Portable electronic data collection apparatus for monitoring musculoskeletal stresses
AssigneeErgonomic Technologies Corporation
InventorsKevin J. Costello, Chandra Nair, Cynthia Roth, Dennis A. Mitchell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable biofeedback apparatus and method for simultaneously gathering information regarding more than one type of musculoskeletal stress. The apparatus has at least two different types of user-selectable sensors for converting different kinds of musculoskeletal activities into electrical signals. An analog-to-digital converter samples the electrical signals at predetermined rates. A memory receives and stores the digital signals. A processor centrally controls the collection, sampling, display and transmittal of the digital data. Magnitudes of the digital signals are simultaneously and in real-time graphically portrayed as a function of time.
Claims15
A portable electronic data collection apparatus for monitoring musculoskeletal stresses comprising:
- a plurality of dissimilar sensors for converting a plurality of musculoskeletal activities into electrical signals, each of the plurality of sensors being an input to a channel, at least one of the sensors for measuring force signals associated with a portion of a human body contacting an object according to a dynamically defined movement protocol;
- an analog-to-digital converter for sampling the electrical signals from a user-selected channel at a predetermined rate such that digital values of the electrical signals are obtained at discrete points in time;
- a processor in communication with said analog-to-digital converter, for collecting the digital values of the electrical signals;
- a memory in communication with said processor, said memory receiving and storing the digital values;
- and
- a first visual display in communication with said processor, said first visual display simultaneously and in real-time graphically portraying magnitudes of the digital values of the user-selected channel as a function of time.
A method of collecting data regarding musculoskeletal stresses using a portable electronic data collection apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- simultaneously sensing electromyographic signals associated with muscular activity, force signals associated with a portion of a human body contacting an object according to a dynamically defined movement protocol, and angular position signals associated with a position of a body joint;
- sampling the electromyographic, force and angular position signals at a predetermined rate such that digital values of the signals are obtained at discrete points in time;
- storing the digital values of the electromyographic, force and angular position signals;
- and
- simultaneously and in real-time graphically displaying magnitudes of the digital values of the electromyographic, force and angular position signals as a function of time.
A portable electronic data collection apparatus for monitoring musculoskeletal stresses comprising:
- a plurality of dissimilar sensors for converting a plurality of musculoskeletal activities into electrical signals, each of the plurality of sensors being an input to a channel, at least two of said sensors for measuring angular position signals associated with the position of at least one body joint;
- an analog-to-digital converter for sampling the electrical signal from a user-selected channel at a predetermined rate such that digital values of the electrical signals are obtained at discrete points in time;
- a processor in communication with said analog-to-digital converter, for collecting the digital values of the electrical signals;
- a memory in communication with said processor, said memory receiving and storing the digital values;
- and
- a first visual display in communication with said processor, said first visual display simultaneously and in real-time graphically portraying magnitudes of the digital values of the user-selected channel as a function of time.
A battery powered portable electronic data collection apparatus for monitoring musculoskeletal stresses comprising:
- a plurality of dissimilar sensors for converting a plurality of musculoskeletal activities into electrical signals, each of the plurality of sensors being an input to a channel, at least one of the sensors for measuring force signals associated with a portion of a human body contacting an object according to a dynamically defined movement protocol;
- an analog-to-digital converter for sampling the electrical signals from a user-selected channel at a predetermined rate such that digital values of the electrical signals are obtained at discrete points in time;
- a processor in communication with said analog-to-digital converter, for collecting the digital values of the electrical signals;
- a memory in communication with said processor, said memory receiving and storing the digital values;
- and
- a first visual display in communication with said processor, said first visual display simultaneously and in real-time graphically portraying magnitudes of the digital values of the user-selected channel as a function of time, the portable apparatus configured for ease of carriage by hand from place to place and operation without the need for a connection to an external power source.
A method of collecting data regarding musculoskeletal stresses using a battery powered portable electronic data collection apparatus, the method comprising:
- supplying battery power to the portable apparatus, the battery power allowing operation of the portable apparatus without the need for a connection to an external power source;
- simultaneously sensing electromyographic signals associated with muscular activity, force signals associated with a portion of a human body contacting an object according to a dynamically defined movement protocol, and angular position signals associated with a position of a body joint;
- sampling the electromyographic, force and angular position signals at a predetermined rate such that digital values of the signals are obtained at discrete points in time;
- storing the digital values of the electromyographic, force and angular position signals;
- and
- simultaneously and in real-time graphically displaying magnitudes of the digital values of the electromyographic, force and angular position signals as a function of time.
A portable battery powered electronic data collection apparatus for monitoring musculoskeletal stresses comprising:
- a plurality of dissimilar sensors for converting a plurality of musculoskeletal activities into electrical signals, each of the plurality of sensors being an input to a channel, at least two of said sensors for measuring angular position signals associated with the position of at least one body joint;
- an analog-to-digital converter for sampling the electrical signals from a user-selected channel at a predetermined rate such that digital values of the electrical signals are obtained at discrete points in time;
- a processor in communication with said analog-to-digital converter, for collecting the digital values of the electrical signals;
- a memory in communication with said processor, said memory receiving and storing the digital values;
- and
- a first visual display in communication with said processor, said first visual display simultaneously and in real-time graphically portraying magnitudes of the digital values of the user-selected channel as a function of time, the apparatus configured for ease of carriage by hand from place to place and operation without the need for a connection to an external power source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.