Gesture-based communication systems and methods for communicating with healthcare personnel

• US 9,754,336 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2014
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Medical Innovators Collaborative
• Original Assignee: The Medical Innovators Collaborative
• Inventors: Martin, Timothy N., Daniels, Richard A., DiMeo, Sr., Andrew J., Zhang, Wenbo Sharon, Liu, Xiaji Astor, Bieber, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Toan N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foxx, Chico A
• Application Number:
  US14/157,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20140203931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Gesture-based communication systems and methods for communicating with healthcare personnel are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system is disclosed that includes a movement detector configured to detect movement of muscle and to generate a wireless signal in response to detection of the muscle movement. The system also includes a base station in wireless communication with the movement detector, and configured to implement a predetermined action based on the wireless signal. The base station may be configured to interface with a healthcare call system such as in a hospital environment. The base station may control the healthcare call system to communicate a notification signal based on the wireless signal.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a movement detector comprising an electromyography device including adhesive coated electrodes that are positioned on to a patient'"'"'s forehead into an electrode arrangement and used to detect forehead muscle activation indicative of a raised eyebrow of the patient sustained for a time period of at least 2 seconds, and to generate an alert signal only in response to detection of the forehead muscle activation being sustained over a threshold for the time period of at least 2 seconds, wherein the forehead muscle activation is indicative of a desire of the patient to provide a control signal to enable the system to perform a function; and

a base station interfaced with a nurse call system, wherein the base station wirelessly communicate with the movement detector to receive the alert signal to activate the nurse call system, in response to the received alert signal from the movement detector indicating that the function to be perform is for the base station to activate the nurse call system to indicate that the patient needs assistance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electromyography device comprises one of an adhesive or headband configured to physically locate the electrodes for attachment of the movement detector to a skin surface adjacent to forehead muscles of the patient.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the forehead muscles can be independently controlled by the patient.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement detector is configured to detect an electrical signal generated by one of contraction and extension of the patient'"'"'s forehead muscles.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the electrodes are configured to detect the electrical signal.

6. The system of claim 4,

wherein the movement detector comprises an amplifier configured to amplify the electrical signal.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the movement detector is configured to determine minimum and maximum values of the electrical signal, and to use the minimum and maximum values for calibrating detection of forehead muscle movement for implementation of a predetermined action.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are spaced apart from each other.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement detector comprises a wireless radio transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate the alert signal to the base station.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the movement detector is configured to generate an electrical signal representative of detected movement of the patient'"'"'s forehead muscles, and

wherein the wireless radio transmitter is configured to receive the electrical signal, from the movement detector, to generate a digital signal value based on the electrical signal, and to communicate the digital signal value to the base station.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement detector comprises an adhesive configured to physically locate the electrodes and the electrode arrangement, wherein the electrode location material is configured for attachment of the movement detector to a skin surface adjacent to forehead muscles.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station is configured to control the nurse call system to communicate a notification signal based on the alert signal to provide the indication that the patient needs assistance.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station comprises a light emitter configured to emit light based on the alert signal.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station comprises at least one processor and memory configured to:

wirelessly receive the alert signal;

apply an algorithm to data contained within the alert signal; and

control implementation of a predetermined action based on an application of the algorithm to the data.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement detector is configured to calibrate forehead muscle movement detection during a startup mode.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement detector is configured to receive user input for activation.

17. A method comprising:

using an electromyography device including adhesive coated electrodes that are positioned into an electrode arrangement placed near forehead muscles of a patient to detect forehead muscle activation indicative of a raised eyebrow of the patient sustained for a time period of at least 2 seconds;

generating an alert signal only in response to detection of the forehead muscle activation being sustained over a threshold for the time period of at least 2 seconds, wherein the forehead muscle activation is indicative of a desire of the patient to provide a control signal to enable the system to perform a function,

at a base station located remote from the electromyography device that is interface with a nurse call system, wherein the base station wirelessly communicate with the movement detector to receive the alert signal to activate the nurse call system, in response to the received alert signal from the movement detector indicating that the function to be perform is for the base station to activate the nurse call system to indicate that the patient needs assistance.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electromyography device comprises an adhesive for attachment of the movement detector to a skin surface adjacent to the forehead muscles to detect movement of the forehead muscles,

wherein detecting movement of the forehead muscles comprises using the movement detector to detect the movement of the forehead muscles.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the forehead muscles can be independently controlled by the user.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein detecting movement of the forehead muscles comprises detecting an electrical signal generated by one of contraction and extension of the forehead muscles.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising using the electrodes to detect an electrical signal.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising using a plurality of spaced-apart electrodes to detect the electrical signal.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining minimum and maximum values of the electrical signal; and

using the minimum and maximum values for the calibrating forehead muscle movement detection for implementation of a predetermined action.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein using the electromyography device comprises detecting an electrical signal generated by one of contraction and extension of the forehead muscles, and

wherein the method further comprises amplifying the electrical signal.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising using a wireless radio transmitter to communicate the alert signal to the base station.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

generating an electrical signal representative of detected movement of the forehead muscles by the movement detector;

generating a digital signal value based on the electrical signal; and

communicating the digital signal value to the base station.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising emitting light based on the alert signal.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

applying an algorithm to data contained within the alert signal; and

controlling implementation of a predetermined action based on an application of the algorithm to the data.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising calibrating forehead muscle movement detection during a startup mode.

30. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving user input for activation.