Wearable Coils for Monitoring Human Body Kinematics
T2018-460
Monitoring human physiological functions and performance during real-time activities is becoming increasingly popular in sporting and healthcare environments. Many studies now suggest that the quantitative evaluation of kinetic parameters, joint range of motion, heart rate, and breathing rate can be employed in sports performance tracking and rehabilitation monitoring following injuries or surgical operations.
The Need
Several technologies are now available for monitoring the body’s kinematics. However, many systems are expensive and designed for clinical use, requiring the presence of a physician and medical staff to assist users in the device’s positioning and measurements.
The Technology
This technology is a wearable kinetic monitoring system that uses current-carrying coils as transmitters and receivers on the body for measuring various parameters. The system is wireless and measures the change of the magnetic flux resulting from the change in the coils’ relative position as the body moves. Thus far, the inventors have shown proof of concept through simulations in the laboratory.
Commercial Applications
Athletes, consumers, and medical providers can use this invention to measure the body’s kinetics.
Benefits/Advantages
Compared to existing sensors, which are expensive and bulky, this invention provides a cost-effective, wireless, and wearable device for measuring kinematics.
Issued Patents
11,564,598