EPIDERMAL ELECTRONICS TO MONITOR REPETITIVE STRESS INJURIES AND ARTHRITIS

• US 20160015972A1
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C., Malamud, Mark A., Pan, Tony S., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Tegreene, Clarence T., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,099,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1125 Grasping motions of hands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4514 Cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4585 Evaluating the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/459 Evaluating the wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 : from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 : of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 : Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for monitoring, treating, and preventing a repetitive stress injury, arthritis or other medical condition. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate configured to interface with a skin surface; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including a motion sensor and a physiological sensor, the sensor assembly configured to generate one or more sense signals based on detection of a movement of a body portion by the motion sensor and a physiological parameter of the body portion by the physiological sensor; a processor operably coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive the one or more sense signals; and an effector operably coupled to the processor and configured to affect the body portion responsive to control by the processor.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first system including;

a deformable substrate configured to interface with a skin surface;

a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including a motion sensor and a physiological sensor, the sensor assembly configured to generate one or more sense signals based on detection of a movement of a body portion by the motion sensor and a physiological parameter of the body portion by the physiological sensor;

a processor operably coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive the one or more sense signals; and

an effector operably coupled to the processor and configured to affect the body portion responsive to control by the processor;

a second system including;

a second deformable substrate configured to interface with a second skin surface;

a second sensor assembly coupled to the second deformable substrate, the second sensor assembly including a motion sensor and a physiological sensor, the second sensor assembly configured to generate one or more sense signals based on detection of a movement of a second body portion by the motion sensor of the second sensor assembly and a physiological parameter of the second body portion by the physiological sensor of the second sensor assembly;

a second processor operably coupled to the second sensor assembly and configured to receive the one or more sense signals of the second sensor assembly; and

a second effector operably coupled to the second processor and configured to affect the second body portion responsive to control by the second processor; and

a communications interface between the first system and the second system, wherein the first system and the second system are configured to provide one or more communication signals to the respective other of the first system and the second system via the communications interface.

9. The system of claim 1, further including a comparison module accessible by at least one of the processor and the second processor to compare the detected movement of at least one of the body portion and the second body portion and the physiological parameter of at least one of the body portion and the second body portion to reference data indicative of a strain injury.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the processor and the second processor is configured to determine an action to be executed by at least one of the effector and the second effector based upon a comparison made via the comparison module.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the effector and the second effector is a nerve stimulator.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the nerve stimulator is configured to therapeutically stimulate a nerve proximate to at least one of the body portion and the second body portion.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the nerve stimulator is configured to stimulate a nerve conduction of the nerve to induce at least one of a movement or a sensation of at least one of the body portion and the second body portion.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the nerve stimulator is configured to stimulate the nerve conduction after a threshold period of time during which at least one of the body portion and the second body portion is retained in a particular position.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the nerve stimulator is configured to electrically block a nerve conduction of a nerve proximate to at least one of the body portion and the second body portion.

53. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications interface includes a reporter.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the reporter is configured to report at least one of an actuation of at least one of the effector and the second effector, a detected movement of at least one of the body portion and the second body portion, and a detected physiological condition.

59. The system of claim 53, wherein the reporter includes a transmitter configured to transmit data to a remote location.

241. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first system and the second system further includes a power supply, the power supply including at least one of a battery coupled to the deformable substrate or to the second deformable substrate, a thin film battery coupled to the deformable substrate or to the second deformable substrate, a wireless power coil configured to receive a remote power signal, an inductive coil configured to receive a remote power signal from a transmission coil, and a solar cell coupled to the deformable substrate or to the second deformable substrate.

244. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the motion sensor and the second motion sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, an infrared sensor, and an optical sensor.

245. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the motion sensor and the second motion sensor is configured to measure at least one of a repeated motion of at least one of the body portion and the second body portion, a number of repetitions of the movement of at least one of the body portion and the second body portion, a speed of the movement of at least one of the body portion and the second body portion, a duration of the movement of at least one of the body portion and the second body portion, a disposition of the body portion relative to a second body portion, and an angle of movement of at least one of the body portion and the second body portion.

246. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the physiological sensor and the second physiological sensor includes at least one of an electromyograph (EMG), a strain sensor, a temperature sensor, an optical sensor, a light emitting diode (LED), and an acoustic sensor.

2-8. -8. (canceled)

10-16. -16. (canceled)

18-21. -21. (canceled)

27-52. -52. (canceled)

54. (canceled)

55. (canceled)

57. (canceled)

58. (canceled)

60-80. -80. (canceled)

81. A method, comprising:

detecting, via an epidermal electronic system (EES), at least one of a position of a body portion, a movement of the body portion, a position of a second epidermal electronic system (EES), and a movement of the second EES;

generating one or more sense signals based on detection of the at least one of a position of a body portion, a movement of the body portion, a position of a second epidermal electronic system (EES), and a movement of the second EES;

processing the one or more sense signals to determine a risk of inducing a repetitive stress injury; and

executing an action to reduce the risk of inducing the repetitive stress injury.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein processing the one or more sense signals to determine a risk of inducing a repetitive stress injury includes:

comparing the one or more sense signals to reference data indicative of a strain injury to determine the risk of inducing the strain injury.

