SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR PROMOTING USAGE OF CORE MUSCLES AND OTHER APPLICATIONS

• US 20140174174A1
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alert Core, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alert Core, Inc.
• Inventors: Uehara, Gregory Takeo, Brunn, Brian Taylor
• Granted Patent: US 9,226,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/379.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/227 of constricting muscles, i.e. sphincters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• 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 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/02 for the abdomen, the spinal column or the torso muscles related to shoulders (e.g. chest muscles)
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0205 Abdomen
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed include a system and method for development of core muscles'"'"' support, comprising a means for identifying a user qualifying movement, a means for detecting a core muscle contraction in the identified qualifying movement, a means for discriminating between a core muscle contraction and no core muscle contraction in the identified qualifying movement; and a means to provide feedback to the user.

Claims

1. A system for development of core muscles'"'"' support, comprising:

a means for identifying a user qualifying movement;

a means for detecting a core muscle contraction in the identified qualifying movement;

a means for discriminating between a core muscle contraction and no core muscle contraction in an identified qualifying movement; and

a means to provide feedback to the user;

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for identifying the qualifying movement further comprises identifying at least one of a protected movement, and an unprotected movement.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein identifying the protected movement further comprises identifying a core muscle contraction of the user during the qualifying movement when stress is placed on the user'"'"'s lumbo sacral junction.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein identifying the unprotected movement further comprises identifying inadequate or no core muscle contraction of the user during the qualifying movement when stress is placed on the user'"'"'s lumbo sacral junction.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for identifying the qualifying movement further comprises identifying at least one of:

standing from a seated position, sitting from a standing position, rotating to the left or right while standing, removing a carry-on load from an overhead bin in an airplane, lifting groceries out of a car trunk, serving or spiking a volleyball, and stabilizing a golf putting stroke.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the identifying of a qualifying movement, further comprises identifying a movement of the user'"'"'s body wherein the core muscle contraction would be beneficial.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the means to provide feedback comprises at least one of a buzzer, an audible sound, a tens unit zap, a wearable computing device, a personal computer, a smart phone, and a portable device.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means to utilize an exercise application.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means to identify when the core should be contracted in relation to other movement(s) via image on a display, audible instruction, or video.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means to calculate, store and report a core score over a pre-programmed period of time.

11. A device for assisting in the development of a user'"'"'s core muscles, comprising:

a single or plurality of sensors;

a single or plurality of signal processors;

wherein the single or plurality of sensors coupled with the single or plurality of signal processors comprise means for detecting a qualifying movement and a core contraction, and further for detecting a timing relationship between the detected qualifying movement and core contraction, and for determining if the movement is a protected qualifying movement or an unprotected qualifying movement.

12. The device of claim 11 further comprising a means for providing feedback, which means comprises at least one of a buzzer or speaker with a sound generator, and a means to communicate to a personal computer (PC) or handheld device to provide a feedback signal.

13. The device of claim 11 further comprising a force sensing resistor (FSR) to identify the core contraction.

14. The device of claim 11 further comprising an accelerometer or gyro to identify the qualifying movement.

15. The device of claim 11 further comprising a means to communicate over a network with a PC, a smart phone, or a hand held device.

16. The personal computer or handheld device of claim 12 wherein the said personal computer or handheld device further comprises means to receive the feedback signal.

17. The device of claim 11 further comprising:

a wrist wearable device comprising means to communicate with the said single or plurality of sensors and the said single or plurality of signal processors, monitoring the core and further monitoring rotation of the user'"'"'s hips;

a means to combine monitoring of wrist movement and turn of the user'"'"'s hips, wherein the coordinate of the body turn and movement of the wrists may be optimized for a type of athletic movement for different types of athletic movements such as in golf, tennis, baseball, or volleyball.

18. A wearable device for assisting in the development of core muscle usage, comprising:

means to detect contraction of user'"'"'s core muscles;

means to communicate with an external device;

means to provide measurable metrics;

means to provide immediate feedback through the external device to improve said user'"'"'s core muscle usage.

19. In a computer aided system, a method for development of procedural memory for core support before and during qualifying movements, comprising:

identifying qualifying movements;

identifying a core contraction;

discriminating between a protected and unprotected qualifying movement;

providing feedback depending on the result of discriminating to a user to develop the said procedural memory;

20. The method of claim 19 wherein providing feedback comprises at least one of a buzzer, an audible sound, a tens zap, a wearable computing device, a personal computer, a smart phone, and a portable device.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising a utilizing an exercise application together with the system for the development of the procedural memory.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising identifying when the core should be contracted in relation to other directions as being directed by image, audible instruction, or video.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising calculating, storing and reporting a core score over a pre-programmed period of time.

24. In a computer aided system, a method for development of procedural memory for core based support, comprising:

via a single or plurality or sensors coupled with a single or plurality of signal processors, detecting a qualifying movement and a core contraction;

detecting a timing relationship between the detected qualifying movement and core contraction; and

determining if the movement is a protected qualifying movement or an unprotected qualifying movement.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising, providing feedback via at least one of a buzzer or speaker with a sound generator, and a personal computer (PC) or handheld device.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising, in a wearable device, utilizing a force sensing resistor (FSR) to identify the core contraction.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising, in a wearable device utilizing an accelerometer or gyro to identify the qualifying movement.

28. The method of claim 24 further comprising, in a wearable device including one or more means to communicate to a personal computer (PC), smart phone, or other portable device.

29. The method of claim 24 further comprising receiving feedback by the personal computer (PC) or handheld device.

30. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

in a wrist wearable device comprising means to communicate with the said single or plurality of sensors and the said single or plurality of signal processors, monitoring the core and further monitoring rotation of the user'"'"'s hips;

combining the monitoring of wrist movement and turn of the user'"'"'s hips, wherein the coordinate of the body turn and movement of the wrists may be optimized for a type of athletic movement.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the said athletic movement comprises athletic movements in at least one of a movement in a game of golf, tennis, baseball, and volleyball.

32. A wearable, computer aided device for promoting core muscle usage, comprising:

means to detect contraction of wearer core muscles wherein contraction results in an inward, outward, or neutral movement of the core;

means to communicate with an external device;

means to provide measurable metrics to monitor progress of core contraction support;

means to provide direct feedback to the external computing device to monitor and improve said wearer'"'"'s core muscles activity or movement to activate the user'"'"'s use of their core muscles.

33. A wearable device comprising:

a means to detect contraction of a user'"'"'s core muscles;

a means to communicate the detected contraction to the user;

34. The device of claim 33 further comprising a single or plurality of sensors for detecting user core muscle contraction.

35. The device of claim 33 further comprising a single or plurality of force-sensing resistors to detect user core muscle contraction.

36. The device of claim 33 further comprising a bumper coupled to the user'"'"'s core muscles and to the force sensing resistor.

37. The device of claim 33 wherein the device is comprised in a belt or article of clothing which when worn by the user, places the device substantially in contact with the user'"'"'s core muscles.

38. The device of claim 37 wherein the said belt or article of clothing is partially elastic.

39. The device of claim 36 wherein the bumper is replaceable and comprises one or more height options to accommodate the user'"'"'s body firmness.

40. The device of claim 33 wherein the said detecting contraction of the user'"'"'s core muscles further comprises detecting at least one of an inward, outward and neutral movement of the area of the core being monitored.

41. The device of claim 34 wherein the single or plurality of sensors further comprise a means to detect movement of the device away from or toward the core, and accordingly identify the core contraction that results in an inward, outward or neutral movement of the core.