Sensory prosthetic for improved balance control
AssigneeRxFunction, Inc.
InventorsLars Oddsson, Peter Meyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A feedback device for measuring balance related information, and for producing a stimulation of the skin that encodes that information in a way that is useful to the wearer of the device. At least one sensor detects balance information and transmits at least one balance information signal to a signal processing subsystem. The signal processing subsystem converts the received balance information signal into at least one stimulation control signal. The signal processing subsystem then transmits the stimulation control signal to at least one stimulator, which provides stimulation to a wearer of the device reflecting the stimulation control signal received from the signal processing subsystem.
Claims20
A system for assisting the maintenance of balance of a user, the system comprising:
- a) at least one sensor positionable against a limb of the user, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to generate, during user stance and dynamic activities, user balance information signals and transmit the user balance information signals;
- b) a signal processing subsystem, the subsystem configured to receive the user balance information signals, compare the user balance information signals to a predetermined temporal or spatial threshold, and generate, based on the user balance information signals and the predetermined threshold, balance control signals comprising temporal and spatial information reflecting user balance information;
- and
- c) at least one stimulator configured to be positionable in contact with a skin area of the user, the at least one stimulator configured to be responsive to the balance control signals to provide skin stimulation during the user stance and dynamic activities to the skin area of the user when the user balance information signals exceed the predetermined threshold, thereby providing feedback to the user.
A system for assisting the maintenance of balance of a user, the system comprising:
- a) at least one sensor positionable against a limb of the user, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to generate, during user stance and dynamic activities, user balance information signals as a function of time and transmit the user balance information signals;
- b) a signal processing subsystem, the subsystem configured to receive the user balance information signals, compare the user balance information signals to a predetermined temporal or spatial threshold comprising a time integral threshold, and generate, based on the user balance information signals and the predetermined threshold, balance control signals comprising temporal and spatial information reflecting user balance information;
- and
- c) at least one stimulator configured to be positionable in contact with a skin area of the user, the at least one stimulator configured to be responsive to the balance control signals to provide skin stimulation during the user stance and dynamic activities to the skin area of the user when the user balance information signals exceed the predetermined threshold, thereby providing feedback to the user.
A method for assisting the maintenance of balance of a user, the method comprising:
- sensing, with at least one sensor, user balance information,
- generating, during user stance and dynamic activities, user balance information signals as a function of the user balance information;
- transmitting the user balance information signals to a signal processing subsystem;
- comparing, with the signal processing subsystem, the user balance information signals to a predetermined temporal or spatial threshold;
- generating, based on the user balance information signals and the predetermined threshold, balance control signals comprising temporal and spatial information reflecting the user balance information;
- and
- stimulating a skin area of the user with at least one stimulator during the user stance and dynamic activities based on the balance control signals when the user balance information signals exceed the predetermined threshold, thereby providing feedback to the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.