Process and apparatus for computerizing translation of motion of subcutaneous body parts

• US 5,818,359 A
• Filed: 10/10/1996
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kirk Beach
• Original Assignee: Kirk Beach
• Inventors: Beach, Kirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US08/728,579
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/21, 341/31, 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 340/540, 340/825.19, 128/774, 128/782
• US Class Current: 341/21
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8906 Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves

Abstract

Apparatus for tracking the motion of subcutaneous body parts such as tendons in the carpal tunnel of the wrist by use of an ultrasonic sensor, and supplying signals from such sensor to a computer for comparison with reference data in a memory and utilizing the output of the computer to drive a readout such as a visual display or printing of text corresponding to motions of the subcutaneous body parts such as tendons in the carpal tunnel effected by movement of the fingers as in simulated typing. Alternatively, the movement of other subcutaneous body parts such as facial muscles can be sensed, and signals generated from the sensor can be transmitted to a computer for processing to actuate or control apparatus such as an artificial limb or a motorized wheelchair.

Claims

1. A process for effecting a desired action in response to motion of a subcutaneous body part, which comprises applying a motion sensor to the exterior of the body overlying such subcutaneous body part and thereby sensing movement of such subcutaneous body part relative to the body exterior which it underlies, generating a signal by such sensed movement, interpreting such signal with reference to the motion of the subcutaneous body part sensed, and effecting the action corresponding to such interpretation of the signal.

2. The process defined in claim 1, in which the motion sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer array, applying the ultrasonic transducer array to the exterior of the underside of a person'"'"'s wrist and thereby sensing longitudinal extending and retracting movements in the wrist of each one of the separate individual subcutaneous tendons passing through the wrist and connected to the different fingers, respectively, and identifying such movement of each tendon independently of such movements of the other tendons, which movements correspond to bending and swinging movements of the individual fingers, respectively, relative to the metacarpus.

3. The process defined in claim 1, including applying the motion sensor to an external portion of the face and thereby sensing movement of a facial subcutaneous body part relative to the exterior of the face and effecting movement or control of an artificial limb attached to the body corresponding to the interpretation of the signal generated by the motion sensor in response to movement of such facial subcutaneous body part.

4. The process defined in claim 1, in which the motion sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer array, applying the ultrasonic transducer array to the exterior of the body overlying the subcutaneous part the movement of which is to be sensed, and thereby sensing movements of such subcutaneous body part, and identifying such movements of such subcutaneous body part sensed by the motion sensor.

5. Apparatus for effecting a desired action in response to movement of a subcutaneous body part relative to the body exterior overlying it, comprising movement-sensing means adapted for application to the exterior of the body overlying such subcutaneous body part for sensing movement of such subcutaneous body part relative to the body exterior which it underlies and producing signals corresponding to such movement, interpretation means for interpreting such signals from said movement-sensing means corresponding to a specific action to be accomplished, and actuating means controlled by said interpretation means and operable to effect the specific action corresponding to the interpretation of the signals produced by said sensing means.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, in which the motion-sensing means includes an ultrasonic transducer array adapted for application to the underside of a person'"'"'s wrist which is capable of sensing longitudinal extending and retracting movements in the wrist of each one of the separate individual subcutaneous tendons passing through the wrist and connected to the different fingers, respectively, and of identifying such movement of each tendon independently of such movements of the other tendons, which movements correspond to bending and swinging movements of the individual fingers, respectively, relative to the metacarpus, and means for attaching the motion-sensing means to a person'"'"'s wrist in contact with the underside thereof over the carpal tunnel to enable such sensing of such movements of the individual tendons.

7. Apparatus for effecting a desired action in response to motion of a subcutaneous body part, comprising movement-sensing means including an ultrasonic transducer array adapted for application to the exterior of the body overlying such subcutaneous body part for sensing movement of such subcutaneous body part relative to the body exterior which it underlies and producing signals corresponding to such movement, a computer, interpretation means for interpreting such signals and transmitting such interpreted signals from said movement-sensing means to said computer, and readout means driven by said computer for effecting the specific action corresponding to the interpretation by said interpretation means of the signals produced by said movement-sensing means.