Patent Publication Number: US-11376465-B2

Title: Neuromuscular training apparatus and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/154,607, filed Oct. 8, 2018, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/569,863, filed Oct. 9, 2017. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to training apparatus and methods, and in particular to apparatus and methods for automating neuromuscular training. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A major function of the brain is motor control, which involves coordination of the whole of the organism as well as of the parts, and includes translation of conscious planning into movement as well as unconscious adjustment to maintain posture and balance in activity. Inefficient motor control can result in over-tension or under-tension of certain sets of muscles during activity, and this can lead to inefficient movement, stiffness, stress, and a variety of other psychophysical symptoms. 
     Thus, the need to change and retrain aspects of motor control is a problem that has been addressed with different approaches. A person can change his or her motor control through self-coaching, for example, a pianist could tell himself to “be lighter” on the keys or a runner could tell herself to raise the knees higher, and through time and practice, the amount of force applied to the keys or the activity of the knees may be changed. However, a key feature of motor control is that the entire organism must be coordinated at the same time, and consciously modulating the motor control of one part often negatively affects coordinative motor control as a whole, resulting in inefficient motor control in another part of the body. 
     Each joint, the eyes, and the spatial awareness habitually tend towards certain states, and the set of these states is relatively stable over time, different for each person, and susceptible to change. Neuromuscular training is a method of changing the coordination of these states by:
         1) consciously inhibiting (stopping, turning off) certain habit patterns (muscular habit patterns and also cognitive habit patterns like certain attitudes, emotions, etc.) that produce said states; and   2) consciously modulating one&#39;s cognitive processes (such as spatial and visual awareness, aka directing).       

