Systems and methods for coordinating musculoskeletal and cardiovascular or cerebrovascular hemodynamics

• US 9,522,317 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2014
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulson, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pulson, Inc.
• Inventors: Bleich, Jeffery L., Mannheimer, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Musselman, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US14/553,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20150080746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/352 Detecting R peaks, e.g. for synchronising diagnostic apparatus; Estimating R-R interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0255 Both knee and hip of a patient, e.g. in supine or sitting position, the feet being moved in a plane substantially parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane A61H1/0214 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0274 for the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1633 Seat A61H2201/0149 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1642 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5084 Acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5092 Optical sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/045 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/065 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/208 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/305 used as a control parameter for the apparatus A61H2230/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/42 Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/60 Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user, e.g. Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/805 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/00 : Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04; orthopaedic devices for correcting deformities of, or supporting, limbs A61F5/0102; exercising apparatus for the feet or toes A63B23/10; stairways or ramps E04F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/00 : Clubs for gymnastics or the like , e.g. for swinging exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 : the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 : using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 : Emitting sound, noise or music
• 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 21/002 : isometric or isokinetic, i.e. substantial force variation without substantial muscle motion or wherein the speed of the motion is independent of the force applied by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0023 : for isometric exercising, i.e. substantial force variation without substantial muscle motion
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 : User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 : the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 : the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 : Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 : driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 : performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 : performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 : Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 : Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 : Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 : Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 : Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 : Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 : Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/045 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 : P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/425 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 : temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/60 : muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/20 : Swimming
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1218 : Chinning, pull-up, i.e. concentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1236 : Push-ups in horizontal position, i.e. eccentric movement
• 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: A63B 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 : Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 : Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 : Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/288 : for artificial respiration or heart massage
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

Described herein are methods for determining a target musculoskeletal activity cycle (MSKC) to cardiac cycle (CC) timing relationship. The method may include detecting a first characteristic of a signal responsive to a CC timing of a user that repeats at a frequency that corresponds to a heart rate of the user; detecting a second characteristic of a signal responsive to a rhythmic musculoskeletal cycle activity (MSKC) timing of the user that repeats at a frequency that corresponds to the MSKC rate of the user; determining a value representative of an actual timing relationship between the first characteristic and the second characteristic; detecting a third characteristic of a signal corresponding to a physiological metric that varies with the actual timing relationship between the first and second characteristics; and determining a target value representative of a preferred timing relationship between the first and second characteristics.

Claims

1. A method for guiding a user to a target rhythmic MSKC to CC timing relationship comprising:

detecting a first signal responsive to the timing of the CC of a user using a first sensor;

determining the heart rate of the user using at least a portion of the first signal detected by the first sensor using a first processor;

providing a recurrent prompt from a prompt device to the user as a timing indication for performance of a rhythmic musculoskeletal activity, wherein the timing indication guides the user to a musculoskeletal activity cycle rate (MSKR), wherein the heart rate of the user is substantially an integer multiple of the MSKR;

detecting a second signal responsive to the rhythmic musculoskeletal activity timing of the user that repeats at an MSKR of the user using a second sensor;

determining an actual MSKC to CC timing relationship between the first signal and the second signal using the first processor;

comparing the actual timing relationship of the first signal and the second signal to a target MSKC to CC timing relationship, wherein the target timing relationship is provided by the first processor or a second processor; and

adjusting the timing indication of the recurrent prompt from the prompt device to the user based on a difference between the actual timing relationship and the target timing relationship, so as to reduce the magnitude of the difference.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recurrent prompt repeats at a prompt rate such that the heart rate is substantially an integer multiple of said prompt rate, and adjusting the timing indication of the recurrent prompt from the prompt device comprises adjusting the prompt rate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor signal comprises at least one of an electrocardiogram (ECG) and a plethysmogram.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises at least one of an accelerometer, an electromyographic sensor, a pressure sensor, a switch, a camera, a gryroscope, a proximity sensor, or a plethysmographic sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the first signal includes identifying instances of one or more features of the first signal that occur once per CC, and wherein the features correspond to one or more of an ECG R-wave, an ECG T-wave, an end of the ECG T-wave, a peak of a cardiovascular systolic pressure, a nadir of a diastolic cardiovascular pressure, and a transition point in a cardiovascular pressure of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the recurrent prompt is an audible prompt that comprises a beat of a musical track.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a volume of the beat of the musical track that comprises the recurrent prompt is controlled separately from a volume of a rest of the musical track based on at least one of a user setup configuration, a program setup configuration, a consistency of the user in stepping to the recurrent prompt, or an accuracy of the user stepping at the timing indication.

8. A method for determining a target MSKC to CC timing relationship comprising:

detecting a first characteristic of a signal responsive to a CC timing of a user that repeats at a frequency that corresponds to a heart rate of the user using a first sensor;

detecting a second characteristic of a signal responsive to a rhythmic musculoskeletal cycle activity (MSKC) timing of the user that repeats at a frequency that corresponds to the MSKC rate of the user using the first sensor or a second sensor;

determining a value representative of an actual timing relationship between the first characteristic and the second characteristic using a first processor;

detecting a third characteristic of a signal using one of the first, the second, and a third sensor corresponding to a physiological metric that varies with the actual timing relationship between the first and second characteristics; and

determining a target value representative of a preferred timing relationship between the first and second characteristics by identifying the value representative of the actual timing relationship that corresponds with a preferred value of the variable physiological metric, using the first processor or a second processor.

9. The method of claim 8, further providing a recurrent prompt from a prompt device at a prompt rate to the user as a timing indication for performance of the rhythmic musculoskeletal activity, wherein the prompt device is controlled by the first processor or the second processor, and further wherein the heart rate of the user is substantially an integer multiple of the prompt rate.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the prompt rate is provided to guide the user to vary the MSKC timing relative to the CC timing.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the target value representative of the preferred timing relationship is naturally achieved by the user, and wherein the prompt device prompts the user to maintain the naturally achieved preferred timing relationship.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the prompt device is configured by the first or second processor to controllably guide the user to at least two different actual timing relationships.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the user achieves the target timing relationship without prompting when the heart rate and the musculoskeletal activity cycle rate (MSKR) are approximately equal, and wherein the preferred value of the variable physiological metric is a most commonly occurring actual timing relationship.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein at least two of the first, second, or third characteristics are aspects of a first signal from the first sensor.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the first, second, or third characteristics includes a Fourier transform.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are derived from independent first and second signals from the first and second sensors, respectively.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the physiological metric comprises the heart rate, a tissue pH, a tissue lactic acid level, a respiratory volume, a respiratory exchange ratio, an oxygen consumption, or a CO₂ production of the user.

18. The method of claim 8, further comprising

guiding the user to the heart rate and a musculoskeletal activity cycle rate (MSKR) such that an absolute difference between the two rates is between 0.25 and 5 per minute, and wherein the preferred value of the variable physiological metric is a most commonly occurring actual timing relationship.

19. The method of claim 8, wherein the first sensor technology comprises one of photoplethysmography, impedance plethysmography, laser-Doppler blood flow, acoustic sensing, and arterial tonometry.

20. The method of claim 8, wherein the preferred value of the physiological metric is a lowest average heart rate of the user.