Electronic equipment for the treatment and care of living beings

Abstract

The invention discloses apparatus, and the method of using it, comprising one, or more, electronic sensors attached to a part(s) of a human or animal's body. The patient then performs an activity, or has an activity performed on them, and the results of the measured parameters are recorded by the sensor and processed, or downloaded and processed. The sensor may include a range of instrumentation, e.g. accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, force sensors, etc. to record positions (in the X, Y and Z planes), movements, angular movements, forces, stresses in bones/joints, etc. The use of the apparatus and method are appropriate to medical treatments, and perfecting sporting or dancing techniques and the results are processed to give the clinician or coach appropriate information to improve the problem being addressed. Methods for measuring lateral angular movement of hinged joints and spinal extension are taught.

1 . A system for the treatment and care of living beings comprising:
 i) an electronic sensing device, attachable to a part of a patient's body, and having:
 a) a means of providing electrical power; 
 b) a means to sense and measure and/or monitor one or more parameters relevant to that part of the patient's body the means including an accelerometer, magnetometers and/or a radio or acoustic sensor; and 
 c) a means to record the measured and/or monitored readings and store them for subsequent downloading and/or transmission to a separate receiving unit; and 
   ii) receiving unit able to receive downloaded or transmitted readings from the sensing device and either process and display them directly or pass them to a further unit for processing and/or display; and   iii) further processing means in the electronic sensing device, in the receiving unit or in the further unit to collate, analyse and display the results of the analysis of the net reading from the sensor;   that wherein the sensing device is attached to an appropriate part of the patient who then performs an activity or has an activity performed on them and at least one parameter of their body's reaction to the activity is measured and/or monitored and recorded and/or analysed and the results displayed or transmitted by the sensing device to or via the receiving unit for further processing and/or display for the subsequent benefit of the patient,   and wherein the sensing device further comprises a force sensor.   
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A system for the treatment and care of living beings, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means of providing electrical power uses the patient's own body heat and/or energy harvested from motion or electromagnetic means. 
     
     
         6 . A system for the treatment and care of living beings, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the measured and/or monitored parameter is selected from a group comprising: the patient's pulse and/or a heart rhythm(s); the patient's musculature; the patient's brain rhythm(s); the patient's breathing; and the patient's joint movements. 
     
     
         7 . A system for the treatment and care of living beings as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic sensing device includes one or more of a group comprising: a magnetometer; a gyroscope; and an accurate timing clock. 
     
     
         8 . A system for the treatment and care of living beings, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving unit is either a device carried by the patient or a separate item not connected to the patient. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A system for the treatment and care of living beings comprising:
 i) two, or more, electronic sensing devices, attachable to parts of a patient's body, and each including:
 a) a means of providing electrical power; 
 b) a means to sense and measure and/or monitor one or more parameters relevant to that part of the patient's body; and 
 c) a means to record the measured and/or monitored readings and store them, or to compute a net reading and store it, for downloading and/or transmission to a separate receiving unit; 
   ii) a receiving unit able to receive readings from the electronic sensing device and either process or display them directly or to pass them to a further unit for processing and display; and   iii) further processing means in any one of the electronic sensing devices, in the receiving unit or in the further processing unit to collate, analyse and/or display the results of the analysis of the reading from the two, or more, sensors;   wherein the sensing devices are attached to appropriate parts of the patient's body who then performs an activity or has an activity performed on them, and that at least one parameter of their body's reaction to the activity is measured, monitored, recorded and/or analysed and the results displayed or transmitted to or via the receiving unit for processing and display for the subsequent benefit of the patient, said processing means being wholly, or in a part of either the electronic sensing device, the receiving unit or the further processing unit,   wherein the electronic sensing devices each comprise a force sensor and an accelerometer and/or a magnetometer that is adapted to provide a signal to the further processing means and that signal is used to calculate the position of the electronic sensing devices with respect to one another and to determine the angular rotation of a joint during the performed activity.   
     
     
         11 . A system for the treatment and care of living beings as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the means of providing electrical power uses the patient's own body heat and/or energy harvested from motion or electromagnetic means. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A system for the treatment and care of living beings as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the measured or monitored parameter is selected form a group comprising: the patient's pulse and/or a heart rhythm(s); the patient's musculature; patient's brain rhythm(s); patient's breathing; and patient's joint movements. 
     
     
         14 . A system for the treatment and care of living beings as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the electronic sensing device includes at least one of a group comprising: a magnetometer; a gyroscope; and an accurate timing clock. 
     
     
         15 . A system for the treatment and care of living beings as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the receiving unit is either a device carried by the patient or a separate item not connected to the patient. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled)