Apparatus, systems, and methods for gathering and processing biometric and biomechanical data

• US 7,821,407 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Applied Technology Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Shears, Jay Allan, Stirling, Harold Dan, Cusey, Lee Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/697,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20100121228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/573.5, 340/573.7, 340/539.11, 340/539.22, 340/323.R, 340/323.B, 600/509, 600/519, 600/595, 473/222, 473/266, 733/790.1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/22 Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow exercising apparatus A63B21/00 ; measuring of work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/24 Angular displacement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 : Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a 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 5/11 : Trampolines
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 : Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3667 : Golf stance aids, e.g. means for positioning a golfer's feet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 : Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 : Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 : ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for measuring and analyzing movements of a body and for communicating information related to such body movements over a network. In certain embodiments, a system gathers biometric and biomechanical data relating to positions, orientations, and movements of various body parts of a user performed during sports activities, physical rehabilitation, or military or law enforcement activities. The biometric and biomechanical data can be communicated to a local and/or remote interface, which uses digital performance assessment tools to provide a performance evaluation to the user. The performance evaluation may include a graphical representation (e.g., a video), statistical information, and/or a comparison to another user and/or instructor. In some embodiments, the biometric and biomechanical data is communicated wirelessly to one or more devices including a processor, display, and/or data storage medium for further analysis, archiving, and data mining. In some embodiments, the device includes a cellular telephone.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining body shape and movement data and storing the body movement data in a database, the system comprising:

clothing configured to conform to a first user'"'"'s body in a manner that limits the shifting and movement of the clothing with respect to the user'"'"'s body when the user is engaged in a body movement activity;

multiple sensors configured for positioning on the clothing of the first user and at least one sensor being associated with each of different appendages of the first user to gather biomechanical data there from, each sensor characterized by an independent data collection rate and each appendage having an independent expected relative movement speed wherein a first appendage has an expected relative movement speed which is faster than a second appendage having a slower expected relative movement speed than the first appendage, the sensor having faster data collection rates being associated with the first appendage having faster expected relative movement speeds and a sensor having slower data collection rates being associated with the second appendage, such that each sensor is configured to gather data at a rate that corresponds to an expected relative movement speed of the appendage with which it is associated; and

a transceiver configured to collect data from the multiple sensors and transmit that data to a first processor having software that allows a first user to view an animation of that data representing the first user'"'"'s own movements reconstructed from the biomechanical data collected by the sensors, the first processor configured to communicate with a website having a biomechanical application.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are configured to be positioned on the clothing using hook-and-loop fasteners.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are configured to be positioned on the clothing within a cavity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are configured to be waterproof.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the clothing is configured for use in emergency response.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first processor is further configured to allow a second user to view the animation of the data representing the first user'"'"'s movements.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first processor is further configured to provide personalized recommendations, instructions, coaching, and/or diagnosis to the first user.

8. A system for collecting biometric data of a user, the system comprising:

a garment with tightly fitting portions configured to fit snugly against at least two different body portions of the user, the body portions having different expected movement speeds for an activity;

at least two sensors configured for positioning on the garment, each different body portion thereby associating with one of the at least two sensors, each sensor further configured to collect biometric data during the activity at a sampling rate that corresponds to the expected speed of movement of the body portion with which the sensor is associated;

a portable transceiver configured to accompany the user and receive biometric data from the at least two sensors;

a first processor configured to receive data from the transceiver and process the data for analysis and storage; and

a user interface configured to communicate with the first processor and allow the user to access the data.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensors are securely positioned on the garment so that they can remain in snug association with the desired body portions during body movement.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensors are configured to achieve the snug association with the desired body portions and secure positioning on the garment using an attachment selected from the group consisting of a:

sewn, stitched, glued, bonded, and hook and loop material attachment.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the garment is configured so that it does not impede the movement of the user during athletic activities.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein hook and loop fasteners are attached to the garment at the at least two body portions of the user.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensors are positioned on the garment within cavities.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the cavities are sized and shaped to hold the sensors without significant relative movement or rotation with respect to the user'"'"'s body portions.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the garment includes at least one wire channel and multiple sensor cavities for holding the sensors.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a strip of material covers the at least one wire channel and at least one of the multiple sensor cavities.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensors are positioned on the inside of the garment.

18. A system for collecting biometric data of a user at an adjustable sample rate, the system comprising:

a garment with tightly fitting portions configured to fit snugly against at least two different body portions of the user, the different body portions having different movement speeds for an activity;

at least two sensors configured for positioning on the garment, each different body portion thereby associating with one of the at least two sensors, each sensor further configured to collect biometric data during the activity;

a portable transceiver configured to accompany the user and receive biometric data from the at least two sensors;

a first processor configured to receive data from the transceiver and process the data for analysis and storage; and

a user interface configured to communicate with the first processor and allow the user to access the data;

wherein the system is configured to collect biometric data at an independently adjustable sampling rate.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein one of the tightly fitting portions is configured to fit snugly against an arm of the user to form an arm portion of the garment, one of the at least two sensors comprising an arm sensor and being associated with the arm portion of the garment, and the portable transceiver is configured to receive biometric data from the arm sensor at a faster rate than data received from the other of the least two sensors.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the sensors have sampling rates that are adjustable independently of each other such that sensors associated with different body portions have different sampling rate.