Method of and apparatus for monitoring of muscle activity
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting bruxism and providing feedback to a user, said apparatus comprising:
- I. a sensor system which is operable in a set-up mode and in a use mode;
A. wherein when said sensor system is in the set-up mode it is operable to;
(i) measure a first level of muscular activity of a user'"'"'s jaw associated with a level of a biting force and generate a first signal corresponding thereto; and
(ii) measure a second level of muscular activity of a user'"'"'s jaw associated with normally occurring, non-biting jaw activity and generate a second signal corresponding thereto;
B. and wherein when said sensor system is in the use mode, it is operable to measure the muscular activity of a sleeping user'"'"'s jaw and generate a third signal corresponding thereto;
II. a signal processor which is in communication with said sensor system and is operable to receive said first and second signals generated when said sensor system is in the set-up mode and calculate and store a threshold level of muscular activity which is less than 100% of the first level of muscular activity, but more than the second level of muscular activity; and
III. a feedback signal generator which is in communication with said signal processor and with said sensor system when said sensor system is in said use mode, said feedback signal generator being operable to receive said third signal from said sensor system, generate a feedback signal, and direct said feedback signal to said sleeping user if the level of muscular activity measured by said sensor system exceeds the threshold level of muscular activity calculated by said signal processor.
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Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring muscle activity, apparatus comprising means for providing signals indicative of muscle activity, for example EMG-signals, means for processing of signals in order to detect a particular activity and means for providing a feedback signal, wherein device is designed in order to be individually adaptable in a set-up mode. The apparatus can be used for detecting and prevention of undesired activities such as bruxism, movements that are damaging or unwanted etc. The detection can be performed with great certainty since the individual parameters of the user are utilized for laying down reference values, threshold values, criteria for triggering of feedback signals, etc., which may take place at a set-up procedure.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting bruxism and providing feedback to a user, said apparatus comprising:
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I. a sensor system which is operable in a set-up mode and in a use mode; A. wherein when said sensor system is in the set-up mode it is operable to; (i) measure a first level of muscular activity of a user'"'"'s jaw associated with a level of a biting force and generate a first signal corresponding thereto; and (ii) measure a second level of muscular activity of a user'"'"'s jaw associated with normally occurring, non-biting jaw activity and generate a second signal corresponding thereto; B. and wherein when said sensor system is in the use mode, it is operable to measure the muscular activity of a sleeping user'"'"'s jaw and generate a third signal corresponding thereto; II. a signal processor which is in communication with said sensor system and is operable to receive said first and second signals generated when said sensor system is in the set-up mode and calculate and store a threshold level of muscular activity which is less than 100% of the first level of muscular activity, but more than the second level of muscular activity; and III. a feedback signal generator which is in communication with said signal processor and with said sensor system when said sensor system is in said use mode, said feedback signal generator being operable to receive said third signal from said sensor system, generate a feedback signal, and direct said feedback signal to said sleeping user if the level of muscular activity measured by said sensor system exceeds the threshold level of muscular activity calculated by said signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for detecting bruxism and providing feedback to a sleeping user, said method comprising the steps of:
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measuring a first level of muscular activity of a user'"'"'s jaw associated with a level of biting force, and generating a first signal corresponding thereto; measuring a second level of muscular activity of a user'"'"'s jaw associated with normally occurring jaw activity, and generating a second signal corresponding thereto; calculating a threshold level of muscular activity of the jaw which is less than 100% of the first level of measured activity, but more than the second level of measured activity; measuring a third level of muscular activity of a user'"'"'s jaw in real time while the user is asleep, and generating a third signal corresponding thereto; determining if the third level of muscular activity of said user'"'"'s jaw exceeds said threshold level; and
when said third level exceeds said threshold,providing a feedback signal to said sleeping user. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification