System, apparatus, and method for promoting usage of core muscles and other applications

• US 9,226,706 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alert Core, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alert Core, Inc.
• Inventors: Uehara, Gregory Takeo, Brunn, Brian Taylor
• Primary Examiner(s): CAPUTO, LISA M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cotey, Philip
• Application Number:
  US14/132,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20140174174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 733/790.1, 700/91
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/227 of constricting muscles, i.e. sphincters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/02 for the abdomen, the spinal column or the torso muscles related to shoulders (e.g. chest muscles)
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0205 Abdomen
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed include a system and method for development of core muscles'"'"' support, comprising a means for identifying a user qualifying movement, a means for detecting a core muscle contraction in the identified qualifying movement, a means for discriminating between a core muscle contraction and no core muscle contraction in the identified qualifying movement; and a means to provide feedback to the user.

Claims

1. A method for development of procedural memory for core muscles based support, comprising:

providing a movement sensor and a contraction sensor that are in communication with a signal processor, wherein the movement sensor, the contraction sensor and the signal processor are components of a wearable device;

detecting a movement of a body with the movement sensor;

detecting a core contraction of the core muscles located in an abdominal area of the body with the contraction sensor;

determining by the signal processor that the movement of the body is a qualifying movement that benefits from the core contraction;

detecting by the signal processor, a timing relationship between the qualifying movement of the body and the core contraction of the core muscles;

determining by the signal processor, that the qualifying movement is either a protected qualifying movement where the core contraction is detected by the contraction sensor during the qualifying movement detected by the movement sensor or an unprotected qualifying movement where the core contraction is not detected by the contraction sensor during the qualifying movement detected by the movement sensor; and

providing an output device which provides immediate local feedback immediately upon at least one of the following;

the core contraction, the protected qualifying movement detection or the unprotected qualifying movement, wherein the output device is part of the wearable device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a buzzer or a speaker with a sound generator which is the output device;

generating a feedback signal with the sound generator; and

emitting the feedback signal from the buzzer or the speaker;

wherein the output device is part of the wearable device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a force sensing resistor (FSR) in a wearable device; and

utilizing the force sensing resistor (FSR) to identify the core contraction.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing in the wearable device an accelerometer or a gyro as the movement sensor to identify the qualifying movement.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing in the wearable device including one or more means to communicate to a personal computer (PC), a smart phone, or a portable device.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving feedback by the personal computer (PC) or handheld device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing in a wrist wearable device comprising a wrist movement sensor and means to communicate with the signal processor wherein the coordination of a body turn and movement of the wrist may be optimized for a type of athletic movement.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the athletic movement comprises athletic movements in at least one of a movement in a game of golf, tennis, baseball, and volleyball.

9. A method for development of procedural memory for core muscles based support, comprising:

providing a movement sensor and a core contraction sensor adapted to be worn by a user, the movement sensor and the core contraction sensor on a wearable device in communication with a signal processor in an external device;

detecting a movement of a body with the movement sensor;

detecting a core contraction of core muscles located in an abdominal area of the body with the core contraction sensor;

detecting by the signal processor, a timing relationship between the movement of the body and the core contraction of the core muscles;

determining by the signal processor, if the movement is a protected qualifying movement where the core contraction is detected by the core contraction sensor during the qualifying movement detected by the movement sensor or an unprotected qualifying movement where the core contraction is not detected by the core contraction sensor during the qualifying movement detected by the movement sensor; and

providing an output device which provides immediate local feedback immediately upon at least one of the following;

the core contraction, the protected qualifying movement detection or the unprotected qualifying movement.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing a sound generator which is the output device;

emitting the feedback signal from the audio output device.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing a force sensing resistor that is the core contraction sensor in the wearable device; and

identifying the core contraction using the force sensing resistor.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing an accelerometer or a gyro in a wearable device, wherein the accelerometer or the gyro is the movement sensor;

receiving by the signal processor, signals from the accelerometer or the gyro; and

determining by the signal processor, that a movement is a qualifying movement.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the external device is at least one of:

a personal computer (PC), a smart phone, an electronic pad or a portable device.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing a memory on the external device and storing the feedback of the core contraction, the protected qualifying movement detection or the unprotected qualifying movement.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing in a wrist wearable device comprising means to communicate with the single or plurality of sensors and the single or plurality of signal processors, monitoring the core and further monitoring movement of the user'"'"'s hips;

combining the monitoring of wrist movement and turn of the user'"'"'s hips, wherein the coordination of a body turn and movement of the wrists may be optimized for a type of athletic movement.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the athletic movement comprises athletic movements in at least one of a movement in a game of golf, tennis, baseball, and volleyball.

17. A method for development of procedural memory for core muscles based support, comprising:

providing a core contraction sensor, a movement sensor and an output device within a wearable device wherein the core contraction sensor and a movement sensor are in communication with a signal processor;

detecting a movement of a body with the movement sensor;

detecting a core contraction of core muscles located in an abdominal area of the body with the core contraction sensor;

detecting by the signal processor, a timing relationship between the movement of the body and the core contraction of the core muscles;

determining by the signal processor, if the movement is a protected qualifying movement where the core contraction is detected by the core contraction sensor during the qualifying movement detected by the movement sensor or an unprotected qualifying movement where the core contraction is not detected by the core contraction sensor during the qualifying movement detected by the movement sensor; and

providing immediate local feedback by the output device immediately upon receiving in response to an output signal from the signal processor.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the output signal from the signal processor is triggered by the core contraction.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the output signal from the signal processor is triggered by the protected qualifying movement.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the output signal from the signal processor is triggered by the unprotected qualifying movement.