Wearable Assistive Device for Tremor Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current assistive devices for neuro-muscular ailments such as tremors and loss of strength are inadequate, as they either lack effectiveness, have significant side effects, or do not provide comprehensive solutions for daily tasks and muscle strengthening.
Innovation Solution
A wearable assistive device, such as a smart glove, equipped with sensors and actuators that infer and predict the user's intended motion, providing targeted muscle support and exercise modalities to enhance muscle strength and flexibility, while also monitoring user progress for personalized therapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medications are used to treat neuro-muscular ailments, then some symptoms may be partially addressed, but the body builds resistance requiring continuous dosage increases and significant adversarial side effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pharmacological treatment with a mechanical/electrical assistive device that uses sensors to detect motion and actuators to provide counteracting forces or vibrations, thereby treating tremors and strength loss without chemical interventions and their associated side effects
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device acts as an intermediary between the user's nervous system and muscles, using detected motion signals to generate compensatory forces that mitigate tremors and support weakened muscles, avoiding the need for medication
2Reliability
If deep brain stimulation surgery is performed, then tremors and motor control issues may be treated, but the surgery is extremely costly and carries high rates of fatal risks and severe side effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive surgical intervention with a non-invasive wearable device that uses external sensors and actuators to treat motor control issues, eliminating surgical risks while providing continuous assistance
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device serves as an external intermediary that provides motor support without requiring internal implantation, thereby avoiding the fatal risks and severe side effects associated with deep brain stimulation surgery
3Force
If weighted gloves are used to mitigate tremors, then some support is provided, but the solution does not mitigate tremors fully and has low efficacy for severe tremors and loss of strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive weighted gloves with an active system that uses sensors to detect tremor frequency and amplitude, then uses actuators to generate real-time counteracting forces that dynamically compensate for tremors rather than simply adding weight
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device dynamically adjusts its assistance based on real-time sensor feedback, modifying the magnitude and frequency of counteracting forces to match the user's current tremor severity and movement intentions, whereas weighted gloves provide static, unchanging support
4Reliability
If EMG signal filtering is applied to suppress tremors, then tremor signals may be filtered, but the filtering interferes with intended motions and does not monitor user condition or supplement for partial loss of strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces signal filtering with a mechanical counteracting approach where actuators generate forces that physically oppose tremor movements while allowing intended motions to proceed unimpeded, thereby suppressing tremors without interfering with user intent
Data Source
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AI summary
In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter is an assistance system with a wearable assistive device that mitigates the effects of neuro-muscular ailments such as unintended motion, or loss of strength. The assistance system uses predictive analysis based on situational, operational, and historical contexts, when in active/predictive mode. When in reactive mode, the assistive device mitigates unintended motion without altering the strength of the user. The assistance system may have an exercise mode to both assess the user's strength and flexibility of various muscles and joints, and promote exercises to either avoid further losses, or to maintain current strength and flexibility. The assistance system utilizes sensor data from sensors coupled to the assistive device, and optionally from sensors coupled to mobile devices and in the environment. Actuators on the assistive device control movement of the device based on inferred intended actions or reactive to unintended movement.