Assessment device

• US 8,284,070 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ohio State University
• Original Assignee: Ohio State University
• Inventors: Chaudhari, Ajit, McKenzie, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US12/600,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20100156653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.7, 340/686.1, 340/524, 600/595, 738/654, 702/153, 702/92, 702/94
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/03 Intensive care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• 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: G01C 25/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/00 Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels

Abstract

An assessment device is provided which allows for measurement of a position of interest, e.g., a body part, while a subject is in a functional position, such as may be required for the demands of an activity of interest without also requiring a lengthy setup time, tethered connection to other equipment external to the subject or tedious manual measurements. Moreover, an indicator such as an alarm or other output may be provided for receiving immediate, real time feedback, such as when a functional activity falls outside a tolerance or threshold.

Claims

1. An assessment device for evaluating positions of interest comprising:

a sensing device configured to measure angles relative to at least one axis of a predefined sensor orientation and to output information indicative of detected angles with respect to each measured axis;

a sensor component having;

a first member that is mountable to an object or subject of interest; and

a second member configured such that the sensing device secures thereto, wherein the second member is repositionable in at least one dimension with respect to the first member so as to reorient the sensing device, and hence the predefined sensor orientation, with respect to the first member;

a controller for processing the information output by the sensing device;

a threshold setting control coupled to the controller for setting at least one user-selectable threshold parameter, each user-selectable threshold parameter associated with a corresponding axis of interest;

a calibration setting control coupled to the controller for instigating an electronic calibration process; and

an output device coupled to the controller;

wherein;

the first member of the sensor component is mountable to the object or subject of interest at a user-defined orientation with respect to a principle axis of a desired evaluation environment;

the second member of the sensor component is correspondingly positioned and secured with respect to the first member of the sensor component so that the sensing device is aligned to a second orientation different from the user-defined orientation of the first member, providing at least a coarse mechanical tare calibration;

the controller is configured to determine a range of angles based upon at least one user-selected threshold parameter entered via the threshold setting control and the user-defined orientation; and

the controller is configured to implement an operational mode that monitors the output information of the sensing device, determines angle measurements from the monitored output information of the sensing device, compares the determined angle measurements to the determined range of angles and initiates the output device to convey information based upon the comparison of the determined angle measurements and the determined range of angles.

2. The assessment device according to claim 1, wherein:

the controller is further configured to perform at least a fine tuning electrical tare calibration upon actuation of the calibration setting control by;

reading the output information of the sensing device while the first member of the sensor component is held at the user-defined orientation;

comparing the output information read out by the controller with an ideal position derived from the predefined orientation of the sensing device to derive a calibration offset; and

storing the calibration offset; and

the controller is further configured to initiate the output device to convey information based upon the comparison of the determined angle measurements, the determined range of angles and the derived calibration offset.

3. The assessment device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first member of the sensor component comprises a plate that is mountable at a user-defined orientation;

the second member of the sensor component comprises a gimbal configured such that the sensing device is movable with respect to at least one axis of the gimbal so that the sensing device may be reoriented relative to the plate.

4. The assessment device according to claim 1, wherein the output device outputs at least one of a visual, audible, tactile or olfactory cue that is triggered by the controller, wherein the output comprises a pattern that varies depending upon the axis and direction of a breach of a corresponding threshold.

5. The assessment device according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a portable computing device and the sensing device comprises a multi-axis inclinometer that is coupled to the portable computing device.

6. The assessment device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

program a high threshold value that determines an upper range of measured angle values relative to a corresponding axis of the user-defined orientation;

program a low threshold value that determines a lower range of measured angle values relative to the corresponding axis of the user-defined orientation; and

control the output device such that a high threshold breach is indicated differently from a low threshold breach.

7. The assessment device according to claim 1, further comprising coupling a global positioning system device to the controller for correlation of angle measurement values to information read from the global positioning system device.

8. The assessment device according to claim 1, further comprising storage that is coupled to the controller, wherein the controller logs measured data values for analysis of breach of thresholds as a function of time or endurance.

