251 results about "Muscle activity" patented technology

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a three-dimensional adhesive device to be attached to the body surface of a mammal comprising a microelectronic sensing system characterized by(a) a three-dimensional adhesive body made of a pressure sensitive adhesive having an upper surface and a bottom surface;(b) a microelectronic system embedded in the body of the pressure sensitive adhesive;(c) one or more cover layer(s) attached to the upper surface; and(d) optionally a release liner releasable attached to the bottom surface of the adhesive device.Suitably the microelectronic system is a microelectronic sensing system capable of sensing physical input such as pressure, vibration, sound, electrical activity (e.g. from muscle activity), tension, blood-flow, moisture, temperature, enzyme activity, bacteria, pH, blood sugar, conductivity, resistance, capacitance, inductance or other chemical, biochemical, biological, mechanical or electrical properties.

There is disclosed a wearable electronic device for use with controllable connected devices. The wearable electronic device includes a band worn on, for example, the forearm of a user, and the band carries at least one muscle activity sensor, at least one inertial sensor, and a processor communicatively coupled to the sensors. The on-board processor is operable to identify, a plurality of gestures made by a user, based on muscle activity detected by the muscle activity sensor(s) and motion detected by the inertial sensor(s). In response to identifying a gesture, the wearable electronic device wirelessly transmits one or more signal(s) in order to interact with a controllable connected device.

Systems, devices and methods that enable a user to access and interact with content displayed on a portable electronic display in an inconspicuous, hands-free manner are described. There is disclosed a completely wearable system comprising a wearable muscle interface device and a wearable head-mounted display, as well as methods for using the wearable system to effect interactions between the user and content displayed on the wearable head-mounted display. The wearable muscle interface device includes muscle activity sensors worn on an arm of the user to detect muscle activity generated when the user performs a physical gesture. The wearable system is adapted to recognize a plurality of gestures made by the user and, in response to each recognized gesture, to effect one or more interaction(s) with content displayed on the wearable head-mounted display.

A monitoring catheter that inserts into the patient's esophagus alone or in combination with an existing catheter, such as a feeding or aspiration tube. The monitoring catheter includes a pair of EMG electrodes on an exposed surface that contact the patient's esophageal wall to measure the activity of the diaphragm and / or a pair of pressure detecting mechanisms that measure the pressures within the patient at separate locations. The electrodes are sized and spaced from one another so as to maximize detection of diaphragm muscle activity while minimizing detection of noise. The pressure detecting mechanisms are sized and spaced apart to measure the patient's esophageal and gastric pressures, for example. If necessary, an attaching mechanism secures at least a portion of the monitoring catheter to the existing catheter so that the monitoring catheter uses the existing catheter as a tracking guide.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for the detection of neural or muscular activity, analysis of the signals and the subsequent stimulating of neural or muscular tissue based thereon. According to a first aspect of the invention an apparatus for producing a muscular action is provided, comprising a combined sensing and stimulation electrode device comprising at least one neurosense electrode means capable of sensing a nerve signal from a peripheral nerve and at least one stimulation electrode means capable of stimulating a peripheral motor nerve fiber, means for receiving and processing the sensed neurosignals to identify a signal indicative of a specific action, especially a component of the gait performed by the patient and for producing a control signal in response thereto, and means for operating the at least one stimulation electrode means in response to the control signal to produce a stimulation of a peripheral motor nerve fiber.

An electrode for placement in a human mouth for the measurement of muscle activity in the pharyngeal airway. The electrode includes at least one leg extending from a planer face so as to make electrical contact with the genioglossus muscle. The electrode permits a reduction in the number of patients requiring overnight polysomnography to prediagnose people with sleep apnea.

The invention provides a system for monitoring, analyzing and auto-feedback of health conditions. The system can analyze the conditions of a user by monitoring the distribution of fat, muscle activities, and changes of poses. The system can further suggest or instructs the user to do suitable exercise and adjust to correct poses or behaviors, to reduce the accumulation of fat and to avoid the withering of muscles. The system can also analyze the psychological conditions to provide better assistance of health. Furthermore, the system includes a sensor, a near-end monitoring center, and a distal-end monitoring center. The sensor can detect the physical and psychological conditions of the user, and transfer related information to the near-end monitoring center, which can monitor, analyze, and display the conditions and either send feedback or provide instructions to the user. Additionally, the user can interact with the distal-end monitoring center via the near-end monitoring center.

A method of detecting seizures may comprise receiving an EMG signal and processing the received EMG signal to determine whether a seizure characteristic is present in the EMG signal during a time window. An apparatus for detecting seizures with motor manifestations may comprise one or more EMG electrodes capable of providing an EMG signal substantially representing seizure-related muscle activity; and a processor configured to receive the EMG signal, process the EMG signal to determine whether a seizure may be occurring, and generate an alert if a seizure is determined to be occurring based on the EMG signal.

