DEVICE FOR REDUCTION OF VIBRATIONS

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns a system and a method, that include the use of a wearable device, for reducing uncontrolled vibrations of a body part, typically a hand of a subject, which may be a result of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. Essential tremor, Multiple sclerosis, etc. These involuntary, uncontrolled, vibrations may be continuous and affect the quality life of the subject.

Claims

1. A system for reducing vibrations of a body part of a subject, the system comprising: a wearable device configured to be fitted and fixed on the body part of the subject in a tight association with the body part, comprising: one or more motion sensors arranged integrally with the wearable device with tight association between each of the motion sensors and the body part when the wearable device is fitted on the body part, each of the motion sensors is configured to sense motion of the body part at the at the location of the motion sensor and generate motion data based thereon, and one or more force applicators spatially arranged across and integrally with the wearable device, with tight association between each of the force applicators and the body part at the location of the force applicator when the wearable device is fitted on the body part, each of the force applicators configured and operable to apply a force profile on said body part at the location of the force applicator to cause movement of said part; and a control unit comprising: an input module linked to said one or more sensor for receiving said motion data, an analyzer configured to analyze the motion data and generate a joint feedback force profile according to the locations of the force applicators on the wearable device and their respective tightly associated locations on the body part, and an actuation module configured to generate actuation data for each of the force applicators based on the joint feedback force profile and based on the locations of the force applicators, and to activate each of the force applicators based on its respective actuation data to apply force at its respective location on the body part, to impart said joint feedback force profile by joint actuation of the force applicators, wherein, when executed, the joint feedback force profile reduces the intensity of the body part vibrations in at least one dimension.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wearable device comprises a first fastener configured for fitting the device to the wrist and a second fastener for fitting the device to at least one finger.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more motion sensors has a predefined position in tight association with a predefined portion of the body part, and the analyzer is configured to analyze the motion data and generate a joint feedback force profile based on knowledge about the predefined position of the motion sensor and the predefined portion of the body part.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a physiological sensor configured for sensing a physiological parameter other than motion, and generating physiological data based thereon, and for transmitting the physiological data to the input module, wherein the analyzer is configured to generate the feedback force profile based on the motion data and the physiological data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the physiological sensor is configured to sense heart rate of the subject, and the generated force profile includes a force intensity that depends on the sensed heart rate.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more force applicators comprise an engine selected from solenoid, piezo-electric element, electric motor or a vibrating element.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion data comprises a three-dimensional profile of the motion of the body part over time.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more force applicators are configured to apply a three-dimensional force profile.

11. The system of claim 1, comprising three or more force applicators.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the force applicators are arranged, such that each force applicator is configured to apply force in a different spatial axis.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuation data comprises a plurality of components, each corresponding to a different force applicator.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is integrated into the wearable device.

15. (canceled)

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the joint feedback force profile has a periodical pattern.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the analyzer is configured to filter out non-vibrating components from the motion data, and the feedback force profile being generated based on the vibrating motion component.

18. A method for reducing vibrations of a body part of a subject, the method comprising: receiving motion data from one or more motion sensors with light association between each of the motion sensors and the body part, each of the motion sensors is configured to sense motion of the body part at the location of the motion sensor and generate motion data based thereon; an analyzer configured to analyze the motion data and generate a joint feedback force profile according to the locations of a plurality of force applicators arranged on the body part, and an actuation module configured to generate actuation data for each of the force applicators based on the joint feedback force profile and based on the locations of the force applicators on the body part, and to activate each of the force applicators based on its respective actuation data to apply force at its respective location on the body pan, to impart said joint feedback force profile by joint actuation of the force applicators, wherein, when executed, the joint feedback force profile reduces the intensity of the body part vibrations in at least one dimension.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising analyzing the motion data and generating a joint feedback force profile based on knowledge about a predefined position of each the one or more motion sensors in tight association with a predefined portion of the body part.

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the generated force profile includes a force intensity that depends on sensed heart rate.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the actuation data comprises a plurality of components, each corresponding to a different force applicator.

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. The method of claim 18 comprising filtering out non-vibrating components from the motion data, and generating the joint feedback force profile based on the vibrating motion component.

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] in order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] FIGS. 1A-1C are block diagrams of non-limiting examples of embodiments according to the system of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a hand of a subject fitted with a non-limiting example of an embodiment of the wearable device of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIGS. 3A-3B are flow diagrams of non-limiting examples of embodiments of the method according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0040] The following figures are provided to exemplify embodiments and realization of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIGS. 1A-1C are block diagrams of non-limiting examples of embodiments of the system of the present disclosure. Reference is first made to FIG. 1A exemplifying a system for reducing vibrations of a body part 100 that includes a wearable device 102 and a control unit 104. The wearable device 102 comprises a fitting arrangement 106 for fitting and fixing the wearable device 102 on the body part. One or more motion sensors 108.sub.i (where i=the number of motion sensors) are fixed to the wearable device 104 to sense the motion of the body part and generate motion data MD based on the sensed motion of the body part. The motion sensors 108.sub.i transmits the motion data MD to an input module 110 of the control unit 104, that in turn communicates the motion data MD to an analyzer 112 of the control unit 104 to be processed and analyzed.

