GB2562218A

GB2562218A - Method to measure and improve smooth quality of movement

Info

Publication number: GB2562218A
Application number: GB1707157.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clark Andrew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-05-04
Filing date: 2017-05-04
Publication date: 2018-11-14
Also published as: GB201707157D0

Abstract

A system is disclosed comprising a device to be worn on a limb of a user, having a motion sensor, a feedback sub-system and software configured to analyse data from the sensor and provide continuous, real-time alert generation via the feedback sub-system. The software may be configured to compare the value of acceleration/deceleration to a predetermined value and further, upon exceeding that value, trigger the feedback sub-system to deliver feedback, the intensity of which may be based on how different the actual value is to the predetermined value. The motion sensor may be an accelerometer. The sensor may be part of a mobile device i.e. smart-watch 5, smart-wristband 3 (ankleband 3) or smartring 4. The feedback may be in the form of light, audio or haptic. The present invention aims to help with improving technique relating to slow exercise (i.e. yoga or tai chi) which in turn helps with alleviating any or all of aches, tension, and tremor issues.

Description

METHOD TO MEASURE AND IMPROVE SMOOTH QUALITY OF MOVEMENT

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to software based movement monitoring and health improvement systems. More specifically it relates to a monitoring device for a slow, smooth, and steady type of movement, measuring and improving the physiological quality of a user’s movement, preferably integrated into a mobile device.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In many spheres of health improvement, a smoothness of motion is desired to be achieved. Releasing shoulder I neck tension, relieving shoulder I neck ache, diagnosing and improving tremor related issues, etc. often requires treatment involving specialist therapists and I or consumption of drugs. Though shoulder I neck aches and tensions, limb tremors, etc are not life-threatening, they can be very distressing for people who have them - especially for those whose symptoms are severe.

One natural remedy for dealing with the aforementioned health issues is regular physical activity. Mindfulness of movement and posture is increasingly being recognized as a true field of health improvement exercises. Achieving subtlety in movement while walking, doing Tai Chi, yoga or any other kind of exercise, requiring awareness, smoothness, and steadiness in terms of movement speed and precision, can lead to great benefits in dealing with issues related to poor posture, issues related to the nervous system, and many aspects of general physical and mental well-being, etc. A certain technical quality of movement is required to be achieved in such exercises in order to experience true benefits. More specifically, a person, doing aforementioned exercises, puts effort in moving all body parts in an integrated way with as low acceleration as possible, and preferably at a low velocity.

The aforementioned exercises, where the key is a low-impact, slow-motion exercise, and where the person goes without pausing through a series of motions, provides benefits in various spheres of health, as they are gentle forms of exercise, which can promote relaxation, and help maintain strength, flexibility and balance.

The main drawback for a person engaged in such exercises encounters, is that a guiding teacher is needed in order to supervise the technical quality of movements as it is difficult to tutor oneself in such exercises. One of the keys to overcoming such difficulty is to provide a device, capable of measuring the technical quality of movements and providing feedback. Several prior art documents disclose technical solutions having hardware, which might be suitable for such guidance and feedback, however these systems are mainly dedicated to monitoring static posture or athletic performance, and provide feedback on static posture or athletic performance, but not the technical quality of the subtleties within simple and low impact movements found in everyday activity.

The US patent no. US20150321010 describes a system for deep brain stimulation employing a sensor for monitoring patient movement providing closed loop control. A closed loop system is disclosed for monitoring patient movements, such as tremors, and for automatically controlling a surgically implanted stimulator device on the basis of the detected movements. The system includes a motion sensor such as a wearable item that contains an accelerometer to monitor a patient’s movements, such as a ring locatable proximate to a patient’s hand tremor. The motion sensor periodically transmits a feedback signal to the implantable stimulator device instructing it to change the stimulation parameters, such as current amplitude, in an attempt to reduce the tremor. The motion sensor can additionally communicate with other system components such as an external controller. In a preferred embodiment, the motion sensor and the implantable stimulator device communicate using short range electromagnetic radio waves.

