Apparatus and method for training movements to avoid injuries

• US 9,418,571 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hinge Health, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Terry I. Younger
• Inventors: Younger, Terry I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Utama, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zaman, Sadaruz
• Application Number:
  US14/087,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20150147733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 434/247
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements

Abstract

This invention is directed to an apparatus and method for training a user, such as an athlete, a performer and/or any other suitable person, how to avoid injuries to the body, particularly so that there is no need for rehabilitation of an injured body part. At least two parameters of performance are compared to each other and/or to given data or other information, for example information taken from a database. For example, the at least two parameters can include two different distances that are measured and compared with respect to each other. A computer or other processor can run algorithms and/or any other suitable functions to calculate how the user should make a next movement in an accident avoidance training session. One or more next movements can be communicated in a wired manner, a wireless manner and/or any other suitable communication manner. The next movement can be displayed on a graphical user interface device and/or on any other suitable display.

Claims

1. A method for training a user how to move at least a portion of a body of the user, including the steps of:

placing a brace on a first part of the body, the brace including a first sensor at a first position and a second sensor at a second position spaced apart from the first sensor;

sensing with each of the first sensor and the second sensor a first position of the first part of the body and communicating the first position to a processor;

sensing with each of the first sensor and the second sensor a second position of the first part and communicating the second position to the processor;

the processor comparing at least one first parameter corresponding to the first position with respect to at least one second parameter corresponding to the second position; and

the processor comparing the at least one first parameter to the at least one second parameter and

providing a feedback to the user for modifying a next movement of the body to prevent an injury to the body.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are fixed with respect to a first housing positioned at the first part of the body and at least one third sensor is fixed with respect to a second housing positioned at a second part of the body.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein during movement of the body over a time period, the processor compares the at least one first parameter to the at least one second parameter and determines the feedback.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processor communicates the feedback as processed data to a receiver or to a display of a device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the feedback instructs the user how to make the next movement to train the at least a portion of the body to prevent the injury to the body.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the feedback is communicated to a display device that displays an image showing the user how to make the next movement to prevent the injury.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the image appears on the display device of a gaming console.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processor calculates the next movement as a function of the at least one first parameter and the at least one second parameter and emits the feedback to a display.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the feedback is communicated to a remote smart device and the next movement is displayed on the remote smart device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user is an athlete that uses the next movement to train how to move the body to prevent the injury.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processor communicates the feedback to a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the graphical user interface displays the next movement or a training movement in real time.

21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the processor communicating the feedback to an exercise program or a training program and the user interacting with the feedback through a display or an electronic gaming console.

22. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanical mover processing the feedback and generating a force or a counterforce to act on the brace.

23. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sensing with each of a third sensor and a fourth sensor the first position and the second position and communicating the first position and the second position to the processor.

24. The method according to claim 1, further comprising modifying the feedback and the user interacting with or playing with the feedback appearing on a display.

13. A method for training a user how to avoid an injury to at least a portion of a body of the user, including the steps of:

fixing a brace on a first part of the body, positioning a first sensor at a first position on the brace and positioning a second sensor at a second position on the brace which is at a distance from the first position;

moving the first part of the body, the first sensor and the second sensor and during a time period sensing and communicating to a processor a first parameter at a first time of the first part of the body and a second parameter at a second time of the first part of the body; and

the processor comparing the first parameter to the second parameter and

providing a feedback to a display device and displaying an image on the display device for training the user how to make a next movement of the body to prevent the injury to the body.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the feedback is communicated to a remote smart device and the next movement is displayed on the remote smart device.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the display device is a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic device.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the display device displays the feedback as a training movement in real time.

17. A method for training a user how to avoid an injury to a body of the user, including the steps of:

fixing a brace on a first part of the body, positioning a first sensor at a first position on the brace and positioning a second sensor at a second position on the brace which is at a distance from the first position;

moving the first part of the body, the first sensor and the second sensor and during a time period sensing and communicating to a processor at least two parameters of the first part of the body different from each other and corresponding to a first time and a second time different from the first time of the first part of the body; and

the processor comparing the at least two parameters to each other and

providing a feedback to a display device showing an image that trains the user how to make an exertional activity movement of the body to prevent the injury to the body.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the feedback is communicated to a remote smart device and the exertional activity movement is displayed on the remote smart device.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the display device is a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic device.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the display device displays the feedback as a training movement in real time.