9. The assessment device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate in a first mode where the output device is selectively activated depending upon a detected breach of a threshold, and a second mode where the output is disabled so that the subject receives no feedback as to their position relative to the programmed thresholds.

10. An assessment device for evaluating positions of interest comprising:

a sensing device configured to measure angles relative to at least three orthogonal axes of a reference orientation and to output information indicative of detected angles with respect to each measured axis;

a controller for processing the information output by the sensing device;

a threshold setting control coupled to the controller for setting at least one user-selectable threshold parameter, each user-selectable threshold parameter associated with a corresponding axis of interest;

a calibration setting control coupled to the controller for instigating an electronic calibration process; and

an output device coupled to the controller;

wherein;

the controller is configured to perform an electronic calibration upon actuation of the calibration setting control by;

moving the sensing device to a first known position;

reading the output information of the sensing device while the sensing device is in the first known position;

determining the orientation of the sensing device relative to its reference orientation;

defining a first vector relative to the first known position and reference orientation;

moving the sensing device to a second known position;

reading the output information of the sensing device while the sensing device is in the second known position;

determining the orientation of the sensing device relative to its reference orientation;

defining a second vector relative to the second known position and reference orientation;

computing an orientation of the sensing device based upon the first and second vectors; and

determining a calibration offset based upon the determined orientation and the reference orientation;

the controller is configured to determine a range of angles based upon at least one user-selected threshold parameter entered via the threshold setting control and the user-defined orientation; and

the controller is configured to implement an operational mode that monitors the output information of the sensing device, determines angle measurements from the monitored output information of the sensing device, compares the determined angle measurements to the determined range of angles and initiates the output device to convey information based upon the comparison of the determined angle measurements, the determined range of angles and the derived calibration offset.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the output device comprises at least one of a visual, audible, tactile or olfactory cue that is triggered by the controller in response to detecting a breach of at least one threshold.

12. The assessment device according to claim 10, wherein the output device outputs at least one of a visual, audible, tactile or olfactory cue that is triggered by the controller, wherein the output comprises a pattern that varies depending upon the axis and direction of a breach of a corresponding threshold.

13. The assessment device according to claim 10, wherein the controller comprises a portable computing device and the sensing device comprises a multi-axis inclinometer that is coupled to the portable computing device.

14. The assessment device according to claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to:

program a high threshold value that determines an upper range of measured angle values relative to a corresponding axis of the user-defined orientation;

program a low threshold value that determines a lower range of measured angle values relative to the corresponding axis of the user-defined orientation; and

control the output device such that a high threshold breach is indicated differently from a low threshold breach.

15. The assessment device according to claim 10, further comprising coupling a global positioning system device to the controller for correlation of angle measurement values to information read from the global positioning system device.

16. The assessment device according to claim 10, further comprising storage that is coupled to the controller, wherein the controller logs measured data values for analysis of breach of thresholds as a function of time or endurance.

17. The assessment device according to claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to operate in a first mode where the output device is selectively activated depending upon a detected breach of a threshold, and a second mode where the output is disabled so that the subject receives no feedback as to their position relative to the programmed thresholds.

18. A method of training using an assessment device for evaluating positions of interest comprising:

providing an assessment device comprising;

a sensing device configured to measure angles relative to at least one axis of a predefined sensor orientation and to output information indicative of detected angles with respect to each measured axis; and

a sensor component having;

a first member; and

a second member configured such that the sensing device secures thereto, wherein the second member is repositionable in at least one dimension with respect to the first member so as to reorient the sensing device, and hence a predefined sensor orientation, with respect to the first member;

connecting the assessment device to an object or subject of interest, by;

mounting the first member of the sensor component to the object or subject of interest at a user-defined orientation with respect to a principle axis of a desired evaluation environment; and

performing a calibration by;

positioning the second member of the sensor component with respect to the first member of the sensor component so that the sensing device is aligned to a second orientation different from the user-defined orientation providing at least a coarse mechanical tare calibration;

implementing a pre-training mode by;

capturing a set of data values that characterize maximum deviations of a desired motion or position with respect to at least one axis without providing feedback; and

saving the captured values as a baseline;

implementing a training mode by;

repeating the position or motion;

utilizing the assessment device to capture data values that characterize a range of the motion or position;

comparing the captured values to predetermined threshold values; and

providing a feedback to train the movement or position; and

implementing a post-training mode by;

utilizing the assessment device to capture data values that characterize maximum deviations of the desired motion or position with respect to at least one axis as without providing feedback;

saving the data values as a post-training baseline; and

providing feedback as to whether the training is becoming more effective towards the desired motion or position based upon a comparison of the post training baseline with the pre-training baseline.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the values of the pre-training baseline are utilized to establish reference thresholds for training.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

monitoring the captured values during training;

comparing the captured values to corresponding threshold values; and

dynamically updating the threshold values based upon the comparison.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

repeating the training mode and post training mode to update the post-training baseline;

comparing the most recent post-training baseline against previously saved post-training baselines; and

providing feedback as to whether the subject is improving over time.

22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

storing at least one of the pre-training baseline or the post-training baseline for a plurality of subjects;

comparing the baselines stored for each of a plurality of subjects; and

classifying the subjects based upon an evaluation of their associated baseline.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein implementing a training mode further comprises:

recording inputs from at least one other input device;

correlating the inputs form the at least one other device with the data captured from the assessment device; and

providing feedback as to whether there is a detectable correlation between the captured data from the assessment device and the recorded data from the other input device.

24. A method of training using an assessment device for evaluating positions of interest comprising:

performing an electronic calibration of a sensing device of an assessment device, wherein the sensing device comprises a sensor for measuring at least one angle and the electronic calibration is performed by;

moving the sensing device to a first known position;

reading output information of the sensing device while the sensing device is in the first known position;

determining the orientation of the sensing device relative to its reference orientation;

defining a first vector relative to the first known position and reference orientation;

moving the sensing device to a second known position;

reading the output information of the sensing device while the sensing device is in the second known position;

determining the orientation of the sensing device relative to its reference orientation;

defining a second vector relative to the second known position and reference orientation;

computing an orientation of the sensing device based upon the first and second vectors; and

determining a calibration offset based upon the determined orientation and the reference orientation;

implementing a pre-training mode by;

connecting the assessment device to an object or subject of interest;

capturing a set of data values that characterize maximum deviations of a desired motion or position with respect to at least one axis without providing feedback; and

saving the captured values as a baseline;

implementing a training mode by;

repeating the position or motion;

utilizing the assessment device to capture data values that characterize a range of the motion or position;

comparing the captured values to predetermined threshold values; and

providing a feedback to train the movement or position; and

implementing a post-training mode by;

utilizing the assessment device to capture data values that characterize maximum deviations of the desired motion or position with respect to at least one axis as without providing feedback;

saving the data values as a post-training baseline; and

providing feedback as to whether the training is becoming more effective towards the desired motion or position based upon a comparison of the post training baseline with the pre-training baseline.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the values of the pre-training baseline are utilized to establish reference thresholds for training.

26. The method according to claim 24, further comprising:

monitoring the captured values during training;

comparing the captured values to corresponding threshold values; and

dynamically updating the threshold values based upon the comparison.

27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising:

repeating the training mode and post training mode to update the post-training baseline;

comparing the most recent post-training baseline against previously saved post-training baselines; and

providing feedback as to whether the subject is improving over time.

28. The method according to claim 24, further comprising:

storing at least one of the pre-training baseline or the post-training baseline for a plurality of subjects;

comparing the baselines stored for each of the plurality of subjects; and

classifying the subjects based upon an evaluation of their associated baseline.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein implementing a training mode further comprises:

recording inputs from at least one other input device;

correlating the inputs form the at least one other device with the data captured from the assessment device; and

providing feedback as to whether there is a detectable correlation between the captured data from the assessment device and the recorded data from the other input device.