Communication system for an instrumented orthopedic restraining device and method therefor
First Claim
1. A communication unit comprising:
- (a) data input means for receiving an orthopedic parameters signal representative of a sensed stress in a personal orthopedic restraining device, the restraining device restraining movement of a first flexibly connected body portion relative to a second flexibly connected body portion of an individual;
(b) encoding means, operatively coupled to the data input means, for protecting the received orthopedic parameters signal from potential transmission errors by encoding the received orthopedic parameters signal;
(c) modulating means, operatively coupled to the encoding means, for preparing the encoded orthopedic parameters signal for subsequent transmission by modulating the encoded orthopedic parameters signal; and
(d) transmitting means, operatively coupled to the modulating means, for transmitting the modulated orthopedic parameters signal over a communication channel such that movement of flexibly connected body portions can be monitored by a central site monitoring station; and
further, wherein the orthopedic restraining device generates a message from the individual wearing the orthopedic restraining device, which is incorporated into the orthopedic parameters signal for transmission to the central monitoring station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for communicating an orthopedic parameters signal between a remote communication unit and a central site monitoring station is provided. The orthopedic signal includes a value representative of a total torque output by an individual over a period of time as measured by a personal orthopedic restraining device. The restraining device is restrains movement of a first flexibly connected body portion relative to a second body portion. Communication is accomplished by receiving the orthopedic parameters signal at the remote unit from the orthopedic device. Subsequently, the received signal is protected from potential transmission errors through encoding. The encoded signal is prepared for transmission through modulation. Finally, the modulated signal is transmitted over a communication channel from the remote unit to the central station such that movement of flexibly connected body portions can be monitored. In addition, the operations of the central site monitoring station are described.
159 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A communication unit comprising:
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(a) data input means for receiving an orthopedic parameters signal representative of a sensed stress in a personal orthopedic restraining device, the restraining device restraining movement of a first flexibly connected body portion relative to a second flexibly connected body portion of an individual;
(b) encoding means, operatively coupled to the data input means, for protecting the received orthopedic parameters signal from potential transmission errors by encoding the received orthopedic parameters signal;
(c) modulating means, operatively coupled to the encoding means, for preparing the encoded orthopedic parameters signal for subsequent transmission by modulating the encoded orthopedic parameters signal; and
(d) transmitting means, operatively coupled to the modulating means, for transmitting the modulated orthopedic parameters signal over a communication channel such that movement of flexibly connected body portions can be monitored by a central site monitoring station; and
further,wherein the orthopedic restraining device generates a message from the individual wearing the orthopedic restraining device, which is incorporated into the orthopedic parameters signal for transmission to the central monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A central site monitoring station communication unit comprising:
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(a) receiving means for receiving a modulated orthopedic parameters signal from a personal orthopedic restraining device worn by an individual, the modulated orthopedic parameters signal being representative of a sensed stress in the restraining device;
(b) demodulating means, operatively coupled to the receiving means, for demodulating the received modulated orthopedic parameters signal;
(c) detecting means, operatively coupled to the demodulating means, for detecting an orthopedic parameters signal from demodulated orthopedic parameters signal; and
(d) data output means, operatively coupled to the detecting means, for providing the detected orthopedic parameters signal to an external device such that subsequent processing of the orthopedic parameters signal can be performed; and
further,wherein the orthopedic restraining device generates a message from the individual wearing the orthopedic restraining device, which is incorporated into the orthopedic parameters signal for transmission to the central monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A remote communication unit comprising:
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(a) a data input for receiving an orthopedic parameters signal, the orthopedic parameters signal at least including a value representative of a total torque output by an individual over a period of time as measured by a personal orthopedic restraining device, the restraining device restraining movement of a first flexibly connected body portion relative to a second flexibly connected body portion of an individual;
