Method for improving head position of osteoporosis patients

An apparatus is disclosed that comprises a sensor to detect a medical condition; a processor to evaluate the signals from the sensor; an input device and read/write medium to record cues that correspond to the various condition(s) detected by the sensor; and an audio output device to play prerecorded audio cues when a particular medical condition is detected. The audio cue provides a unique reminder message to encourage a person to take a certain action that is healthy.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the field of applications designed to monitor and provide audio feedback for human medical conditions.

BACKGROUND ART

Some people have a medical condition that is exacerbated by physical conditions. For example, some people look down habitually when they walk. This is especially noticeable in people who develop osteoporosis because their neck no longer straightens, and it is easier and more natural for them to look down. Physical therapists encourage patients to keep their head up to prevent them from getting dizzy. The consequences of dizziness can be serious, such as a fall resulting in a broken bone.

Recordable greeting cards have been disclosed (e.g., EP0207258A1 to Weigl, D580488 to Zarfas), as have a plethora of medical sensors. Some of these sensors may emit vibrations or sounds. A Lumoback product (webpage visited Nov. 16, 2012), www <dot>lumoback<dot>com/?x=saying, comprises a belt that is worn around a patient's abdomen, and that provides vibrations when the patient's lower back slouches, reminding the patient to stand up or sit up straight.

Unfortunately, the physical therapist isn't always with the patient who needs a reminder in response to a physical condition, such as to lift the head up. Although a vibration could be useful for as a reminder for a single condition, a vibration does not readily differentiate among various multiple physical conditions.

There is an unfilled need for an improved device which can both detect certain medically significant conditions and provide enhanced real-time feedback to the user to inform them of the detected medical condition, with the flexibility of providing different cues when the detected conditions are different.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

We have invented an apparatus that comprises a sensor to detect a medical condition, or more generally a body measurement of any type, for example a condition related to the movement or position of the body or part of the body of an individual; a processor to evaluate the signals from the sensor; an optional microphone; a read/write medium to record audio cues that correspond to the various conditions detected by the sensor; and an audio output device to play prerecorded audio cues to provide immediate feedback when a particular medical condition is detected.

The elements of the apparatus need not be physically connected, but can be configured as discrete electronic devices inter-connected via wired or wireless techniques known in the art, for example infrared signals, or radio frequency (RF) signals such as Bluetooth.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As illustrated in the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1, system100comprises sensor(s)101, processor102, microphone103, audio output device104and read/write medium105. One or more sensor(s)101can detect motion, position, or other body measurements and can be used or positioned in a variety of ways. The processor102can be single, multi, or parallel. The read/write medium105can be RAM, flash, solid state, hard disk, virtual cloud storage, or other storage means. The optional microphone103, and the audio output device104can be single or multi, mono or stereo, etc. The components in this configuration can be located in one or more physical packages. Connectivity can be wired, wireless, or virtual.

One embodiment to record audio cues is shown inFIG. 2. Any person106can record cues using a microphone103and a processor102that is capable of storing the message on a read/write medium105. The cues can be arbitrary, but it is preferred that the recordings be appropriate to the medical conditions of the specific patient. It can direct the patient107with specific instructions, such as “Lift your head up!” In addition, the recording can be in the patient's language of choice. An unexpected benefit is that the person who makes the recording can be a person, such as a grandchild, whose voice recording may be able to cue the patient in an especially motivating and positive way. The processor102, microphone103, and read/write medium105can be located in a single physical package or can be contained in multiple discrete packages and inter-connected electronically using any one of a number of well-known physically wired, wireless, or virtual connections. In an alternative embodiment, the system does not include a microphone. The audio cues may be recorded externally through means known in the art, for example with a voice recorder or a computer equipped with a microphone, and file(s) containing externally-recorded audio cue(s) may be uploaded to the system.

