IP Library Granted Patent US 12,433,487
Granted Patent B2
US 12,433,487 · App. 18/213,768 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

System and methods with user interfaces for monitoring physical therapy and rehabilitation

Inventors: Curt Wiedenhoefer (Davis, CA); Justin Anthony Creel (Fair Oaks, CA); Brian James Katerberg (Folsom, CA); Joshua Dale Howard (Sacramento, CA)
Assignee: TRACPATCH HEALTH, LLC
A61B5/0031A61B1/041A61B5/02055A61B5/076A61B5/4528A61B5/4851G16H20/30G16H40/67G16H50/30A61B5/0013A61B5/024A61B5/1071A61B5/1118A61B5/112A61B5/1121A61B5/4585A61B5/6833A61B5/743A61B2090/309A61B2505/09A61B2560/0214A61B2562/0219A61B2562/0223A61B2562/0247
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,433,487
App. No.
18/213,768
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for monitoring a joint of a patient includes multiple sensors to be disposed near a joint and to measure or observe actions or physical quantities associated with the joint; and at least one communications module coupled to the sensors to receive data from the sensors and to transmit sensor information to an external device. The system also includes a patient device and clinician device which can be used to, for example, monitor and display information obtained from the sensors, determine range of motion measurements from the sensor data, show progress in physical therapy, take a photograph or video of the site on the patient, obtain a pain score, and include friends for providing encouragement during physical therapy.

Claims (35)

1. A system for monitoring a patient, the system comprising:

at least one sensor unit, each of the at least one sensor unit configured for disposition on or within the patient proximate to a joint of the patient, each of the at least one sensor unit comprising a housing; a power source disposed within the housing; at least one accelerometer disposed within the housing and coupled to the power source; and a communication arrangement disposed within the housing, coupled to the power source and the at least one accelerometer, and configured for communicating accelerometer measurements from the at least one accelerometer, wherein the at least one sensor unit collectively comprises a plurality of the accelerometers;

a patient device configured and arranged for communication with each of the at least one sensor unit via the communication arrangement, the patient device comprising a display a memory, and a processor coupled to the display and memory, the memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the processor executes the instruction to perform actions, the actions comprising:

a) receiving a range of motion goal;

b) receiving, via the communication arrangement of each of the at least one sensor unit, the acceleration measurements from at least two of the accelerometers of the at least one sensor unit as the joint is flexed and extended;

c) determining a range of motion of the joint using the acceleration measurements;

d) determining a center of rotation around the joint;

e) repeating at least steps b) and c) at least one time; and

f) displaying, on the display, a chart tracking progress in the range of motion over time and an indication of what portion of the range of motion goal has been met.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the range of motion goal comprises receiving the range of motion goal for a specified exercise.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein determining the range of motion comprises determining the range of motion as the patient performs the specified exercise.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the actions further comprise displaying, during performance of the specified exercise, either a current value or a maximum achieved value of the range of motion for the specified exercise.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the specified exercise is selected from sitting leg lift, heel slide, standing lift, or prone lift.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the actions further comprise displaying a number of repetitions performed for the specified exercise.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the actions further comprise displaying a level of compliance for performance of the specified exercise.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the patient device further comprises a camera.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the actions further comprise directing the patient to take a photograph of the joint using the camera.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the actions further comprise displaying the photograph with graphical indicia on the photograph illustrating the range of motion.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor unit comprises at least two sensor units.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the range of motion comprises determining a flexion of the joint, wherein the joint is selected from one of a hip, knee, ankle, or wrist joint.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the range of motion comprises determining an extension of the joint, wherein the joint is selected from one of a hip, knee, ankle, or wrist joint.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the displaying further comprises displaying an average patient time to the range of motion goal.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one sensor unit is configured for adhesive attachment to skin of the patient or implantation within the patient.

16. A method for monitoring a patient, the method comprising:

a) selecting a range of motion goal;

b) flexing and extending a joint of the patient;

c) during the flexing and extending of the joint, obtaining acceleration measurements from at least two accelerometers within one or more sensor units disposed on or within the patient proximate to the joint, wherein each of the one or more sensor units comprises a housing; a power source disposed within the housing; and at least one of the at least two accelerometers disposed within the housing and coupled to the power source; and a communication arrangement disposed within the housing, coupled to the power source and the at least one of the at least two accelerometers, and configured for communicating accelerometer measurements from the at least one of the at least two accelerometers;

d) determining a range of motion of the joint using the acceleration measurements;

e) determining a center of rotation around the joint;

