Peripheral sensory and supersensory replacement system
Inventors
Everett, Breanne • Groenland, Marcel
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11064909-B2
Publication Date
2021-07-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A sensor-based quantification and analysis system includes an input device including a plurality of sensors that generate an input based on a force. The input device also includes a transmission device that transmits force information based on the input. The system also includes an output device that receives the force information. A processing unit selects, for each of the plurality of sensors, one of a plurality of levels of a likelihood of tissue damage based on the force and a predetermined time period. Further, the output device includes a display that presents or logs the one of the plurality of levels of the likelihood of tissue damage for each of the plurality of sensors.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a sensor-based quantification and analysis system and method that uses an input device including a plurality of sensors, each sensor generating an input based on a force. A transmission device transmits force information based on each generated input to a processing device. The processing device receives the force information and indicates, based on the force information, a respective level of sensation for each of the sensors.
An output device presents the respective level of sensation for each of the sensors via a stimulus using a plurality of stimulators, to provide a neuroplastic effect. The stimulators are positioned in a pattern corresponding to respective positions of the sensors of the input device, so that the system presents the respective location of each of the sensors. This location-matched stimulation is used together with the sensor-specific levels of sensation.
The document further relates the sensation-level indication and/or presentation to additional sensing and outputs, including supersensory data and supersensory information. Example additional modalities disclosed include temperature, moisture, bacterial load, and indicators derived from temperature differences, and processing that selects sensation levels using the force information together with the additional information. Output presentations disclosed include visual and/or auditory alerts and tactile electro-tactile, vibro-tactile, and/or temperature-tactile stimulation, with stimulation patterned to sensor locations.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims, a system claim and a method claim. Both independent claims share the core sequence of force-based sensing, transmission and receiving of force information, indicating per-sensor sensation levels, and presenting location-corresponding stimuli using a patterned plurality of stimulators to provide a neuroplastic effect. Across the dependent claims referenced, inventive features add supersensory data, temperature and moisture branches, threshold-based selection constraints, and specific output modalities and presentation types.
Force-based sensor inputs and transmission of force information
An input device including a plurality of sensors generates inputs based on a force, and a transmission device transmits force information based on the generated inputs.
Per-sensor sensation level indication from force information
A processing device receives the force information and indicates, based on the force information, a respective level of sensation for each of the sensors.
Neuroplastic stimulation with per-sensor sensation levels and location patterning
An output device including a plurality of stimulators presents the respective level of sensation for each of the sensors via a stimulus to provide a neuroplastic effect, wherein the stimulators are positioned in a pattern corresponding to respective positions of the sensors to present the respective location of each of the sensors.
Optional supersensory data integrated into sensation level selection
A system or method where an input device senses or using a sensor provides supersensory data, the transmission device transmits supersensory information, and the processing device selects each sensor’s sensation level based on the force information and the supersensory information.
Temperature difference indication
A system or method including temperature sensing where temperature information is transmitted and the processing device indicates a temperature difference based on the received temperature information.
Moisture-based sensation level selection
A system or method including a moisture sensor generating moisture input, transmitting moisture information, and selecting each sensor’s sensation level based on the force information and moisture information.
Tactile electro-tactile, vibro-tactile, and/or temperature-tactile stimulation
The system includes multiple stimulators providing a respective sensation level for a sensor using electro-tactile, vibro-tactile, and/or temperature-tactile stimuli.
Auditory alert presentation
The method presents a level of sensation using an auditory alert.
Across the independent claims, the principal inventive concept is a force-based multi-sensor input whose force information is processed to indicate per-sensor levels of sensation, and whose levels and corresponding sensor locations are presented through a plurality of stimulators arranged in a location-corresponding pattern to provide a neuroplastic effect. Dependent features referenced add supersensory data, temperature and moisture information, specific tactile stimulation modalities, auditory and visual alert presentation, and threshold-related selection refinements.
Stated Advantages
Provides a neuroplastic effect through patterned presentation of sensation levels aligned to sensor locations.
Documented Applications
Peripheral sensory and supersensory replacement system using force or pressure sensor input devices, such as an insole or sock, to present neuroplastic, location-matched stimulation.
Supersensory sensory substitution or augmentation using additional sensing modalities such as temperature, moisture, bacterial load, and indicators derived from temperature differences.
Example presentation or logging of sensation likelihood levels using visual and auditory outputs, such as a wristband LCD with region-based color coding and auditory or visual alerts, and tactile stimulation including electro-tactile, vibro-tactile, and temperature-tactile.
Interested in licensing this patent?