     The states of the joints, eyes and spatial awareness described above are also highly interdependent, with one affecting the others in a complex manner. One type of neuromuscular training is the Alexander Technique, where it has been found that certain patterns of coordination are more conducive to health, learning and reduced levels of stress. Training to acquire these more favorable motor control patterns is a common goal of the neuromuscular training. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention addresses the need to train the motor control of the parts while preventing unwanted and inefficient motor control of other parts and of the whole postural system. Basically, a stimulus is given such as moving the subject&#39;s arm, and undesirable motor control is detected with a pressure sensor stimulus may be subject initiated (standing up, moving arm, etc.) or may be applied by the gym (robotic arm moves wrist or applies a force to the back of the knees or to the back to the back of the head, prompting the subject to sit down). With the arm in a sling, the elbow resting part of the sling is the reference point, which makes for easy measurement. When trying to measure the primary curve or secondary curve in the back, 2 reference points have to be established and there is no outside reference point. This may suggest a way of categorizing different kinds of stimuli and measurements. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more thorough understanding of the present invention, and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional back view of a helmet assembly. 
         FIG. 2  shows a back view of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional side view of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional top view of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a top view of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional front view of a trunk mount. 
         FIG. 8  shows a front view of the trunk mount of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional side view of the trunk mount of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  shows a side view of the trunk mount of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 11  shows a top view of the trunk mount of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  shows a cross-sectional front view of a first embodiment of a neuromuscular training apparatus. 
         FIG. 13  shows a front view of the neuromuscular training apparatus of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  shows a front view of a second embodiment of a neuromuscular training apparatus. 
         FIG. 15  shows a cross-sectional front view of a third embodiment of a neuromuscular training apparatus. 
         FIG. 16  shows a front view of the neuromuscular training apparatus of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  shows a cross-sectional view of a pressure plate. 
         FIG. 18  shows a cross-sectional view of a pressure plate assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Various embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus and method for automating neuromuscular training. Some embodiments are operable for training of improved head and body posture. Some embodiments are operable for training of improved body motion and use of musculature. 
     Helmet Assembly 
     Some embodiments of the Neuromuscular Training Device comprise a helmet assembly  100  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
       FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional back view of the helmet assembly  100  and  FIG. 2  shows a back view of the helmet assembly  100 . A person undergoing neuromuscular training with the NTA of embodiments is shown with a head  106 , neck  108 , and body  104 . The helmet assembly  100  comprises a helmet shell  102 , to which one or more pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may be attached (pressure/sensor  110  is shown in  FIG. 3 ). Pressure/sensor assembly  112  is attached to a top inner surface of helmet shell  102  and is operable to sense up/down motion of head  106  with respect to the helmet shell  102 . Pressure/sensor assemblies  114  are attached to two sides of the lower front inner surface of helmet shell  102  and are operable to sense side-to-side motion of head  106  with respect to helmet shell  102 . 
     In some embodiments, one or more of pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may comprise a force-exerting device without a sensor. In some embodiments, one or more of pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may comprise a sensor without a force-exerting device. In some embodiments one or more of pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may comprise a force-exerting device and a sensor. 
     In some embodiments, the force-exerting devices within pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may comprise pneumatic bellows. In some embodiments, the force-exerting devices within pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may comprise hydraulic bellows. In some embodiments, force-exerting devices within pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may comprise electrically-excited actuators such as solenoids. Within pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114 , other types of force-exerting devices also fall within the scope of the invention. 
     In some embodiments, the sensors within pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may comprise piezoelectric force sensors. In some embodiments, the sensors within pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may comprise compressive bellows force sensors which may detect the force by the pressure induced within a bellows in the force-exerting device. Within pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114 , other types of sensors fall within the scope of the invention. Further details of embodiments of pressure/sensor assemblies are shown in  FIG. 17 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional side view of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4  shows a side view of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 3 . Pressure/sensor assembly  110  is attached to a lower rear inner surface of helmet shell  102  and is operable to sense front-back motion of head  106  with respect to the helmet shell  102 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional top view of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6  shows a top view of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
     The sensors within pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may be connected to a data processing device (not shown) such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a smart phone, or other type of electronic data processing device. Data communication between the sensors and the data processing device may be conducted over wires or by wireless data transmission. Other data communication technologies also fall within the scope of the invention. Control of both the force-exerting devices and sensors within pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may be effected by electrical power connections, pneumatic connections, and/or hydraulic connections. Other types of control technologies also fall within the scope of the invention. Multiple types of control technologies may be employed for each of the pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114 . 
     Pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may work in concert to sense generally linear motions of head  106  in the forward-backward, up-down, side-to-side directions simultaneously or individually. Additional pressure/sensor assemblies may be attached to the inner surface of helmet shell  102  to come into contact with head  106  at additional locations beyond the locations illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 . Additional angular motions of head  106  with respect to helmet shell  102 , such as various front-back and side-to-side tilting motions may also be detected by employing differential position sensing using multiple pressure/sensor assemblies together. 
     The force-exerting devices within pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may be operable to exert various degrees of pushing force against an outer surface of head  106 . Low level forces may convey to the person undergoing neuromuscular training that they should move their head  106  in a particular direction. For example, the force-exerting device within pressure/sensor assembly  110  may convey to the person that they should move their head forward. Similarly, the force-exerting device within pressure/sensor assembly  112  may convey to the person that they should lower their head. The force-exerting devices within pressure/sensor assemblies  114  may convey to the person that they should move their head to either the right or left side, depending on which of the two pressure/sensor assemblies  114  is activated. 
