System and method for identifying and interpreting repetitive motions

• US 9,314,666 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ficus Ventures Incorporated
• Inventors: Canavan, Cavan, Hughes, Grant
• Primary Examiner(s): Tabatabai, Abolfazl
• Application Number:
  US14/213,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20140270375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382/107, 382/236, 348169-172, 348/352, 482/1, 482/8, 482/9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A motion tracking system monitors the motions performed by a user based on motion data received from one or more sensors. The motion tracking system may include a motion tracking device with one or more sensors, a smart device with one or more sensors and/or a server. As the user interacts with the motion tracking system or smart device the motion data generated by one or more sensors is processed by a software application. The software application generates interpreted data based on the motion data and contextual data such as the equipment being used by the user. Feedback is then provided to the user during and/or after the user has performed a motion or a set of motions. The feedback provided to the user may be visual, audio or tactile. The application may be used to monitor a routine in a sporting, fitness, industrial or medical environment, for example.

Claims

1. A method for interpreting repetitive movements performed by a user of a motion tracking device, the method comprising:

receiving motion data from the motion tracking device, the motion data representing motions performed by the user of the motion tracking device associated with a repetitive movement;

determining, based on the motion data and the repetitive movement, a form with which the user performs the repetitive movement;

including;

identifying repetitive features in one or more signals of the motion data;

comparing the repetitive features with correct movement data associated with the repetitive movement; and

determining, based on the comparison, the form with which the user is performing the repetitive movement;

generating feedback based on the determined form with which the user performs the repetitive motion, the feedback notifying the user of the form with which the user is performing the repetitive movement; and

providing the feedback to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, based on the comparison, the form with which the user is performing the repetitive movement comprises:

identifying, based on a negative comparison, that the user is performing the repetitive motion with an improper form; and

determining, based on the repetitive features, a type of improper form being performed by the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining, based on the repetitive features, the type of improper form being performed by the user comprises:

comparing the repetitive features with one or more improper movement data associated with the repetitive movement; and

determining, based on the comparison, the type of improper form being performed by the user.

4. A method for interpreting repetitive movements performed by a user of a motion tracking device, the method comprising:

receiving motion data from the motion tracking device, the motion data representing motions performed by the user of the motion tracking device associated with a repetitive movement;

determining, based on the motion data and the repetitive movement, a form with which the user performs the repetitive movement;

identifying one or more features in the motion data associated with the repetitive movement;

generating improper movement data based on the identified one or more features;

storing the improper movement data in a movement database;

generating feedback based on the determined form with which the user performs the repetitive motion, the feedback notifying the user of the form with which the user is performing the repetitive movement; and

providing the feedback to the user, wherein the feedback includes information about the improper movement data.

5. A method for interpreting repetitive movements performed by a user of a motion tracking device, the method comprising:

receiving motion data from the motion tracking device, the motion data representing motions performed by the user of the motion tracking device associated with a repetitive movement;

determining, based on the motion data and the repetitive movement, a form with which the user performs the repetitive movement;

determining, based on the motion data, a change associated with the repetitive movement, the change representing a difficulty experienced by the user while performing the repetitive movement, or a portion of the repetitive movement; and

generating feedback based on the determined form with which the user performs the repetitive motion and based on the determined change associated with the repetitive movement; and

providing the feedback to the user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing a fitness routine to be performed by the user, the fitness routine comprising one or more sets of repetitive movements.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

modifying, based on the change associated with a repetitive movement of the one or more sets of repetitive movements of the fitness routine, the fitness routine.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein modifying the fitness routine comprises increasing or decreasing a number of repetitive movements associated with a set of repetitive movements, increasing or decreasing a weight of a fitness equipment associated with a set of repetitive movements, increasing or decreasing a rest period between repetitive movements, or altering the one or more sets of repetitive movements provided to the user.

9. A method for monitoring movements performed by a user of a motion tracking device, the method comprising:

receiving motion data from the motion tracking device, the motion data representing movements performed by the user of the motion tracking device;

identifying, one or more features in one or more signals of the motion data;

monitoring, based on the one or more features, a routine performed by the user;

including;

identifying, based on the one or more features, one or more steps of the monitored routine performed by the user; and

determining, based on the one or more identified steps, if the user missed a step associated with the monitored routine;

generating feedback based on the monitored routine; and

providing the feedback for display to the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the feedback comprises performance data associated with the monitored routine.

11. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive motion data from the motion tracking device, the motion data representing motions performed by the user of the motion tracking device associated with a repetitive movement;

determine, based on the motion data and the repetitive movement, a form with which the user performs the repetitive movement, comprising;

identify repetitive features in one or more signals of the motion data;

compare the repetitive features with correct movement data associated with the repetitive movement; and

determine, based on the comparison, the form with which the user is performing the repetitive movement;

generate feedback based on the determined form with which the user performs the repetitive motion, the feedback notifying the user of the form with which the user is performing the repetitive movement; and

provide the feedback for display to the user.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein determine, based on the comparison, the form with which the user is performing the repetitive movement comprises:

identify, based on a negative comparison, that the user is performing the repetitive motion with an improper form; and

determine, based on the repetitive features, a type of improper form being performed by the user.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein determine, based on the repetitive features, the type of improper form being performed by the user comprises:

compare the repetitive features with one or more improper movement data associated with the repetitive movement; and

determine, based on the comparison, the type of improper form being performed by the user.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

determine, based on the motion data, a straining information, the straining information representing the user straining to perform the repetitive movement, or a portion of the repetitive movement; and

generate, based on the straining information, feedback.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

provide a fitness routine to be performed by the user, the fitness routine comprising one or more sets of repetitive movements; and

modify, based on the straining information associated with a repetitive movement of the one or more sets of repetitive movements of the fitness routine, the fitness routine.