Device for acquiring and evaluating data representing coordinative abilities

• US 6,261,239 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hufnagel, Hartwin, Abraham-Fuchs, Klaus, Schmidt, Kai-Uwe, Birkhoelzer, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/416,099
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 600/558, 600/300
• US Class Current: 600/558
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance

Abstract

A device for the acquisition of coordinative abilities of a test person, allows different tests that test different coordinative abilities of the test person to be executed with the aid of a control unit. The control unit evaluates the individual test results and combines them to form a relevant quantitative overall assessment of the coordinative competence of the test person. This overall assessment is presented via a corresponding output unit, such as a screen.

Claims

1. A device for acquiring and evaluating data representing coordinative abilities of a test person, comprising:

a control unit adapted for interaction with a user for conducting a plurality of tests to acquire a plurality of datasets respectively representing test results for a plurality of different coordinative abilities of the test person, said control unit processing and combining said datasets to form a quantitative overall assessment of the plurality of different coordinative abilities of the test person; and

an output unit connected to said control unit supplied with signals representing said overall assessment for generating a surveyable output of said overall assessment.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising selection means connected to said control unit for selecting the number of tests to be conducted from among a larger number of prescribed tests.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit, dependent on selection criteria, automatically selects the tests comprising said plurality of tests from a prescribed list of tests.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said control unit selects a test to be conducted in a random manner from among a plurality of equivalent tests that test the same coordinative ability of the test person upon entry of a designation that said coordinative ability is to be tested.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising selection means connected to said control unit for selecting a number of tests to be conducted from among a larger number of prescribed tests, and wherein said control unit automatically selects tests to be conducted from among the tests selected by said selection means.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit has access to health data of said test person, and wherein said control unit automatically selects said plurality of tests to be conducted, dependent on said health data, from among a prescribed list of tests.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising input means connected to said control unit for allowing said user to enter test results of the respective tests in said plurality of tests.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said input means is a component selected from the group consisting of a keyboard and a mouse.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a display unit connected to said control unit on which an interactive input menu is displayed, and wherein said input means interact with said control unit via said interactive input menu.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising acquisition means connected to said control unit for automatically acquiring said datasets respectively representing test results of the respective tests in said plurality of tests and for automatically forwarding said datasets to said control unit.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said acquisition means comprise at least one component which acquires characteristic values of the test person during execution of said tests, said component being selected from the group consisting of sensors and measuring devices.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said acquisition means include a user-actuatable input unit which exhibits a defined force acting against actuation of said input unit and which supplies a signal to said control unit dependent on actuation of said input unit by said test person.

13. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said acquisition means include at least one switch which is adapted for actuation by said test person during execution of said tests.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a memory connected to said control unit for storing at least one of individual respective results of said tests in said plurality of tests and said quantitative overall assessment.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said memory further stores test sequence data describing tests which are available for said plurality of tests.

16. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said output unit comprises an interface for transmitting at least one of said test results and said quantitative overall assessment to a location remote from said control unit.

17. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said output unit comprises a display unit for visually presenting at least one of said test results and said quantitative overall assessment.

18. A device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said control unit controls display of said at least one of said test results and said quantitative overall assessment in a time-dependent manner for a predetermined observation period at said display unit.

19. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit has access to health data of said test person, and wherein said control unit generates said quantitative overall assessment dependent on said health data.

20. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit supplies output instructions via said output unit for conducting the respective tests in said plurality of tests.

21. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit cooperates with said output unit for, dependent on a test in said plurality of tests which is currently being conducted, providing a multi-media auxiliary function via said output unit for supporting execution of said test being currently conducted.

22. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said test in said plurality of tests allows testing of at least two different coordinative abilities of said test person.

23. A device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said tests in said plurality of tests are tests selected from the group of tests for testing reactivity, rhythmization ability, eye-hand coordination, eye-foot coordination, balance, and differentiation ability as said coordinative abilities of said test person.

24. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said test of said plurality of tests comprises a test for testing balance of the test person, and said device further comprising a sensor which measures a time that the test person can stand on one leg.

25. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said test of said plurality of tests comprises a test for testing balance of the test person, and said device further comprising a sensor which measures movement of said test person while standing.

26. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said test in said plurality of tests comprises testing reactivity of the test person and further comprising an actuatable input unit connected to said control unit, and wherein said control unit generates an instruction via said output unit for said test person to actuate said input unit and wherein said control unit measures a time following said instruction at which said test person actuates said input unit.

27. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said test in said plurality of tests comprises a test of rhythmization ability of said test person, and wherein said device further comprises an actuatable input unit, and wherein said control unit, for conducting said test of said rhythmization ability, generates instructions via said output unit for actuating said input unit in a defined time pattern, and wherein said control unit evaluates a time correlation between said defined time pattern and a pattern of actuations of said input unit by said test person.

28. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said test in said plurality of tests comprises a test of eye-foot coordination of said test person, and wherein said device further comprises a foot-actuated input unit connected to said control unit, and wherein said control unit, via said output unit, instructs said test person to perform a task requiring actuation of said foot-actuated input unit and wherein said control unit evaluates accuracy of execution of said task by said test person.

29. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said test in said plurality of tests comprises a test of eye-hand coordination of said test person, and wherein said device further comprises a hand-actuated input unit connected to said control unit, and wherein said control unit, via said output unit, instructs said test person to perform a task requiring actuation of said hand-actuated input unit and wherein said control unit evaluates accuracy of execution of said task by said test person.

30. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said test in said plurality of tests comprises a test of differentiation ability of said test person, and wherein said device further comprises an actuatable input unit having an actuation force defined by said control unit and wherein said control unit, for conducting said test of differentiation ability, instructs the test person via said output device to actuate said input unit and wherein said control unit measures reaction of said test person during actuation of said input unit.