BELT-MOUNTED MOVEMENT SENSOR SYSTEM

• US 20130211772A1
• Filed: 02/13/2012
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MedHab, LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnny Ross Jr
• Inventors: Ross, Johnny Jr., Sanghera, Jagdeepinder Singh
• Granted Patent: US 9,282,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• 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: A61B 5/6841 by using templates
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A belt-mounted movement sensor system apparatus has a flexible belt shaped to be worn around the midsection of the user. The system has an array of accelerometers disposed on or within the flexible belt to physically associate with positions on the midsection of the user. Each array of accelerometers has a sample rate that can be configured for sensing body movement during a movement activity. A power source and a data collection system are operably connected to the array of accelerometers. The data collection system has a means for receiving data from the array of accelerometers and processing that data into a storable format.

Claims

1. A belt-mounted movement sensor system for tracking and recording movement data of a midsection of a user, the system comprising:

a flexible belt shaped to be worn around and abut the midsection of the user;

an array of accelerometers disposed on or within the flexible belt to physically associate with positions on the midsection of the user, each of the array of accelerometers having a sample rate that can be configured for sensing body movement during a movement activity;

a power source operably connected to the array of accelerometers; and

a data collection system operably connected to the array of accelerometers, the data collection system having a means for receiving data from the array of accelerometers and processing that data into a storable format.

2. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 1, wherein the array of accelerometers includes at least two central accelerometers that are mounted in a line on the flexible belt in a manner that allows them to align with the spine of the user when the flexible belt is worn.

3. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 2, further comprising heating coils on either side of the line formed between the two central accelerometers.

4. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 2, wherein the array of accelerometers further includes at least two left-side accelerometers that are mounted in a line on the flexible belt in a manner that allows them to align with the left side of the user when the flexible belt is worn, and further includes at least two right-side accelerometers that are mounted in a line on the flexible belt in a manner that allows them to align with the right side of the user when the flexible belt is worn.

5. A belt-mounted movement sensor system for tracking and recording movement data of a midsection of a user, the system comprising:

a flexible belt adapted to be worn around the midsection of the user, the flexible belt having a planar body shaped to abut the midsection of the user, and at least one storage compartment;

an array of accelerometers disposed on or within the planar body of the flexible belt to physically associate with positions on the midsection of the user, each of the array of accelerometers having a sample rate that can be configured for sensing body movement during a movement activity;

a power source stored in the at least one storage compartment of the flexible belt and operably connected to the array of accelerometers; and

a data collection system adapted to be stored in the at least one storage compartment of the flexible belt and operably connected to the array of accelerometers, the data collection system having a means for receiving data from the array of accelerometers and processing that data into a storable format.

6. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 5, wherein the means for receiving and processing includes a processor and a memory in the data collection system, the processor and the memory being configured to receive data from the array of accelerometers and process that data into a storable format.

7. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 5, wherein the means for receiving and processing includes a transceiver operably connected with the array of accelerometers for transmitting body movement data received from the array of accelerometers to a central computer.

8. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 7, wherein the central computer comprises:

a processor;

a memory operably connected with the processor and configured to receive the body movement data in a storable format and to store that data to allow for later retrieval and comparison of that data; and

a user interface adapted to enable analysis of the body movement data.

9. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 5, further comprising at least one gyroscope operably mounted on the flexible belt adjacent to the array of accelerometers for measuring an orientation of the flexible belt while being worn by the user.

10. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 5, wherein the array of accelerometers includes at least two central accelerometers that are mounted in a line on the flexible belt in a manner that allows them to align with the spine of the user when the flexible belt is worn.

11. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 10, wherein the array of accelerometers further includes at least two left-side accelerometers that are mounted in a line on the flexible belt in a manner that allows them to align with the left side of the user when the flexible belt is worn, and further includes at least two right-side accelerometers that are mounted in a line on the flexible belt in a manner that allows them to align with the right side of the user when the flexible belt is worn.

12. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 11, further comprising a central gyroscope operably mounted on the flexible belt between each of two central accelerometers.

13. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 12, further comprising a right-side gyroscope and a left-side gyroscope, the right-side gyroscope being operably mounted on the flexible belt between two right-side accelerometers, and the left-side gyroscope being operably mounted on the flexible belt between two left-side accelerometers.

14. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 5, further comprising heating coils operably mounted on the flexible belt.

15. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 5, wherein the array of accelerometers includes at least two central accelerometers that are mounted in a line on the flexible belt in a manner that allows them to align with the spine of the user when the flexible belt is worn, and further comprising heating coils operably mounted on the flexible belt on both sides of the two central accelerometers.

16. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 11, wherein each of the at least two left-side accelerometers and each of the at least two right-side accelerometers are operably mounted on a lateral slot of the flexible belt, so that they each may be adjusted laterally to coincide with the side of the user.

17. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 5, wherein the flexible belt includes an outer shell and an inner sensor sheet;

wherein the outer shell includes an inner portion that is adapted to abut the user, and an outer portion;

wherein the inner sensor sheet operably mounts the plurality of accelerometers; and

wherein the inner sensor sheet is shaped to be positioned within the outer shell between the inner portion and the outer portion.

18. A belt-mounted movement sensor system for tracking and recording movement data of a midsection of a user, the system comprising:

a flexible belt shaped to be worn around and abut the midsection of the user;

an array of accelerometers disposed on or within the flexible belt to physically associate with positions on the midsection of the user, each of the array of accelerometers having a sample rate that can be configured for sensing body movement during a movement activity;

a power source operably connected to the array of accelerometers;

a data collection system operably connected to the array of accelerometers, the data collection system having a means for receiving data from the array of accelerometers and processing that data into a storable format; and

electric stimulation contacts disposed on the flexible belt to deliver electric current to the midsection of the user,

a controller for receiving the data from the array of accelerometers and delivering the electric current to the user in coordination with the data so that maximum therapeutic benefit is received by the user.

19. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 18, further comprising therapeutic ultrasound transducers also operably mounted on the flexible belt and operably controlled by the controller for delivering ultrasonic therapy to the midsection of the user in coordination with physical therapy monitored by the array of accelerometers.

20. The belt-mounted movement sensor system of claim 18, further comprising a compartment formed in or on the flexible belt, and a cold pack shaped to fit within the compartment for cooling the user when operably positioned within the compartment.