Another US patent application no. US2012139731, published on 2012-06-07, describes a system and method for wireless monitoring of athletic sports activities. The subject disclosure provides a system and method for wireless monitoring of sports activities. A subject participating in a sports activity is associated with biometric sensors which measure the subject's body movements. In one aspect, the system includes a sensor for continuously gathering biometric data from a subject performing a sports activity where the biometric data associated with the body movements of the subject. A wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor transmits the biometric data and a database engine receives the biometric data from the wireless transceiver and providing real-time feedback. The real-time feedback associated with the biometric data from the subject is characterized by instructions associated with the sports activity.

Yet another US patent application no. US2002170193, published on 2002-11-21, describes a posture and body movement measuring system. A sensing device is attached to a living subject that includes sensors for distinguishing lying, sitting, and standing positions. In another embodiment, sensor data is stored in a storage device as a function of time. Multiple points or multiple intervals of the time dependent data are used to direct a feedback mechanism to provide information or instruction in response to the time dependent output indicating too little activity, too much time with a joint not being moved beyond a specified range of motion, too many motions beyond a specified range of motion, or repetitive activity that can cause repetitive stress injury.

International patent application no. W02009013679, published on 2009-01-29, describes a device and method for physical training. The device comprises a body; sensor means that are attached to the body and are adapted to detect movement of the body between a first extreme position and a second extreme position, and to supply body movement data corresponding to the movement of the body; a data processor that is adapted to receive the body movement data from the sensor means; a data memory that is connected to the data processor; and output means that are connected to the data processor. The data processor is adapted to: i) store template body movement data in the data memory during a time interval, the template body movement data comprising body movement data at the start of the physical training; ii) after the time interval, compare the body movement data with the template body movement data; and iii) actuate the output means if a difference between the body movement data and the template body movement data exceeds a threshold.

Prior art solutions provide movement and other posture monitoring systems, enabling a user to receive feedback regarding poor or decent posture or movement. However, limitations of aforementioned inventions are obvious when compared to the present invention; only static body postures I athletic movement I highly specific types of exercise are tracked with associated feedback, with no option for tracking and improving everyday low impact movements, of a slow, smooth and steady nature of movement. Only the first patent application no. US20150321010 focused on tremors, but the key limitation of such invention is the need of a surgically implanted stimulator device.

SUMMARY

This invention aims to create a therapeutic movement monitoring and improvement system. Software, embedded within the device, enables monitoring of the user’s general movement, and provides feedback to improve the slow, smooth and steady nature of the movement.

Using the sensors on a smartphone (2) or any other system components, such as a wristband, a smartring or a smartwatch (3, 4, 5), providing one or more motion sensors, such as but not limited to an accelerometer, embedded software is used to measure the technical quality of movements, and provide feedback. Real time data from the sensors is processed in software algorithms: and sounds or other feedback is generated relating to the sensor data.

Most preferably, the user operates the movement monitoring and improvement system by holding I affixing the aforementioned system component and doing any low-impact, slow-motion exercise (6), where the person goes without pausing through a series of motions. A preferable combination of the aforementioned portable or wearable devices (2, 3, 4, 5) is used. In case one of these devices lack sufficient data processing hardware or other necessary power, all the raw data is transmitted from wearable devices (3, 4, 5) to another device having more computing power, such as a smartphone (2) or smartwatch (5).

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Drawings are provided as a reference only and in no way should limit the scope of the invention. None of the nodes depicted in the drawing shall be deemed as limiting, rather just as an example of many possible embodiments.

Figure 1. An exemplary drawing of the user (1), using the software, embedded in a smartphone (2). The user moves an arm in a smooth and slow motion (6), receiving feedback of the user’s smooth quality of motion.

Figure 2. An exemplary drawing of the user (1), using the software, embedded in a smartphone (2). A wearable motion sensor is embedded in a wristband (3), which wirelessly sends data to a smartphone, where it is processed and a feedback is generated.

The user moves an arm in a smooth and slow motion (6), receiving feedback of the user’s smooth quality of motion.

Figure 3. An exemplary drawing of the user (1), using the software, embedded in a smartphone (2). A wearable motion sensor is embedded in a smartring (4), which wirelessly sends data to a smartphone, where it is processed and a feedback is generated.

