公开(公告)号：US5808540A

公开(公告)日：1998-09-15

申请号：US506090

申请日：1995-11-20

申请人： M. Rex Wheeler ,  Michael G. Bell ,  Shawn R. Hill

发明人： M. Rex Wheeler ,  Michael G. Bell ,  Shawn R. Hill

IPC分类号： A61B5/00 ,  A61B5/087 ,  A61B5/113 ,  G01L5/16 ,  G01L5/22 ,  G06F3/033 ,  H01C13/00

CPC分类号： A61B5/1116 ,  A61B5/087 ,  A61B5/113 ,  A61B5/486 ,  G01L5/161 ,  G01L5/223 ,  G06F3/0338 ,  A61B2560/0242 ,  A61B2562/046 ,  A61B5/4519 ,  A61B5/6819

摘要： In a biofeedback device adapted for sensing position of the Transverse Abdominis Muscle (TAM) on small excursions of the abdominal wall including a sensor which changes resistance on a change in dimension thereof in any direction. The sensor element includes a plurality of interlaced electrodes in juxtaposition with a resilient antistatic device. A particular implementation is in the form of a two pole sensor incorporated into a bio-feedback monitor. The sensor is physically attached to the monitor which can be worn on the belt or at or near the waist line. A lever on the back of the monitor rests against the body and engages the sensor comprising a variable resistance foam component. Pressure exerted against the lever, when the TAM is relaxed causes a change in the resistance which energizes the electrical circuit above a given threshold and causes a variable pitch sound to be generated or alternatively drives an electrical vibrator motor at a variable speed. The variation in pitch or vibrator speed is directly related to the amount of pressure exerted on the lever. Thus the wearer of the device can pull in the TAM and eliminate the signal or the vibration and thereby improve his or her general physical condition. The biofeedback device is adapted so that the lever may be bypassed or removed and a variety of different types of anti-static foam sensors may attached or otherwise interconnected to the electrical circuit in place of the lever to be utilized for other purposes. One of these is a constrictor muscle sensor which may be used to sense pressure exerted when exercising such muscles. Other forms of the devices contemplated by this invention, the sensor may comprise a plurality of electrodes connected to a plurality of poles to measure changes in pressure at different locations or in a different dimension. Another feature of the invention is that the sensor is also adapted to sense a change in humidity and thus may be used as a mask or places in close proximity to a changing humidity such as in the path of a patients breathing so that changes in inhaling or exhaling may be monitored.