Neuropathic Assistive Device

• US 20160157772A1
• Filed: 11/18/2015
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Duncan M. Grant
• Original Assignee: Duncan M. Grant
• Inventors: Grant, Duncan M.
• Application Number:
  US14/944,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20160157772A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0214 Capacitive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0266 Optical strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1032 Determining colour for diagnostic purposes measuring colour in general G01J3/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1468 using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means A61B5/1486 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6897 Computer input devices, e.g. mice or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• 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 5/7405 : using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 : characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 : Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for neuropathic assistance. In one embodiment, a neuropathic assistance system senses and detects at least one of: an inflammation condition, a wound, and a wound-causing environmental factor in an affected tissue, that may cause at least one of: a visual alert, a tactile alert, and an audio alert, to be output in response to a sensing and detection of at least one of: an inflammation condition, a wound, and a wound-causing environmental factor.

Claims

1. A neuropathic assistance system comprising:

a sensor in operable contact with an affected tissue and operable to sense and detect a presence of at least one of;

an inflammation condition, a wound, and a wound-causing environmental factor, at a location on or near the affected tissue;

a control system; and

an alert device.

2. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is at least one of:

a capacitive-based sensor, a resistive-based sensor, a force sensor, a flex sensor, biomedical sensor;

an EMG sensor, a wearable electrode, a magnetic sensor, a Hall-effect sensor, an RFID sensor, a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a tribo-sensor, a proximity sensor, a chemical sensor, a biological sensor, a pH level sensor, and a photodetector.

3. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 1, wherein the wound-causing environmental condition is at least one of:

a force, a pressure, a contact, a friction, a flex, a moisture, a fluid, a movement, a temperature, a proximity, an electrodermal activity, a chemical presence, a biological presence, a pH level, and a color change.

4. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 1, wherein the alert device is at least one of:

an actuator, a display, a visual alert output, a speaker, an audio alert output, a vibration motor, and a tactile alert output.

5. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 1, wherein control system further comprises at least one of:

a processor, a memory, an input, and an output, wherein the control system is further operable to read and store a sensor signal from the sensor, and compare the sensor signal with a predetermined threshold value to determine at least one of;

an excess value, and a normal value, and generating outputting an actuator signal in response to an excess value determination.

6. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 1, wherein the sensor, the control system, and the alert device are operatively connected to another by at least one of:

a wired connection, and a wireless connection.

7. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication hardware.

8. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 1, further comprising a power source.

9. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises an attachment hardware operable to attach the sensor to at least one of:

a tissue on or near the affected tissue, and an item in operable contact with the affected tissue.

10. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises:

a wireless communication hardware, and a power source,

wherein the wireless communication hardware is operable to wirelessly transfer a sensor signal, and wherein the power source is operable to provide power to the sensor and the wireless communication hardware.

11. A neuropathic assistance system comprising:

a local neuropathic assistance system in operable contact with a user, the local neuropathic assistance system further comprising;

a sensor in operable contact with an affected tissue and operable to sense and detect at least one of;

an inflammation condition, a wound, and a wound-causing environmental factor, and provide a sensor signal;

a first control system, an alert device, and a first communication hardware;

a remote neuropathic assistance system;

the remote neuropathic assistance system operable to wirelessly receive the sensor signal, the remote neuropathic assistance system further comprising;

a second control system, a second communication hardware, and at least one of;

an electronic display, a vibration motor, and a speaker,

wherein the first communication hardware is operable to wirelessly communicate with the second communication hardware.

12. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 11, wherein the sensor is at least one of:

a capacitive-based sensor, a resistive-based sensor, a force sensor, a flex sensor, biomedical sensor;

an EMG sensor, a wearable electrode, a magnetic sensor, a Hall-effect sensor, an RFID sensor, a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a tribo-sensor, a proximity sensor, a chemical sensor, a biological sensor, a pH level sensor, and a photodetector.

13. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 11, wherein the wound-causing environmental condition is at least one of:

a force, a pressure, a contact, a friction, a flex, a moisture, a fluid, a movement, a temperature, a proximity, an electrodermal activity, a chemical presence, a biological presence, a pH level, and a color change.

14. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 11, wherein the remote neuropathic assistance systems is one of:

a smart phone, a tablet computer, a portable computing device, and a personal computer.

15. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 11, wherein each of the first control system and the second control system further comprises at least one of:

a processor, a memory, an input, and an output.

16. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 15, wherein the remote neuropathic assistance system further comprises:

an input/output interface; and

a graphical user interface, the input/output interface operable to;

provide a user input to control an operation of the graphical user interface, and control an execution of a computer readable instruction set to output a control signal from the second communication hardware, and wherein the second control system of the remote neuropathic assistance system may at least one of;

store, and execute, at least one of;

the computer readable instruction set, and the sensor signal.

17. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 11, wherein each of the sensor, the first control system, the first communication hardware, the alert device, the second control system, the second communication hardware, and the at least one of:

the electronic display, the vibration motor, and the speaker, are operatively connected to each other by at least one of;

a wired connection, and a wireless connection.

18. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 11, wherein each of the first communication hardware, and the second communication hardware further comprises at least one of:

a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, and an antenna.

19. The neuropathic assistance system of claim 11, wherein each of the local neuropathic assistance system and remote neuropathic assistance system further comprises a power source.

20. A method for providing neuropathic assistance, the method comprising:

providing a sensor in operable contact with an affected tissue to sense and detect a presence of at least one of;

an inflammation condition, a wound, and a wound-causing environmental factor;

sensing and detecting at least one of;

the presence, and an absence, of at least one of;

the inflammation condition, the wound, and the wound-causing environmental factor, to produce a sensor signal;

transferring the sensor signal to a processing device for comparison against a predefined threshold value associated with the at least one of;

the inflammation condition, the wound, and the wound-causing environmental factor;

comparing the sensor signal against the predefined threshold value to determine at least one of;

an excess value, and a normal value;

generating an actuator signal in response to an excess value determination; and

transferring the actuator signal to at least one of;

a display, a visual alert out, a vibration motor, a tactile alert output, a speak, and an audio alert output, to alert a user to the presence of at least one of;

an inflammation condition, a wound, and a wound-causing environmental factor, using at least one of;

a visual alert, a tactile alert, and an audio alert.