LIMB MOVEMENT MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20100036288A1
• Filed: 10/08/2007
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Bongers, Edwin Gerardus Johannus Maria, Lanfermann, Gerd, Te Vrugt, Juergen, Willmann, Richard Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,162,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/225 of the fingers, e.g. by monitoring hand-grip force
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes

Abstract

A limb movement monitoring system, comprising a motion sensor, a garment comprising spatially addressable photonic textiles and spatially resolving pressure-sensitive textiles and furthermore a muscular activity sensor, a processing unit processing the data from the sensors and issuing illumination commands to the spatially addressable photonic textiles and a database. There is furthermore a process for monitoring limb movement by the system.

Claims

1. Limb movement monitoring system, comprising:

a motion sensor (1),

a garment comprising spatially addressable photonic textiles (2) and spatially resolving pressure-sensitive textiles (3),

a processing unit (5) which receives data from the motion sensor (1) and from the spatially resolving pressure-sensitive textiles (3) and which issues illumination commands to the spatially addressable photonic textiles (2),

a database (6) in communication with the processing unit (5), wherein

the database (6) stores data from the motion sensor (1) resolved into individual spatial descriptors and time,

the database (6) stores data from the pressure-sensitive textiles (3) resolved into at least the categories of x and y coordinates and pressure,

the database (6) furthermore comprises comparison motion data resolved into individual spatial descriptors and time,

the processing unit (5) compares the motion data from the motion sensor to the comparison motion data in the database (6), and

the processing unit (5) issues illumination commands to the spatially addressable photonic textiles (2) based upon the deviation of the motion data from the comparison motion data and the deviation of the pressure data from a preset threshold.

2. System according to claim 1, further comprising a muscular activity sensor (4), wherein the processing unit (5) also receives data from the muscular activity sensor (4), the database (6) also stores data from the muscular activity sensor (4) and the processing unit (5) also issues illumination commands to the spatially addressable photonic textiles (2), based upon the deviation of the muscular activity data from a preset threshold.

3. System according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface (7) for accessing data from the database.

4. System according to claim 1, further comprising an external feedback system (8) communicating motion and/or pressure data.

5. System according to claim 1, wherein the spatially resolving pressure-sensitive textiles (3) comprise piezoresistive fabrics.

6. System according to claim 1, wherein the signals from the at least one motion sensor (1), from the pressure-sensitive textiles (3) and/or the commands to the spatially addressable photonic textiles (2) are transmitted wirelessly.

7. System according to claim 1, further comprising a glove comprising spatially resolving pressure-sensitive textiles, wherein the glove transmits pressure data to the processing unit (5).

8. System according to claim 1, further comprising sensors selected from the group comprising skin perspiration sensors, pulse sensors, blood pressure sensors and/or blood oxygen level sensors, wherein the sensors further provide input to the processing unit (5).

9. Process for monitoring limb movement by a system according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

a) calibrating the at least one motion sensor (1) by bringing the at least one motion sensor (1) into a predetermined position and registering the output signal from the at least one motion sensor (1) in this position

b) gathering motion sensor and pressure sensor output signals

c) assigning the motion sensor output signals to a position and a movement of the respective at least one motion sensor

d) storing the position, movement and pressure signals in a database (6)

e) comparing the position, movement and pressure signals which have been stored within a predetermined timeframe to predetermined position and movement data in the database (6)

f) deciding whether predefined boundary conditions with respect to position, movement and/or pressure are exceeded and communicating this.

10. Process according to claim 9, further comprising a feedback system (8) which additionally communicates exercises for the limbs to be moved.