Systems, methods, and apparatus for neural and / or musculoskeletal parameter characterization

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices include a nervous system function assessment system involving a first assessment tool (e.g., a hammer) having one or more first sensors. The system includes a second assessment tool that is a wearable device operable to be wrapped around a body part of a subject. One or more second sensors are disposed on the wearable device operable to sense a target region at the body part. The system collects, from the first assessment tool, first sensor data corresponding to an assessment event at the first assessment tool; and collects, from the second assessment tool, second sensor data corresponding to the assessment event. Additionally, the system presents, on a display, an indication of an objective nervous system assessment parameter value computed based on the first sensor data and the second sensor data. The objective nervous system assessment parameter value can be computed based on the first sensor data and / or the second sensor data.

Description

Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This application claims U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 579,605, filed August 30, 2023, entitled “FRUSTRATED TOTAL INTERNALREFLECTION (FTIR) SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY AND COMPOSITION ANALYSIS SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES”; U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 579,616, filed August 30, 2023, entitled “SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES OF WEARABLE ELECTRO-ACOUSTICMONITORING”; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 579,616, filed August 30, 2023, entitled “SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR ACOUSTICALLY ENHANCING”. U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 579,627 entitled “IMPLANTS”; U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 579,633 entitled “SYSTEMS, METHODS, ANDDEVICES WITH SENSORS HAVING MULTIPLE DETECTION SIGNAL TYPES” filed on August 30, 2023; U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 579,640 entitled “MULTI-DEVICE HEALTHPARAMETER MONITORING SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES” filed on August 30, 2023; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 579,640 entitled “FRUSTRATED TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION(FTIR)-BASED HEALTH PARAMETER DETECTION SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES” filed on August 30, 2023. Priority claims to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 579,647 entitled "DEVICES" and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 579,663 entitled "SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR NEUROLOGICAL AND / OR MUSCOSKELETAL PARAMETER CHARACTERIZATION", filed August 30, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0002] Traditionally, physicians are trained to perform reflex examinations and understand the performance of a patient's musculoskeletal system based on multiple subjective observations. For example, placing tuning forks with resonant frequencies of 128 Hz and 256 Hz on bony prominences of the fingers or toes. The physician must subjectively determine the placement of the test and the intensity of the vibration. The assessment is completed by asking the patient about their sensation of vibration, which is another subjective judgment. Because these analyses are subjective, they are often not based on accurate measurements or analysis of the patient's condition. Furthermore, a patient's sense of vibration may be impaired or diminished due to aging, neurological, or other types of diseases and conditions.

[0003] These observations and other factors were taken into account when conceiving the various aspects of this disclosure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The systems, methods, and apparatuses disclosed herein can address the aforementioned problems. For example, a neurological function assessment system may include a first assessment tool, which is a reflex hammer, including a handle, a hammerhead, and / or one or more first sensors. The system may also include a second assessment tool, which is a wearable device. The wearable device may be a band operable to wrap around a body part of a subject. Furthermore, the system may include one or more second sensors disposed on the band, operable to sense a target area at the body part, and / or one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the neurological function assessment system to perform one or more operations. The one or more operations may include: collecting first sensor data corresponding to an assessment event at the first assessment tool from the first assessment tool; collecting second sensor data corresponding to the assessment event from the second assessment tool; and / or presenting an indication on a display of objective neurological assessment parameter values ​​calculated based on the first and second sensor data.

[0005] In some examples, one or more first sensors may include one or more electrical sensors and one or more acoustic sensors. Additionally, the first sensor data may represent tissue activation occurring in the target area in response to an assessment event. Tissue activation may include muscle activation, nerve activation, or tendon activation. Furthermore, one or more second sensors may include at least one of an accelerometer, gyroscope, positioning sensor, position sensor, force sensor, motion sensor, and / or any combination thereof. The second sensor data may represent measured physical values ​​of the swinging motion of the reflex hammer. Moreover, the assessment event may include a knee-jerk reflex test performed using the reflex hammer; and / or the target area may include the subject's thigh region. Furthermore, the second assessment tool may include an intermediate contact portion operable to be placed on an area adjacent to the target area. The intermediate contact portion may include one or more third sensors operable to measure the impact force of the reflex hammer. The first assessment tool may include one or more electrodes; and / or the first sensor data may include electrical activity data detected by one or more electrodes.

[0006] In some scenarios, a neurological function assessment system may include: a first assessment tool, including one or more first sensors; and / or a second assessment tool, which is a wearable device. The wearable device may include: a band operable to wrap around a body part of a subject, and / or one or more second sensors disposed on the band, operable to sense a target area at the body part. The system may also include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the neurological function assessment system to perform one or more operations. These operations may include: collecting first sensor data from the first assessment tool corresponding to an assessment event, the assessment event including an area adjacent to the target area where the first assessment tool contacts the subject; collecting second sensor data from the second assessment tool corresponding to the assessment event; and / or presenting on a display an indication of objective neurological assessment parameter values ​​calculated based on the first and second sensor data.

[0007] In some instances, the first assessment tool may include a reflective hammer with a handle and a hammerhead; and / or one or more first sensors may be formed in the handle or hammerhead. The one or more first sensors may include at least one of an accelerometer, gyroscope, positioning sensor, position sensor, force sensor, or motion sensor. Additionally, the first assessment tool may include a contact pad that can be positioned over a target area and / or operable to measure impact force. Furthermore, one or more second sensors may include a plurality of electrical sensors arranged in an array on a band of the second assessment tool. For example, the one or more second sensors may include a plurality of electroacoustic sensors and a plurality of electroacoustic actuators. Additionally, when executed by one or more processors, the instructions may cause the neurological function assessment system to collect third sensor data from the second assessment tool in response to electrical or acoustic stimulation induced by the second assessment tool. The instructions may also cause objective neurological assessment parameter values ​​to be calculated, at least in part, based on the third sensor data. Objective neurological assessment parameter values ​​may be based on at least one of reflex response values, motor ability response values, sensory response values, and / or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the first assessment tool may include a swab or needle tool; and / or the assessment event may include light touching of the subject in an area adjacent to the target region using the first assessment tool.

[0008] In some examples, a neurological function assessment method includes: collecting first sensor data using a first assessment tool having one or more first sensors. The first sensor data may correspond to an area adjacent to a target area contacted by the first assessment tool with the subject. The method may also include: collecting second sensor data using a second assessment tool, which is a wearable device including one or more second sensors operable to sense the target area; and / or presenting on a display an indication of objective neurological assessment parameter values ​​calculated based on the first and second sensor data.

[0009] In some scenarios, the method includes calculating the impact force related to a region adjacent to the target area contacted by the first assessment tool based on data from a first sensor. Objective neurological assessment parameters can be calculated using the impact force as a normalization factor. Furthermore, the method may include calculating tissue activation factors related to the tissue of the target region based on data from a second sensor. Objective neurological assessment parameters can be calculated based on these tissue activation factors. Attached Figure Description

[0010] The foregoing summary and the following detailed description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For illustrative purposes, certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are shown in the drawings. However, it should be understood that the disclosed subject matter is not limited to the exact embodiments and features shown. The accompanying drawings form part of this specification, illustrating implementations of systems and methods consistent with the disclosed subject matter, and together with the description serve to explain the advantages and principles consistent with the disclosed subject matter, wherein: Figure 1 An example system is shown that includes one or more devices for assessing neurological and / or musculoskeletal function.

[0011] Figure 2A and Figure 2B An example system is shown that includes one or more devices for assessing neurological and / or musculoskeletal function using one or more neurological parameter values.

[0012] Figure 3 An example system is shown that includes one or more neurological and / or musculoskeletal function assessment devices that use an assessment calculation system to output objective assessment values.

[0013] Figures 4A to 4C An example system is shown, including one or more impact tools for performing neurological and / or musculoskeletal function assessments.

[0014] Figure 5 An example system is shown, comprising one or more wearable devices for performing assessments of neurological and / or musculoskeletal function.

[0015] Figure 6 It can be shown by Figures 1 to 5 Examples of methods for performing neurological and / or musculoskeletal function assessments performed by any system described herein. Detailed Implementation

[0016] It should be understood that, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, reference numerals are repeated in different figures where appropriate to indicate corresponding or similar elements. Furthermore, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, processes, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the relevant features described. Moreover, this description should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and portions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate the details and features of this disclosure.

[0017] The wording and terminology used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered restrictive. For example, the use of singular words, such as "a," is not intended to limit the number of items. Furthermore, the use of relational terms, such as, but not limited to, "top," "bottom," "left," "right," "upper," "lower," "downward," "upward," and "side," is for clarity of description when specifically referring to the accompanying drawings and is not intended to limit the scope of the currently disclosed technology or the appended claims. Moreover, it should be understood that any feature of the currently disclosed technology can be used alone or in combination with other features. Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the currently disclosed technology will be apparent or become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the drawings and detailed description. All such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages are intended to be included in this description, within the scope of the currently disclosed technology, and protected by the appended claims.

