airbag layer inflatable and deflatable by air is interposed between the first layer and the second layer.