A system for detecting and analyzing electrical activity in the anatomy of an organism underlying an electrode array provides signals corresponding to electrical activity adjacent each electrode. Such signals are correlated to the underlying anatomy of the organism and representative outputs presented through various types of output devices. Such outputs may include variations in coloration or other qualities in correspondence with representations of underlying anatomical structures. The system includes novel electrode structures (200, 224, and 284) and methods for producing and attaching electrode arrays (240 and 280) to the organism. The exemplary form of the invention is used in connection with the diagnosis of muscle activity in the lower lumbar regions of humans. Levels of muscle activity detected are analyzed by correlation with the muscular structures underlying the electrode array. Forms of the invention may be used in other applications.

Human-electronics interfaces in which at least two wearable electromyography (“EMG”) devices are operated to control virtually any electronic device are described. A first wearable EMG device is worn on a first part / location of a user's body and a second wearable EMG device is worn on a second part / location of the user's body. Muscle activity is detected by the two wearable EMG devices and corresponding communication signals are transmitted to an electronic device to control functions thereof. The two wearable EMG devices may communicate with one another. This configuration enables a user to perform elaborate gestures having multiple components (e.g., “two-arm” gestures) with each wearable EMG device detecting a different component, as well as separate gestures (e.g., separate “one-arm” gestures) individually detected and processed by each wearable EMG device.

A wearable action-assist device for assisting the wearer to act or doing an action for the wearer (1) comprises an action-assist wearable tool (2) having an actuator (201) to give the wearer a mechanical force, a biosignal sensor (221) for detecting a biosignal of the wearer (1), a biosignal processing means (3) for obtaining, from the biosignal (a) detected by the biosignal sensor, a neurotransmitting signal (b) to move the musculoskeletal system of the wearer (1) and a muscle potential signal (c) generated when a muscle activity occurs , a voluntary control means (4) for generating, using the obtained neurotransmitting signal (b) and muscle potential signal (c), a command signal (d) to generate a mechanical force reflecting the intention of the wearer (1) in the actuator (201), and a drive current generating means (5) for producing, according to the command signal (d), currents corresponding to the neurotransmission signal (b) and the muscle potential signal (c) respectively and supplying them to the actuator (201).

A system and method of testing a patient for coronary disease in the patient's heart is disclosed that comprises a microprocessor which contains a signal processor and a pattern recognition processor; means to detect the electrical signals of the heart whereby the signals are processed to create a pattern that represents the patient's heart. The pattern may be further processed by repeatedly comparing it to patterns stored within the pattern recognition processor whereby certain coronary diseases such as myocardial ischemia in the patient's heart may be diagnosed. During each heartbeat, at least a million different electrical impulses are collected and the results of the test are displayed on a screen. The results may include the diagnosis, computer generated image of the patient's heart identifying areas of any coronary disease that has been detected and / or a two dimensional waveform representing the electrical impulses of the patient's heart will be shown. In a further embodiment, the system will also generate ECG waveforms. to create vectors which represent the different directions of the muscle activity of the heart.

A cantilevered shoe construction for preventing knee and hip osteoarthritis. The shoe construction includes a cantilevered foot support with an anchored lateral side and a fully or partially cantilevered medial side. The cantilevered foot support transfers forces, otherwise transmitted through the medial aspect of the shoe and foot, to the lateral side of the shoe and foot, thereby reducing the knee varus and hip adductor torques to prevent or delay onset of knee and hip osteoarthritis and reducing the ankle joint adductor torque to reduce the risk for ankle sprain injury. The reduction of these joint torques also maintains posture without counterbalancing muscle activity, thereby improving muscle efficiency and performance during weight bearing activities and reducing the tendency for musculoskeletal injury. A spring loading effect of other embodiments enhances the natural coronal foot progression during gait so as to enhance the push off phase of gait.

Apparatus for monitoring muscle activity, said apparatus comprising means for providing signals indicative of muscle activity, for example EMG-signals, means for processing of said signals in order to detect a particular activity and means for providing a feedback signal, wherein said device is designed in order to be individually adaptable in a set-up mode. The apparatus can be used for detecting and prevention of undesired activities such as bruxism, movements that are damaging or unwanted etc. The detection can be performed with great certainty since the individual parameters of the user are utilized for laying down reference values, threshold values, criteria for triggering of feedback signals, etc., which may take place at a set-up procedure.

A system includes a housing with energy delivery circuitry and detection circuitry. One or more electrodes are coupled to the circuitry and used to sense cardiac and muscle activity. A processor is coupled to the energy delivery and detection circuitry. The processor may detect a ventricular arrhythmia using a cardiac signal developed from the sensed cardiac activity and may also detect an activity state of the patient using an activity signal developed from the sensed muscle activity. The processor modifies delivery of a therapy to treat the arrhythmia in response to the activity signal. A method involves detecting signals using subcutaneous electrodes, and discerning a cardiac signal and a patient activity signal from the detected signals. Arrhythmia therapy may be modified to treat the arrhythmia in response to the activity signal.

A sensor interface system for providing a connection between at least one sensor and a maternal-fetal monitor, wherein the interface system converts electrical muscle activity captured by the sensor(s) into uterine activity data signals for use by the maternal-fetal monitor. The sensor interface system of the invention preferably includes a conversion means for converting the signals from the sensor(s) into signals similar to those produced by a tocodynamometer.