[0018] Furthermore, since the currently disclosed technology is readily available in many different forms of embodiments, this disclosure is intended to be regarded as an example of the principles of the currently disclosed technology and is not intended to limit the currently disclosed technology to the specific embodiments shown and described. Any feature of the currently disclosed technology may be used alone or in combination with any other feature. References to the terms "embodiment," "multiple embodiments," and / or similar terms in the specification mean that the mentioned features and / or characteristics are included in the description of at least one aspect. Individual references to the terms "embodiment," "multiple embodiments," and / or similar terms in the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are not mutually exclusive unless so stated and / or unless obvious from the description to those skilled in the art. For example, features, structures, processes, steps, actions, etc., described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but not necessarily. Therefore, the currently disclosed technology may include various combinations and / or integrations of the embodiments described herein. In addition, not all aspects of this disclosure as described herein are essential to its practice. Similarly, other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the currently disclosed technology will be apparent or become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the drawings and description. All such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages are intended to be included in this description, within the scope of the currently disclosed art, and are included in the appended claims.

[0019] Any degree terms used in the specification and appended claims, such as, but not limited to, “substantially”, should be understood to include precise or similar but imprecise configurations. For example, “substantially flat surface” means having a precisely flat surface or a similar but imprecisely flat surface. Similarly, the terms “about” or “approximately” used in the specification and appended claims should be understood to include the stated value or a value three times or one-third larger than the stated value. For example, about 3 mm includes all values ​​from 1 mm to 9 mm, and about 50 degrees includes all values ​​from 16.6 degrees to 150 degrees.

[0020] The term "coupling" is defined as a connection, whether direct or indirect through an intermediate component, and is not necessarily limited to a physical connection. The connection can be one that permanently links objects or one that releasably links them. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are used interchangeably in this disclosure. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" mean including, but not necessarily limited to, the things described as such. The term "real-time" means substantially instantaneous.

[0021] Finally, the terms “or” and “and / or” as used herein should be interpreted as inclusive “or,” meaning any one or any combination thereof. Therefore, “A, B, or C” or “A, B, and / or C” means any of the following: “A,” “B,” or “C”; “A and B”; “A and C”; “B and C”; “A, B, and C”. Exceptions to this definition occur only when the combination of elements, functions, steps, or actions is inherently mutually exclusive to some extent.

[0022] The systems, methods, and apparatus disclosed herein can be used to provide quantitative functional and physical examinations of subjects, thereby generating objective neurological parameter representations. Objective neurological parameter representations can be based on one or more parameter category values, such as motor function parameter values, sensory parameter values, and / or reflex parameter values. Motor function parameter values ​​may correspond to, for example, determining whether and to what extent a subject can move their arm, leg, or body against gravity, and / or whether and to what extent they can move their joints against resistance applied by a testing facilitator (e.g., a physician). Sensory parameter values ​​may correspond to responses to tactile stimuli, such as needle pricks or swabs used by a testing facilitator (e.g., a physician or specialist), to examine a subject's neurological performance or muscle / nerve activation relative to tactile sensation. One example includes using a series of needle pricks performed over time to examine postoperative neurological progression assessments and quantifying measured electro / acoustic responses. Reflex parameter values ​​may be based on impact responses, such as responses to an impact hammer.

[0023] In some scenarios, specialist physicians are trained to use human observation to perform examinations and understand the performance of a patient's musculoskeletal system. For example, a test facilitator might use a tuning fork with a resonant frequency of 128 Hz and / or 256 Hz, placed on a bony prominence in the fingers or toes. Assessment can be accomplished by asking the subject about the sensations they experience when the tuning fork vibrates, as their sense of vibration may be impaired or diminished due to aging, neurological conditions, or other types of illnesses and conditions. However, these analyses are subjective, use inconsistent inputs (e.g., the amplitude of the tuning fork vibrations), and are not based on accurate measurements and analysis of the patient's condition.

[0024] The techniques disclosed herein supplement and / or replace the subjective aspects of evaluation with quantitative, objective outputs. Furthermore, the systems disclosed herein can generate precise stimuli, such as vibrations with different specific frequencies and intensities, and allow for the study of vibrational sensations with greater accuracy through careful measurement of the applied force. Other advantages and benefits of the currently disclosed techniques will become apparent from the detailed description below.

[0025] Figure 1 An example neurological function assessment system 100 is described for performing objective neurological and / or musculoskeletal function assessments on subjects. The neurological function assessment system 100 may include a first assessment tool 102 operable to provide an assessment stimulus; and a second assessment tool 104 for detecting a signal (e.g., a “stimulus response”) in response to the stimulus. The first assessment tool 102 may also detect the stimulus response at least partially, and / or the second assessment tool 104 may provide some or all of the assessment stimuli at least partially in various combinations, as discussed in more detail below.

