Belt-mounted movement sensor system

• US 9,282,897 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MedHab, LLC
• Original Assignee: MedHab, LLC
• Inventors: Ross, Johnny Jr., Sanghera, Jagdeepinder Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US13/371,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20130211772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 702/130, 702/131, 702/142, 702/141, 340/573.1, 601/34, 607/62, 600/459
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6841 by using templates
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A belt-mounted movement sensor system apparatus has a flexible belt shaped to be worn around the midsection of the user. The system has an array of accelerometers disposed on or within the flexible belt to physically associate with positions on the midsection of the user. Each array of accelerometers has a sample rate that can be configured for sensing body movement during a movement activity. A power source and a data collection system are operably connected to the array of accelerometers. The data collection system has a means for receiving data from the array of accelerometers and processing that data into a storable format.

Claims

1. A belt-mounted movement sensor system for tracking and recording movement data of a midsection of a user, the system comprising:

a flexible belt shaped to be worn around and abut the midsection of the user;

an array of accelerometers disposed on or within the flexible belt to physically associate with positions on the midsection of the user, each of the array of accelerometers having a sample rate that can be configured for sensing body movement during a movement activity;

a power source operably connected to the array of accelerometers;

a data collection system operably connected to the array of accelerometers, the data collection system having a means for receiving data from the array of accelerometers and processing that data into a storable format;

wherein the array of accelerometers includes at least two central accelerometers that are mounted in a line on the flexible belt in a manner that allows them to align with the spine of the user when the flexible belt is worn;

wherein the array of accelerometers further includes at least one left-side accelerometer;

a means for adjustably mounting the left-side accelerometer on the flexible belt such that the left-side accelerometer is operably positioned on the left side of the user when the at least two central accelerometers are aligned with the spine of the user;

wherein the array of accelerometers further includes at least one right-side accelerometer; and

a means for adjustably mounting the right-side accelerometer on the flexible belt such that the right-side accelerometer is operably positioned on the right side of the user when the at least two central accelerometers are aligned with the spine of the user.

2. A belt-mounted movement sensor system for tracking and recording movement data of a midsection of a user, the system comprising:

a flexible belt shaped to be worn around and abut the midsection of the user, the flexible belt having an outer shell constructed of a flexible fabric that includes an inner portion is shaped to abut the user, and an outer portion that covers the inner portion;

an array of accelerometers disposed on or within the flexible belt to physically associate with positions on the midsection of the user, each of the array of accelerometers having a sample rate that can be configured for sensing body movement during a movement activity;

a power source operably connected to the array of accelerometers;

a data collection system operably connected to the array of accelerometers for receiving data from the array of accelerometers and processing that data into a storable format;

wherein the array of accelerometers includes a central accelerometer that is mounted on the flexible belt in a manner that allows it to be positioned over the spine of the user when the flexible belt is worn; and

further comprising heating coils, positioned between the inner portion and the outer portion of the outer shell, abutting the inner portion of the outer shell so that the inner portion adjacent the heating coils abuts the user on either side of the central accelerometer, so that heat from the heating coils is transferred by conduction to the user'"'"'s back on both sides of the user'"'"'s spine.