SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING BALANCE AND TRACK MOTION IN MAMMALS

• US 20130324888A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James C. Solinsky
• Original Assignee: James C. Solinsky
• Inventors: SOLINSKY, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,186,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

An example sensor band configured for attachment to a calf of a mammal and used in measuring track and balance motion of the mammal includes one or more first sensors for sensing muscle circumferential pressure at multiple positions; one or more second sensors for sensing Earth'"'"'s magnetic field; and one or more third sensors for sensing Earth'"'"'s gravitational field.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

collecting data from plural sensor bands each respectively attached to a calf of a mammal; and

estimating track and balance metrics across multiple gait cycles based on the collected data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the track and balance metrics are estimated by correlating the collected data from the plural sensor bands in time to determine leg take-off and leg touch-down.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the leg take-off and leg touch-down are determined by separating periodic and aperiodic motions.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plural sensor bands collects muscle circumferential pressure at multiple calf positions, gravitational data and magnetic field data.

5. A system for measuring track and balance motion comprising:

plural first sensor bands each configured for attachment to a respective calves of a mammal and providing first track and balance-related data; and

processing circuitry for receiving the first track and balance-related data from the sensor bands when the sensor bands are attached to the calves of the mammal and for estimating track and balance metrics across multiple gait cycles based on the received first track and balance-related data.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising plural second sensor bands each configured for attachment to a respective thigh of the mammal and providing second track and balance-related data, wherein the second track and balance-related data is used in the estimating of track and balance metrics across multiple gait cycles.

7. The system according to claim 5, each sensor band comprises one or more first sensors for sensing muscle circumferential pressure at multiple calf positions, one or more second sensors for sensing Earth'"'"'s magnetic field, and one or more third sensors for sensing Earth'"'"'s gravitational field.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the first, second and third sensors are arranged on plural multi-sensor modules, each module comprising at least one of the first sensors, at least one of the second sensors and at least one of third sensors.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein each sensor band further comprises electronic control and data processing circuitry in communication with the first, second and third sensors thereof.

10. The system according to claim 6, further comprising plural third sensor bands configured for attachment to upper limbs of the mammal and providing third track and balance-related data, wherein the third track and balance-related data is used in the estimating of track and balance metrics across multiple gait cycles.