[0026] In some examples, the first assessment tool 102 may include an excitation or stimulation device having one or more first sensors 106. The excitation or stimulation device may include one or more of a variety of devices for generating stimulation on a human or animal body and eliciting a stimulus response in the body (e.g., the musculoskeletal system). For example, the excitation or stimulation device may include an impact tool, such as a hammer and / or a punch / contact pad. The excitation or stimulation device may also include a touch tool (e.g., a swab, needle, or electrode) or a resistance tool (e.g., a sports device or elastic band) or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the excitation / stimulation device may include a wearable cuff or sleeve having a variety of sensors and / or actuators, such as the second assessment tool 104, which will be discussed in more detail below.

[0027] These devices can stimulate specific tendons, muscles, and / or nerves by applying controlled and quantitatively measurable forces, pricking, touching, vibrations, etc., and by measuring the applied stimuli (e.g., force, velocity, position, acceleration, tilt, frequency, temperature, etc.). The characteristics of the stimulus (and / or the force applied by these devices) can be measured using a built-in sensing system within the first assessment tool 102 itself. This sensing system can provide information about the test facilitator's performance in applying the assessment stimulus to the subject. For example, the sensing system can provide information about the characteristics of the stimulus, including one or more of the following: timing, applied force, contact position, velocity, acceleration, position relative to another device, tilt, contact angle, energy transmitted, etc. The first assessment tool 102 may also have electrosensing capabilities to locate nerve proximity and measure contact time. Any of these components can be integrated into the active portion (e.g., hammerhead, handle, etc.) of the first assessment tool 102 and / or into a separate portion, such as an intermediate contact portion (e.g., a punch or contact pad), which is placed on the target area to be struck by the impact tool. If the neurological function assessment system 100 determines that any of these measurements fails to meet a predetermined threshold, the first assessment tool 102 may indicate via audio / visual notification that the assessment stimulus has failed to meet the predetermined threshold and / or the assessment stimulus should be repeated.

[0028] In some instances, the second assessment tool 104 includes one or more second sensors 108, which may be any combination of electrical sensors and / or acoustic sensors (e.g., electroacoustic sensors). Furthermore, the first assessment tool 102 may include any combination of electro-actuators and / or acoustic actuators (e.g., electroacoustic actuators) for generating electrical and / or acoustic signals and transmitting them around the target area where the second assessment tool 104 is placed. The electrical and / or acoustic sensing system can assess the response of the nervous and / or motor systems to assessment stimuli. Therefore, the second assessment tool 104 can quantitatively measure the performance of the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems to replace or supplement the subjective ratings of a professional operator / physician.

[0029] In some instances, the first assessment tool 102 and / or the second assessment tool 104 may include one or more network interfaces for establishing wired or wireless connections to one or more networks 110. In other words, the neurological function assessment system 100 can use network 110 and the corresponding network connections to send data to and / or receive data from the various components of the neurological function assessment system 100. Network 110 may include any type of network, such as the Internet, intranet, virtual private network (VPN), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network, wireless network (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth), local switching operator (LEC) network, cellular network (e.g., 4G, 5G, LTE, etc.), satellite, wired network (e.g., Ethernet, fiber optic, public switched telephone network (PSTN)), and combinations thereof. Network 110 may include a communication network having numerous components, such as, but not limited to, gateway routers, servers, and registrars, that enable communication across network 110. In some implementations, network 110 includes multiple ingress / egress routers, which may have one or more ports for communicating with network 110.

[0030] The neurological function assessment system 100 may further include at least one server 112 and / or one or more other computing devices 122, which host websites or applications accessible to components of the neurological function assessment system 100, such as the first assessment tool 102 and / or the second assessment tool 104. The server 112 and / or one or more other computing devices 122 may access (e.g., read and / or write) one or more databases 114. Databases 114 may store one or more of motor ability parameter values ​​116, sensory parameter values ​​118, and / or reflex parameter values ​​120, which may be output and / or retrieved by the computing devices 122 of the neurological function assessment system 100. Websites or applications may receive input from the first assessment tool 102, the second assessment tool 104, and / or one or more other computing devices 122, and may analyze these inputs to generate output for the neurological function assessment system 100 (e.g., which may be stored in database 114 and / or displayed on any device).

