Brace compliance monitor

• US 7,166,063 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nemours Foundation
• Original Assignee: Nemours Foundation
• Inventors: Rahman, Tariq, Bowen, J. Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman; Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US11/025,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20050165336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 600/587, 128/869, 128/882, 602/1, 602/2, 602/5, 602 13- 29
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/04 Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534; radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions

Abstract

A brace compliance monitor is disclosed that includes a compliance sensor, a signal processor, and a display. Compliance data is displayed on the display to provide the patient or subject with immediate compliance information on whether they have been wearing the brace for the specified period and in the specified manner. The brace compliance monitor may also include a secondary sensor such as a tilt sensor, a pressure sensor, a force sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a velocity sensor. The secondary sensors may provide additional compliance data to the patient and health car provider.

Claims

1. A method of providing compliance feedback in a brace comprising the steps of:

sensing whether the brace is in position on a user;

outputting a compliance signal in response to said sensing step;

sensing an attitude of the brace to generate attitude data;

storing the compliance signal as compliance data;

determining compliance based upon the compliance data and a predetermined compliance protocol; and

outputting at least one of the compliance result and the attitude data.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of outputting occurs in response to user interaction.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of sensing the position of the brace comprises sensing at least one of temperature, light, and capacitance.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of sensing an attitude comprises sensing at least one of tilt, acceleration, velocity, pressure or force.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the attitude is at least one of sitting, lying down, standing, or walking.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

storing the compliance data in a signal processor; and

inputting the compliance protocol to the signal processor.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the brace comprises a scoliosis brace.