IP Library Granted Patent US 11,185,736
Granted Patent B2
US 11,185,736 · App. 16/993,518 · Granted Nov 30, 2021

Systems and methods for wearable devices that determine balance indices

Inventors: John Douglas (Potomac, MD); Frank Fornari (Naples, FL)
Assignee: BioMech Sensor LLC
A63B24/0006A63B24/0021A63B24/0075A63B2024/0071A63B2220/34A63B2220/836
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,185,736
App. No.
16/993,518
Granted
Nov 30, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for balance index determination. For example, a wearable apparatus may have at least one gyroscope configured to measure angular velocity about a first axis; at least one inertial measurement device (IMU) configured to measure deviation along a second axis and a third axis; at least one memory storing instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to: receive angular velocity measurements over a period of time from the at least one gyroscope; receive deviations from the second axis and from the third axis over the period of time from the at least one IMU; weight the deviations based on directions associated with the deviations; and generate a composite balance index based on the angular velocity measurements, the weighted deviations from the second axis, and the weighted deviations from the third axis.

Claims (53)

1. A system, comprising:

at least one inertial measurement device;

at least one memory storing instructions; and

at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to perform operations, comprising:

receiving pressure data in at least two dimensions from a plurality of pressure sensors;

calculating at least one of a composite balance index, a left balance index associated with a left side of a user, or a right balance index associated with a right side of the user based on angular velocity measurements, weighted deviations from a second axis, and weighted deviations from a third axis;

generating a data profile based on the received pressure data and at least one of the composite balance index, the left balance index, or the right balance index; and

providing, based on the generated data profile, feedback to the user of a wearable device in real-time, wherein the feedback is associated with stride, gait, pronation, and cadence of the user.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback comprises an indication to the user that the cadence should be adjusted while running or walking.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback comprises an indication to the user that a length of the stride should be adjusted while running or walking.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inertial measurement device is detachably connected to the user.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inertial measurement device is detachably connected to the head of the user.

6. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein at least one of the composite balance index, the left balance index, or the right balance index is calculated by:

receiving deviations from the second axis over a period of time from the at least one inertial measurement device;

weighting the deviations from the second axis based on directions associated with the deviations;

receiving deviations from the third axis over the period of time from the at least one inertial measurement device;

weighting the deviations from the third axis based on directions associated with the deviations;

receiving angular velocity measurements with respect to a first axis over the period of time; and

generating the balance index based on the angular velocity measurements, the weighted deviations from the second axis, and the weighted deviations from the third axis.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise:

normalizing the angular velocity measurements over the period of time; and

normalizing the deviations from the second axis and the deviations from the third axis over the period of time before weighting.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise:

outputting a graphical depiction of the deviations from the second axis and the deviations from the third axis over the period of time to an external device associated with the user.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

outputting the balance index to an external device associated with the user over at least one wireless network.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise generating a pressure map of the user based on the received pressure data.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving pressure data in at least two dimensions from a plurality of pressure sensors coupled to an inertial measurement device;

calculating at least one of a composite balance index, a left balance index associated with a left side of a user, or a right balance index associated with a right side of the user based on angular velocity measurements, weighted deviations from a second axis, and weighted deviations from a third axis;

generating a data profile based on the received pressure data and at least one of the composite balance index, the left balance index, or the right balance index; and

providing, based on the generated data profile, feedback to the user of a wearable device in real-time, wherein the feedback is associated with stride, gait, pronation, and cadence of the user.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the feedback comprises an indication to the user that the cadence should be adjusted while running or walking.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the feedback comprises an indication to the user that a length of the stride should be adjusted while running or walking.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one inertial measurement device is detachably connected to the user.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one inertial measurement device is detachably connected to the head of the user.

16. The method of claim 11 ,

wherein at least one of the composite balance index, the left balance index, or the right balance index is calculated by:

receiving deviations from the second axis over a period of time from the at least one inertial measurement device;

weighting the deviations from the second axis based on directions associated with the deviations;

receiving deviations from the third axis over the period of time from the at least one inertial measurement device;

weighting the deviations from the third axis based on directions associated with the deviations;

receiving angular velocity measurements with respect to a first axis over the period of time; and

generating the balance index based on the angular velocity measurements, the weighted deviations from the second axis, and the weighted deviations from the third axis.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

normalizing the angular velocity measurements over the period of time; and

normalizing the deviations from the second axis and the deviations from the third axis over the period of time before weighting.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

outputting a graphical depiction of the deviations from the second axis and the deviations from the third axis over the period of time to an external device associated with the user.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

outputting the balance index to an external device associated with the user over at least one wireless network.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising generating a pressure map of the user based on the received pressure data.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2024
From: BIOMECH SENSOR LLC
To: BIOMECH HEALTH, LLC
Reel/Frame 069105/0370 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S STATE OF INCORPORATION/ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053496 FRAME 0638. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 18, 2022
From: DOUGLAS, JOHN; FORNARI, FRANK
To: BIOMECH SENSOR, LLC
Reel/Frame 060104/0932 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2021
From: BIOMECH SENSOR, LLC; BIOMECH GOLF, LLC
To: FORNARI, FRANK; BAUER, GWEN
Reel/Frame 056771/0355 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2020
From: DOUGLAS, JOHN; FORNARI, FRANK
To: BIOMECH SENSOR LLC
Reel/Frame 053496/0638 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16558019 · Aug 30, 2019
Related Publication 20210060382A1 · Mar 4, 2021