[0031] Server 112 can be a single server, multiple servers (each such server being a physical server or a virtual machine), or a collection of physical servers and virtual machines. In another embodiment, it is one or more components of a cloud-hosted neural function assessment system 100. Server 112 may represent one instance of a large instance of application servers in a cloud computing environment, data center, or other computing environment. Server 112 can access data stored in one or more databases 114. First assessment tool 102, second assessment tool 104, one or more other computing devices 122, and / or other resources connected to network 110 can access database 114 and one or more other servers to access one or more websites, applications, web service interfaces, storage devices, computing devices, etc.

[0032] In addition, one or more other computing devices 122 may include computers, personal computers, desktop computers, laptops, terminals, workstations, cellular or mobile phones, mobile devices, smart mobile devices, tablets, wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches, smart glasses, smart skin devices, etc.), multimedia consoles, televisions, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, smart home devices, virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) devices, another server device, vehicles, and / or combinations thereof.

[0033] One or more databases 114 may be implemented in one or more storage devices, such as any non-volatile data storage device capable of storing data generated or used by the neurological function assessment system 100. These storage devices may store computer-executable instructions for performing (e.g., when executed by one or more processors) any computer processes discussed herein, including instructions for applications and operating systems (OS) that manage various components of the device. Storage devices may include, but are not limited to, disk drives, optical disc drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), flash drives, etc. Storage devices may include removable data storage media, non-removable data storage media, and / or external storage devices provided via wired or wireless networks, carrying such computer program products, including one or more database management products, web server products, application server products, and / or other additional software components. Examples of removable data storage media include read-only optical discs (CD-ROMs), read-only digital versatile optical discs (DVD-ROMs), magneto-optical discs, flash drives, etc. Examples of non-removable data storage media include internal magnetic hard disks, SSDs, etc. One or more storage devices may include volatile memory (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), etc.) and / or non-volatile memory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, etc.).

[0034] Figure 2A and Figure 2B An example diagram is shown of an objective neurological parameter representation 202 that can be generated by the neurological function assessment system 100 disclosed herein. For example, the objective neurological parameter representation 202 may be based on data collected for one or more parameter category values ​​(e.g., motor function parameter value 116, sensory parameter value 118, and / or reflex parameter value 120). These parameter values ​​may include one or more numerical ratings or scale values ​​determined based on data provided by one or more first sensors 106 of the first assessment tool 102 and / or one or more second sensors 108 of the second assessment tool 104. For example, the motor function parameter value 116 may be on a low-to-high scale from zero (no resistance or gravity) to maximum resistance (e.g., “5”, “10”, or “100”). Furthermore, the sensory parameter value 118 may include numerical values ​​based on data corresponding to the amount of tactile or pain response collected by the first assessment tool 102 and / or the second assessment tool 104. Finally, the reflection parameter value 120 may include a value corresponding to data collected by the first evaluation tool 102 and / or the second evaluation tool 104, such as electrical and / or acoustic signals detected from afferent peripheral nerve activation, efferent peripheral nerve activation, muscle movement, tendon movement / stretching (e.g., at the patella), combinations thereof, etc.

[0035] Figure 3 An example diagram of a nervous system function assessment system 100 is shown, which includes a first assessment tool 102 and a second assessment tool 104, which can provide the data they collect to an assessment calculation system 124 to generate an objective assessment 126. Figure 3 The neurological function assessment system 100 described in the text can be formed Figure 1 At least a portion of the nervous system function assessment system 100 described herein.

[0036] In some examples, the first assessment tool 102 may form part of the stimulation module 302, which may include a Queen square hammer (e.g., Vernon or Wintle), a Taylor tomahawk hammer, a sensing punch, a vibration sensory testing device, an electroacoustic wearable device, a cotton swab, a smart glove, a needle, a combination thereof, or other devices that provide measurements of the force and resistance applied by a physician. Furthermore, the second assessment tool 104 may form part of the sensing module 304, which may include various sensing devices, such as a single electrical or acoustic sensor, an array of acoustic and / or electrical sensors, wearable devices (e.g., cuffs, sleeves, straps, headbands, gloves, etc.), motion measurement devices, position measurement devices, velocity measurement devices, acceleration measurement devices, force tables, plantar pressure mapping devices, and / or combinations thereof.

[0037] In some examples, the evaluation computing system 124 may include computer-executable instructions running on one or more other computing devices 122. For example, the evaluation computing system 124 may execute one or more machine learning programs to receive data from the first evaluation tool 102 and the second evaluation tool 104, and may generate an objective evaluation 126. The evaluation computing system 124 may undergo one or more training operations in which historical sensor data collected by the subject receiving the evaluation stimulus is provided and / or labeled. Furthermore, the evaluation computing system 124 may combine different types of data signals (e.g., acoustic signals, electrical signals), and / or may use motion data from the first evaluation tool 102 to normalize stimulus-response data.

