METHODS FOR PROMOTING FITNESS IN CONNECTION WITH ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY DATA

• US 20120071770A1
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Somaxis Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Somaxis Incorporated
• Inventors: Grey, Alexander B., Hejtmanek, Edward Frank, Belani, Abhishek
• Application Number:
  US13/239,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20120071770A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0238 Means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• 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 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7235 : Details of waveform analysis A61B5/349 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 : using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/725 : using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters A61B5/316 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 : Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 : Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 : relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 : for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 : for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

A task assessment protocol configured to utilize modified operant conditioning to incentivize physical fitness through rewards associated with units of effort including the steps of selecting the task to be performed, breaking the task to be performed into smaller units, associating the data with a reward using a reward system, gathering subject data into a database for each unit performed, and providing awards to the subject for each unit completed wherein rewards are diversified through monetary based rewards and social capital based rewards. Sensors can be worn to monitor the progress of the subject participating in an activity, competition, or challenge, and the method can provide real time feedback of data gathered to the subject.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a task assessment protocol, the method comprising:

selecting an exercise task to be performed;

breaking the exercise task to be performed into smaller units;

associating data of the exercise task with a reward using a reward system;

gathering subject muscle data and/or heart data into a database for each unit performed; and

providing awards to the subject for each unit completed based on the muscle data of the subject.

2. The methods of claim 1, comprising deriving the rewards by:

a first component based on the effort of the subject; and

a second component based on the performance of the subject.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising creating access to the database for the subject by:

providing access to the database through an internet web page; and

providing access to the database through a graphical user interface of a computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising associating the rewards with points that are useful for trading.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising associating the rewards with points for levels of accumulated rewards.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising associating the rewards with social capital through additional steps by:

sharing the subject'"'"'s goal with a social network of members; and

sharing the subject'"'"'s progress with a social network of members.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising generating additional social capital by increased feedback from a social network by:

associating additional points related to the number of social network members shared with; and

associating additional points to a subject who has shared with a social network and received feedback from the social network members.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising associating the social capital with points that are useful for trading.

9. The method of claim 6, comprising defining social capital by:

the expectative benefits derived from sharing of individual goals and/or progress toward that goal with a group.

10. The method of claim 6, creating additional social capital by:

alerting members of the social network when progress drops below a predetermined level; and

providing members of the social network with options for providing one or more of feedback, inquiries, and/or incentives.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising reinforcing fitness patterns through additional steps by:

comparing at least one subject'"'"'s progress with the progress of at least one other subject; and

creating a competition between a plurality of subjects.

12. The steps of claim 11, wherein additional points are assigned to the subject who wins the challenge.

13. The steps of claim 11, wherein the subject wagers accumulated awards based on the outcome of the competition.

14. The task assessment protocol of claim 11, wherein the data is associated with established performance metrics.

15. A competition assessment protocol comprising:

establishing an exercise competition between a plurality of subjects;

gathering muscle data for each of the plurality of subjects;

comparing the data for each subject with at least one other subject; and

enabling at least one subject access to the data of two or more of the subjects as it is being compared.

16. The competition protocol of claim 15, described as Live Non-Local Racing (LNLR).

17. The competition assessment protocol of claim 15, wherein the data is compared on the basis of performance metrics comprising:

heart rate, beats per minute, muscle fatigue onset index (MFOI), warm-up index (WUI), mean power frequency (MPF), sEMG amplitude, caloric expenditure, proximity to ideal heart rate, muscle work estimation index (MWEI), and work performed.

18. The competition assessment protocol of claim 15, wherein data can be observed by the subject during the competition through a graphical user interface worn or carried by the subject.

19. A method for providing incentives to a subject to encourage progress towards a muscle activity goal, comprising:

gathering data from a sensor worn by a subject during a muscular activity increment;

determining the performance exerted by the subject;

associating completion, performance, and improvement during the increment, of a subject with a reward system based on a subject'"'"'s predetermined long-term goal; and

providing incentive to continue progress toward the predetermined long-term goal by assigning rewards to the subject.

20. A method of claim 19, providing incentives to subjects, comprising:

assigning rewards based on a level of a subject'"'"'s accumulated rewards;

assigning rewards based on the extent which a subject shares their goal with the members of a social network;

assigning rewards based on the extent which a subject receives feedback and encouragement from the members of the social network; and

assigning rewards based on the extent which a subject outperforms other members in the social network.