Electrical signal analysis to assess the physical condition of a human or animal

• US 7,736,273 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Original Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Inventors: Cox, Daryl F., Hochanadel, Charles D., Haynes, Howard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganesan; Sundhara M
• Application Number:
  US12/401,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20090170663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482/54, 728/626.8, 728/654, 738/654, 738/626.8, 731/16, 738/621.93, 733/790.4, 600/595, 600/587, 702/160, 324/71.1, 324/76.11, 324/76.13, 235/105
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait

Abstract

The invention is a human and animal performance data acquisition, analysis, and diagnostic system for fitness and therapy devices having an interface box removably disposed on incoming power wiring to a fitness and therapy device, at least one current transducer removably disposed on said interface box for sensing current signals to said fitness and therapy device, and a means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting said current signals to determine human and animal performance on said device using measurable parameters.

Claims

1. A human and animal performance data acquisition, analysis, and diagnostic system for fitness and therapy devices comprising:

an interface box removably connected between a source of electrical power and incoming power wiring to a fitness and therapy device,

at least one current transducer removably disposed adjacent said interface box for sensing current signals to said fitness and therapy device, and

a means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting said current signals to determine human and animal performance on said device using a measurable parameter selected from the group consisting of at least one of stride profile, average stride profile, average cycle fraction difference, stride length unbalance, estimated weight unbalance, difference in max location, and difference in slope max location and wherein said measurable parameter is derived from a plurality of waveform peaks for each of a plurality of strides taken by the subject.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said fitness and therapy device is selected from the group consisting of at least one of treadmill, exercise bike, and elliptical machine.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one current transducer is a clamp-on type.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting further comprises full-wave rectifying of said current signals.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface box is removably connected between a source of electrical power and incoming power wiring to a fitness and therapy device by:

an electrical power cable extending from a power outlet to the interface box, and

an electrical power cable extending from the interface box to the fitness and therapy device.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface box comprises a first power connector for plugging in the source of electrical power and a second power connector for plugging in the power wiring to the fitness and therapy device.

5. A human and animal performance data acquisition, analysis, and diagnostic system for fitness and therapy devices comprising:

an interface box removably connected between a source of electrical power and incoming power wiring to a fitness and therapy device,

at least one current transducer removably disposed on said interface box for sensing current signals to said fitness and therapy device,

at least one voltage transducer removably disposed on said interface box for sensing voltage signals to said fitness and therapy device,

a data recorder for recording said current signals and said voltage signals, and a computer having a means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting said current signals and said voltage signals to determine human and animal performance on said device using a measurable parameter selected from the group consisting of at least one of stride profile, average stride profile, average cycle fraction difference, stride length unbalance, estimated weight unbalance, difference in max location, and difference in slope max location and wherein said measurable parameter is derived from a plurality of waveform peaks for each of a plurality of strides taken by the subject.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said fitness and therapy device is selected from the group consisting of at least one of treadmill, exercise bike, and elliptical machine.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said at least one current transducer is a clamp-on type.

8. The system of claim 5 further comprising a loop extending externally from and back to said interface box for accessing said current signals to said fitness and therapy device by said at least one current transducer.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein said interface box further comprises a voltage splitter.

10. The system of claim 5 wherein said means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting further comprises full-wave rectifying of said current signals and a power measurement.

22. The system of claim 5 wherein the interface box is removably connected between a source of electrical power and incoming power wiring to a fitness and therapy device by:

an electrical power cable extending from a power outlet to the interface box, and

an electrical power cable extending from the interface box to the fitness and therapy device.

11. A method of determining human and animal performance on a fitness and therapy device comprising the steps of:

coupling an interface box in series between a source of electrical power and incoming power wiring for a fitness and therapy device,

securing at least one current transducer to said interface box for sensing current signals to said fitness and therapy device, and

connecting a means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting said current signals to determine human and animal performance on said device using a measurable parameter selected from the group consisting of at least one of stride profile, average stride profile, average cycle fraction difference, stride length unbalance, estimated weight unbalance, difference in max location and difference in slope max location and wherein said measurable parameter is derived from a plurality of waveform peaks for each of a plurality of strides taken by the subject.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said fitness and therapy device is selected from the group consisting of at least one of treadmill, exercise bike, and elliptical machine.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the step of securing at least one current transducer comprises removably securing said at least one current transducer and wherein said at least one current transducer is a clamp-on type.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting further comprises full-wave rectifying of said current signals.

15. A method of determining human and animal performance on a fitness and therapy device comprising the steps of:

coupling an interface box between a source of electrical power and incoming power wiring for a fitness and therapy device,

securing at least one current transducer to said interface box for sensing current signals to said fitness and therapy device,

securing at least one voltage transducer to said interface box for sensing voltage signals to said fitness and therapy device,

connecting a data recorder for recording said current signals and said voltage signals, and connecting a computer having a means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting said current signals and said voltage signals to determine human and animal performance on said device using a measurable parameter selected from the group consisting of at least one of stride profile, average stride profile, average cycle fraction difference, stride length unbalance, estimated weight unbalance, difference in max location, and difference in slope max location and wherein said measurable parameter is derived from a plurality of waveform peaks for each of a plurality of strides taken by the subject.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said fitness and therapy device is selected from the group consisting of at least one of treadmill, exercise bike, and elliptical machine.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the step of securing at least one current transducer comprises removably securing said at least one current transducer and wherein said at least one current transducer is a clamp-on type.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of securing at least one current transducer to said interface box comprises securing at least one current transducer to a loop extending externally from and back to said interface box.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said interface box further comprises a voltage splitter.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting further comprises full-wave rectifying of said current signals and a power measurement.

24. A method of determining human and animal performance on a fitness and therapy device selected from the group consisting of at least one of treadmill, exercise bike, and elliptical machine, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling an interface box in series between a source of electrical power and incoming power wiring for a fitness and therapy device by plugging in a first power connector extending from the interface box into the source of electrical power and plugging in a second power connector extending from the fitness and therapy device into the interface box,

securing at least one current transducer to said interface box for sensing current signals to said fitness and therapy device, and

connecting a means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting said current signals to determine human and animal performance on said device using measurable parameters.

25. A method of determining human and animal performance on a fitness and therapy device selected from the group consisting of at least one of treadmill, exercise bike, and elliptical machine, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling an interface box between a source of electrical power and incoming power wiring for a fitness and therapy device by plugging in a first power connector extending from the interface box into the source of electrical power and plugging in a second power connector extending from the fitness and therapy device into the interface box,

securing at least one current transducer to said interface box for sensing current signals to said fitness and therapy device,

securing at least one voltage transducer to said interface box for sensing voltage signals to said fitness and therapy device, and

connecting a data recorder for recording said current signals and said voltage signals, and connecting a computer having a means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting said current signals and said voltage signals to determine human and animal performance on said device using measurable parameters.