A SYSTEM INTENDED FOR MEASURING, EVALUATING AND/OR GIVING FEEDBACK ON THE SITTING POSTURE OF A USER

• US 20160331280A1
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NeuroMedicine Behavior Lab Scandinavia AB
• Original Assignee: NeuroMedicine Behavior Lab Scandinavia AB
• Inventors: Huldt, Olof Arvid
• Application Number:
  US15/104,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20160331280A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• 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 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation

Abstract

The present invention describes a system intended for measuring, evaluating or giving feedback on the sitting posture of a user, said system comprising an upper body unit 1 comprising a battery, a microcontroller, an accelerometer and a feedback-unit, said upper body unit intended for measuring an angle of the thorax at an upper body position of the user; and a pelvis unit 2 comprising a battery, a microcontroller, an accelerometer and a feedback-unit, said pelvis unit intended for measuring an angle of the pelvis of the user.

Claims

1. A system intended for measuring, evaluating and/or giving feedback on the sitting posture of a user, said system comprising:

an upper body unit comprising a battery, a microcontroller, an accelerometer and a feedback-unit, said upper body unit intended for measuring an angle of the thorax of the user; and

a pelvis unit comprising a battery, a microcontroller, an accelerometer and a feedback-unit, said pelvis unit intended for measuring an angle of the pelvis of the user.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the feedback-units of the upper body unit and the pelvis unit are mechanical or audio directed.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the feedback-units of the upper body unit and the pelvis unit are mechanical and audio directed.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein one axis of each accelerometer is directed to measurement of an angular deviation from a horizontal axis as seen within a sagittal plane of the user and wherein one other axis of each accelerometer is directed to measurement of kinetic energy.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the upper body unit and pelvis unit has means for attachment.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the means for attachment has a clip-on configuration.

7. A method for measuring, evaluating and/or giving feedback on the sitting posture of a user, said method involving using a system comprising:

an upper body unit comprising a battery, a microcontroller, an accelerometer and a feedback-unit, said upper body unit intended for measuring an angle of the thorax of the user; and

a pelvis unit comprising a battery, a microcontroller, an accelerometer and a feedback-unit, said pelvis unit intended for measuring an angle of the pelvis of the user, in which method the upper body unit and pelvis unit in the system are attached to the user and switched on, wherein each microcontroller receive input data from respectively accelerometer and wherein the feedback-unit presents real-time output data and/or feedback to the user.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the accelerometers are measuring at least one angle each and wherein the real-time output data is based on if said angle deviates from a set default/reference value or default/reference range.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the accelerometers are measuring at least the level of movement of the user over a certain time and wherein the feedback is based on if this level of movement deviates from a set default/reference value or default/reference range.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the upper body unit is attached to a bra, attached to a necklace or brooch worn by the user or positioned near the chest of the user, and wherein the pelvis unit is a positioned at a hip of the user.

11. The method according to claim 7, said method involving using the system for learning, training and/or improving a sitting posture of a user, for evaluating sitting means for a user and/or for logging sitting posture data of a user.