[0038] Figures 4A to 4C An example system 100 is depicted including a first assessment tool 102, which may be an impact tool, such as a reflective hammer 128. The reflective hammer 128 may include a hammerhead portion 130 (e.g., formed of rubber) defining a first end and / or a handle portion 132 extending from the hammerhead portion 130 to define a second end. The hammerhead portion 130 and / or the handle portion 132 may include one or more first sensors 106, such as a force sensor, a position sensor, a velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, and / or one or more electrodes. The reflective hammer 128 may integrate a triaxial force sensor, a position, velocity, and / or an acceleration sensor. The electrodes may be used to locate nerves, measure impact duration, and / or measure one or more of the stimulus response. Figure 4A As shown, the hammerhead portion 130 can be circular and / or disc-shaped 402. Furthermore, as... Figure 4B As shown, the hammerhead portion 130 may have a triangular side profile 404, for example, with the electrode located at the apex of the triangle.

[0039] Figure 4C An exemplary first evaluation tool 102 is depicted, wherein one or more first sensors 106 (e.g., force sensors) are not contained in the hammer 128 itself, but are contained in an intermediate contact portion 134, such as a punch 136 placed on a target contact area, and the reflective hammer 128 can then strike the punch 136 instead of directly striking the body. The one or more first sensors 106 may be disposed only in the punch 136, only in the reflective hammer 128, or simultaneously in the punch 136 (e.g., and / or contact pad) and the reflective hammer 128, thereby allowing data to be collected and compared from multiple datasets to improve accuracy and output optimization.

[0040] In addition, as described above, the first assessment tool 102 may include a sensory tool having one or more first sensors 106, such as a swab integrating multiple different sensors (e.g., force, position, velocity, acceleration, pressure, heat, surface contact, etc.) that provide quantitative measurements of the assessment stimuli provided by the test facilitator to ensure an objective assessment 126 of the patient’s response.

[0041] Figure 5 An exemplary second evaluation tool 104 is depicted, which may include a wearable device 138 having multiple sensors. The system 100 depicted in Figure 4 can be formed Figure 1 At least a portion of the system 100 depicted in the text.

[0042] In some examples, the second assessment tool 104 disclosed herein is capable of simultaneously and independently performing acoustic and electrical sensing and actuation. Simultaneously, the second assessment tool 104 can be used to stimulate the body in either the electrical or acoustic domain to supplement and / or replace the assessment stimulus provided by the first assessment tool 102, and to use the other domain to monitor the body's response. The second assessment tool 104 may include an inner surface 140 that forms a measurement surface for detecting stimulus responses.

[0043] Therefore, the second assessment tool 104 disclosed herein can measure various stimulus responses in different target areas of a user. The second assessment tool 104 can be used to measure muscle activity responses, neural activity responses, and / or tendon responses to assessment stimuli. Furthermore, the second assessment tool 104 can measure muscle activity, muscle health, and / or muscle healing processes over a period of time, and this data can be used to determine an objective assessment 126 (e.g., as normalized data). Additionally, the neurological function assessment system 100 disclosed herein can be used in conjunction with the second assessment tool 104 to monitor bone mineral density, water content, and / or bone healing processes. Furthermore, the neurological function assessment system 100 can monitor and / or detect implants and / or how implants affect responses to assessment stimuli (e.g., compared to a dataset of subjects omitting implants).

[0044] In some examples, the second evaluation tool 104 may be formed from fabric, plastic, or other flexible or partially flexible materials and / or various other types of materials to form different shapes, sizes, and profiles. The second evaluation tool 104 may also include one or more second sensors 108 and / or multiple actuators. Multiple sensors / actuators may include any combination of acoustic actuators, acoustic sensors, electro-actuators, and / or electrical sensors. The second evaluation tool 104 may include one or more integrated sensors / actuators, which are combinations of acoustic sensors, acoustic actuators, and / or electrodes. The second evaluation tool 104 may include an array of integrated sensors. The wearable device 104 may also include a power source, such as a battery disposed on (or separately from) the second evaluation tool 104. The second evaluation tool 104 may also include a controller, such as a processor or microcontroller, for implementing a sensing control system, an actuation control system, and / or a sensing analysis engine. The controller and / or any component of the controller may be integrated with (e.g., located on) the second evaluation tool 104, or the controller and / or any component of the controller may be located remotely from or separate from the second evaluation tool 104, such as at the first evaluation tool 102, server 112, and / or one or more other computing devices 122. The sensing analysis engine may use sensor data collected from the second evaluation tool 104 and from the first evaluation tool 102 to perform one or more sensor data analyses and / or cross-domain analyses.