Figure 4. An exemplary drawing of the user (1), using the software, embedded in a smartphone (2). A wearable motion sensor is embedded in a smartwatch (5), which wirelessly send data to a smartphone, where it is processed and a feedback is generated.

The user moves their arms in a smooth and slow motion (6), receiving feedback of the user’s smooth quality of motion.

Figure 5. An exemplary drawing of the user (1), using the software, embedded in a smartphone (2). A wearable motion sensor is embedded in a set of system components: a smartwatch (5), a smartring (4) and a wristband (3), which all wirelessly send data to a smartphone, where it is processed and a feedback is triggered.

The user moves their limbs in a smooth and slow motion (6), receiving feedback of the user’s smooth quality of motion.

Figure 6. An exemplary drawing of the user (1), using the software, embedded in a wristband (3), housing sufficient amount of data processing hardware. A wearable motion sensor is embedded in the same wristband (3), which provides raw data to a processing unit, where it is processed and a feedback is triggered. The user moves an arm in a smooth and slow motion (6), receiving feedback of the user’s smooth quality of motion.

Figure 7. An exemplary algorithm diagram, showing the software process cycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure relates to software based body monitoring and health improvement systems. More specifically it relates to monitoring a slow, smooth and steady type of movement, providing feedback on a user’s underlying physiological state, by measuring and improving the smooth technical quality of a user’s movement. The hardware required to perform these actions is preferably integrated into a mobile device (2) or any other wearable device. The software is capable of measuring and rating the slow, smooth and steady technical quality of the user’s motion gathered from the hardware sensor data. Herein and further in this description the mobile device will be referred to as a smartphone (2). A smartphone will be considered as any mobile device, housing regular hardware, such as a microcontroller, speakers, a display screen, motion sensors capable of tracking physical parameters, such as orientation, acceleration etc. The mobile or wearable device preferably comprises an operating system, capable of supporting the aforementioned software and hardware.

The purpose of the software part is to perform calculations needed to determine the smooth and steady technical quality of a user’s (1) movement and provide a continuous, real time alert generation capability to enable instantaneous feedback, stimulating the users’ brain and nervous system to ameliorate his/her movement quality. The software part is further arranged to control communication between the hardware items described above. This way the user is guided to achieve steadiness and ease or smoothness and precision in his/her movement. This somewhat gets around the difficulty of how to achieve a required smooth and steady quality of movements without teacher supervision, as any basic or more complex movement shapes can be followed, while holding or wearing the component or components comprising the motion sensors.

In the most preferred embodiment, the disclosed software is used in spheres of health improvement, where smoothness of motion is desired to be achieved. The disclosed system in general is expected to be used in these spheres: releasing shoulder neck tension, relieving shoulder neck ache, diagnosing and improving tremor related issues (e.g. promoting reduction of limb shakes when carrying a cup containing a drink, promoting the ability to stop limb shakes at any time should they start), improving other neurological I nerve medical conditions, and improve general feelings of well-being, through the mechanism of the mindful movement created from the smooth movements. The users’ movements, being regularly adapted by use of the present invention, are promoted to be increasingly smooth and integrated, and so of a better and better physiological quality, intended to stimulate nerve and neuronal repair I nerve impulse propagation I blood flow, and general feelings of well-being from these same mechanisms.

In the most preferred embodiment, the method for monitoring and improving technical quality of movement comprises steps of integrating the software into any portable or wearable device (2, 3, 4, 5), capable of supporting the software and having audio feedback functionality. Another step is using one or more motion sensors, such as but not limited to an accelerometer, embedded within the portable or wearable device (2, 3, 4, 5), as the source of movement data generation. The data source component typically is operated while maintained in or on the user’s hand. Yet another step is applying software algorithms to process real time motion sensor data and generate feedback (see Fig. 7).

