Enhanced system and method for assessment of disequilibrium, balance and motion disorders

• US 9,149,222 B1
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engineering Acoustics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Engineering Acoustics Incorporated
• Inventors: Zets, Gary, Mortimer, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US13/300,428
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 600/595
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0092 for training agility or co-ordination of movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0094 for active rehabilitation, e.g. slow motion devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0247 with legs in a kneeled 90/90 position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 : Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 : Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 : Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 : Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 : Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/02 : Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 26/003 : for improving balance or equilibrium balance beams A63B4/00; apparatus for rope dancing A63B7/08; balancing drums, balancing boards or the like A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

Abstract

A system and method for providing therapy and assessment utilizing vibrotactile feedback is disclosed. Such treatment is useful for the assessment and treatment of disequilibrium, movement and balance disorders. The system and method measures a subject'"'"'s performance of predetermined tasks with respect to expected parameters using sensors such as force plates, inertial sensors, and three dimensional cameras. Predetermined motions are motions such as stand, sit-to-stand, reach, bend, functional gait, functional gait plus headshake, and other functional tasks. Vibrotactile stimulation may be applied during the subject'"'"'s performance as disruptive input. Variance and rate of change of variance between measured and expected parameters is used as a tool for assessment of said subject, and is also used for providing real-time vibrotactile training to said subject. The invention is useful in the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), neurologic disorders causing disequilibrium and balance disorders, and the like.

Claims

1. A method for assessing disequilibrium and movement and balance disorders of a subject, comprising:

a. providing at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of at least one force plate, at least one three dimensional camera, and at least one inertial sensor;

b. positioning a subject within a sensing field of said at least one sensor;

c. identifying a predetermined headshake task for said subject to perform while positioned in said sensing field, said predetermined headshake task being defined by at least one headshake parameter selected from the group consisting of angular rate of headshake and angular extent of headshake;

d. identifying a predetermined motional task for said subject to perform while positioned in said sensing field, said motional task being defined by at least one motional task parameter;

e. receiving at least one headshake sensor signal produced by said at least one sensor in response to an attempt by said subject to perform said predetermined headshake task and said predetermined motional task simultaneously, wherein said headshake sensor signal represents at least one headshake variance between a subject'"'"'s actual performance of said predetermined headshake task and said at least one parameter of said headshake task;

f. receiving at least one motional task sensor signal produced by said at least one sensor in response to an attempt by said subject to perform said predetermined motional task;

wherein said motional task sensor signal represents at least one motional task variance between a subject'"'"'s actual performance of said predetermined motional task and said at least one motional task parameter of said motional task;

h. using said at least one headshake variance and said at least one motional task variance to assess a subject'"'"'s ability to perform said predetermined motional task.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said predetermined motional task is further defined as a functional gait task.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a cueing signal selected from the group consisting of auditory, vibrotactile, and visual to a subject during said attempt by said subject to perform said predetermined headshake task, said cueing signal signaling an angular extent of said headshake.

4. The method of claim 3, in which said step of providing a cueing signal is further defined as said cueing signal being applied to said subject in a direction corresponding to a direction of said headshake.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of providing a cueing signal selected from the group consisting of auditory, vibrotactile, and visual to said subject during said attempt by said subject to perform said predetermined motional task and said headshake task, said cueing signal signaling an angular extent of said headshake.

6. The method of claim 5, in which said step of providing a cueing signal is further defined as said cueing signal being applied to said subject in a direction corresponding to a direction of said headshake.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a cueing signal selected from the group consisting of auditory, vibrotactile, and visual to said subject during said attempt by said subject to perform said headshake task and said motional task, said cueing signal signaling a desired angular rate of said headshake.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of recording and displaying said at least one headshake variance during said attempt by said subject to perform said predetermined headshake task and said predetermined motional task.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining a correlation between said motional task variance and said headshake variance.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of comparing a functional gait periodicity and a headshake periodicity.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining a numerical score based upon said at least one headshake variance.

12. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of determining a numerical score based upon said at least one headshake variance.

13. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of determining a numerical score based upon said at least one headshake variance.

14. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of determining a numerical score based upon said at least one headshake variance.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of determining a rate of change of said at least one motional task variance, and determining a numerical score based upon said rate of change of said at least one motional task variance.

16. The method of claim 7, in which said step of providing a cueing signal is further defined as said cueing signal being applied to said subject in a direction corresponding to a direction of said headshake.

17. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of providing a cueing signal selected from the group consisting of auditory, vibrotactile, and visual to said subject during said attempt by said subject to perform said predetermined motional task and said predetermined headshake task, said cueing signal signaling an angular rate of said headshake.

18. The method of claim 17, in which said step of providing a cueing signal is further defined as said cueing signal being applied to said subject in a direction corresponding to a direction of said headshake.

19. A method for assessing disequilibrium and movement and balance disorders of a subject, comprising:

a. providing at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of at least one force plate, at least one three dimensional camera, and at least one inertial sensor;

b. positioning a subject within a sensing field of said at least one sensor;

c. identifying a predetermined headshake task for said subject to perform while positioned in said sensing field, said predetermined headshake task being defined by at least one headshake parameter selected from the group consisting of angular rate of headshake and angular extent of headshake;

d. identifying a predetermined motional task having at least one motional task parameter for said subject to perform while positioned in said sensing field,

e. receiving at least one headshake sensor signal produced by said at least one sensor in response to an attempt by said subject to perform said predetermined headshake task;

wherein said headshake sensor signal represents at least one variance between a subject'"'"'s actual performance of said predetermined headshake task and said at least one headshake parameter;

f. receiving at least one motional task sensor signal produced by said at least one sensor in response to an attempt by said subject to perform said predetermined motional task;

wherein said motional task sensor signal represents at least one variance between a subject'"'"'s actual performance of said predetermined motional task and said at least one motional task parameter; and

g. providing a feedback selected from the group consisting of auditory, vibrotactile, and visual to said subject in response to said at least one headshake variance during said subject'"'"'s simultaneous performance of said predetermined headshake task and said predetermined motional task; and

h. using said at least one motional task variance to assess said a subject'"'"'s ability to perform said first predetermined motional task.