90. The method of claim 82, further including:

determining the action to execute based upon comparing the one or more sense signals to reference data indicative of a strain injury.

91. The method of claim 81, wherein executing an action to reduce the risk of inducing the repetitive stress injury includes:

reporting the determination of the risk of inducing the repetitive strain injury to reduce the risk.

105. The method of claim 91, wherein reporting the determination of the risk of inducing the repetitive strain injury to reduce the risk includes:

reporting at least one of an actuation of an effector configured to execute the action, a detected movement of the body portion, or a detected physiological condition.

108. The method of claim 91, wherein reporting the determination of the risk of inducing the repetitive strain injury to reduce the risk includes:

communicating the determination to a remote location.

122. The method of claim 81, wherein executing an action to reduce the risk of inducing the repetitive stress injury includes:

stimulating a nerve proximate to the body portion.

123. The method of claim 122, wherein stimulating a nerve proximate to the body portion includes:

inducing at least one of a movement or a sensation of the body portion by stimulating the nerve conduction of the nerve proximate to the body portion.

124. The method of claim 123, wherein inducing at least one of a movement or a sensation of the body portion by stimulating the nerve conduction of the nerve proximate to the body portion includes:

inducing at least one of a movement or a sensation of the body portion by stimulating a nerve conduction of the nerve after a threshold period of time during which the body portion is retained in a particular position.

125. The method of claim 81, wherein executing an action to reduce the risk of inducing the repetitive stress injury includes:

electrically blocking a nerve conduction of a nerve proximate to the body portion.

134. The method of claim 81, further including:

detecting, via an epidermal electronic system (EES), a physiological parameter of the body portion; and

generating one or more sense signals based on detection of the physiological parameter of the body portion.

143. The method of claim 81, wherein detecting, via an epidermal electronic system (EES), at least one of a position of a body portion, a movement of the body portion, a position of a second epidermal electronic system (EES), and a movement of the second EES includes:

detecting, via the epidermal electronic system (EES), the second EES interfacing with at least one of the body portion and another body portion.

144. The method of claim 143, further including:

transmitting a communication signal to the second EES.

146. The method of claim 81, further including:

detecting, via an epidermal electronic system (EES), at least one of a position and a movement of a second body portion proximate the body portion.

247. The method of claim 91, wherein reporting the determination of the risk of inducing the repetitive strain injury to reduce the risk includes at least one of providing a tactile indication of the risk, providing a vibration-based indication of the risk, providing a tactile indication regarding a position of the body portion, providing a tactile indication regarding a biomechanically detrimental position of the body portion, and providing a tactile indication that the body portion has been in the position longer than a threshold duration.

248. The method of claim 91, wherein reporting the determination of the risk of inducing the repetitive strain injury to reduce the risk includes at least one of providing a visual indication of the risk, providing a visual indication regarding a position of the body portion, providing a visual indication regarding a biomechanically detrimental position of the body portion, and providing a visual indication that the body portion has been in the position longer than a threshold duration.

249. The method of claim 91, wherein reporting the determination of the risk of inducing the repetitive strain injury to reduce the risk includes at least one of providing an auditory indication of the risk, providing an auditory indication regarding a position of the body portion, providing an auditory indication regarding a biomechanically detrimental position of the body portion, and providing an auditory indication that the body portion has been in the position longer than a threshold duration.

250. The method of claim 108, wherein the remote location includes a computer system, the method further including at least one of modifying with a program stored on the computer system and interacting with the program stored on the computer system, the program including instructions, that when executed by a computer processor on the computer system, causes the computer system to provide at least one of real-time personnel scheduling, long-term personnel scheduling, and personnel tracking.

251. The method of claim 81, wherein detecting, via an epidermal electronic system (EES), at least one of a position of a body portion, a movement of the body portion, a position of a second epidermal electronic system (EES), and a movement of the second EES includes:

measuring, via an epidermal electronic system (EES), at least one of a repeated motion of the body portion, a number of repetitions of the movement of the body portion, a speed of the movement of the body portion, a duration of the movement of the body portion, a disposition of the body portion relative to a second body portion, and an angle of movement of the body portion.

252. The method of claim 134, wherein detecting, via an epidermal electronic system (EES), a physiological parameter of the body portion includes:

detecting at least one of a temperature of the body portion, a strain of the body portion, a blood flow of the body portion, a blood oxygenation level of the body portion, and an electrical activity of the body portion.