In the most preferred embodiment, the algorithm of the disclosed software (see Fig. 7) comprises steps of: setting required smoothness level (7) manually by the user or automatically with a predetermined value or a set of values regarding different levels breached. Yet other steps are activating monitoring (8), starting to move in a smooth manner (9). Once activated, the software gathers sensor data (10), and evaluates if the predetermined smoothness level is exceeded (11, 12). In case of not surpassing the threshold of the smoothness, the software is programmed to do nothing I give feedback of a better movement quality (13), otherwise feedback of a lower movement quality is triggered (14). The following steps are emitting the feedback signals (15) and gathering further data from the sensor (16). Once again the software evaluates if the predetermined smoothness level is exceeded (17), if not, it does nothing I gives feedback of a better movement quality (18), thereby evaluating the value of the user’s movement parameters and generating feedback corresponding to the smoothness breached intensity (20, 14). Here and further, smoothness level will be referred to as a level of underlying movement parameters intensity, such as acceleration or deceleration.

In the most preferred embodiment, the feedback generated is an audio feedback. Pitch, volume, tone or any other parameter of the sound is linked to the measured quality of movement and is used to stimulate the users’ brain and nervous system in order to achieve an improved quality of movement. For instance, a certain threshold for acceleration or deceleration is set in the software. Below this threshold, no sound is emitted and thus the user perceives that the quality of movements is good. If the smoothness quality threshold is breached, a feedback signal is generated, such as a beeping or other stimulation sound. The invention is not limited to a certain type or pattern of the feedback signal, however in this description we describe several options for the sake of exemplary illustration. Once the smoothness quality threshold is breached and the parameter of movement quality (e.g. acceleration/deceleration) is becoming worse, the feedback can be intensified, either in pitch or frequency, or amplitude.

In yet another embodiment, when the measured physical parameters are in a range, considered to be a good quality of smooth and steady movement, a comforting sound is generated and if the gathered data warns about a predetermined poor quality, a more unpleasant sound is generated. The software specifically aims to monitor movements, desired to be slow, smooth and steady.

In the most preferred embodiment, the system for monitoring technical quality of movements comprises a device providing one or more motion sensors such as a wearable or portable device, which comprises an accelerometer or any other motion sensor to monitor movements of the user. These can come in various forms, such as a smartring (4) on a hand, a smartphone (2), a wristband (3) or a smartwatch (5). Combinations of such devices, for instance a smartring on one hand, a smartwatch on the other and a wristband on a leg (see Fig. 5), a ring and a wristband, two wristbands, etc. can also be used in order to monitor several limbs at once. In such embodiments, the wearable device associated to a limb, having at least one motion sensor, periodically or in a defined pattern transmits a signal to another system component, such as a smartphone (see Fig 5.), which supports the aforementioned software and comprises a processing unit, capable of processing the gathered data. The software can additionally be programmed to provide visual feedback and record the history of the movement quality, enabling the user to track improvement or any other kind of change of the movements smooth and steady qualities.

In another embodiment, the user operates the movement monitoring system by firstly activating the software and doing any low-impact, slow-motion exercise (6), where the user goes without pausing through a series of motions. A preferable combination of the aforementioned portable or wearable devices is used. For example, the smartphone (2) is held in or is attached to a hand (see Fig. 1) or a wristband (3) or a smartwatch (3) is worn on the wrist (see Fig. 6), or a smartring is worn on a finger (4). In case any one of these devices lack data processing hardware or power, all the raw data is transmitted from wearable devices (3, 4, 5) to another device having more computing power, such as a smartphone (2) or smartwatch (5) (see Fig. 2-5). If a user operates the system with a smartphone as a data processor and feedback generator only, he keeps the component (2) with embedded software near him, for instance in a pocket or on the ground. The audio feedback alerts the user of his quality of movements, stimulating the brain and nervous system to physiologically adjust. Naturally the user also starts to become aware of his/her movement quality and adapts movement speed, steadiness of hands, or smoothness in movement manner.

In this description we have described audio signals as the most preferred type of feedback. However, other types of signals can be used, such as haptics, vibrations, light, colors, signature, etc. For example, whether this invention is applied with deaf people or in an environment where sound is not desired, other above mentioned types of signals can be used.