[0042] The analyzer 112 processes the motion data MD and to determine motion profile of the body part, and identify the uncontrolled motion, vibrating component of the motion profile. Based on the determined uncontrolled motion component of the motion profile, the analyzer 112 generates feedback force profile HT that, if executed, counters the uncontrolled motion component of the body part and reduces the intensity thereof. The Analyzer 112 transmits the feedback force profile to an actuation module 114 that translate it to an actuation data AD for each of a plurality of actuators 116.sub.j (where j=the number of actuators). The actuation module 114 is configured and operable to execute the actuation data. AD and operate the actuators 116.sub.j based thereon.

[0043] FIG. 1B shows another embodiment of the system of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the system 100 includes a wearable device 102 that comprises also the control unit 104. The control unit 104 is integrated into the wearable device 102 such that all data collection, processing thereof and execution of counter forces are carried out by components embedded in the wearable device 102.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the system, the fitting arrangement 106 comprises fasteners 118.sub.k (where k=the number of fasteners) configured for controllably fastening the wearable device 102 to a desired body part that needs a vibration reduction.

[0045] FIG. 1C is another embodiment of the system that differs from that of FIG. 1B by including a physiological sensor 120 that is configured to sense a physiological parameter of the subject. Behavior of physiological parameters of the subject may affect the operation of the system 100, specifically affect the generated feedback force profile FFP and the actuation data AD.

[0046] The physiological sensor 120 senses the physiological parameter and generate physiological data PD based thereon, and the physiological sensor 120 transmits the physiological data PD to the input module 110. The input module 110 communicates the physiological data PD to the analyzer 112 that responds to said physiological data. PD by generating the feedback force profile based on the combination of the motion data MD and the physiological data PD.

[0047] It is to be noted, that in some embodiments of the system, the physiological sensor 120 may be integrated into the wearable device 102.

[0048] The physiological sensor 120 may be configured to measure heart rate, blood pressure, ECG, respiration rate, etc.

[0049] It should be noted that the examples of FIGS. 1A to 1C focus on selected elements of the system while generally describe various configurations of the vibrations reducing system. Generally system elements from FIGS. 1A to 1C may be combined between them to provide the alerting system of the present invention.

[0050] Further, in the figures throughout the application, like elements of different in figures were given similar reference numerals shifted by the number of hundreds corresponding to the number of the figures. For example, element 202 in FIG. 2 serves the same function as element 102 in FIGS. 1A-1C.

[0051] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a non-limiting example of an embodiment of the wearable device of the present disclosure, worn on a hand of a subject. The wearable device 202 has a fitting arrangement 206 that is adapted to be worn on a hand 219 of a subject. The wearable device 202 is fastened to the hand 219 by two fasteners 218A and 2188 and is integral with motion sensors 208A and 2088, and actuators 216A and 216B. the motion sensors 208A, 2088 and the actuators 216A, 216B are spatially arranged to allow sensing of and force applying on different portions of the hand 219. As described above, this wearable device 202 is part of a system that further comprising a control unit that process motion data that is received from the motion sensors and operates the actuators in response to said motion data.

[0052] FIGS. 3A-3B are flow diagrams of non-limiting examples of embodiments of the method according to the present disclosure.

[0053] According to FIG. 3A, the method includes sensing motion of the body part 350 that its vibrations are required to be reduced and generating motion data 352 based thereon. The sensing may be carried out, for example, by one or more motion sensors that are mounted on the body part. Based on the motion data, generating feedback force profile 360 that, if executed, counters the vibrations of the body at least to some extent. The method further includes applying the feedback force profile on the body part 362 to reduce the vibrations thereof in at least one dimension to some extent.

[0054] FIG. 3B shows another embodiment of the method of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the method includes retrieving motion data of the body part 353, irrespective to how it was obtained and/or generated. The method further includes sensing a physiological parameter 354 and generating physiological data 356 based thereon. The physiological parameter may be selected from any one of heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, temperature, etc. The method may include filtering of non-vibrating components of the motion data 358, namely controlled movements of the body part. Based on the filtered motion data and the physiological data, generating feedback force profile 360 and applying it on the body part 362.

[0055] It should be noted that the order of the steps of the method as presented in FIGS. 3A-3B are not limiting and some may be interchangeable. Furthermore, the method of the present invention may be carried out by any combination of elements of the embodiments of FIGS. 3A-3B.