SKELETAL-MUSCULAR POSITION MONITORING DEVICE

• US 20100324457A1
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jacob Bean
• Original Assignee: Jacob Bean
• Inventors: Hollingworth, Bradley James, Bean, Jacob, Lynn, Jeffrey Jess, Gilbert, Allen Bruce, Seaver, Nathan Odell
• Application Number:
  US12/635,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20100324457A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• 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 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg

Abstract

A system is disclosed that records position data for portions of a body as a function of time. The position data can be collected from one or more sensors secured to the body either individually or using a patch. The sensors, in some embodiments, can include stretch sensors that produce a change in electrical resistance as the stretch sensors are stretched. A data logger can be used to record the data. Various other elements such as a feedback mechanism or a manual pain indicator can also be included.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of stretch sensors configured to be attached to a body, wherein each stretch sensor is also configured to translate a longitudinal stretch into a change in an electrical property of the stretch sensor; and

a data logger coupled with the plurality of stretch sensors and configured to measure the electrical property of the stretch sensors and store electrical property data as a function of time.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical property comprises resistance.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a tilt sensor coupled with the data logger, wherein the data logger is configured to record tilt data as a function of time.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the tilt sensor comprises an accelerometer or an inclinometer.

5. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a user interface, wherein the data logger is configured to receive and record an indication from the user through the user interface that a painful event has occurred.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the user interface comprises a button.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the data logger is configured to determine threshold values from the electrical property data received from the stretch sensors and the indication received from the user.

8. The system according to claim 7 further comprising a feedback device coupled with the data logger, wherein the feedback device is configured to provide a user feedback when electrical property data approaches the threshold value.

9. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a patch configured to adhere to a portion of a body, wherein at least one of the plurality of stretch sensors is coupled with the patch and attached to the body using the patch.

10. A system comprising:

a patch configured to couple with a body;

a plurality of sensors coupled with the patch, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to sense a position of the sensors relative to one another;

memory; and

a controller communicatively coupled with the plurality of sensors and the memory, wherein the controller is configured to receive sensor data and write the sensor data to the memory.

11. The system according to claim 10 further comprising a tilt sensor coupled with the patch and communicatively coupled with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to write tilt data to the memory.

12. The system according to claim 10 further comprising a feedback mechanism communicatively coupled with the controller, wherein the feedback mechanism is configured to provide feedback to a user in response to a signal from the controller, wherein the controller provides a signal to the feedback mechanism when sensor data reaches a threshold value.

13. The system according to claim 12 further comprising a tilt sensor coupled with the patch and communicatively coupled with the controller, wherein the controller provides a signal to the feedback mechanism when one or both of sensor data and tilt data reaches a threshold value.

14. The system according to claim 12 wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a stretch sensor.

15. The system according to claim 12 wherein at least one of the sensors comprises an electromyographical sensor.

16. The system according to claim 12 wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a tilt sensor.

17. A method comprising:

receiving data from a plurality of stretch sensors coupled with a body, wherein the data includes data elements indicating the position of the body;

determining whether one or more data elements approaches a threshold value;

in the event one or more data elements approaches a threshold value, providing feedback to the user.

18. The method according to claim 18 further comprising:

receiving an indication from the user indicating a painful position;

recalculating the threshold value based on the data elements received when the indication was received from the user.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the feedback includes either vibration or shock.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the data comprises either resistance or voltage.