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Publication Number
US-10773122-B2
Publication Date
2020-09-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A therapy and physical training system, comprising one or more movement sensors each of which positioned on a corresponding body part of a user, a first computer on a processor of which an application is running and a head mounted housing which is configured with a display on which images generated by the first computer are visible to the user. The application is configured to receive inputs from each of the sensors or from a second computer in data communication with each of the sensors, the application also configured to generate, in response to a real-time disposition of each of the corresponding body parts during performance of an exercise related body movement, a virtual reality object viewable by the user, the object being indicative of an additional body movement to be made by the user in order to conform with a user-specific exercise program.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a therapy and physical training system that combines one or more movement sensors and one or more bio-feedback sensors with a head mounted housing having a display. A first computer runs an application that receives inputs from the bio-feedback sensors and generates images for the user visible on the display.
The application receives real-time disposition during performance of an exercise related body movement and generates a virtual reality object viewable by the user. The virtual reality object is indicative of an additional body movement to be made by the user in order to conform with a user-specific exercise program.
The system outputs signals from the bio-feedback sensors indicative of a pain intensity level and outputs signals from the movement sensors indicative of a level of user-specific impairment including a starting position and an ending position. The application encourages the user to continue motion beyond the ending position when the pain intensity level is not above a predetermined intensity.
The invention further includes an automatized method for promoting rehabilitation of neck muscles of a patient suffering from impaired cervical motion. Computer generated images are viewed on a head mounted display while head motion is performed, with starting and ending positions determined and additional images generated to urge continued head motion beyond an ending position when pain intensity is below a predetermined threshold.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims (one system claim and one method claim) and indicates at least eight dependent claim refinements. Across the independent claims, the inventive features center on real-time disposition tracking with a head-mounted VR display, pain-intensity-driven conditional encouraging of additional motion, and the determination of user-specific impairment via starting and ending positions for neck rehabilitation.
Bio-feedback driven VR encouragement with pain threshold
A therapy and physical training system where the application receives inputs from one or more biofeedback sensors, generates a virtual reality object viewable by the user indicative of additional body movement, and encourages the user to continue motion beyond an ending position when a signal indicative of pain intensity level is not above a predetermined intensity.
User-specific impairment via starting and ending positions
A therapy and physical training system where each bio-feedback sensor outputs a signal indicative of a pain intensity level and each movement sensor outputs a signal indicative of a level of user-specific impairment including a starting position and an ending position from the performance of the body movement or the additional body movement.
Automatized neck rehabilitation method with start/end positions and additional urging
An automatized method for promoting rehabilitation of neck muscles of a patient with impaired cervical motion including bodily engaging a head mounted housing with one or more movement sensors and a processor, bodily engaging one or more bio-feedback sensors to output pain intensity signals, determining starting and ending positions for a selected neck region, determining a pain intensity level, and generating additional images to urge the patient in continuing the head motion beyond the ending position if pain intensity is below a predetermined threshold.
The independent claims cover a head-mounted virtual reality therapy system and an automated neck rehabilitation method that uses movement sensors and bio-feedback sensors to determine real-time disposition and starting/ending positions, generates virtual reality images indicative of additional motion, and applies a pain-intensity threshold to determine whether additional urging beyond an ending position is generated.
Stated Advantages
Encourages a user to continue motion beyond an ending position when pain intensity is not above a predetermined intensity.
Generates additional images to urge continued head motion beyond an ending position when pain intensity is below a predetermined threshold.
Documented Applications
Therapy and physical training for a user performing exercise related body movement using a head-mounted virtual reality object to conform with a user-specific exercise program.
Automatized rehabilitation of neck muscles for a patient suffering from impaired cervical motion by promoting continuing head motion beyond an ending position based on pain intensity threshold logic.
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