How Sensors Measure Body Joint Movement Across Different Sections

This patent describes a system of bendable and stretchable electromagnetic sensors placed around a body joint in four distinct sections to precisely track its movement.

What it covers

This invention uses an array of special sensors to measure how a body joint moves. It includes at least four "longitudinal electromagnetic energy sensors" that are designed to stretch and bend as the joint moves, with each sensor placed in a different quarter, or "radial quadrant," around the joint. For example, imagine four flexible strips wrapped around your knee, each covering a different side. The system also includes other "radial electromagnetic energy sensors" that collectively span the joint, with their axes pointing towards a common center. By measuring the changes in electromagnetic energy passing through these sensors as the joint moves, the system can figure out exactly how the joint is bending or twisting.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover systems that use fewer than four longitudinal electromagnetic energy sensors to span the body joint.
• —Does not cover sensors that measure joint movement using only accelerometers, without the specific bending and/or stretching electromagnetic sensors.
• —Does not cover sensor arrays where the longitudinal axes of the radial electromagnetic energy sensors do not converge.
• —Does not cover measuring movement of objects or structures that are not body joints.
• —Does not cover sensors that are not electromagnetic energy sensors, even if they bend or stretch.

The clever bit

The novelty lies in using multiple bending and/or stretching electromagnetic sensors arranged specifically in different radial quadrants around a joint, combined with converging radial sensors. This setup allows for a comprehensive, multi-dimensional measurement of joint movement, capturing complex bends and twists that simpler single-axis sensors might miss.

Why it matters

This technology offers a way to get very detailed information about how human joints move. This precision is important for things like physical therapy, where tracking recovery is key, or in sports training to analyze an athlete's form. It could also be used in advanced prosthetics or robotic exoskeletons to make their movements more natural and responsive.

Real-world examples

• 1.Smart rehabilitation devices for physical therapy
• 2.Wearable sensors for athletic performance analysis
• 3.Advanced robotic prosthetics
• 4.Exoskeletons for assistive movement or industrial tasks
• 5.Motion capture suits for detailed biomechanical analysis