     The sensors within each of pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may be sandwiched between the force-exerting devices of each pressure/sensor assembly and head  106  as illustrated in  FIG. 17  for a pressure plate. Thus, if a force-exerting device is directed to expand in a direction towards head  106 , and head  106  does not move as much as may be desired as part of the neuromuscular training, then the corresponding sensor may convey a certain data signal to the control computing device. Conversely, if a force-exerting device is directed to expand in a direction towards head  106 , and head  106  does move as much as may be desired as part of the neuromuscular training, then the corresponding sensor may convey a corresponding different data signal to the control computing device. The control computing device may then compare the received data signal from the sensor with the desired data signal to determine the current effectiveness of the neuromuscular training process and, if necessary, a corrective response to improve the training status of the person. 
     Trunk Mount 
     Some embodiments of the Neuromuscular Training Device comprise a trunk mount  200  as illustrated in  FIGS. 7-11 . The trunk mount  200  may serve as the anchor or reference point for measurement of motions of the body of a person being trained, such as their head relative to their body, their shoulders relative to their torso, or their upper body relative to their lower body. These relative motions may comprise linear front-back, up-down, and/or side-to-side motions, as well as various angular motions such as leaning forward or backward, leaning side-to-side, or twisting the head relative to the torso, or twisting the upper portion of the torso relative to the lower portion of the torso, etc. Training of improved motion in any one or more of these types of motion may be comprised in the set of goals for the person&#39;s neuromuscular training. 
       FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional front view of trunk mount  200  and  FIG. 8  shows a front view of trunk mount  200 .  FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional side view of trunk mount  100  and  FIG. 10  shows a side view of trunk mount  100 .  FIG. 11  shows a top view of trunk mount  100 .  FIG. 9  shows that harness  202 . The cross-sectional side view in  FIG. 9  shows trunk mount body  202  extending generally in an arc intended to extend from in front of the person&#39;s torso (the right side of  FIG. 9 ), up and over the shoulders and then down at the back of the person&#39;s torso (the left side of  FIG. 9 ). At the top neck ring  204  is shown, connected by neck tube  206  to trunk mount body  202 . In use, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the person&#39;s neck would extend upwards through neck tube  206  and their head would be above neck ring  204 . Various methods for enabling the person to put the trunk ring  200  on and to remove the trunk ring  200  fall within the scope of the invention. FIGS. 
     First Embodiment of a Neuromuscular Training Apparatus (NTA) 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate a first embodiment of an NTA  300  comprising a trunk mount  200  and two shoulder cups  400 . Two shoulder cups  400  are shown with cup bodies  402 , however in some embodiments a single shoulder cup  400  may be comprised in NTA  300 . As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 12 , an inner surface of shoulder cup  400  is shaped to conform to an outer surface of a person&#39;s shoulder. Various methods may be employed to attach shoulder cup  400  firmly against the person&#39;s shoulder such as connectors including straps, ties, adhesives, or other types of attachment which fall within the scope of the invention. Straps  404  connect shoulder cup  400  to trunk mount  400  as shown. In some embodiments, straps  404  may be elastic connections providing a passive tensile force to hold shoulder cup  400  against the person&#39;s shoulder. In some embodiments, straps  404  may comprise length sensors which may communicate with the control data computer to monitor the relative position of the shoulder cup  400  and the trunk mount  200 . The length sensors may also function to exert a tensile force to hold shoulder cup  400  against the person&#39;s shoulder. Various types of length sensors fall within the scope of the invention such as piezoelectric sensors, elastic strain gauges, tape-measure type rotary encoder length gauges, etc. 
     Second Embodiment of a Neuromuscular Training Apparatus (NTA) 
       FIG. 14  shows a front view of a second embodiment of an NTS  308 . In this second embodiment, a helmet assembly  100  has been added to the first embodiment  300 . Straps  420  connect helmet assembly  100  to neck ring  204 . All the same design and operational considerations apply for straps  420  as applied for straps  404 . 
     This second embodiment may perform all the training functions of the first embodiment, as well as a number of additional training functions relating to improved posture and motion of the person&#39;s head  106  (not shown here) relative to the person&#39;s torso which corresponds to the position of the trunk mount. These motions are discussed above with respect to the helmet assembly. 
     Third Embodiment of a Neuromuscular Training Apparatus (NTA) 
       FIG. 15  shows a cross-sectional front view of a third embodiment of an NTA  500  while being worn by a person undergoing neuromuscular training.  FIG. 16  shows a front view of the neuromuscular training apparatus of  FIG. 15  but without the person being shown. In the third embodiment  500 , a two-piece trunk mount  510  is employed comprising an upper trunk mount  520  and a lower trunk mount  502 . Upper trunk mount  520  is connected to the helmet assembly  100  and the shoulder cups  400  similarly as for the second embodiment. Upper trunk mount  520  does not extend as far down the person&#39;s torso at the front and back as did trunk mount  200  in the second embodiment. The straps  420  connecting the helmet assembly  100  to the upper trunk mount  502  function the same as in the second embodiment. Similarly, all the straps  506  connecting the shoulder cups  400  to the trunk mount  520  function the same as straps  404  in the second embodiment. Lower trunk mount  502  is attached firmly to the person&#39;s lower torso (around the belly) and is connected by straps  504  to upper trunk mount  520 . All the same design and operational considerations apply for straps  504  as applied to straps  404  and  420 . 
     Pressure Plate Embodiment 
       FIG. 17  shows a cross-sectional view of a pressure plate  800 , comprising support plate  804 , one or more force-exerting devices  806 , and sensors  808  attached to one or more of the force-exerting devices  806  as shown. In some embodiments, pressure plate  800  may comprise a sensor  808  on each of the force-exerting devices  806 . In some embodiments, pressure plate  800  may comprise sensors  808  on only some or none of the force-exerting devices  806 . In  FIGS. 1, 3 , and  5 , the pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114  may be configured as shown here, with a sensor on a surface of the force-exerting device away from a surface of the force-exerting device which is attached the inner surface of the helmet shell  102  instead of the support plate  804 . 
     The pressure plate  800  may function as a robotic hand which applies a strong positive force or a weak positive or weak negative force on the person&#39;s torso, legs or head, thereby acting as a stimulus to encourage the person to maintain balance and postural stability while performing an activity such as sit-to-stand. Pressure plate  800  may typically have at least one sensor, and optionally an array of sensors, to measure the change in pressure of the body part against the plate. Various training functions may be performed by pressure plate (or by any or all of pressure/sensor assemblies  110 - 114 :
         1. A weak positive (i.e., pushing) force prompts the person being trained to move;   2. A strong positive force allows the person being trained to be partially supported by the pressure plate  800 ;   3. A weak negative (i.e., pulling) force, that is, moving the pressure plate  800  away from the person slowly, enables the person being trained to attempt to follow the pressure plate  800 , maintaining the same pressure while maintaining coordination in the other body parts; for example, a pressure plate may be placed against the back of the person, and then drawn back and down, giving the person a chance to keep his/her back against the plate while sitting down, and while monitoring various other diagnostic information such as the head being pulled back and down.
 
The neuromuscular training suing embodiments may detect the following features of movement:
       

     1. Resistance to head rotation; 
     2. Elbow moving up, wrist moving in, wrist moving back; 
     3. Distortion of the torso (shortening, narrowing); 
     4. Knees pulling in; 
     5. Ulnar and radial deviation, and flexion and extension of the wrists; 
     6. And other relative motions (linear and/or angular) between various body parts. 
     Pressure Plate Assembly 
       FIG. 18  shows a cross-sectional view of a pressure plate assembly  900  comprising multiple pressure plates. The assemblies of support plates  902 , force-exerting devices  910 , and sensors  912  correspond to the similar elements of pressure plate assembly  800  in  FIG. 17 . Body part  920  may be any body part, such as an ankle, calf, knee, thigh, hip, wrist, forearm, elbow, upper arm, torso, etc. The two pressure plate assemblies pivotally-attached (arrows) to a connection plate  904  to facilitate wrapping the pressure plate assembly around the corresponding body part as shown. 
     The pressure plate assembly  900  also provides a wearer with additional proprioceptive feedback by virtue of applying a constant force by being clamped on, and additional and dynamic force through activation of the force-exerting devices  910 . 
     1. Force-exerting devices:
         a. May comprise at least one inflatable and deflatable bladder on each end that is in contact with the body part  920 ;   b. Pressure from the force-exerting device may suggest to the person being trained a direction they should move by inflating on one side and deflating on another side to indicate a suggested direction of motion. This may enable giving the person being trained instructions about how and where to move the arms to play a game and/or carry out a training diagnostic;       

     2. Sensors:
         a. May detect movement/force against a direction of force being applied by a force-exerting device, wherein this force-resistance information may be used for diagnostic purposes.   b. May comprise an accelerometer to allow angular motion detection in conjunction with other sensors (for example, the combination of acceleration information from a wrist and an elbow). This could enable detection of flexion and extension, as well as ulnar and radial deviation of the wrist, which can be useful diagnostics for excessive muscular activation during activity.       

     3. Applications of pressure plate assemblies (PPAs):
         a. When held by an external rigid body, a PPA can detect the force applied to the bladder sensor, which is information useful in diagnostics of motor control   b. When a physical therapist or helper moves the person&#39;s hand (optionally via a PPA), the elbow PPA can detect the angle of the elbow, which is a useful diagnostic for excessive muscle activation around the elbow and shoulder joints.       

     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. 
     As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.