Device and methods for preventing knee sprain injuries
First Claim
1. A device for preventing knee sprain injuries in a user, comprising:
- a sensing part configured to sense data associated with knee joint articulation, wherein the sensing part includes one or more sensors adapted to be positioned above the knee and one or more sensors adapted to be positioned below the knee when the device is worn by the user;
an analyzing part in communication with the sensing part, the analyzing part having a processor configured to analyze the data to determine whether a detected knee joint articulation is a knee sprain motion associated with a knee sprain injury and to generate a trigger signal based on a determination of knee sprain motion; and
a stimulating part in communication with the analyzing part, the stimulating part having a power supply and one or more electrode pairs configured to deliver a myoelectric stimulation in response to the trigger signal such that when the one or more electrode pairs are applied on one or more thigh or hip muscles associated with knee joint articulation, the myoelectric stimulation initiates an early muscle reaction of the one or more thigh or hip muscles to prevent the knee sprain injury.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for preventing knee sprain injuries. To protect the knee joint from knee sprain injuries, the device comprises a sensing part configured to sense data associated with knee motion; an analyzing part configured to analyze the knee motion data to determine a knee articulation; and a stimulating part configured to stimulate one or more lower limb muscles to initiate an earlier muscle reaction than would naturally occur in response to the determined knee joint articulation. The determined knee joint articulation may include knee joint articulation or a particular type of articulation such as a knee sprain movement associated with knee sprain. The methods involve sensing data associated with knee joint motion, analyzing the data to determine a knee joint articulation; and stimulating one or more lower limb muscles to initiate an early muscle reaction within the determined knee joint articulation.
26 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A device for preventing knee sprain injuries in a user, comprising:
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a sensing part configured to sense data associated with knee joint articulation, wherein the sensing part includes one or more sensors adapted to be positioned above the knee and one or more sensors adapted to be positioned below the knee when the device is worn by the user; an analyzing part in communication with the sensing part, the analyzing part having a processor configured to analyze the data to determine whether a detected knee joint articulation is a knee sprain motion associated with a knee sprain injury and to generate a trigger signal based on a determination of knee sprain motion; and a stimulating part in communication with the analyzing part, the stimulating part having a power supply and one or more electrode pairs configured to deliver a myoelectric stimulation in response to the trigger signal such that when the one or more electrode pairs are applied on one or more thigh or hip muscles associated with knee joint articulation, the myoelectric stimulation initiates an early muscle reaction of the one or more thigh or hip muscles to prevent the knee sprain injury. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device for preventing knee sprain injuries in a user, comprising:
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a sensing part configured to sense data associated with knee joint articulation; an analyzing part in communication with the sensing part, the analyzing part having a processor configured to analyze the data to determine whether a detected knee joint articulation is a knee sprain motion associated with a knee sprain injury and to generate a trigger signal based on a determination of knee sprain motion; and a stimulating part in communication with the analyzing part, the stimulating part having a power supply and one or more electrode pairs configured to deliver a myoelectric stimulation in response to the trigger signal such that when the one or more electrode pairs are applied on one or more thigh or hip muscles associated with knee joint articulation, the myoelectric stimulation initiates an early muscle reaction of the one or more thigh or hip muscles to prevent the knee sprain injury, wherein the device is incorporated, in whole or in part, into a brace, sock, legging, pair of shorts, pair of pants, or other supporting structure or wearable apparel such that when worn by a user, the stimulation part is coupled with one or more thigh or hip muscles of the user to deliver myoelectric stimulation thereto and the sensing part is positioned so as to detect the knee joint articulation of the user.
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17. A method for preventing knee sprain injuries, said method comprising:
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sensing data relating to a knee joint articulation; analyzing the data to determine whether the sensed knee joint articulation is a sprain motion associated with knee sprain injuries; generating a trigger signal based on a determination that the knee joint articulation is a sprain motion; and stimulating one or more thigh and hip muscles in response to the trigger signal to initiate an early muscle reaction of the one or more thigh and hip muscles to prevent knee sprain injury. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification