Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for remotely a monitoring an individual&#39;s ability to carry out a various exercise activities and to evaluate the individual&#39;s range of motion. The individual can stand or sit in the field of view of the camera and carry out a set of base line activities. The baseline activities can be stored for subsequent retrieval and analysis. Based on the results of that evaluation, other activities can be prescribed for the individual to systematically carry out. The results of the subsequent activities can be evaluated and compared to the result of the base line activities to determine how the activities should be revised or whether other treatments are required or appropriate.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention pertains to monitoring patient abilities to carry out exercises which exhibit various ranges of motion. More particularly, the invention pertains to such systems and methods which provide for remote review and monitoring of such patient activities. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Individuals that have range of motion limitations due to either disease or surgical procedures often need to be monitored. One way that such monitoring can be carried out is to have the patient physically meet with a physician or a therapist for an evaluation. While useful, and the historical norm, physically consulting with a physician or therapist is often very difficult for a debilitated or ill individual. Additionally, it may be difficult for the individual to obtain a short term appointment due to both the physician and therapist being very busy. 
         [0003]    There is an ongoing need to be able to monitor individuals, for example, for range of motion, in a way that is not only cost effective but which provides relatively short-term access by the individual to the respective medical professional. It would thus be desirable to be able to provide information pertaining to exercise ability and/or range of motion to an individual&#39;s physician or therapist on a short-term basis without necessarily requiring that the individual physically meet with his or her physician or a therapist. Being able to conduct remote evaluations of the individual&#39;s range of motion and/or exercise abilities can be especially advantageous relative to those individuals who are not able to travel easily to either the doctor&#39;s office or the therapist&#39;s office for an appointment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is an overall view of the system in accordance with the invention; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary image of an activity to be carried out by an individual interacting with the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating some aspects of a method which embodies the invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram which illustrates additional aspects of the method of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    While embodiments of this invention can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention, as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of the invention, a video capture device (camera, video camera, etc) could be utilized to establish the mobility of patients that have restricted movement due to illnesses or recent surgical procedures and have a physical therapy element to their rehabilitation. The patient would first stand in front of the camera and do a set of basic movements, or activities, in order to establish a base line for the movements that he/she can already do. For instance, raising their arms to a horizontal and then raising them as high as they can go comfortably. Information pertaining to the baseline activities could then be stored locally, or transmitted to a displaced monitoring system. 
         [0010]    The camera could send back data to a local or displaced monitor that would calculate the person&#39;s center lines of the body and extremities. Once that has been established, the angle of the arm from the base line (arms straight out) could then be measured. The patient would then carry out this “exercise,” or activity as requested by the physician. The data than could be compared to the previous data in order to assess the success or failure of the individual&#39;s rehabilitation. 
         [0011]    In yet another embodiment, the camera could be combined with a display unit to prescribe additional activities or movements for the individual to carry out. The results could also be stored locally or transmitted to the displaced monitoring system. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the invention, the individual or patient, in the field of view of the camera would be able to view a video screen and reach toward, or “touch” a shape, in space, displayed on the screen. The ability of that person to move toward and/or successfully “contact” the displayed shape could be stored in the local data base for later review and analysis. A sequence of shapes displayed at different locations on the display can be presented for response by the individual. The exercises or activities can present varying degrees of difficulty to the individual. Results of the individual&#39;s responses to the sequence can be stored and forwarded to a physician or therapist for review and to provide input as to the next sequence to forward for the individual to respond to. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system  10  which can interact with an individual I located within a field of view  12   a  of a camera  12   b . Camera  12   b  produces a digital output of an image in the field of view  12   a  and transmits same via wired or wireless medium  14  to a local unit, indicated generally at  16  of the system  10 . The local unit  16  includes a programmable processor  18   a  which is in communication with the camera  12   b  via the medium  14 . Associated with processor  18   a  is executable control software  18   b  as described in more detail subsequently. 
         [0014]    The local unit  16  also includes a mass storage unit  18   c  which could be magnetic or optical, coupled to the processor  18   a . The unit  18   c  can store, under the control of the processor  18   a  and software  18   b , images from the camera  12   b . Local unit  16  can communicate via interface circuits  18   d  and a wired or wireless medium  20  with a displaced monitoring unit indicated generally at  22 . 
         [0015]    The local unit  16  can also include a local display device indicated generally at  18   e  and associated manual input device indicated generally at  18   f  which could include a keyboard, track ball or the like all without limitation. The communication devices  18   e ,  18   f  in combination with the processor  18   a  and software  18   b  can implement a graphical user&#39;s interface for communication with the individual I. 
         [0016]    It will be understood that the display device  18   e  could be coupled to the input device  18   f  or separate therefrom all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Alternately, the display device  18   e  could be duplicated by yet another display unit, for example a wall mountable unit, located for viewing by the individual I. 
