Systems and methods for coordinating musculoskeletal and cardiovascular or cerebrovascular hemodynamics

• US 9,707,466 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2016
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulson, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pulson, Inc.
• Inventors: Mannheimer, Paul, Bleich, Jeffery L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Musselman, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US15/384,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20170095721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• 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 towards a target rhythmic musculoskeletal activity cycle (MSKC) to cardiac cycle (CC) timing relationship, comprising:

providing a recurrent prompt from a prompt device to a user, wherein the recurrent prompt is provided to guide the user to time performance of a rhythmic musculoskeletal activity with the recurrent prompt;

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

determining, with a processor, a CC rate of the user from the first signal;

detecting a second signal responsive to the MSKC of the user using the first sensor or a second sensor;

identifying, with a processor, a target MSKC-to-CC timing relationship;

determining, with a processor, an actual MSKC-to-CC timing relationship between the CC and the MSKC;

comparing, with a processor, the actual MSKC-to-CC timing relationship to the target MSKC-to-CC timing; and

adjusting the recurrent prompt based on a difference between the actual MSKC-to-CC timing relationship and the target MSKC-to-CC timing relationship so as to guide the user to reduce the magnitude of the difference.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a target MSKC-to-CC timing relationship is selected from a group consisting of:

calculating a target MSKC-to-CC timing relationship, obtaining a target MSKC-to-CC timing relationship from a table, and identifying a pre-programmed value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein calculating a target MSKC-to-CC timing relationship at least partially comprises one or more of:

using a pre-programmed algorithm or table that utilizes at least one measurement of the physiology of the user, using a pre-programmed algorithm or table that references a heart rate of the user, using a pre-programmed algorithm or table that references information obtained from an ECG signal of the user, using a prior calibration of an optical target timing of the user, and using a pre-programmed algorithm or table responsive to the sex of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the recurrent prompt comprises one or more of adjusting a rate of the recurrent prompt, adjusting a timing of the recurrent prompt, and adjusting a sound of the recurrent prompt.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the sound of the recurrent prompt comprises one or more of changing a:

volume, pitch, or one or more musical attributes of the recurrent prompt.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the recurrent prompt from the prompt device to a user comprises playing a song having a recurrent beat.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the recurrent prompt comprises automatically selecting a new song from a playlist, wherein the new song has a preferred beat frequency that is closer to the beat frequency of the sensed MSKC frequency.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the recurrent prompt comprises adjusting a playback speed of the song to fine-tune timing of the recurrent beat.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the recurrent prompt comprises one or more of changing a volume of the recurrent beat in the song relative to a remainder of the song, changing the pitch of the recurrent beat, and changing the musical quality of the recurrent beat within the song in response to a change in an accuracy or consistency of achieving the target MSKC-to-CC timing relationship.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the recurrent prompt comprises one or more of:

changing a volume of an additional recurrent beat on top of the song relative to a remainder of the song, changing the pitch of the additional recurrent beat, and changing the musical quality of the additional recurrent beat within the song in response to a change in an accuracy or consistency of achieving the target MSKC-to-CC timing relationship.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of:

identifying the target MSKC-to-CC timing relationship,

determining the actual MSKC-to-CC timing relationship between the CC and the MSKC, and

comparing the actual MSKC-to-CC timing relationship to the target MSKC-to-CC timing,

are performed by a single processor or by a plurality of processors.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the recurrent prompt comprises adjusting a prompt rate of the recurrent prompt such that the CC rate is an integer multiple of the prompt rate.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the CC rate of the user from the first signal comprises identifying one or mote features of the first signal that repeat once per CC, and identifying a rate at which the one or more features repeat, wherein the one or more 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.

14. A system for guiding a user towards a target rhythmic musculoskeletal activity cycle (MSKC) to cardiac cycle (CC) timing relationship, comprising:

a user guidance interface configured to provide a recurrent prompt to a user, wherein the recurrent prompt is provided to guide the user to time performance of a rhythmic musculoskeletal activity with the recurrent prompt;

a first sensor configured to sense a first signal responsive to the CC;

a second sensor configured to sense a second signal responsive to the MSKC of the user; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the user guidance interface, the at least one processor configured to;

receive the first signal from the first sensor;

receive the second signal from the second sensor;

determine a CC rate of the user from the first signal;

identify a target MSKC-to-CC timing relationship;

determine an actual MSKC-to-CC timing relationship between the CC and the MSKC;

compare the actual MS KC-to-CC timing relationship to the target MSKC-to-CC timing; and

command the user guidance interface to adjust the recurrent prompt based on a difference between the actual MSKC-to-CC timing relationship and the target MSKC-to-CC timing relationship so as to guide the user to reduce the magnitude of the difference.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first sensor signal comprises at least one of an electrocardiogram (ECG) and a plethysmogram.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the first sensor is positionable on an arm, on a finger, around an ear lobe, in an ear canal, on a forehead, or over an eye.

17. The system of claim 14, 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, and a plethysmographic sensor.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the user guidance interface is configured to play music to the user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the recurrent prompt is an audible prompt that comprises a beat of a musical track.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein a volume of the beat comprising the recurrent prompt is controlled separately from a volume of a remainder 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 with the recurrent prompt.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor comprises a plurality of processors, and wherein each of the plurality of processors is configured to perform one or more functions.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein some of or all the system is wearable and positioned on or in one or more of a:

chest strap, helmet, headband, hat, visor, sports bra, watch, wristband, armband, ankle band, headset, earbud, glasses, goggles, or patch.