Sensor-Equipped Play Environment for Early Infant Motor Screening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current infant screening tools for developmental disorders are cumbersome, invasive, time-consuming, and lack reliability, particularly for infants under 11 months old, making early detection of motor delays and impairments challenging.

Innovation Solution

A play environment equipped with sensor-equipped toys and mats that measure movement and cognitive data, combined with imaging sensors and feedback mechanisms, to non-invasively assess neurological development and detect motor delays or impairments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If motion capture systems with markers and video cameras are used to diagnose infant disorders, then measurement precision can be improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to requiring special chairs, markers, and cumbersome equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical motion capture systems with sensors integrated into toys that infants naturally interact with. Instead of using video cameras and markers requiring special chairs, the invention embeds sensors directly in play toys, substituting mechanical measurement systems with sensor-based detection that works during natural play activities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses toys as intermediaries between the infant and the measurement system. Rather than directly applying complex measurement equipment to the infant, the toys serve as mediators that naturally engage the infant while containing sensors to collect movement data, making the assessment process indirect but more acceptable and less cumbersome.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If Vicon 6 motion cameras and markers are used for infant joint motion analysis, then measurement precision improves, but ease of operation and time consumption worsen due to invasive procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint motion analysis accuracyVSAvoidassessment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces invasive mechanical measurement systems (Vicon cameras and markers) with non-invasive sensor-equipped toys. The sensors embedded in the toys capture movement data without requiring physical markers on the infant's body or complex camera setups, eliminating the invasive nature of previous methods while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The infant's natural play behavior with the sensor-equipped toys serves as the assessment mechanism itself. The child's spontaneous interactions with the toys generate the movement data needed for evaluation, eliminating the need for external operators to apply markers or position equipment, thereby making the process less invasive and more child-centered.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If current infant screening tools are used, then qualitative assessment can be performed, but reliability and time efficiency deteriorate due to time-consuming procedures and variable accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment flexibilityVSAvoiddiagnosis reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces subjective qualitative assessment methods with objective sensor-based measurement systems. Instead of relying on clinicians' subjective observations, the embedded sensors in the toys automatically collect and quantify movement data, providing objective, reliable measurements that reduce variability in diagnostic accuracy while maintaining assessment flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If sensor-equipped toys are used to assess infant development, then ease of operation and non-invasiveness improve, but measurement precision may deteriorate compared to complex motion capture systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment convenienceVSAvoidmovement data accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor-equipped toys serve multiple functions: they are both play objects for natural infant interaction and measurement devices for collecting movement data. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve ease of operation through natural play while maintaining measurement precision by using the same toy as both engagement tool and sensor platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12569201B2Advanced play environment for screening and early diagnosis of infant developmental delays and neurological impairments

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA

AI summary

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a play environment for children and infants for detecting motor delays or impairments, evaluating neurological development, and for diagnosing developmental disorders, and methods and systems of using the same.