US 9,149,222 B1Granted

Enhanced system and method for assessment of disequilibrium, balance and motion disorders

AssigneeEngineering Acoustics, Inc.

InventorsGary Zets, Bruce Mortimer

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Abstract

A system and method for providing therapy and assessment utilizing vibrotactile feedback is disclosed. Such treatment is useful for the assessment and treatment of disequilibrium, movement and balance disorders. The system and method measures a subject's performance of predetermined tasks with respect to expected parameters using sensors such as force plates, inertial sensors, and three dimensional cameras. Predetermined motions are motions such as stand, sit-to-stand, reach, bend, functional gait, functional gait plus headshake, and other functional tasks. Vibrotactile stimulation may be applied during the subject's performance as disruptive input. Variance and rate of change of variance between measured and expected parameters is used as a tool for assessment of said subject, and is also used for providing real-time vibrotactile training to said subject. The invention is useful in the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), neurologic disorders causing disequilibrium and balance disorders, and the like.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for assessing disequilibrium and movement and balance disorders of a subject, comprising:

a. providing at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of at least one force plate, at least one three dimensional camera, and at least one inertial sensor;
b. positioning a subject within a sensing field of said at least one sensor;
c. identifying a predetermined headshake task for said subject to perform while positioned in said sensing field, said predetermined headshake task being defined by at least one headshake parameter selected from the group consisting of angular rate of headshake and angular extent of headshake;
d. identifying a predetermined motional task for said subject to perform while positioned in said sensing field, said motional task being defined by at least one motional task parameter;
e. receiving at least one headshake sensor signal produced by said at least one sensor in response to an attempt by said subject to perform said predetermined headshake task and said predetermined motional task simultaneously, wherein said headshake sensor signal represents at least one headshake variance between a subject's actual performance of said predetermined headshake task and said at least one parameter of said headshake task;
f. receiving at least one motional task sensor signal produced by said at least one sensor in response to an attempt by said subject to perform said predetermined motional task;
wherein said motional task sensor signal represents at least one motional task variance between a subject's actual performance of said predetermined motional task and said at least one motional task parameter of said motional task;
h. using said at least one headshake variance and said at least one motional task variance to assess a subject's ability to perform said predetermined motional task.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/300,428Filed 18 Nov 2011 · continuation in part
Priority: 29 Aug 2008
Granted: 6 Oct 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification35 codes

A61B 5/1121
Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb: determining geometric values, e.g. centre…
A61B 5/1116
Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb: determining posture transitions
A61B 5/112
Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb: gait analysis
A61B 5/1128
Using a particular sensing technique: using image analysis

Family

Application12/201,778Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Aug 2008
Application61/415,371Us provisional application · filed 19 Nov 2010
US 8,092,355 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 10 Jan 2012
US 2009/0062092 A1Published application
US 9,149,222 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.