Posture Assessment and Feedback Instrument

• US 20110046518A1
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Fischer
• Original Assignee: Peter Fischer
• Inventors: Fischer, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,157,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/594
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• 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 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0004 Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0244 with signalling or indicating means, e.g. of incorrect posture, for deep-breathing exercises

Abstract

A posture assessment and feedback instrument (FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B) all contained within a single housing (1). The output of a capacitive sensor (4) within the housing (1) varies in response to the distance between the sensor and the body of a user. The housing (1) is strapped to the body of a user (FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5B) with a belt (2). The application area is chosen such that the distance between the sensor (4) and the body varies in response to a defined posture change (FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B). Thus the sensor output will vary in response to the defined posture change. The output is compared to a stored threshold value and triggers a feedback signal when the threshold is exceeded.

Claims

1. A method for posture assessment comprising the steps of:

choosing a sensing means that provides an output in response to the distance between said sensing means and the body of a user,

choosing a suitable area of said body having properties causing said distance to vary in response to a defined posture change, and

applying said sensing means to said suitable area causing said distance and thus said output to vary in response to said defined posture change,

whereby no separate signal source and no moveable hardware components are required, thus allowing said sensing means to be particularly inexpensive, durable, cleanable, and usable, and

whereby said user has the user-friendly choice of applying said sensing means either directly to the skin or to the clothing.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensing means is capacitive.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said output is compared to a stored threshold value and triggers a feedback signal when said threshold is exceeded.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said defined posture change is spinal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said defined posture change is a change in spinal curvature.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said defined posture change is slumping.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensing means is free of moveable components.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensing means and all other electronic components required in the process of posture assessment are contained within a single housing.

9. A method for posture assessment comprising the steps of:

choosing a sensing means whose signal output changes in response to changes of the contact area between said sensing means and the body of a user wearing said sensing means,

choosing a suitable location on said body having properties causing said contact area to vary in response to a defined posture change, and

applying said sensing means to said suitable location, causing said contact area and thus said output signal to vary in response to said defined posture change,

whereby no separate signal source and no moveable hardware components are required, thus allowing said sensing means to be particularly inexpensive, durable, cleanable, and usable, and

whereby said user has the user-friendly choice of applying said sensing means either directly to the skin or to the clothing.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said sensing means is capacitive.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said sensing means is pressure-sensitive.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said output is compared to a stored threshold value and triggers a feedback signal when said threshold is exceeded.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said defined posture change is a change in spinal curvature.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said defined posture change is slumping.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said sensing means is free of moveable components.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said sensing means and all other electronic components required in the process of posture assessment are contained within a single housing.

17. A method for posture feedback comprising the steps of:

choosing a sensing means that provides an output in direct response to the distance between said sensing means and the body of a user,

choosing a suitable area of said body having properties causing said distance to vary in response to postural slumping, and

applying said sensing means to said suitable area causing said distance and thus said output to vary in response to said postural slumping, and

comparing said output to a stored threshold value and triggering a feedback signal when said threshold is exceeded,

whereby no separate signal source and no moveable hardware components are required, thus allowing said sensing means to be particularly inexpensive, durable, cleanable, and usable, and

whereby said user has the user-friendly choice of applying said sensing means either directly to the skin or to the clothing.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said sensing means is capacitive.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said sensing means is pressure-sensitive.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said sensing means and all other electronic components required in the process of posture assessment are contained within a single housing.