Artificial body part control system using ultrasonic imaging
Inventors
Sikdar, Siddhartha • Pancrazio, Joseph J. • Hunt, Ira A. • Nelson, Andrew J. • Al-Imran, Abdullah
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11197768-B2
Publication Date
2021-12-14
Expiration Date
2032-08-01
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Abstract
The artificial body part control system using ultrasonic imaging includes of an ultrasonic transducer coupled with an ultrasonic image analyzer which may be adapted to transmit a control signal to an artificial body part.
Core Innovation
The invention is an artificial body part control system that utilizes ultrasonic imaging to interpret intended movements of body tissues and generates control signals for artificial body parts. The system consists of at least one ultrasonic transducer that produces two-dimensional image ultrasound data of tissue, and an image analyzer that detects characteristic patterns of echogenicity and echo texture within the images. The analyzer uses these patterns to determine the origin and magnitude of movement in muscle tissues and bones, generating corresponding image features that reflect an intended activity.
Based on the detected patterns, the image analyzer determines output signals adapted to control the individual movement of one or more artificial body parts to effectuate the intended activity. These output signals are associated with the generated image features and stored in a reference database. The control system can thus output commands for artificial joints or prosthetic devices by comparing current patterns of tissue movement, detected via ultrasound, with stored templates to identify intended movements.
The problem addressed by this invention, as identified in the background section, is the need for improved control interfaces for artificial body parts such as prosthetics, which require accurate detection and interpretation of user intent. Existing methods face challenges in reliably distinguishing the intended movements from physiological signals, making it difficult to achieve precise and individualized control of artificial limbs. This invention addresses the problem by providing a system that tracks muscle and skeletal movements using ultrasonic imaging, enabling more direct and responsive control of artificial body parts.
Claims Coverage
There are three primary independent claims, each focusing on different inventive aspects of the system and method for artificial body part control using ultrasonic imaging.
System for controlling artificial body parts based on ultrasonic image analysis
The system comprises: - At least one ultrasonic transducer producing two-dimensional image ultrasound data of tissue. - An image analyzer coupled to the transducer and configured to: - Detect characteristic patterns of echogenicity and echo texture from the ultrasound data, which indicate the origin and magnitude of movement in multiple muscle tissues and bones. - Generate image features corresponding to an intended activity based on the detected patterns. - Determine output signals that control individual movement of one or more artificial body parts to perform the intended activity. - Associate the output signals with the image features and store both in a reference database.
Method for generating control signals for artificial body parts using ultrasound
The method includes the following steps: 1. Producing a temporal sequence of two-dimensional image ultrasound data of tissue. 2. Detecting characteristic patterns of echogenicity and echo texture, indicating origins and magnitudes of movement in multiple muscle tissues. 3. Generating image features that represent intended activity, such as intensity, rate, or duration of movement. 4. Determining output signals adapted to control individual movement of multiple artificial body parts to effectuate the intended activity. 5. Associating and storing these signals and image features in a reference database.
System for repeated training and activity mapping using ultrasonic detection
This system includes: - At least one ultrasonic transducer to produce two-dimensional image ultrasound data of tissue. - An image analyzer that: - Detects characteristic patterns of echogenicity and echo texture to identify movement origin and magnitude in muscles and bones. - Generates image features for intended activities. - Determines and associates output signals for artificial body part movement with image features. - Stores these in a reference database. - Repeats the above steps for multiple intended activities.
The inventive features of the patent cover a system and method that utilizes ultrasonic imaging to detect muscle and skeletal movements and generate precise control signals for artificial body parts, enabling individualized and responsive prosthetic or artificial limb control. The claims further protect the repeated mapping of intended activities through pattern acquisition, image feature storage, and signal association.
Stated Advantages
The system enables control of artificial body parts by detecting and interpreting intended tissue movements using ultrasonic imaging, providing improved control precision.
Cross-talk from other concurrent muscle movements can be reduced by using template windows targeted to the specific region of interest, resulting in more accurate control signals.
The approach allows individualized training to map specific tissue contractions to intended movements, enabling user-specific customization and potentially better rehabilitation outcomes.
Documented Applications
Control of prosthetic hands and digits by monitoring muscle contraction events in the forearm muscles.
Control of other types of artificial limbs, such as an iron lung or robotic armor.
Use in rehabilitation to quantify muscle dynamics associated with complex functional tasks.
Interested in licensing this patent?