         [0017]    The remote monitoring unit  22  can include a programmable processor as indicated generally at  24   a , associated executable software  24   b , a storage unit  24   c , magnetic or optical, whereat information in connection with the activities of the individual I can be stored and reviewed. Unit  22  can also include interface circuitry  24   d  for receiving information from and coupling information to the unit  16 , via the medium  20 . The unit  22  can also include a display device  24   e  and a manual input device such as a keyboard, trackball, mouse and the like all without limitation  24   f . As will be understood by those of skill in the art, the processor  24   a , and software  24   b  can implement a graphical user&#39;s on the display unit  24   e.    
         [0018]    System  10  can be used to obtain a base line of mobility of the individual I. For example, if the mobility of the individual I has been restricted due to illness or one or more surgical procedures, it would be desirable to be able to remotely monitor, via the unit  22 , progress of the individual I through one or more therapies. In this regard, base line information can be established by requesting that the individual I step into the field of view  12   a  of the camera  12   b  and carry out a set of basic movements, as requested either verbally or visually via the local unit  16 , or a therapist or physician either locally or via telephone. 
         [0019]    The individual I could be requested to raise his or her arms to horizontal position as indicated generally at  11  in  FIG. 1 . This position information could be coupled via the camera  12   b  to the local unit  16 . The individual I could then be requested to raise his or her arms as they can as far as possible or comfortably. This position indicated generally at  12  in  FIG. 1  could then be coupled via camera  12   b  to the local unit  16 . The center lines for the individual I indicated generally at  12 ,  13  can be established. The angle of displacement between the horizontal position  11  and displaced upward position  12  can be established by local unit  16 , and stored in data base  18   c  for subsequent use. 
         [0020]    Base line information can be coupled via interface circuitry  18   d  and medium  20  to displaced monitoring unit  22  for evaluation by a physician or therapist. Those individuals can consider the images and information perceived from the camera  12   b  and establish a therapy program, which might include a series of activities for the individual I. That program can be transmitted to the local unit  16  to be carried out by the individual I. In this regard, the therapy program could include a sequence of activities which would involve the individual I moving himself/herself in the field of view  12   a  in accordance therewith. Information as to the ability of the individual I to carry out the activity sequence can then be coupled via camera  12   b  and local unit  16  to the remote monitoring unit  22  for follow-up and further evaluation. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates an image presentable on the display unit  18   e  to the individual I which presents a representation of the individual I as well as first and second exemplary activities to be carried out by the individual I. For example and without limitation a first activity could be to request the individual I move his or her hand H 1  to indicated position P 1  on the display unit  18   e  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Once the individual has moved his or her hand H 1  as close as possible to the position P 1 , the individual can audibly indicate to the unit  16  that he or she has completed that activity. Subsequently, a second position P 2  can be presented on the display as in  FIG. 2  indicative of a position to which the individual I is to move his or her leg L 2 . Once again, the individual I can indicate his or her completion of the activity verbally to the system  16 . 
         [0022]    As those with skill in the art will understand, the individual I receives immediate real time feedback via the display device  18   e  as to his or her progress in obtaining the desired objective of the activity, namely, positioning hand H 1  at location P 1  or leg H 2  at position P 2 . Also, information can be accumulated at storage unit  18   c  and transmitted to remote unit  22  for consideration and evaluation. 
         [0023]    Aspects of method  100  are illustrated in a flow diagram in  FIG. 3 . Initially a camera such as the camera  12  is activated at  102 . A request is then made for an individual to step into the field of view of the camera as at  104 . A request is then made for the individual to go through a base line sequence of positions and motions as at  106 . 
         [0024]    Positions and motion information is obtained from the camera such as the camera  12   b  and stored, for example in unit  18   c  as at  108 . Using the acquired information, individual center lines can then be established as at  110 . The information and center line results can then be forwarded to a displaced monitoring system as at  112 . 
         [0025]    Subsequent to obtaining base line information, as in  FIG. 3 , a sequence of activities can be presented to the individual I in accordance with method  200  of  FIG. 4 . A camera such as  12   b  can be activated as at  202 . 
         [0026]    A request can then be made at the individual I step into the field of view of the camera as at  204 . The individual can then be requested to view a display, as in  FIG. 2 , to get activity information as in  206 . 
         [0027]    A request can then be made that the individual carryout the displayed activity as in  208 . Results of the individual&#39;s carrying out the requested activity and be stored as at  210   l.    
         [0028]    If the activity sequence has been completed, as at  212 , the information and results can be forwarded for analysis and development of the next sequence to an appropriate medical professional as at  214 . In the alternative, if the sequence has not been completed the next activity can be presented to the individual I and as in  206 , the individual can be requested to view the display as the display device  18   e  to get information as to the next activity to be carried out. 
         [0029]    Those of skill will understand that variations in the above system in and processing associated therewith come within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, display  18   e  can be provided with a touch sensitive screen. In response to an activity display presented thereon, as in  FIG. 2 , the individual I can be requested to touch an appropriate portion of the display unit  18   e  for example the position P 1  or the position P 2 . It will also be understood that the local unit  16  can be provided with voice output software and voice recognition software such that the individual I can communicate verbally therewith. 
         [0030]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.