Adjustable wireless electromyography sensor and system

• US 7,809,435 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IQ Biolabs Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IQ Biolabs Incorporated
• Inventors: Ettare, Ryan D., Wasson, Willie O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US11/329,778
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 600/546, 600/300, 600/509, 600/508, 600372-373, 600393-396, 600/545, 600382-384, 607/41, 607/60, 455/426.1, 455/462, 455/507, 235/462.44, 128/903, 708/841, 324/103.P, 327/50, 327/58, 360/40, 360/46, 360/51, 360/53, 360/65, 360/67, 360/77.08, 375/317
• US Class Current: 600/546
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]

Abstract

An adjustable, wireless electromyography (EMG) sensor includes a first sensor portion and a second sensor portion. The first sensor portion includes a first measurement attachment point, a wireless transmitter, and a control circuit. The control circuit controls the wireless EMG sensor. The second sensor portion includes a second measurement attachment point. The wireless EMG sensor may also include an adjustable connector that connects the first sensor portion and the second sensor portion. The control circuit controls collection of EMG measurements between the first measurement attachment point and the second measurement attachment point, and controls the wireless transmitter to transmit the EMG measurements having been collected. The control circuit may also control power saving by the wireless EMG sensor.

Claims

1. A two piece wireless electromyography (EMG) sensor, comprising:

a first piece of said two piece sensor comprising a first sensor portion that includes a first housing, first measurement attachment point, a wireless transmitter, and a control circuit coupled to said first measurement attachment point and said wireless transmitter, wherein said control circuit controls said wireless EMG sensor;

a second piece of said two piece sensor comprising a second housing, a second sensor portion that includes a second measurement attachment point; and

a retractable connector that connects the first sensor portion and the second sensor portion, wherein the retractable connector adjusts for a variety of measurement distances between the first measurement attachment point and the second measurement attachment point corresponding to a variety of different sized muscles to be measured of a subject, wherein the variety of measurement distances vary from a position where the first housing is directly adjacent, or relatively close, to the second housing for EMG measurements of a relatively small muscle of the subject to a position where the first housing is separated by a distance from the second housing for EMG measurements of a relatively large muscle of the subject,

wherein the retractable connector further includes a spool and a flexible connector that provides electrical communication between the first and second pieces of the two piece sensor, wherein when said EMG sensor is not in use the spool collects the flexible connector therearound within the first or second housing, and wherein when the EMG sensor is in use the spool allows the flexible connector to be drawn out and retracted according to the variety of measurement distances related to different muscle size thereby retaining excess length of the flexible connector within the first or second housing during active movement by the subject such that the excess cable does not impair or affect the active movement of the subject, and

wherein said control circuit controls collection of EMG measurements between said first measurement attachment point on said first piece of said two piece sensor and said second measurement attachment point on said second piece of said two piece sensor, and controls said wireless transmitter to transmit said EMG measurements having been collected.

2. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said first sensor portion further includes the spool around which said adjustable connector may be manually wound and unwound.

3. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said adjustable connector electrically couples said second measurement attachment point and said control circuit.

4. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said first sensor portion further includes a wireless receiver for receiving control signals, and wherein said control circuit is responsive to said control signals for controlling said wireless EMG sensor.

5. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said wireless transmitter comprises a wireless transceiver, wherein said wireless transceiver receives control signals, and wherein said control circuit is responsive to said control signals for controlling said wireless EMG sensor.

6. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said first sensor portion further includes an antenna coupled to said wireless transmitter.

7. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said first sensor portion further includes an analog section coupled to said first measurement attachment point and to said control circuit, and wherein said analog section performs differential sensing of said EMG measurements.

8. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 7, further comprising:

an adjustable connector that couples said analog section to said second measurement attachment point.

9. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said first sensor portion further includes a band pass filter coupled to said first measurement attachment point and to said control circuit, and wherein said band pass filter filters said EMG measurements.

10. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said control circuit processes said EMG measurements, provides said EMG measurements to said wireless transmitter, and performs reception acknowledgement functions according to whether an acknowledgement receipt of said EMG measurements is received.

11. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said control circuit controls power saving by said wireless EMG sensor by selectively powering down selected components of said first sensor portion.

12. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said control circuit controls power saving by said wireless EMG sensor during analog conversions by powering down selected blocks of said control circuit that are not involved in said analog conversions.

13. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said control circuit controls power saving by said wireless EMG sensor during analog conversions by powering down said wireless transmitter.

14. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said first sensor portion includes an analog section and a band pass filter, wherein said control circuit controls power saving by said wireless EMG sensor during data computations by powering down said analog section and said band pass filter.

15. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said control circuit controls power saving by said wireless EMG sensor during data transmission by operating in a first power consumption mode during data transmission and a second power consumption mode in anticipation of a receipt acknowledgement signal.

16. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said control circuit controls power saving by said wireless EMG sensor during data transmission by directing said wireless transmitter to transmit said EMG measurements at a minimal power level for reception.

17. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said control circuit controls power saving by said wireless EMG sensor during analog conversions by powering down selected blocks of said control circuit that are not involved in said analog conversions.

18. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said control circuit controls power saving by said wireless EMG sensor during analog conversions by powering down said wireless transmitter.

19. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said wireless EMG sensor further includes an analog section and a band pass filter, wherein said control circuit controls power saving by said wireless EMG sensor during data computations by powering down said analog section and said band pass filter.

20. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said control circuit controls power saving by said wireless EMG sensor during data transmission by operating in a first power consumption mode during data transmission and a second power consumption mode in anticipation of a receipt acknowledgement signal.

21. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein said control circuit controls power saving by said wireless EMG sensor during data transmission by directing said wireless transmitter to transmit said EMG measurements at a minimal power level for reception.

22. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein the spool is disposed in the first housing along with the control circuit.

23. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein the antenna is integrated on a printed circuit board along with the control circuit.

24. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein the first piece and the second piece are configured such that the second piece is attached to an interior portion of the first piece when not in use and is detachable from the interior portion of the first piece when in use.

25. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein the first piece and the second piece are configured such that the second piece is attached to an exterior portion of the first piece when not in use and is detachable from the exterior portion of the first piece when in use.

26. The wireless EMG sensor of claim 1, wherein the spool is maintained at a tension.

27. A system for collecting and displaying electromyography (EMG) information, comprising:

the wireless EMG sensor of claim 1; and

a data display device, coupled to said data reception unit, that displays said EMG measurements.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said wireless transmitter comprises a first wireless transceiver, wherein said wireless receiver comprises a second wireless transceiver, wherein said reception control circuit controls said data reception unit to transmit an acknowledgement receipt after said data reception unit has received said EMG measurements, and wherein said control circuit performs reception acknowledgement functions according to whether said acknowledgement receipt is received.