83-89. -89. (canceled)

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135-142. -142. (canceled)

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147-160. -160. (canceled)

161. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by a computer processor, one or more sense signals based on detection of at least one of a position of a body portion, a movement of the body portion, a position of a second epidermal electronic system (EES), and a movement of the second EES;

processing, by the computer processor, the one or more sense signals to determine a risk of inducing a repetitive stress injury; and

controlling, by the computer processor, an effector positioned on the body portion to execute an action to reduce the risk of inducing the repetitive stress injury.

162. The computer-implemented method of claim 161, wherein processing, by the computer processor, the one or more sense signals to determine a risk of inducing a repetitive stress injury includes:

comparing, by the computer processor, the one or more sense signals to reference data indicative of a strain injury to determine the risk of inducing the strain injury.

170. The computer-implemented method of claim 162, further including:

determining, by the computer processor, the action to execute by the effector based upon comparing the one or more sense signals to reference data indicative of a strain injury.

171. The computer-implemented method of claim 162,

further including:

controlling, by the computer processor, a reporter to report the determination of the risk of inducing the repetitive strain injury to reduce the risk.

185. The computer-implemented method of claim 171, wherein controlling, by the computer processor, a reporter to report the determination of the risk of inducing the repetitive strain injury to reduce the risk includes:

controlling, by the computer processor, the reporter to report at least one of an actuation of the effector, a detected movement of the body portion, or a detected physiological condition.

188. The computer-implemented method of claim 171, wherein controlling, by the computer processor, a reporter to report the determination of the risk of inducing the repetitive strain injury to reduce the risk includes:

controlling, by the computer processor, the reporter to communicate the determination to a remote location.

202. The computer-implemented method of claim 161, wherein controlling, by the computer processor, an effector positioned on the body portion to execute an action to reduce the risk of inducing the repetitive stress injury includes:

controlling, by the computer processor, the effector to stimulate a nerve proximate to the body portion.

203. The computer-implemented method of claim 202, wherein controlling, by the computer processor, the effector to stimulate a nerve proximate to the body portion includes:

inducing at least one of a movement or a sensation of the body portion by controlling, by the computer processor, the effector to stimulate the nerve conduction of the nerve proximate to the body portion.

204. The computer-implemented method of claim 203, wherein inducing at least one of a movement or a sensation of the body portion by controlling, by the computer processor, the effector to stimulate the nerve conduction of the nerve proximate to the body portion includes:

inducing at least one of a movement or a sensation of the body portion by controlling, by the computer processor, the effector to stimulate a nerve conduction of the nerve after a threshold period of time during which the body portion is retained in a particular position.

205. The computer-implemented method of claim 161, wherein controlling, by the computer processor, an effector positioned on the body portion to execute an action to reduce the risk of inducing the repetitive stress injury includes:

controlling, by the computer processor, the effector to electrically block a nerve conduction of a nerve proximate to the body portion.

214. The computer-implemented method of claim 161, further including:

receiving, by the computer processor, one or more sense signals based on detection of a physiological parameter of the body portion.

223. The computer-implemented method of claim 161, wherein receiving, by a computer processor, one or more sense signals based on detection of at least one of a position of a body portion, a movement of the body portion, a position of a second epidermal electronic system (EES), and a movement of the second EES includes:

receiving, by the computer processor, one or more sense signals associated with detection of the second EES interfacing with at least one of the body portion and another body portion.

224. The computer-implemented method of claim 223, further including:

controlling, by the computer processor, a reporter to transmit a communication signal to the second EES.

253. The computer-implemented method of claim 161, wherein receiving, by a computer processor, one or more sense signals based on detection of at least one of a position of a body portion, a movement of the body portion, a position of a second epidermal electronic system (EES), and a movement of the second EES includes:

receiving, by the computer processor, one or more sense signals associated with at least one of a repeated motion of the body portion, a number of repetitions of the movement of the body portion, a speed of the movement of the body portion, a duration of the movement of the body portion, a disposition of the body portion relative to a second body portion, and an angle of movement of the body portion.

254. The computer-implemented method of claim 214, wherein receiving, by the computer processor, one or more sense signals based on detection of a physiological parameter of the body portion includes:

receiving, by the computer processor, one or more sense signals associated with at least one of a temperature of the body portion, a strain of the body portion, a blood flow of the body portion, a blood oxygenation level of the body portion, and an electrical activity of the body portion.

163-169. -169. (canceled)

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242. The system of 9, wherein the strain injury includes at least one of arthralgia, arthritis, a nerve entrapment, carpal tunnel entrapment, cubital tunnel entrapment, tarsal tunnel entrapment, and tendonitis.