GESTURE-BASED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL

• US 20140203931A1
• Filed: 01/17/2014
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Medical Innovators Collaborative
• Original Assignee: Augment Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: DiMeo, Andrew J. Sr., Martin, Timothy N., Daniels, Richard A., Zhang, Wenbo Sharon, Liu, Xiaji Astor, Bieber, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,754,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Gesture-based communication systems and methods for communicating with healthcare personnel are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system is disclosed that includes a movement detector configured to detect movement of muscle and to generate a wireless signal in response to detection of the muscle movement. The system also includes a base station in wireless communication with the movement detector, and configured to implement a predetermined action based on the wireless signal. The base station may be configured to interface with a healthcare call system such as in a hospital environment. The base station may control the healthcare call system to communicate a notification signal based on the wireless signal.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a movement detector configured to detect movement of muscle and to generate a wireless signal in response to detection of the muscle movement; and

a base station in wireless communication with the movement detector, and configured to implement a predetermined action based on the wireless signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement detector is an electromyography device comprising one of an adhesive or headband configured to physically locate the electrodes for attachment of the movement detector to a skin surface adjacent to the muscle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the muscle is one of forehead muscle, bicep muscle, and forearm muscle that can be independently controlled by the user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement detector is configured to detect an electrical signal generated by one of contraction and extension of the muscle, and to generate the wireless signal in response to detection of the electrical signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement detector comprises an electrode configured to detect the electrical signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement detector comprises a plurality of spaced-apart electrodes configured to detect the electrical signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement detector is configured to detect an electrical signal generated by one of contraction and extension of the muscle, and wherein the movement detector comprises an amplifier configured to amplify the electrical signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement detector comprises a wireless radio transmitter configured to communicate the wireless signal to the base station.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the movement detector is configured to generate an electrical signal representative of the detected movement, and wherein the wireless radio transmitter configured to receive the electrical signal, to generate a digital signal value based on the electrical signal, and to communicate the digital signal value to the base station.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement detector comprises an adhesive configured to physically locate the electrodes and electrode arrangement, wherein the electrode location material is configured for attachment of the movement detector to a skin surface adjacent to the muscle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station is configured to interface with a healthcare call system, and to control the healthcare call system to communicate a notification signal based on the wireless signal.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station comprises a light emitter configured to emit light based on the wireless signal.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station comprises at least one processor and memory configured to:

receive the wireless signal;

apply an algorithm to data contained within the wireless signal; and

control implementation of the predetermined action based on application of the algorithm to the data.

14. A method comprising:

detecting movement of muscle;

generating a wireless signal in response to detection of the muscle movement; and

implementing a predetermined action based on the wireless signal.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a movement detector comprising an electromyography device comprising an adhesive for attachment of the movement detector to a skin surface adjacent to the muscle,

wherein detecting movement of the muscle comprises using the movement detector to detect movement of the muscle.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the muscle is one of forehead muscle, bicep muscle, and forearm muscle that can be independently controlled by the user.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting movement of muscle comprises detecting an electrical signal generated by one of contraction and extension of the muscle, and

wherein generating a wireless signal comprises generating the wireless signal in response to detection of the electrical signal.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising using an electrode to detect the electrical signal.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising using a plurality of spaced-apart electrodes to detect the electrical signal.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting movement of muscle comprises detecting an electrical signal generated by one of contraction and extension of the muscle, and

wherein the method further comprises amplifying the electrical signal.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising using a wireless radio transmitter to communicate the wireless signal to the base station.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

generating an electrical signal representative of the detected movement;

generating a digital signal value based on the electrical signal; and

communicating the digital signal value to the base station.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting movement of muscle comprises using a movement detector to detect the movement, and

wherein the movement detector comprises an adhesive and an electrode arrangement attached thereto, wherein the adhesive is configured for attachment of the movement detector to a skin surface adjacent to the muscle.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

interfacing with a healthcare call system; and

controlling the healthcare call system to communicate a notification signal based on the wireless signal.

25. The method of claim 14, further comprising emitting light based on the wireless signal.

26. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

applying an algorithm to data contained within the wireless signal; and

controlling implementation of the predetermined action based on application of the algorithm to the data.