# US 12,178,579 B1 · Sensor for monitoring posture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,579 B1 - Document ID: US12178579B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/141,208 - Filed: 2021-01-04 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-03 - Assignees: Myomonitor LLC - Applicants: Myomonitor LLC - Inventors: William P. Silver; Stephen Clay Trotter; Richard K. Woodard; Benjamin Gatti; Emily Caldwell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178579B1 ## CPC - A61B 5/256: Wearable electrodes, e.g. having straps or bands - A61B 5/002: {Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building (A61B5/0017 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/1116: {Determining posture transitions} - A61B 5/296: for electromyography [EMG] - A61B 5/397: Analysis of electromyograms - A61B 5/4561: {Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature (A61B5/1116 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/6804: {Garments; Clothes} - A61B 5/6823: {Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip} - A61B 5/7405: {using sound} - A61B 5/7455: {characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation} - A61B 5/746: {Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms} - A61B 2560/0214: of power generation or supply - A61B 2560/0412: Low-profile patch shaped housings - A61B 2562/0209: Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053 - A61B 2562/043: in a linear array - A61B 2562/227: Sensors with electrical connectors - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Wearable sensors and uses thereof are disclosed. Preferred sensors include surface EMG electrodes for measuring electrical muscle activity, by which muscle contraction is measured. Such muscle contraction can be used to determine a person's posture, especially when the contraction being measured is that of core muscles. An alert preferably is provided to a person in real time when an incorrect posture is detected. By providing such biofeedback, a person is trained in maintaining a good posture. Such posture training is believed to heal alleviate or even present lower back pain. Wearable sensors of the invention also can be used to measure contraction in muscles during exercise, including running and strength training, to gain information for use in improving such activities. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wearable, electro-myographic sensor module, comprising: (a) a casing containing components comprising (i) circuitry for sensor operations, (ii) a microcontroller, (iii) a transceiver for wireless communications, (iv) a power source for powering the sensor module, and (v) means for alerting a person wearing the sensor module; (b) an attachment structure comprising recesses formed in the casing defining exposed openings in a bottom surface of the sensor module for releasable engagement therein of the sensor module with a sensor base that is attachable to a person; and (c) an interface comprising electrical pins arranged in electrical communication with the circuitry and extending within the recesses for electrically connecting the circuitry to electrodes of the sensor base when the sensor module is releasably engaged with the sensor base, distal ends of the pins terminating within the recesses such that the pins do not extend beyond the bottom surface of the casing; (d) wherein the components of the sensor module are configured to measure through the interface an electrical activity of muscle that varies during contraction and relaxation and, based thereon, alert a person wearing the sensor module when an incorrect posture of the person is detected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sensor module of claim 3, wherein the sensor module further comprises a charging port located in a wall of the casing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the sensor module comprises a profile that is stored in non-transitory memory of the circuitry by which the sensor module determines transitions from relaxation to contraction of a muscle or muscle group, and a degree of contraction, and transitions from contraction to relaxation of the muscle or muscle group. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the means for alerting a person wearing the sensor module comprises a vibration mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the means for alerting a person wearing the sensor module comprises a speaker for providing an auditory alert. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sensor module of claim 7, wherein the casing contains the speaker and has audio openings in a wall thereof proximate the speaker contained therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sensor module of claim 1, further comprising a sensor base, the sensor base comprising: (a) a top fabric layer; and (b) a bottom fabric layer; (c) wherein electrodes of the sensor base extend through at least the bottom layer; and (d) wherein a sensor-module attachment structure extends through and away from the top fabric layer and is secured by the top and bottom fabric layers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The sensor module of claim 9, wherein a bracket secures the sensor-module attachment structure to the electrodes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sensor module of claim 10, wherein the bracket is sandwiched between the top fabric layer and the bottom fabric layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the components of the sensor module are configured to measure core muscles of the person by which an incorrect posture of the person is detected. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the sensor module further comprises magnets located within the casing proximate the recesses formed in the bottom of the casing, wherein the magnets are configured to attract protuberances of the sensor base for securing the attachment of the sensor module on the sensor base when the protuberances are received within the recesses.