[0045] In some instances, the second evaluation tool 104 may be an electroacoustic evaluation tool that generates acoustic and electrical signals to supplement, modify, and / or replace at least a portion of the evaluation stimulus. These signals may have different waveforms (e.g., pure tones, Gaussian waves, etc.), different frequencies (e.g., 1 Hz to 10 MHz), and / or different intensities from the sensors / actuators. The generated signals may interact with soft and hard tissues. These interactions may result in transformations of the tissue or wave. The transformed wave may be measured using an array of the same or different electrical and acoustic sensors and may be provided to the evaluation computing system 124 to generate an objective evaluation 126 (e.g., as an initialization / calibration process and / or a data collection process). Furthermore, the multiple sensors / actuators may include one or more piezoelectric transducers for transient sensing and actuation, and / or one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphones and / or speakers, which may be used in a denser array. The second evaluation tool 104 may also include small-scale FTIR sensors and / or any components of the first evaluation tool 102, formed as micrometer, millimeter, or centimeter-scale sensor assemblies on the substrate of the second evaluation tool 104. The sensing analysis engine may include one or more machine learning (ML) models for extracting information from acoustic, electrical, thermal and / or optical signals measured at the second evaluation tool 104 (e.g., using various architectures to perform time series analysis).

[0046] In some examples, the second assessment tool 104 can form one or more cuffs or sleeves configured to at least partially cover and / or wrap around specific target areas of the body. For example, the second assessment tool 104 may include one or more of the following: hand sleeve 142, wrist sleeve 144, arm sleeve 146 (e.g., upper arm sleeve and / or lower arm sleeve), leg sleeve 148 (e.g., thigh sleeve and / or calf sleeve), torso strap, headband 150, harness, chest strap, harness 152, and / or any combination thereof. Furthermore, in scenarios where the neurological function assessment system 100 is used in animal husbandry, the second assessment tool 104 can form animal leg sleeves and / or body harnesses, operable for horses, dogs, cats, etc.

[0047] In some examples, acoustic and / or electrical signals from the second assessment tool 104 can be detected at the first assessment tool 102 (e.g., via electrodes on the first assessment tool 102). Furthermore, signal actuation (e.g., trigger signal) generated at the first assessment tool 102 can be detected at the second assessment tool 104. In some examples, both the first assessment tool 102 and the second assessment tool 104 can be wearable devices, such as electroacoustic wearable devices. For example, the neurological function assessment system 100 may use two or more electroacoustic wearable devices, one for generating assessment stimuli and the other having sensors configured to sense reflex responses, sensory responses, and / or motor function responses to the assessment stimuli. In another example, the neurological function assessment system 100 may use one or more electroacoustic wearable devices or other stimulation devices as the first assessment tool 102 and one or more force tables and / or pressure mapping devices as the second assessment tool 104 to measure motor and / or neurological function responses when the subject stands, grasps, or otherwise contacts the force table. One example could be a spherical pressure mapping device used to measure pressure on a subject's fingers, while a wearable device around the wrist, arm, or spine provides stimulation to a specific nerve. This stimulation can also be provided, alternatively or additionally, by a vibrating tuning fork, a reflex hammer, a needle, a cotton swab, and / or other stimulation methods discussed herein. Another example of a neurological function assessment system 100 could include a combination of a motion tracking system as a sensing module and various different stimulation devices as stimulation modules. For example, a reflex hammer 128 and a wearable device 138 could be used to stimulate nerves, and / or a motion tracking camera, with or without markers or accelerometers, could be used to sense the stimulus response.

[0048] Figure 6 An example method 600 for performing neurological function assessments using one or more assessment tools is described, which can be performed by... Figures 1 to 5 Any system 100 described herein shall be executed.

[0049] In some examples, at operation 602, method 600 may use a first assessment tool to collect first sensor data, the first assessment tool including one or more first sensors, the first sensor data corresponding to a region adjacent to a target region contacted by the first assessment tool with the subject. At operation 604, method 600 may use a second assessment tool to collect second sensor data, the second assessment tool being a wearable device including one or more second sensors operable to sense the target region. At operation 606, method 600 may present on a display an indication of objective neurological assessment parameter values ​​calculated based on the first sensor data and the second sensor data.

