Balance prosthesis
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for providing a wearer with information indicative of spatial orientation of a body part of said wearer, said apparatus comprising:
- a motion sensing system to be worn by a wearer, said motion sensing system generating a motion signal indicative of motion experienced by said body part of said wearer;
a signal processor in communication with said motion sensing system for generating an estimate of said spatial orientation of said body part on the basis of said motion signal;
a stimulator configured to provide a signal to a nervous system of said wearer in response to a feedback signal, said stimulator including an electrode adapted to be inserted proximate to a nerve in said wearer; and
an encoder in communication with said signal processor and said electrode, said encoder configured to generate said feedback signal on the basis of said estimate of said spatial orientation and to introduce noise into said electrode, said noise being selected to enhance sensitivity of said nerve to a signal indicative of spatial orientation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wearable balance prosthesis provides a information indicative of a wearer'"'"'s spatial orientation. The balance prosthesis includes an motion sensing system to be worn by the wearer and a signal processor in communication with the motion sensing system. The signal processor provides an orientation signal to an encoder. The encoder generates a feedback signal on the basis of the estimate of the spatial orientation provides that signal to a stimulator coupled to the wearer'"'"'s nervous system.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for providing a wearer with information indicative of spatial orientation of a body part of said wearer, said apparatus comprising:
-
a motion sensing system to be worn by a wearer, said motion sensing system generating a motion signal indicative of motion experienced by said body part of said wearer;
a signal processor in communication with said motion sensing system for generating an estimate of said spatial orientation of said body part on the basis of said motion signal;
a stimulator configured to provide a signal to a nervous system of said wearer in response to a feedback signal, said stimulator including an electrode adapted to be inserted proximate to a nerve in said wearer; and
an encoder in communication with said signal processor and said electrode, said encoder configured to generate said feedback signal on the basis of said estimate of said spatial orientation and to introduce noise into said electrode, said noise being selected to enhance sensitivity of said nerve to a signal indicative of spatial orientation.
-
-
2. An apparatus for providing a wearer with information indicative of spatial orientation of a body part of said wearer, said apparatus comprising:
-
a motion sensing system to be worn by a wearer, said motion sensing system generating a motion signal indicative of motion experienced by said body part of said wearer;
a signal processor in communication with said motion sensing system for generating an estimate of said spatial orientation of said body part on the basis of said motion signal;
a stimulator including a transmitting electrode adapted to be inserted proximate to a nerve in said wearer and configured to provide a signal to a nervous system of said wearer in response to a feedback signal, and a measurement electrode in communication with said encoder for detecting an endogenous signal in said nerve; and
an encoder in communication with said signal processor, said transmitting electrode and said measurement electrode, said encoder being configured to generate said feedback signal on the basis of said endogenous signal and said estimate of said spatial orientation.
-
-
3. An apparatus for providing a wearer with information indicative of spatial orientation of a body part of said wearer, said apparatus comprising:
-
a motion sensing system to be worn by said wearer, said motion sensing system including a micro-mechanical rotation sensor configured to generate a motion signal that includes information indicative of rotational motion experienced by said wearer;
a signal processor in communication with said motion sensing system for generating an estimate of said spatial orientation of said body part on the basis of said motion signal;
an encoder in communication with said signal processor, said encoder configured to generate a feedback signal on the basis of said estimate of said spatial orientation; and
a stimulator responsive to said feedback signal from said encoder, said stimulator configured to provide a signal to a nervous system of said wearer in response to said feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
-
-
6. An apparatus for providing a wearer with information indicative of spatial orientation of a body part of said wearer, said apparatus comprising:
-
a motion sensing system to be worn by a wearer, said motion sensing system including a micro-mechanical translation sensor configured to generate a motion signal that includes information indicative of linear acceleration experienced by said wearer;
a signal processor in communication with said motion sensing system for generating an estimate of said spatial orientation of said body part on the basis of said motion signal;
an encoder in communication with said signal processor, said encoder configured to generate a feedback signal on the basis of said estimate of said spatial orientation; and
a stimulator responsive to said feedback signal from said encoder, said stimulator configured to provide a signal to a nervous system of said wearer in response to said feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
-
9. An apparatus for providing a wearer with information indicative of spatial orientation of a body part of said wearer, said apparatus comprising:
-
a motion sensing system to be worn by a wearer, said motion sensing system generating a motion signal indicative of motion experienced by said body part of said wearer;
a signal processor in communication with said motion sensing system for generating an estimate of said spatial orientation of said body part on the basis of said motion signal, said signal processing system being configured to resolve said estimate into at least a component arising from linear acceleration due to gravity and a component arising from linear acceleration resulting in translation;
an encoder in communication with said signal processor, said encoder configured to generate a feedback signal on the basis of said estimate of said spatial orientation; and
a stimulator responsive to said feedback signal from said encoder, said stimulator configured to provide a signal to a nervous system of said wearer in response to said feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An apparatus for providing a wearer with information indicative of spatial orientation of a body part of said wearer, said apparatus comprising:
-
a motion sensing system to be worn by a wearer, said motion sensing system generating a motion signal indicative of motion experienced by said body part of said wearer;
a signal processor in communication with said motion sensing system for generating an estimate of said spatial orientation of said body part on the basis of said motion signal;
a GPS receiver to be worn by the wearer;
an encoder in communication with said signal processor and with said receiver, said encoder configured to generate a feedback signal on the basis of said estimate of said spatial orientation and an additional signal from said receiver; and
a stimulator responsive to said feedback signal from said encoder, said stimulator configured to provide a signal to a nervous system of said wearer in response to said feedback signal.
-
-
17. An apparatus for providing a wearer with information indicative of spatial orientation of a body part of said wearer, said apparatus comprising:
-
a motion sensing system to be worn by a wearer, said motion sensing system generating a motion signal indicative of motion experienced by said body part of said wearer;
a signal processor in communication with said motion sensing system for generating an estimate of said spatial orientation of said body part on the basis of said motion signal;
a receiver to be worn by the wearer, said receiver being adapted to detect a signal indicative of a quantity selected from a group consisting of a joint angle measurement, a tactile pressure, a location of said wearer, and a location of a body part of said wearer an encoder in communication with said signal processor and with said receiver, said encoder configured to generate a feedback signal on the basis of said estimate of said spatial orientation and an additional signal from said receiver; and
a stimulator responsive to said feedback signal from said encoder, said stimulator configured to provide a signal to a nervous system of said wearer in response to said feedback signal.
-
Specification