Apparatus and method for assessment and biofeedback training of leg coordination and strength skills
First Claim
1. An apparatus for assessing and biofeedback training of movement coordination, strength, and speed skills critical to balance during a mobility task performed by a subject moving from a first position to a second position on a combination of surfaces, the apparatus comprising:
- force-sensing means, having a sensing area, for measuring the forces exerted on the sensing area and transmitting output signals representative of the measured forces, the forces having a center of force on the sensing area;
a plurality of support surfaces mounted in specified positions relative to the sensing area and such that substantially all forces exerted by the subject onto the support surfaces is transmitted to the sensing area, wherein the support surfaces and the sensing area are arranged so as to support the subject'"'"'s entire weight while the subject is in the first position, while the subject is in the second position and while the subject is performing the mobility task moving from the first position to the second position, each support surface having a non-overlapped area at least large enough to accommodate a foot of the subject;
computational means for accepting the output signals from the force-sensing means and calculating the center of force exerted by the subject on the support surfaces; and
display means for displaying the movement of the center of force calculated by the computational means and for displaying as a performance goal a trajectory of the center of force representative of a normally coordinated and balanced subject performing the mobility task moving from the first position to the second position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for assessing and biofeedback training of movement coordination, strength, and speed skills critical to balance during a mobility task performed by a subject on a combination of surfaces, in particular stepping up and down, climbing and descending stairs, sitting and rising from a sitting position. The apparatus includes a force-sensing plate. The force-sensing plate measures the forces exerted on its sensing area, i.e., its top surface, and transmits output signals representative of the measured forces. A plurality of support surfaces is mounted in specified positions relative to the force-sensing plate'"'"'s sensing area, in such a way that substantially all forces exerted by the subject onto the support surfaces is transmitted to the sensing area. The plurality of surfaces may form a step, stairs or a seat. A data processor accepts the output signals from the force-sensing plate and calculates quantities related to the positions and magnitudes of forces exerted by the subject on the support surfaces. In order to permit biofeedback training, a display for displaying position and magnitude quantities calculated and for displaying additional quantities related to performance goals is provided so that the subject can see these quantities while performing the mobility task.
158 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for assessing and biofeedback training of movement coordination, strength, and speed skills critical to balance during a mobility task performed by a subject moving from a first position to a second position on a combination of surfaces, the apparatus comprising:
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force-sensing means, having a sensing area, for measuring the forces exerted on the sensing area and transmitting output signals representative of the measured forces, the forces having a center of force on the sensing area; a plurality of support surfaces mounted in specified positions relative to the sensing area and such that substantially all forces exerted by the subject onto the support surfaces is transmitted to the sensing area, wherein the support surfaces and the sensing area are arranged so as to support the subject'"'"'s entire weight while the subject is in the first position, while the subject is in the second position and while the subject is performing the mobility task moving from the first position to the second position, each support surface having a non-overlapped area at least large enough to accommodate a foot of the subject; computational means for accepting the output signals from the force-sensing means and calculating the center of force exerted by the subject on the support surfaces; and display means for displaying the movement of the center of force calculated by the computational means and for displaying as a performance goal a trajectory of the center of force representative of a normally coordinated and balanced subject performing the mobility task moving from the first position to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for assessing movement coordination, strength, and speed skills critical to balance during a mobility task performed by a subject moving from a first position to a second position on a combination of surfaces, the apparatus comprising:
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force-sensing means, having a sensing area, for measuring the forces exerted on the sensing area and transmitting output signals representative of the measured forces, the forces having a center of force and a total magnitude on the sensing area; a plurality of support surfaces mounted in specified positions relative to the sensing area and such that substantially all forces exerted by the subject onto the support surfaces is transmitted to the sensing area, wherein the support surfaces and the sensing area are arranged so as to support the subject'"'"'s entire weight while the subject is in the first position, while the subject is in the second position and while the subject is performing the mobility task moving from the first position to the second position, each support surface having a non-overlapped area at least large enough to accommodate a foot of the subject; and computational means for accepting the output signals from the force-sensing means and calculating the center of force and the total magnitude of the forces exerted by the subject on the support surfaces; and display means for displaying the center of force and the total magnitude calculated by the computational means and for displaying a performance goal representative of a normally coordinated and balanced subject performing the mobility task moving from the first position to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for assessing and biofeedback training of movement coordination, strength, and speed skills critical to balance during a mobility task performed by a subject moving from a first position to a second position on a combination of surfaces, the apparatus comprising:
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force-sensing means, having a sensing area, for measuring the forces exerted on the sensing area and transmitting output signals representative of the measured forces, the forces having a total magnitude on the sensing area; a plurality of support surfaces mounted in specified positions relative to the sensing area and such that substantially all forces exerted by the subject onto the support surfaces is transmitted to the sensing area, wherein the support surfaces and the sensing area are arranged so as to support the subject'"'"'s entire weight while the subject is in the first position, while the subject is in the second position and while the subject is performing the mobility task moving from the first position to the second position, each support surface having a non-overlapped area at least large enough to accommodate a foot of the subject; computational means for accepting the output signals from the force-sensing means and calculating the total magnitude of the forces exerted by the subject on the support surfaces; and display means for displaying the total magnitude of the forces and for displaying as a performance goal a trajectory of the total magnitude of forces over time representative of a normally coordinated and balanced subject performing the mobility task moving from the first position to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification