Optically pumped magnetometry treadmill
AssigneeFather Flanagan's Boys' Home doing business as Boys Town National Research Hospital
InventorsMax J. Kurz, Uyen Nguyen, Alexa Wildy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A walking apparatus, e.g., a treadmill, which can be used in an optically pumped magnetometry (OPM) environment to measure the cortical dynamics of toddlers and adults while walking includes unique features. The treadmill is free of moving components and also free of magnetic metal. The treadmill includes a sloped portion that, in conjunction with a pair of designed shoes, has a low coefficient of friction to essentially allow the shoes to slide along the surface of the treadmill, which mimics a normal gait. The treadmill and shoes allow a user to be measured using an OPM to collect brain data during the gait.
Claims20
A walking system for use with an optically pumped magnetometer, comprising:
- a walking surface comprising a center and one or more upward sloping surfaces extending away from the center;
- wherein the walking surface comprises a low-friction material;
- and
- a frame adjacent to the walking surface, the frame including a harness for a user to aid in controlling the location of the user relative to the walking surface.
A method of collecting data using an optically pumped magnetometer while a user moves, comprising:
- connecting a user to the optically pumped magnetometer;
- having the user walk on a walking apparatus, wherein the walking apparatus comprises a walking surface comprising a center and upward sloping surfaces extending away from the center and the walking surface comprising a low-friction material;
- and
- maintaining the user's position on the walking apparatus with a harness connected to a frame.
A walking system for use with an optically pumped magnetometer, comprising:
- a walking surface comprising a center and an upwardly sloped surface extending from the center, said walking surface comprising a low-friction material;
- a frame adjacent the walking surface including one or more support members and a harness connecting a user to the one or more support members;
- and
- walking shoes for use with the walking surface, the walking shoes comprising a material to lower the coefficient of friction between the walking shoes and the walking surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.