Conventional electrical sensing and actuation systems do not provide accurate information about mechanical activity of the living body. For instance, these systems typically do not provide direct information about structure and physiology of biological systems, and their interaction with implantable materials.
It is with these observations in mind, among others, that various aspects of the present disclosure were conceived and developed.
The systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein can address the aforementioned issues. For instance, a wearable device to stimulate or analyze biological systems or implantable objects can include a substrate material; a plurality of acoustic actuators disposed on the substrate material and operable to generate an acoustic stimulation signal directed to a target area; a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed on the substrate material and operable to receive an acoustic response signal from the target area; and/or a plurality of electrical electrodes disposed on the substrate material and operable to generate an electrical stimulation signal directed to the target area and receive an electrical response from the target area.
In some examples, the substrate material can be a flexible materials including at least one of a fabric, a natural biological materials, a polymer, or a metal. Also, the substrate material can form a sleeve or a cuff, a glove, and/or a head cap. Furthermore, the substrate material can form a back harness, a waist binder, a torso binder, or an abdominal binder. Also, the plurality of acoustic actuators, the plurality of acoustic sensors, and the plurality of electrical electrodes can be positioned along a spinal region of the back harness, the waist binder, the torso binder, or the abdominal binder.
In some instances, a wearable device to stimulate or analyze biological systems or implantable objects can include a substrate material and/or a plurality of sensors and actuators disposed on the substrate material as an array. The plurality of sensors and actuators can be operable to generate an acoustic stimulation signal directed to a target area; generate an electrical stimulation signal directed to the target area; receive an acoustic response signal from the target area; and/or receive an electrical response signal from the target area.
In some scenarios, the plurality of sensors and actuators can be substantially evenly distributed on the substrate material. Additionally, the one of the plurality of sensors and actuators can include at least one of a piezoelectric transducer; a speaker and a microphone; and/or one or more metamaterials.
In some examples, a method to stimulate or analyze biological systems or implantable objects can include positioning a wearable device at a target area on a body of a user; generating, using one or more acoustic actuators disposed on the wearable device, an acoustic stimulation signal directed to the target area; generating, using one or more electrical electrodes on the wearable device, an electrical stimulation signal directed to the target area; receiving, using one or more acoustic sensors; an acoustic response signal from the target area; and/or receiving, using one or more electrical sensors, an electrical response signal from the target area.
In some instances, the method can include changing an electrical property of the target area with the acoustic stimulation signal, the electrical response signal representing the changing of the electrical property. The method can also include performing, with the acoustic stimulation signal, acoustic therapy or a quality assessment on at least one of muscle tissue, bone tissue, tendon tissue, or implant tissue. Additionally, the method can include performing, with the acoustic stimulation signal or the acoustic response signal, acoustic monitoring for biological systems, or implantable objects. Moreover, the method can include performing, with the electrical response signal, an electromyography (EMG) for biological systems, muscle tissue, tendon tissue, or a nerve activate.
In some scenarios, the method can include performing, with the electrical stimulation signal and the electrical response signal, an electrical impedance measurement or an electrical capacitance measurement for tissue of the target area. The electrical impedance measurement or the electrical capacitance measurement can indicate at least one of a volumetric change, a composition change, a health of a tissue or a biological system, a mechanical change, an electrical change, or a nerve activate. Additionally, the method can include performing, with the acoustic stimulation signal and the electrical response signal, an electro-acoustic stimulation in which the acoustic stimulation signal stimulates a nerve, and the nerve generates the electrical response signal. The method can also include performing, with the acoustic stimulation signal and the electrical response signal, an electro-acoustic muscle characterization in which the electrical response signal or the acoustic response signal is generated responsive to the acoustic stimulation signal and the electrical stimulation signal. A frequency or an intensity of the acoustic stimulation signal can correspond to a type of tissue, organ, or cells at the target area. Moreover, the frequency can be an ultrasonic frequency, and the type of tissue can include a tendon, a muscle, a bone, or cartilage receiving the acoustic stimulation signal for healing.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration, there is shown in the drawings certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed subject matter is not limited to the precise embodiments and features shown. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of systems and methods consistent with the disclosed subject matter and, together with the description, serves to explain advantages and principles consistent with the disclosed subject matter, in which:
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.
The phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. For example, the use of a singular term, such as, “a” is not intended as limiting of the number of items. Also, the use of relational terms such as, but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” and “side,” are used in the description for clarity in specific reference to the figures and are not intended to limit the scope of the presently disclosed technology or the appended claims. Further, it should be understood that any one of the features of the presently disclosed technology may be used separately or in combination with other features. Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the presently disclosed technology will be, or become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the figures and the detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the presently disclosed technology, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Further, as the presently disclosed technology is susceptible to embodiments of many different forms, it is intended that the present disclosure be considered as an example of the principles of the presently disclosed technology and not intended to limit the presently disclosed technology to the specific embodiments shown and described. Any one of the features of the presently disclosed technology may be used separately or in combination with any other feature. References to the terms “embodiment,” “example,” and/or the like in the description mean that the feature and/or features being referred to are included in, at least, one aspect of the description. Separate references to the terms “embodiment,” “examples,” and/or the like in the description do not necessarily refer to the same example and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For instance, a feature, structure, process, step, action, or the like described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments but is not necessarily included. Thus, the presently disclosed technology may include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the examples described herein. Additionally, all aspects of the present disclosure, as described herein, are not essential for its practice. Likewise, other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the presently disclosed technology will be, or become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the figures and the description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the presently disclosed technology, and be encompassed by the claims.
Any term of degree such as, but not limited to, “substantially,” as used in the description and the appended claims, should be understood to include an exact, or a similar, but not exact configuration. For example, “a substantially planar surface” means having an exact planar surface or a similar, but not exact planar surface. Similarly, the terms “about” or “approximately,” as used in the description and the appended claims, should be understood to include the recited values or a value that is three times greater or one third of the recited values. For example, about 3 mm includes all values from 1 mm to 9 mm, and approximately 50 degrees includes all values from 16.6 degrees to 150 degrees.
The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The terms “comprising,” “including” and “having” are used interchangeably in this disclosure. The terms “comprising,” “including” and “having” mean to include, but not necessarily be limited to the things so described. The term “real-time” or “real time” means substantially instantaneously.
Lastly, the terms “or” and “and/or,” as used herein, are to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B, or C” or “A, B, and/or C” mean any of the following: “A,” “B,” or “C”; “A and B”; “A and C”; “B and C”; “A, B and C.” An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
The systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein include a wearable device to perform simultaneous electrical and acoustic stimulation and analysis of different living objects such as the human body. The system(s) can perform a cross-domain analysis between the electrical and acoustic properties of cells and tissue. Acoustic measurements and electrical measurements can be taken independently or dependently, such that the effects of acoustic signals on electrical signals, and vice versa, can be measured. For example, acoustic stimulation of cells and/or tissue can manipulate their electrical properties to enable specific measurements and improved understanding of their biomechanical properties.
The wearable devices disclosed herein are capable of independent acoustic and electrical sensing and actuating simultaneously. At the same time, these wearable can be used to stimulate the body in one of the electrical domain or the acoustic domain and monitor the reaction of the body using the other domain. The device can be used for different procedures such as an acoustic stimulation procedure; an acoustic diagnostics and/or monitoring procedure; an electrical mythography procedure; an electrical impedance tomography procedure; an electro-acoustic neuromodulation procedure; an electro-acoustic muscle characterization procedure; and/or combinations thereof.
Accordingly, the wearable device disclosed herein can have a variety of uses for different target regions of the user. The wearable device can be used to monitor muscle activity, muscle health, muscle volume, muscle strength, and/or a muscle healing process. Additionally, the systems disclosed herein can be used to monitor bone density, water content, and/or a bone healing process. The system can focus acoustic energy at a desired point to improve a healing process, manipulate or damage cancer cells, and/or excite nerves. Also, the system can be used to monitor an implant healing process and/or perform a diagnosis of a defect in implant fixation. Additionally, or alternatively, the system can be used to monitor a tendon healing process and/or diagnose a defect in the tendon. Furthermore, the system can be used to improve cell attachment to foreign objects in the human body including implants grafts, fracture plates, screws, and/or other fixations.
Additional advantages of the systems, methods, and devices discussed herein will become apparent from the detailed description below.