In yet another embodiment, the thresholds, considered to be in a range of a good or poor quality can be predetermined automatically by the disclosed software and altered by the user manually. For instance, if the user is a beginner in the aforementioned types of exercises, where the person goes without pausing through a series of motions, he/she can manually alter the values determining poor qualities of movement, thus receiving feedback at a lower intensity, making the exercise more pleasant. Conversely, if the user desires the movement to be monitored more precisely, he/she manually alters the good quality values, thus receiving more intensified feedback at a lower deviation from a desired quality.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that the above discussion is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed invention to these embodiments. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the disclosed invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that may fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A system, comprising at least one device having at least one motion or position sensor, attached to a limb of the user, a software part, arranged to analyze data from said sensor, a feedback sub-system, providing a continuous, real time alert generation capability to enable instantaneous feedback, characterised in that the system is used therapeutically and is adapted to ameliorate generalized tension and pain, improve tremor related issues, improve other neurological conditions, improve general feelings of wellbeing, through the feedback mechanism, wherein the real time alert generation is based on generating sound, light or vibration and at least one of sound pitch, volume tone, speech, vibration amplitude, vibration frequency or vibration frequency sweep, light intensity, light flickering, light color is linked to the measured quality of movement and is used to stimulate the users’ brain and nervous system through hearing, seeing or touching in order to achieve a smooth and steady quality of movement.

2. The system, according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one motion or position sensor comprises an accelerometer or other movement sensor, and wherein the user’s movements are sensed by the accelerometer or other movement sensor.

3. The system, according to claim 1 and 2, characterised in that the software part is configured to process and compare the actual value of acceleration or deceleration or other movement parameter to a predetermined ranges of values, and thus quantify the smooth and steady quality of the user's movements.

4. The system, according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the software part is further configured to trigger the feedback sub-system with an intensity based on the predetermined ranges of values, upon which the actual value falls, and which corresponds to the smooth and steady quality of the user's movements.

5. The system, according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the at least one motion or position sensor is configured to be portable or wearable by the user.

6. The system, according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the at least one motion or position sensor is arranged in a mobile device, which is configured to be portable by the user.

7. The system, according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the at least one motion or position sensor is arranged in a system component or a combination of system components, configured to be wearable by the user, such as: - a smartring, constructed to be worn on a user’s finger, - a wristband, constructed to be worn on a user’s wrist or ankle, - a smartwatch, constructed to be worn on a user’s wrist.

8. The system, according to claim 6, characterised in that the mobile device is configured to support a software part and provide a feedback to the user.

9. The system, according to claim 7, characterised in that the system component or a combination of the system components are configured to support the software part and provide a feedback to the user.

10. The system, according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the system component or a combination of the system components are configured to periodically wirelessly transmit data of the at least one motion or position sensor to the mobile device.

11. The system, according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the software part is configured to allow at least one of these actions: - setting the smoothness quality range of at least one acceleration or other movement parameter, - activate monitoring, - gather and process sensor data, - compare the processed data to the predetermined smoothness quality range, - trigger feedback, regarding the range breached, - trigger a feedback signal.

12. The system, according to one of claims 1 to 11,characterised in that the software part is arranged to emit a feedback signal periodically or continuously, with reference to the movement quality.

13. The system, according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the software part is arranged to trigger a feedback signal once the predetermined acceleration or another movement quality range of values is breached.

14. The system, according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the feedback sub-system is arranged to perform at least one of these actions: - generate a sound signal, - generate a light signal, - generate a vibration signal.

15. The system, according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the feedback sub-system is arranged to generate the feedback signal with an intensity linked to the calculated acceleration or other measured movement value and is used to stimulate the users’ brain and nervous system in order to achieve a smooth and steady quality of movements.

16. The system, according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the feedback sub-system comprise a signal to the user to make subtle physiological adjustments of their movements, reducing inhibiting tension, and improving tremor related issues or other neurological conditions.

17. A movement monitoring method comprising steps of: - attaching at least one motion or position sensor to at least one limb of the user, - activating monitoring of motion parameters, characterised in that the method additionally comprises steps of - setting at least one smooth and steady movement quality range of values, - employing the software part to compare the user’s data of the movements to the predetermined ranges of values, - triggering a brain and nervous system stimulating feedback signal, regarding the range breached.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterised in that it further comprises a step of increasing the feedback signal intensity, when the range is breached to a larger magnitude and decreasing the feedback intensity, when the range is breached to a smaller magnitude.