Method and device for collecting data for posturography

A method for collecting data for posturography with a device comprising a swingable platform, including a surface configured for a test subject to stand on, a magnetizable body, and an an acceleration sensor mounted on the swingable platform, the device further including an A/D converter which connects the magnetizable body and acceleration sensor to a computer, an electromagnet located under the swingable platform movable relative to the swingable platform, the electromagnet being connected to the A/D converter by a circuit, the electromagnet having a powered state during which current is received inducing a magnetic field, a power supply supplying said current, a time-variable display which is connected to the A/D converter, and a digital camera, the time-variable display and digital camera being connected to the computer, the method comprising:

• supplying current to the electromagnet;
• moving the electromagnet away from a first electromagnet location to a second electromagnet location by displacing the electromagnet in two orthogonal axes that are parallel to a plane of the swingable platform, wherein the electromagnet is located at the first electromagnet location at a first time and is located at the second electromagnet location at a second time for each condition of a first condition in which power to the electromagnet is on and a second condition in which power to the electromagnet is off;
• deflecting the swingable platform from a rest position to a desired provocation position with said electromagnet by positioning the electromagnet in said second electromagnet location and magnetically interacting the electromagnet with said magnetizable body, the swingable platform being in said deflected position with said power to the electromagnet on;
• and
• with a test subject standing on the swingable platform, turning off power to the electromagnet, thereby releasing the magnetizable body from the magnetic interaction of the electromagnet so that the swingable platform returns toward said rest position, thereby inducing a provocation to the test subject, said swingable platform, including said magnetizable body, being configured to return toward the rest position when the electromagnet is in the second electromagnet location and power to the electromagnet is turned off;
• sensing as registered movement data registered movement of the swingable platform with the acceleration sensor;
• forwarding the sensed registered movement data via an A/D converter to the computer;
• forwarding time information data from the time-variable display to the computer via the A/D converter;
• capturing data with the digital camera, including a change of position of the swingable platform, movements of the test subject, and imagery of the time-variable display, wherein the captured data of the digital camera is forwarded to the computer;
• and
• correlating in time by said computer the sensed registered movement data of the acceleration sensor, the time information data of the time-variable display, and the captured data of the digital camera;
• and
• wherein said first electromagnet location of said electromagnet has a correspondence to said rest position of said swingable platform so that no deflection of the swingable platform occurs while the electromagnet receives power while the electromagnet is in said first electromagnet location.

A method for collecting data for posturography with a device comprising a swingable platform, including a surface for a test subject to stand on, a magnetizable body, and an an acceleration sensor, the device further including an A/D converter which connects the magnetizable body and acceleration sensor to a computer, a first assembly located under the swingable platform movable relative to the swingable platform and including a plate and an electromagnet located on the plate, the electromagnet being connected to the A/D converter by a circuit, the electromagnet having a powered state during which current is received inducing a magnetic field, a power supply supplying said current, a time-variable display which is connected to the A/D converter, and a digital camera, the time-variable display and digital camera being connected to the computer, the method comprising:

• supplying current to the electromagnet;
• moving the first assembly away from a first position into a second position by displacing the first assembly in two orthogonal axes that are parallel to a plane of the swingable platform, wherein the electromagnet is located at a first electromagnet location while the first assembly is in the first location and is located at a second electromagnet location while the first assembly is in the second location for each condition of a first condition in which power to the electromagnet is on and a second condition in which power to the electromagnet is off;
• deflecting the swingable platform from a rest position to a desired provocation position with said electromagnet by positioning the first assembly in said second position and magnetically interacting the electromagnet, located at the second electromagnet location, with said magnetizable body, the swingable platform being in said deflected position with said power to the electromagnet on;
• and
• with a test subject standing on the swingable platform, turning off power to the electromagnet, thereby releasing the magnetizable body from the magnetic interaction of the electromagnet so that the swingable platform returns toward said rest position, thereby inducing a provocation to the test subject, said swingable platform, including said magnetizable body, being configured to return toward the rest position when the first assembly is in the second position and power to the electromagnet is turned off;
• sensing as registered movement data registered movement of the swingable platform with the acceleration sensor;
• forwarding the sensed registered movement data via an A/D converter to the computer;
• forwarding time information data from the time-variable display to the computer via the A/D converter;
• capturing data with the digital camera, including a change of position of the swingable platform, movements of the test subject, and imagery of the time-variable display, wherein the captured data of the digital camera is forwarded to the computer;
• and
• correlating in time by said computer the sensed registered movement data of the acceleration sensor, the time information data of the time-variable display, and the captured data of the digital camera;
• and
• wherein said first position of said first assembly has a correspondence to said rest position of said swingable platform so that no deflection of the swingable platform occurs while the electromagnet receives power while the first assembly is in said first position.