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Publication Number
US-11864898-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for determining a muscle fatigue of a muscle includes a first step of electrostimulating the muscle at different frequencies. A second step of the method includes determining forces developed by the muscle in response to the electrostimulations of the first step. A third step includes determining a muscle fatigue on basis of the forces determined in the second step.
Core Innovation
A muscle fatigue determination method generates electrostimulation charges at different frequencies to be provided to a muscle, determines forces developed by the muscle in response to the electrostimulations, and determines a muscle fatigue on the basis of the determined forces. The frequencies comprise a minimal frequency smaller than 50 Hz and a family of frequencies smaller than 200 Hz and integer multiple of the minimal frequency.
In the disclosed approach, determining the muscle fatigue comprises a computation of a discrete integral of a function associating, to each frequency of the family, a force developed by the muscle in response to the electrostimulation at that frequency, and a determination of the muscle fatigue based on the computed discrete integral. Additional fatigue determination variants include comparing a ratio between two forces to a threshold defined from a non-fatigued muscle force model relating force developed under electrostimulation to electrostimulation frequency.
The description further distinguishes peripheral muscle fatigue from central muscle fatigue by optional subtraction of components, and categorizes peripheral fatigue into short-lasting and long-lasting peripheral muscle fatigue. A corresponding system is described with an electrostimulation apparatus, a force-measuring device, and a logical unit for performing the fatigue determination.
Claims Coverage
The claim set covers a muscle fatigue determination method using electrostimulation at a constrained low-frequency family, direct force measurement, and fatigue computation via a discrete integral, with dependent alternatives for ratio-threshold decision and specific force measurement arrangements.
Discretely integrated force-vs-frequency electrostimulation fatigue determination
Generating electrostimulation charges at different frequencies, determining forces developed by the muscle in response, and determining a muscle fatigue on the basis of the forces, where the frequencies comprise a minimal frequency smaller than 50 Hz and a family of frequencies smaller than 200 Hz and integer multiple of the minimal frequency, and where determining the muscle fatigue comprises a computation of a discrete integral of a function associating to each frequency of the family a force developed by the muscle in response to the electrostimulation at this frequency and determining the muscle fatigue based on the computed discrete integral.
Minimal frequency and integer-multiple frequency family for fatigue computation
The frequencies comprise a minimal frequency smaller than 50 Hz and a family of frequencies smaller than 200 Hz and integer multiple of the minimal frequency.
Ratio-to-threshold fatigue determination based on non-fatigued muscle force model
Determining a muscle fatigue by computing a ratio of a first force to a second force, comparing the computed ratio to a threshold, and determining muscle fatigue based on the comparison; the threshold is defined from a non-fatigued muscle force model relating force developed under electrostimulation to electrostimulation frequency.
Direct force measurement using strain gauge or dynamometer
Determining forces developed by the muscle in response to the electrostimulations by direct force measurements using a strain gauge or a dynamometer.
Overall, the claim set covers fatigue determination using electrostimulation charges at a constrained low-frequency family, forces developed by the muscle measured in response, and fatigue computed from a discrete integral over force values across the frequency family, with dependent alternatives that determine fatigue by a force ratio compared to a threshold derived from a non-fatigued muscle force model, and with specific embodiments using a strain gauge or dynamometer for force measurement.
Stated Advantages
Efficient muscle fatigue determination.
Safe muscle fatigue determination.
Flexible muscle fatigue determination.
Context-independent muscle fatigue determination.
Documented Applications
Muscle fatigue determination using electrostimulation and force measurements, including a lower-limb seated force-measurement apparatus configured for reproducible measurements of forces developed by lower-limb muscles.
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