For instance, the acoustic-electric wearable device 102 can generate acoustic and electrical signal with different waveforms (e.g., pure tone, gaussian waves, or so forth), different frequencies (e.g., 1 Hz to 10 MHz) and/or different intensities from one or multiple actuators. The generated signals can interact with soft and hard tissues. This interaction may lead to transformation of tissues or transformation of a wave. The transformed wave can be measured using the same or different array 117 of electrical and acoustic sensors (e.g., the plurality of sensors/actuators 106). Furthermore, the wearable device 102 can be loosened or tightened while sensors and actuators are evenly distributed, and/or locations of the sensors/actuators can be recorded. The collection of sensor data may be transmitted to an external data base, mobile devices (e.g., a cell phone) and/or a data acquisition system through wired or wireless communication interfaces (e.g., communication interface 118). Furthermore, the plurality of sensors/actuators 106 can include one or more piezoelectric transducer used for momentous sensing and actuating, and/or one or more micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) microphones and/or speakers, which can be used for a high-density arrays. Furthermore, the sensing analytics engine 116 can include one or more machine learning (ML) models for extracting information from the measured signals (e.g., using various architectures to perform a time series analysis) or a combination of one or more signal processing methods and/or analytical and/or machine learning algorithms for signal processing, which, in some scenarios, forms part of a cross-domain analysis 120.
In some examples, the outputs of the sensors 106 can be particularized for different use case scenarios. Acoustic actuators 106 can output a particular frequency and/or a particular amplitude corresponding to a type of tissue being stimulated and/or analyzed. For instance, an ultrasound output frequency can correspond to a particular use-case of tendon healing. Other output frequencies can be used for targeting bone tissue, to determine bone density, to determine muscle tissue density, to determine water content, and so forth.
In some examples, at operation 902, the method 900 can position a wearable device at a target area on a body of a user. At operation 904, the method 900 can generate, using one or more acoustic actuators disposed on the wearable device, an acoustic stimulation signal directed to the target area. At operation 906, the method 900 can generate, using one or more electrical electrodes on the wearable device, an electrical stimulation signal directed to the target area. At operation 908, the method 900 can receive, using one or more acoustic sensors; an acoustic response signal from the target area. At operation 910, the method 900 can receive, using one or more electrical sensors, an electrical response signal from the target area.
It is to be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method(s) depicted throughout this disclosure are instances of example approaches and can be rearranged while remaining within the disclosed subject matter. For instance, any of the operations depicted throughout this disclosure may be omitted, repeated, performed in parallel, performed in a different order, and/or combined with any other of the operations depicted throughout this disclosure.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to various implementations, it will be understood that these implementations are illustrative and that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, implementations in accordance with the present disclosure have been described in the context of particular implementations. Functionality may be separated or combined differently in various implementations of the disclosure or described with different terminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims that follow.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/579,605 filed Aug. 30, 2023 and titled “FRUSTRATED TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION (FTIR) SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY AND COMPOSITION ANALYSIS SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES;” U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/579,616 filed Aug. 30, 2023 and titled “SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES OF WEARABLE ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC MONITORING;” U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/579,627 filed Aug. 30, 2023 and titled “SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR ACOUSTICALLY ENHANCING IMPLANTS;” U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/579,633 filed Aug. 30, 2023 and titled SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES WITH SENSORS HAVING MULTIPLE DETECTION SIGNAL TYPES;” U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/579,640 filed Aug. 30, 2023 and titled MULTI-DEVICE HEALTH PARAMETER MONITORING SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES;” U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/579,647 filed Aug. 30, 2023 and titled FRUSTRATED TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION (FTIR)-BASED HEALTH PARAMETER DETECTION SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES;” and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/579,663 filed Aug. 30, 2023 and titled “SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR NEUROLOGICAL AND/OR MUSCOSKELETAL PARAMETER CHARACTERIZATION;” the entireties of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63579605 | Aug 2023 | US | |
63579616 | Aug 2023 | US | |
63579627 | Aug 2023 | US | |
63579633 | Aug 2023 | US | |
63579640 | Aug 2023 | US | |
63579647 | Aug 2023 | US | |
63579663 | Aug 2023 | US |