Method and outfit for measuring of action of muscles of body

• US 7,152,470 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.), Myontec Oy
• Original Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.), Mega Elektroniikka Oy (Bittium Oyj)
• Inventors: Reho, Akseli, Impiö, Jussi, Karinsalo, Tapio, Tolvanen, Pekka, Välimäki, Elina, Remes, Arto
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Jewel
• Application Number:
  US11/024,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20050178201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 733/790.1, 600/595, 600/587, 607/2, 846/87
• US Class Current: 73/379.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and an outfit for measuring of action of muscles of body, in which method electrical signals created by active muscles are measured with a measuring device and a response from action of muscles is given with a response device with a signal perceptible to a user. In the method in accordance with the invention electrical signals of muscles at various points of the body and/or limbs are measured with one or more measuring devices attached and connected to one or more outfits, the functioning of various muscles is monitored and the information is processed in measuring devices. In the outfit in accordance with the invention there are one or more measuring devices integrated for measuring the electrical signals created by the muscles, for monitoring the action, for processing the information, and the outfit includes a response device for giving response.

Claims

1. A method for measuring of action of muscles of a body, in which electrical signals, such as EMG-signals, created by active muscles are measured with a measuring device and a response from the action of the muscles is given with a response device with a signal perceptible to a user, wherein the electrical signals of the muscles at various points of the body and/or limbs are measured with the measuring device attached and connected to one or more outfits, wherein action of various muscles is monitored and compared, wherein information is processed in the measuring device, and wherein response of the actions and/or comparison of the actions of different muscles is given by the response device.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein differences in actions of symmetric muscles in various sides of the body and/or the limbs of the left and the right sides during various performances are measured.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the action of muscles having influence on movements to opposite directions of the same limb and the right relation of their muscular strength and muscular work carried out are measured.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, in which noticeable difference in muscle action and/or the relation of work carried out is indicated to user with the response device on the outfit.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, in which noticeable difference in muscle action and/or the relation of work carried out is indicated to the user with a the response device outside the outfit.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, in which noticeable magnitude of the difference in actions of symmetric muscles in various sides of the body and/or the limbs of the left and the right sides and/or the relation of work carried out is regulated or defined in accordance with individual needs and/or in accordance with a sport.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, in which a whole muscle group is measured with the measuring device.

8. An outfit including one or more measuring devices integrated to the outfit for measuring of electrical signals caused by muscles, wherein the measuring device is integrated to the outfit for measuring of EMG-signals caused by the muscles, for monitoring the action of the muscles and for comparing the actions of the muscles on the base of the electrical signals and for processing information from the electrical signals, and wherein the outfit includes a response device for giving a response.

9. An outfit in accordance with claim 8 including textile electrodes, conducting wires made of conducting textile, a data processing module, and one or more response modules integrated to the outfit.

10. An outfit in accordance with claim 8 including textile electrodes, conducting wires made of conducting textile, a data processing module integrated to the outfit, and in which the response device is outside the outfit.

11. An outfit in accordance with claim 9 including pockets on the outfit, to which the modules are removably placed, and that in the outfit and the modules there are connection parts corresponding to each other.

12. An outfit in accordance with claim 8 including a large common earth connection electrode surface placed in the outfit, and that the conducting wires from the electrodes have been integrated to the earth connection.