(b) an encoder, operatively coupled to the data input, for protecting the received orthopedic parameters signal from potential transmission errors by encoding the received orthopedic parameters signal;
(c) a modulator, operatively coupled to the encoder, for preparing the encoded orthopedic parameters signal for subsequent transmission by modulating the encoded orthopedic parameters signal;
(d) a transmitter, operatively coupled to the modulator, for transmitting the modulated orthopedic parameters signal over a communication channel such that movement of flexibly connected body portions can be monitored by a central site monitoring station;
(e) a receiver for receiving a communication from the central site monitoring station over the communication channel;
(f) a data output for providing the central site monitoring station communication to the personal orthopedic restraining device; and
(g) a detachable connection mechanism for selectively connecting the communication unit to the personal orthopedic restraining device; and
further,wherein the orthopedic restraining device generates a message from the individual wearing the orthopedic restraining device, which is incorporated into the orthopedic parameters signal for transmission to the central monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A central site monitoring station communication unit comprising:
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(a) receiver for receiving a modulated orthopedic parameters signal from a personal orthopedic restraining device worn by an individual, the modulated orthopedic parameters signal being representative of a sensed stress in the restraining device;
(b) demodulator, operatively coupled to the receiver, for demodulating the received modulated orthopedic parameters signal;
(c) detector, operatively coupled to the demodulator, for detecting an orthopedic parameters signal from demodulated orthopedic parameters signal, the detector including a transmission error detector for detecting errors in the demodulated orthopedic parameters signal;
(d) a processor, operatively couple to the detector, for performing subsequent processing of the orthopedic parameters signal, the orthopedic parameters signal comprising a sensed stress value representative of a total torque output by the individual over a period of time as measured by the personal orthopedic device; and
(e) a transmitter, operatively coupled to the processor, for transmitting a communication from the central site monitoring station over the communication channel to the personal orthopedic restraining device; and
further,wherein the orthopedic restraining device generates a message from the individual wearing the orthopedic restraining device, which is incorporated into the orthopedic parameters signal for transmission to the central monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A personal orthopedic restraining device for use to restrain flexibly connected body portions of an individual, the personal orthopedic restraining device comprising:
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(a) restraining means for restraining movement of a first flexibly connected body portion relative to a second flexibly connected body portion;
(b) stress sensing means, operatively attached to the restraining means, for providing an output signal representative of a sensed stress in the restraining means;
(c) memory storage device;
(d) output port means for communicating a routine result from the memory storage device to a remote device external to the personal orthopedic restraining device; and
(e) control means, operatively coupled to the stress sensing means, the memory storage device, and the output port means, for processing to stress sensing means output signal according to a previously programmed routine to obtain a routine result and to communicate the routine result to the remote device, the control means storing the routine result in the memory storage device such that the routine result can be used by the personal orthopedic restraining device to monitor movement of flexibly connected body portions; and
further,wherein the orthopedic restraining device generates a message from the individual wearing the orthopedic restraining device, which is incorporate into the orthopedic parameter signal for transmission to the central monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
(d)(i) a printer which generates a printout on the printer based on the routine result information stored in the memory storage device;
(d)(ii) an external storage device which receives the routine result information from the memory storage device such that transfer of the routine result to a remote location is provided;
(d)(iii) a wireless transmitter for transmitting the routine result information stored in the memory storage device to the remote device such that the routine result can be transmitted to a remote host;
(d)(iv) a wireline modem for transmitting the routine result information stored in the memory storage device to the remote device such that the routine result can be transmitted to a remote host; and
(d)(v) a direct wireline connection to the remote device for transmitting the routine result information stored in the memory storage device to the remote device such that the routine result can be transmitted to a remote host.
