Systems and methods for coordinating musculoskeletal and cardiovascular or cerebrovascular hemodynamics

• US 9,956,470 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulson, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pulson, Inc.
• Inventors: Bleich, Jeffery L., Mannheimer, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Musselman, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US15/650,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20170312612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 291 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 system for favorably coordinating a rhythmic musculoskeletal activity cycle (MSKC) of a user with a cardiac cycle (CC) of the user, the system comprising:

a prompt device, wherein the prompt device is configured to provide a prompt recurrently to the user for guiding performance of a rhythmic musculoskeletal activity;

a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a signal correlating to a cyclically-varying arterial blood volume in a tissue of the user; and

a processor, coupled to the prompt device and the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to;

identify and measure a characteristic of the signal, which varies with a timing relationship between the MSKC and the CC of the user,

compute a trend of the measured characteristic over time, and

adjust the prompt based on the trend of the measured characteristic, wherein the prompt is adjusted such that the measured characteristic approaches a relative preferred value corresponding to a more favorable timing relationship between the MSKC and the CC of the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the measured characteristic of the signal comprises at least one of:

a pulse amplitude, a measure of signal waveform curvature, a measure of signal waveform complexity, and a measure of signal waveform morphology.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the measure of signal waveform curvature comprises measuring one or more of:

a relative peak-to-peak signal waveform amplitude, a relative valley-to-valley signal waveform amplitude, and a relative peak-to-valley signal waveform amplitude.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the measure of signal waveform morphology comprises measuring one or more of:

a maximum average pulse amplitude, an asymmetrical waveform shape, a relative peak-to-peak signal waveform amplitude, a relative valley-to-valley signal waveform amplitude, and a relative peak-to-valley signal waveform amplitude.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal waveform comprises a plurality of sequential cycles or pulses.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the pulse amplitude comprises a perfusion index, which is indicative of a pulsatile signal strength and which correlates to a relative change in blood volume in an underlying tissue.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the relative preferred value of the measured characteristic is one of:

a threshold crossing of an increasing trend, a threshold crossing of a decreasing trend, a local maximum, and a local minimum of the trend of the measured characteristic.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of:

a photoplethysmography sensor, animpedance plethysmography sensor, a laser-Doppler blood flow sensor, an acoustic sensor, and an arterial tonometry sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the prompt includes at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile prompt.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured for positioning on the user'"'"'s head or other location above the heart.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the measured characteristic of the signal comprises a first characteristic and a second characteristic.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first characteristic comprises a pulse amplitude and the second characteristic comprises signal complexity, and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the prompt based on the trend of the measured characteristic so as to achieve a maximal relative pulse amplitude and a minimal signal complexity.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

detecting, using one or more sensors, one or more signals that correlate to a heart rate of the user and a musculoskeletal activity cycle rate (MSKR) of the user;

determining, using the processor, the heart rate of the user and the MSKR of the user by processing the one or more signals;

specifying a maximum allowable absolute difference between the heart rate and the MSKR; and

executing, using the processor, steps of claim 10 only when an absolute value of a difference between the MSKR and heart rate is less than, or less than or equal to, a specified allowable difference.

13. A method for favorably coordinating a rhythmic musculoskeletal activity cycle (MSKC) of a user with a cardiac cycle (CC) of the user, the method comprising:

providing a prompt recurrently to the user for guiding performance of a rhythmic musculoskeletal activity;

detecting, with a sensor, a signal correlating to a cyclically-varying arterial blood volume in a tissue of the user;

identifying and measuring, with a processor, a characteristic of the signal, which varies with a timing relationship between the MSKC and the CC of the user;

computing, with the processor, a trend of the measured characteristic over time; and

automatically adjusting, with the processor, the prompt based on the trend of the measured characteristic, wherein the prompt is adjusted such that the measured characteristic approaches a relative preferred value corresponding to a more favorable timing relationship between the MSKC and the CC of the user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying and measuring the characteristic of the signal comprises identifying and measuring at least one of:

a pulse amplitude, a peak to valley measure of signal waveform curvature, a measure of signal waveform peak curvature, a measure of signal waveform valley curvature, a measure of signal waveform complexity, and a measure of an asymmetry of the signal waveform.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the relative preferred value of the measured characteristic is one of:

a threshold crossing of an increasing trend, a threshold crossing of a decreasing trend, a local maximum, and a local minimum of the trend of the measured characteristic.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the signal is detected using at least one of photoplethysmography, impedance plethysmography, laser-Doppler blood flow, acoustic sensing, and arterial tonometry.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising a calibration process comprising:

detecting a second characteristic of the signal or of an additional signal corresponding to a physiological metric that varies with the timing relationship between the MSKC and the CC of the user using the sensor or one or more additional sensors, and

determining the relative preferred value of the measured characteristic as a relative value of the trend that corresponds with a preferred value of the physiological metric.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the prompt is provided at a prompt rate timed such that a heart rate of the user is substantially an integer multiple of the prompt rate.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein adjusting the prompt comprises adjusting the prompt rate.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the prompt comprises changing the prompt to guide the user to modify effort at a given musculoskeletal frequency.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the prompt is changed to guide the user to:

alter a stride length during running or walking;

changing a gear while riding a bicycle;

changing a distance of movement, a resistance, or an incline on an exercise equipment;

or modifying a stroke length during rowing or swimming.