[0050] It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods described throughout this disclosure is an example of an exemplary method and can be rearranged while still remaining within the scope of the disclosed subject matter. For example, any operation described throughout this disclosure may be omitted, repeated, performed in parallel, performed in a different order, and / or combined with any other operation described throughout this disclosure.

[0051] While this disclosure has been described with reference to various embodiments, it should be understood that these implementations are illustrative and the scope of this disclosure is not limited thereto. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, embodiments conforming to this disclosure have been described with reference to specific embodiments. Functionality may be separated or combined in different ways or described using different terms in various embodiments of this disclosure. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A nervous system function assessment system, comprising: The first evaluation tool is a reflective hammer, which includes a handle, a hammerhead, and one or more first sensors. The second assessment tool, which is a wearable device, includes: The belt is maneuverable to wrap around parts of the subject's body. One or more second sensors, disposed on the belt, are operable to sense a target area at the body part; as well as One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the neural system function assessment system to: Collect first sensor data corresponding to the evaluation events at the first evaluation tool. Collect second sensor data corresponding to the evaluation event from the second evaluation tool, and The display shows an indication of the objective nervous system assessment parameter values ​​calculated based on the data from the first sensor and the data from the second sensor.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more first sensors include one or more electrical sensors and one or more acoustic sensors.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein, The first sensor data represents tissue activation that occurs in the target area in response to the evaluation event.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein, The tissue activation includes muscle activation, nerve activation, or tendon activation.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more second sensors include at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a positioning sensor, a position sensor, a force sensor, or a motion sensor.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein, The second sensor data represents the measured physical value of the swing motion of the reflective hammer.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The evaluation events include a knee-jerk reflex test performed using the reflex hammer; and The target area includes the subject's thigh area.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein, The second assessment tool includes an intermediate contact portion operable to be placed on an area adjacent to the target area, the intermediate contact portion including one or more third sensors operable to measure the impact force of the reflective hammer.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The first evaluation tool includes one or more electrodes; and The first sensor data includes electrical activity data detected by the one or more electrodes.

10. A nervous system function assessment system, comprising: The first evaluation tool includes one or more first sensors; The second assessment tool, which is a wearable device, includes: The belt is maneuverable to wrap around parts of the subject's body. One or more second sensors, disposed on the belt, are operable to sense a target area at the body part; as well as One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the neural system function assessment system to: First sensor data is collected from the first assessment tool, the first sensor data corresponding to assessment events, the assessment events including the area adjacent to the target region where the first assessment tool contacts the subject. Collect second sensor data corresponding to the evaluation event from the second evaluation tool, and The display shows an indication of the objective nervous system assessment parameter values ​​calculated based on the data from the first sensor and the data from the second sensor.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein, The first evaluation tool includes a reflective hammer with a handle and a hammerhead; and The one or more first sensors are formed in the handle or the hammer head, and the one or more first sensors include at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a positioning sensor, a position sensor, a force sensor, or a motion sensor.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein, The first assessment tool includes a contact pad that can be positioned in the target area and operated to measure impact force.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein, The one or more second sensors include a plurality of electrical sensors, which are formed in an array on the strip of the second evaluation tool.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein, The one or more second sensors include multiple electroacoustic sensors and multiple electroacoustic actuators.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein, When executed by the one or more processors, the instructions cause the neurological function assessment system to collect third sensor data from the second assessment tool in response to electrical or acoustic stimulation induced by the second assessment tool; and The objective nervous system assessment parameter values ​​are calculated at least in part based on the data from the third sensor.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein, The objective nervous system assessment parameter values ​​are based on at least one of reflex response values, motor ability response values, or sensory response values.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein, The first assessment tool includes a swab or a needle; and The assessment event includes lightly touching the subject in an area adjacent to the target area using the first assessment tool.

18. A method for assessing nervous system function, the method comprising: First sensor data is collected using a first assessment tool, the first assessment tool including one or more first sensors, and the first sensor data corresponds to a region adjacent to a target area of ​​the subject in which the first assessment tool contacts the subject. Second evaluation tool is used to collect second sensor data. The second evaluation tool is a wearable device that includes one or more second sensors capable of operating to sense the target area. as well as The display shows an indication of the objective nervous system assessment parameter values ​​calculated based on the data from the first sensor and the data from the second sensor.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: Based on the first sensor data, the impact force related to the area adjacent to the target area in contact with the first assessment tool is calculated, and the objective nervous system assessment parameter value is calculated by using the impact force as a normalization factor.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: Based on the data from the second sensor, tissue activation factors related to the tissue in the target region are calculated, and the objective nervous system assessment parameter values ​​are calculated based on these tissue activation factors.

Images