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36. A method of communicating an orthopedic parameters signal between a remote communication unit and a central site monitoring station, the orthopedic parameters signal at least including a value representative of a total torque output by an individual over a period of time as measured by a personal orthopedic restraining device, the restraining device restraining movement of a first flexibly connected body portion relative to a second flexibly connected body portion of an individual, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving the orthopedic parameters signal at the remote communication unit from the personal orthopedic restraining device;
(b) protecting the received orthopedic parameters signal from potential transmission errors by encoding the received orthopedic parameters signal;
(c) preparing the encoded orthopedic parameters signal for subsequent transmission by modulating the encoded orthopedic parameters signal; and
(d) transmitting the modulated orthopedic parameters signal over a communication channel from the remote communication unit and to the central site monitoring station such that movement of flexibly connected body portions can be monitored by the central site monitoring station; and
further,wherein the orthopedic restraining device generates a message from the individual wearing the orthopedic restraining device, which is incorporated into the orthopedic parameters signal for transmission to the central monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of communicating an orthopedic parameters signal between a remote communication unit and a central site monitoring station, the orthopedic parameters signal at least including a value representative of a total torque output by an individual over a period of time as measured by a personal orthopedic restraining device, the restraining device restraining movement of a first flexibly connected body portion relative to a second flexibly connected body portion of an individual, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a modulated version of the orthopedic parameters signal at the central site monitoring station;
(b) demodulating the received modulated orthopedic parameters signal;
(c) detecting an orthopedic parameters signal from demodulated orthopedic parameters signal; and
(d) providing the detected orthopedic parameters signal to an external device such that subsequent processing of the orthopedic parameters signal can be performed; and
further,wherein the orthopedic restraining device generates a message from the individual wearing the orthopedic restraining device, which is incorporated into the orthopedic parameters signal for transmission to the central monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A one-way method of communicating an orthopedic parameters signal between a remote communication unit and a central site monitoring station, the orthopedic parameters signal at least including a value representative of a total torque output by an individual over a period of time as measured by a personal orthopedic restraining device, the restraining device restraining movement of a first flexibly connected body portion relative to a second flexibly connected body portion of an individual, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) waiting for a particular action to occur selected from the group consisting of;
completing a prescribed exercise regimen, happening of a periodic reporting time, generating at least two different orthopedic parameters signals by the personal orthopedic device, and obtaining a message from the individual for incorporation into the orthopedic parameters signal for transmission to the central site monitoring station;
(b) receiving, subsequent to the particular action occurring, the orthopedic parameters signal at the remote communication unit from the personal orthopedic restraining device;
(c) protecting the received orthopedic parameters signal from potential transmission errors by encoding the received orthopedic parameters signal;
(d) preparing the encoded orthopedic parameters signal for subsequent transmission by modulating the encoded orthopedic parameters signal;
(e) transmitting the modulated orthopedic parameters signal over a communication channel from the remote communication unit and to the central site monitoring station such that movement of flexibly connected body portions can be monitored by the central site monitoring station;
(f) receiving the modulated orthopedic parameters signal at the central site monitoring station from over the communication channel;
(g) demodulating the received modulated orthopedic parameters signal;
(h) detecting an orthopedic parameters signal from demodulated orthopedic parameters signal; and
(i) providing the detected orthopedic parameters signal to an external device such that subsequent processing of the orthopedic parameters signal can be performed; and
further,wherein the orthopedic restraining device generates a message from the individual wearing the orthopedic restraining device, which is incorporated into the orthopedic parameters signal for transmission to the central monitoring station.
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60. A method of using a personal orthopedic restraining device which restrains flexibly connected body portions of an individual, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an orthopedic restraining device, the orthopedic restraining device including;
restraining means for restraining movement of a first flexibly connected body portion relative to as second flexibly connected body portion, stress sensing means, operatively attached to the restraining means, for providing an output signal representative of a sensed stress in the restraining means, memory storage device, output port means for communicating a routine result from the memory storage device to a remote device external to the personal orthopedic restraining device, and control means, operatively couple to the stress sensing means, the memory storage device, and the output port means, for processing the stress sensing means output signal according to a previously programmed routine to obtain a routine result, the control means storing the routine result in the memory storage device device; and
(b) communicating the routine result from the memory storage device to the remote device via the output port such that analysis of the routine result can be conducted at a later time; and
further wherein the orthopedic restraining device generates a message from the individual wearing the orthopedic restraining device, which is incorporated into the orthopedic parameters signal for transmission to the central monitoring station.
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Specification