The invention provides a rehabilitation robot control method based on electromyography feedback type impedance self-adaption. The method comprises the steps of identifying the joint extension and flexion states of a training object based on electromyography signal characteristics values, plantar pressure signals and angular velocity signals, determining limb movement intention, and giving electromyography signal characteristic quantities used for describing the active level of the muscles of an affected side by using a method of affected side-mirroring-unaffected side; setting a target impedance equation, describing the function relation between extremity movement track differences and extremity stress, and establishing an impedance function capable of self-adaptive adjustment according to the active level of the muscles of the affected side and joint angles; according to initial anticipated static balance force, analyzing electromyography signals to obtain fatigue degree levels, and finely adjusting the anticipated static balance force. Self-adaptive tracking of anticipated tracks of a lower limb rehabilitation robot is realized by using a position controller. By establishing the self-adaptive adjustment impedance function and adjusting the static balance force by level, rehabilitation training processes can adapt to individuals and control processes are more natural, smooth and reliable and safer.

A system and corresponding acquisition and analysis method of an individual's muscle activity, including at least an electromyographic acquisition section and a video acquisition section for acquiring through respective sensors at least first electric signals of an individual's muscle group and second digital video signals of the muscle group, a computer processor and user interface to provide an output processed by the computer processor, which itself includes an interface communicating with the electromyographic and video sections, a database of deductive rules and processing and analysis elements provided with an expert system employing an inferential motor for correlating the first and second signals applying the deductive rules specific of the methods and tools of artificial intelligence arranged in the database; at least one detection sensor of the individual's skin impedence for determining an impedence value for use as correction parameter of the gain of the sensors of the electromyographic acquisition section.

A garment for wearing during monitoring of muscle activity of a subject includes a torso portion defining an interior space configured and adapted to accommodate and cover at least a portion of the subject's torso. The torso portion defines an exterior space external to the interior space. A plurality of access fittings are defined in the torso portion. Each access fitting is configured and adapted to accommodate access to skin of the subject adjacent a muscle group to be monitored by a sensor unit external to the torso portion, such that at least a portion of the sensor unit remains external to the torso portion with the sensor unit accessing the skin via the access fitting.

Apparatus and methods for the measurement and transmission of data pertaining to the tissue of an animal. In one embodiment, there is an implantable device that is wirelessly powered and also wirelessly transmits data. Preferably, the implant measures neuromuscular activity.

A wearable electronic device such as a wrist watch (60) is supplied with conventional clock with two pointers (32,33). The device displays a parameter indicative of how “cool” the wearer has been over the past period as a function of time, using the time axis of one of the pointers (32,33). “Coolness” can be based on the measurement of related physiological parameters like heart-rate, body temperature, movement, skin resistance or muscle activity. “Coolness” of a person is understood as being the ability to cope with stress. Therefore, the stability of physiological parameters can be used to derive a signal for the subjective trait called “coolness”. All physiological parameters can be measured by sensors (10) in the watch (60) or in the strap (50). The invention is used as a gadget for self expression and emotional feedback.

A muscle assessment method utilizing a computing system, surface electromyometry (sEMG) sensors, and other sensors to gather data for one or more subjects engaged in an activity through operably coupling the one or more sensors to the computing system, and directing a computing system to select one or more muscle assessment protocols related to a number of different metrics. For a user subject engaged in a physical activity, assessing muscle condition, the muscle activity, and statistically related averages provide information to the user and about muscle and whole body fitness.

The invention discloses a step counting and motion state evaluation device. According to the step counting and motion state evaluation device, motion posture characteristics are acquired by using a motion sensor, muscle activity levels are acquired by using a multi-channel surface myoelectricity sensor, and with the combination of the motion posture and the muscle activity degree, the steps in different motion modes can be counted, and the calorie consumption can be calculated. With the combination of a surface myoelectricity pedometer and an analysis device, the step counting and motion state evaluation device is relatively professional when being compared with a conventional pedometer, relatively rich muscle physiological information can be provided, and the step counting and motion state evaluation device is particularly applicable to motion and rehabilitation evaluation.

For measuring functionality of an orifice (16, 20) in the human pelvic region an elongated probe (4; 54) for insertion in the orifice (16, 20) is provided. The probe (4; 54) comprises one or more electrodes (5a-6a, 5b-6b, 6a-7a, 6b-7b; 55a-56a, 55b-56b, 56a-57a, 56b-57b, 57a-92a, 57b-92b) for stimulating receptors (23, 25) in tissue bounding the orifice (16, 20) and one or more muscle activity sensors (8a, 8b, 8c, 9a, 9b, 9c, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 11a, 11b, 11e, 12a, 12b, 12c; 58a, 58b, 58c,59a, 59b, 59c, 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d, 61a, 61b, 61c, 62) for sensing muscle activity causing pressure to be exerted by tissue bounding the orifice (16, 20). A control system (I) connected to the probe (4; 54) is arranged for outputting a neurostimulation signal (35) to the electrode or electrodes and for registering a pressure signal or signals from the pressure sensor or sensors during a time interval directly subsequent to the outputting of the neurostimulation signal.