FIG. 3shows one embodiment to monitor a patient107with sensor(s)101. The sensor(s)101can be physically attached to the patient107, or can be a remote sensor, such as a camera monitoring the patient. A processor102interprets data from the sensor(s)101and determines whether at least one medical condition is met. The medical condition can be an unhealthy change in position, pattern of motion, or other measurable body data. Multiple medical conditions can be simultaneously addressed.FIG. 6shows an example employing multiple sensors101: if the patient's blood pressure is detected to drop at the same time that her head position drops, she can be told to “Lie down!” to prevent a fall. Referring back toFIG. 3, the processor102then selects the appropriate cue from a read/write medium105and plays the cue on an audio output device104such as a speaker or headset. The sensor(s)101, processor102, read/write medium105, and audio output device104can be located in a single physical package or can be contained in multiple discrete packages and inter-connected electronically using any one of a number of well-known physically wired, wireless, or virtual connections.

In an alternative embodiment, rather than an audio cue an output device generates another type of feedback signal, such as a buzz, vibration, light, etc.

FIGS. 4A and 4Billustrate one embodiment, where a sensor101is attached to a hat worn on the patient's107head, and the rest of the hardware is contained in a package303attached to the patient's belt. The desired head position301of the patient107is looking straight ahead. The medical condition being detected is when the head drops or looks down, as shown by the undesired head position302. In this example, the processor102, microphone103, audio output device104, and read/write medium105, can all be contained in an Android device or other smartphone303, and the sensor101comprises an accelerometer connected wirelessly, e.g. by Bluetooth.

FIGS. 5A and 5Billustrate an alternative embodiment, where all hardware is in a single package304attached to a hat worn on the patient's107head. The desired head position301of the patient107is looking straight ahead. The medical condition being detected is when the head drops or looks down, as shown by the undesired head position302. In this example, the accelerometer sensor, processor, microphone, audio output device, and read/write medium are all contained in one physical package304, attached to patient107's hat. In this configuration, the one package304could be a device running iOS, such as an iPhone. Additional embodiments could incorporate other custom or off-the-shelf hardware components in a variety of configurations and complexity.

EXAMPLE

A working device configured as depicted inFIG. 4has been built and successfully tested to monitor and provide feedback for a patient's head position. The patient107showed increased compliance in keeping his head up while walking. He was much more motivated hearing his grandchild's voice in a recording, rather than another adult, such as his daughter, whom he perceived as “nagging”.

In accordance with the present invention there are many additional examples of uses for sensor(s)101that could detect movement or position of a patient's body or body part with an accelerometer as shown inFIG. 6. For example, a sensor101attached to a shoe could detect a person who is dragging her foot; a medical condition that can result in tripping. A person with nervous habits such as biting their fingernails or pulling their hair (trichotillomania) could have a sensor101that would detect hand movements that encompass the undesired behavior. A patient could benefit from feedback on various nervous habits that might or might not rise to the level at which the nervous habits would be considered a “medical condition.” Such a nervous habit is nevertheless considered a “medical condition” for purposes of this disclosure, unless context clearly indicates otherwise.

FIG. 7illustrates the components of the operating software or firmware400for one embodiment of the invention. The software400comprises the system-level software and drivers401for whichever physical embodiment is selected. Upon this software or firmware, a layer of software exists that can be used by the application406in a variety of ways as described herein. Standard utilities for recording and sound403are typically available in a computer system to support input from a microphone103for audio recording and output to an audio output device104. A device-specific software stack401for a specific sensor101may be available commercially or through open source, or an application developer can add specific code for a particular sensor.

In one embodiment, the application406detects a physical condition based on a signal from the sensor(s)101, selects the appropriate audio cue, and sends it to the audio output device104. In an expanded embodiment, the application can also use the user features402of a system to implement a display showing a record of progress for the patient107for each sensor101, while logging this data on the read/write medium105. One unexpected result of using this expanded embodiment is that we have found that the audio cues can be optimized for the individual patient, based on the record of that patient's past performance or results. A second unexpected benefit is that the logged data can be exported or transmitted via standard network access406, to other computers for analysis or distribution to medical providers, e.g., via the cloud.

The complete disclosures of all references cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. In the event of an otherwise irreconcilable conflict, however, the present specification shall control.