Balance function diagnostic system and method

• US 20060251334A1
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Soichiro Matsushita, Toshihiko Oba
• Original Assignee: Soichiro Matsushita, Toshihiko Oba
• Inventors: Oba, Toshihiko, Matsushita, Soichiro
• Application Number:
  US11/251,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20060251334A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/275
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance

Abstract

A balance diagnostic apparatus and system is given a portable size and weight and also expands the places of use and methods of use to a large range, thus achieving an environment where anyone can undergo diagnosis of balance disorders at any time or any place. At least motion sensor means 10 and motion storage means 18 that temporarily stores signals that represent motion from the motion sensor means 10 are worn on the body of the user. Moreover, once the motion situation is stored in the motion storage means 18, the input of the motion diagnosis means 12 is connected to the output of the motion storage means 18 to obtain the output of diagnostic results with this balance function diagnostic system.

Claims

29. A balance function diagnostic system comprising:

a motion sensor wearable on a user that detects bodily motion of the user;

a stimulus generator that applies a sensory stimulus to the user; and

a motion analyzer that analyzes signals from the motion sensor and performs diagnosis of balance function of the user.

1. A balance function diagnostic system comprising:

a motion sensor wearable on a user that detects bodily motion of the user; and

a motion analyzer that analyzes signals from the motion sensor based on prerecorded motion diagnosis information and performs diagnosis of balance function of the user.

2. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the bodily motion is detected as any of a velocity, an acceleration, an angular velocity and a frequency.

3. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the motion analyzer is placed separately from the use and wirelessly connected to the motion sensor.

4. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is provided with a motion storage wearable on the user that stores the signals from the motion sensor.

5. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the prerecorded motion diagnosis information is obtained from healthy persons.

6. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the prerecorded motion diagnosis information is obtained from non-healthy persons.

7. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, further comprising a stimulus generator that applies a sensory stimulus to the user.

8. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 7, wherein the sensory stimulus comprises a visual stimulus.

9. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 8, wherein the visual stimulus comprises moving images projected on a screen.

10. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 8, wherein the visual stimulus comprises a light emitted at varying intensity.

11. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 7, wherein the sensory stimulus comprises an auditory stimulus.

12. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 7, wherein the sensory stimuli comprise a physical stimulus that is exerted on the user.

13. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is attached to the head of the user.

14. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is attached to the waist of the user.

15. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises an acceleration sensor sensitive to gravity.

16. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises a gyro sensor.

17. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein low-frequency components are removed from the signals from the motion sensor before they are analyzed.

18. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein signal components resulting from a change in posture of the user are removed from the signals from the motion sensor before they are analyzed.

19. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor measures motions in two directions in a plane.

20. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, further comprising a diagnostic output device that outputs diagnostic results from the motion analyzer.

21. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 20, wherein the diagnostic results comprise a two-dimensional trace pattern representing motion of the user over a time.

22. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 21, wherein the diagnostic results comprise a calculated area encompassed by the trace pattern.

23. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 21, wherein the diagnostic results comprise a total trace length of the trace pattern.

24. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 21, wherein the diagnostic results comprises energy spent in the detected motion.

25. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor detects bodily motion of the user being in a sitting position.

26. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensory signal output device that output a sensory signal to the user when a start and/or an end of detecting bodily motion of the user.

27. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 26, wherein the sensory signal output device is a speaker.

28. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 26, wherein the sensory signal output device is an LED.

30. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein the bodily motion is detected as any of a velocity, an acceleration, an angular velocity and a frequency.

31. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein the motion analyzer is placed separately from the use and wirelessly connected to the motion sensor.

32. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein the motion sensor is provided with a motion storage wearable on the user that stores the signals from the motion sensor.

33. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein the sensory stimulus comprises a visual stimulus.

34. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 33, wherein the visual stimulus comprises moving images projected on a screen.

35. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 33, wherein the visual stimulus comprises a light emitted at varying intensity.

36. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein the sensory stimulus comprises an auditory stimulus.

37. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein the sensory stimulus comprises a physical stimulus that is exerted on the user.

38. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein the motion sensor is attached to the head of the user.

39. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein the motion sensor is attached to the waist of the user.

40. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein the motion sensor comprises an acceleration sensor sensitive to gravity.

41. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein the motion sensor comprises a gyro sensor.

42. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein low-frequency components are removed from the signals from the motion sensor before they are analyzed.

43. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein signal components resulting from a change in posture of the user are removed from the signals from the motion sensor before they are analyzed.

44. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein the motion sensor measures motions in two directions in a plane.

45. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 44, wherein the diagnostic results comprise a two-dimensional trace pattern representing motion of the user over a time.

46. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 45, wherein the diagnostic results comprise a calculated area encompassed by the trace pattern.

47. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 45, wherein the diagnostic results comprise a total trace length of the trace pattern.

48. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 45, wherein the diagnostic results comprises energy spent in the detected motion.

49. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, wherein the motion sensor detects bodily motion of the user being in a sitting position.

50. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, further comprising a sensory signal output device that output a sensory signal to the user when a start and/or an end of detecting bodily motion of the user.

51. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 50, wherein the sensory signal output device is a speaker.

52. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 50, wherein the sensory signal output device is an LED.

44-1. A balance function diagnostic system according to claim 29, further comprising a diagnostic output device that outputs diagnostic results from the motion analyzer.

53. A method of diagnosing a balance function, comprising the steps of:

attaching a motion sensor to a bodily part of a user;

detecting by the motion sensor accelerations of bodily motion of the user;

analyzing the detected accelerations to recognize them as a trace pattern; and

calculating a total trace length of the trace pattern.

54. A method of diagnosing a balance function, comprising the steps of:

attaching a motion sensor a bodily part of a user;

applying a sensory stimulus to the user;

detecting by the motion sensor accelerations of bodily motion of the user; and

analyzing the detected accelerations to quantify the bodily motion of the user.

55. A method according to claim 54, wherein the sensory stimulus comprises a visual stimulus.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein the visual stimulus comprises moving images projected on a screen.

57. A method according to claim 55, wherein the visual stimulus comprises a light emitted at varying intensity.

58. A method according to claim 54, wherein the sensory stimulus comprises an auditory stimulus.

59. A method according to claim 54, wherein the sensory stimulus comprise a physical stimulus that is exerted on the user.