f) repeating at least steps c and d at least one time; and

g) displaying, on a display, a chart tracking progress in the range of motion over time and an indication of what portion of the range of motion goal has been met.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the displaying further comprises displaying an average patient time to the range of motion goal.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the selecting comprises selecting the range of motion goal for a specified exercise.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising displaying a number of repetitions performed for the specified exercise.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising displaying a level of compliance for performance of the specified exercise.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2024
From: TRACPATCH HEALTH, INC.
To: TRACPATCH HEALTH, LLC
Reel/Frame 067395/0184 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 15422320 · Feb 1, 2017
Continuation In Part 15077809 · Mar 22, 2016
Provisional Application 62136925 · Mar 23, 2015
Provisional Application 62136892 · Mar 23, 2015
Related Publication 20230329557A1 · Oct 19, 2023
References Cited (131)
US 3724651A · Link · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 4353135A · Forte et al. · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4756312A · Epley · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 5833603A · Kovacs et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 6588931B2 · Betzner et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 8784274B1 · Chuang · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8990041B2 · Grabiner et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9138174B2 · Jin et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9176932B2 · Baggen et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 10863928B1 · Mobbs et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20030069714A1 · Wigley et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030163287A1 · Vock et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040039254A1 · Stivoric et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040122334A1 · Yamashiro · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040167390A1 · Alexander et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050010299A1 · Disilvestro · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050010301A1 · Disilvestro et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050197540A1 · Liedtke · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20070167688A1 · Ross et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070250286A1 · Duncan et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080027296A1 · Hadvary et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080299960A1 · Lockhart et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080311765A1 · Chatterjee et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090309683A1 · Cochran · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100114596A1 · Williams et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100174189A1 · Abraham · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100228089A1 · Hoffman et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100262047A1 · Genis · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100324403A1 · Brister et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110046558A1 · Gravesen et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110208444A1 · Solinsky · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110213275A1 · Boos et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110231208A1 · Kaplin · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110245711A1 · Katra et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110288379A1 · Wu · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120143135A1 · Cole et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130211259A1 · Komistek et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130217998A1 · Mahfouz et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140015687A1 · Narasimhan et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140049911A1 · Corbin et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140100464A1 · Kaleal et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140114453A1 · Bentley · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140128778A1 · Chan et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140135593A1 · Jayalth · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20140142864A1 · Spears et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140157911A1 · Sarrafzadeh et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140274413A1 · Chelst · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140275815A1 · Stein et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140316526A1 · Grotz · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140358193A1 · Lyons et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150003699A1 · Davis et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150019135A1 · Kacyvenski et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150045700A1 · Cavanagh et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150230183A1 · Stogaitis et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150238094A1 · Lai et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150282796A1 · Nawana et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150302162A1 · Hughes et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160007861A1 · Tseng et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160066843A1 · Mensinger et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160077596A1 · Pantelopoulos et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160220176A1 · Desnerck et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160220867A1 · Flaherty · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160302674A1 · Moyer et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160302721A1 · Wiedenhoefer et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160310066A1 · Wiedenhoefer et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170143261A1 · Wiedenhoefer et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170147789A1 · Wiedenhoefer et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170181698A1 · Wiedenhoefer et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170241797A1 · Kong et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170244827A1 · Kang et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170273601A1 · Wang et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180116572A1 · Simpson et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180177436A1 · Chang et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180199674A1 · Walker et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190336825A1 · Douglas et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 201537084 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
CN 102472719 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 104068831 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
EP 1938749 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012090946 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012110573 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012223452 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013013579 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014138661 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015062654 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
KR 20160033828 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO 9426359 · 1994 [cited by applicant]
WO 2008120215 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010088696 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013072234 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015127218 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2016191753 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2016029138 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
Martinson et al., “Implementation of motion capture support in smartphones,” Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Jan. 1, 2010, Retrieved from the Internet at http://student… [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 16/775,026 mailed Mar. 6, 2020. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT Application No. PCT/US2021/015520 mailed Mar. 26, 2021. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/077,793 mailed Aug. 24, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 16/927,561 mailed Aug. 18, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 16/813,548 mailed Oct. 20, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/077,793 mailed Nov. 29, 2021. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 16/813,548 mailed Mar. 30, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Jorleeds Medical: “Orthophysical App—Gyroscope Test”, Nov. 29, 2016 (Nov. 29, 2016), pp. 1-3, XP054980919, Retrieved from the Internet: URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buUqo9E35Mk [retrieved on Sep. 29, 2020]. [cited by applicant]
Lenaerts B et al: “An Omnidirectional Transcutaneous Power Link for Capsule Endoscopy”, Wearable and Implantable Body Sensor Networks, 2006. BSN 2006. International Workshop On Cambridge, MA, USA Apr. 3-5, 2006, Piscata… [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/422,312 mailed Dec. 9, 2020. [cited by applicant]
“Emerging technologies—An imaging pill for gastrointestinal endoscopy”, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine, IEEE Service Center, Pisacataway, NJ, US, vol. 24, No. 4, Jul. 1, 2005 (Jul. 1, 2005), pp. 12-14. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report for European Patent Application No. 18748777.2 mailed Jul. 31, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/077,809 mailed Dec. 11, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/077,793 mailed Nov. 6, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/422,312 mailed Nov. 15, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/422,312 mailed May 1, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Nejati Hossein et al: “Smartphone and Mobile Image Processing for Assisted Living: Health-monitoring apps powered by advanced mobile imaging algorithms”. IEEE Signal Processing Magazine. IEEE Service Center. Piscataway.… [cited by applicant]
Rehamm Abo Elrahim et al.: II Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of Kinovea software for measurement of shoulder range of motion. Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy. vol. 21. No. 2. Jan. 1, 2016 (Jan. 1, 2016)… [cited by applicant]
Giorgio Ferriero et al: “Reliability of a smartphone-based goniometer for knee joint goniometry :”, International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, vol. 36, No. 2, Jun. 1, 2013 (Jun. 1, 2013), pp. 146-151. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2018/016424 mailed Mar. 28, 2018. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2018/016417 mailed Mar. 29, 2018. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2018/016422 mailed Apr. 16, 2018. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/077,809 mailed Dec. 28, 2017. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/422,299 mailed Apr. 4, 2018. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/077,809 mailed Jul. 2, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/077,809 mailed Nov. 2, 2018. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/077,793 mailed Jul. 15, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/077,793 mailed Mar. 21, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/077,793 mailed Oct. 25, 2018. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/422,299 mailed May 2, 2019. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2016/023637 mailed Aug. 9, 2016. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2016/023632 mailed May 31, 2016. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/422,320 mailed Nov. 13, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/422,320 mailed Feb. 19, 2021. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/422,320 mailed Nov. 26, 2021. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/422,320 mailed Jun. 16, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Official Communication for U.S. Appl. No. 15/422,320 mailed Apr. 30, 2020. [cited by applicant]