Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing a position of an object are disclosed. The system comprises a housing that includes a subsystem. The system also includes an attachment arm coupled to the housing. At least one first sensor is placed along the attachment arm, wherein the attachment arm is configured to receive the object thereto. In response to an unintentional muscle movement by a user that adversely affects the motion of the object, the subsystem stabilizes the position of the object. The method comprises providing a subsystem within a housing and coupling an attachment arm to the housing. The method also includes placing at least one first sensor along the attachment arm, wherein the attachment arm is configured to receive the object thereto. In response to an unintentional muscle movement by a user that adversely affects the motion of the object, the subsystem stabilizes the position of the object.

Abstract: A system including two or more wearable devices includes at least one sensor in each device to detect signals related to the body of a wearer. User inputs, sensor outputs, or other information are used to determine an activity being performed or otherwise engaged in by the wearer and footsteps, heartbeats, discrete turns of the torso, or other events can be detected, from one or more of the sensor outputs, during a period of time that the user is engaged in the activity. A duration, amplitude, timing, mean value, or other characteristic of each such detected event can be determined, based on the sensor outputs, and used to generate a sample of clinically relevant information about the wearer. This information can then be used to determine the presence, stage, degree, progression, or other information about a disease state of the wearer or some other information about the wearer's body.

Abstract: A handheld system includes a motion-generating mechanism having a first motor mounted to a housing to generate a first rotary motion and a second motor coupled to a first output of the first motor such that the first rotary motion imparts to the second motor and rotates the second motor within the housing. The second motor generates a second rotary motion. An attachment arm extends out of the housing and has a first end coupled to a second output of the second motor and a second end configured to attach a user assistive device. A motion sensor senses a motion of the handheld system and generates a signal in response. A control system is coupled to receive the signal and to control the first and second rotary motions with commands generated based at least in part upon the signal. The commands direct the motion-generating mechanism to stabilize unintentional muscle movements.

Abstract: Techniques and methods for evaluating an instance of a pre-defined task being performed by a user with a handheld tool. In an embodiment, measurement information is stored to a log based on sensor data generated during motion of the handheld tool. Based on a definition of a task and the logged measurement information, a determination is made as to whether the sensed motion corresponds to a performance of at least some action of the defined task. In another embodiment, the definition of the task includes or otherwise corresponds to criteria information. The performance of the task is evaluated based on the criteria information to detect bradykinesia or some other unintentional muscle performance of the user.

Abstract: A portable writing apparatus includes a writing instrument carriage to hold a writing instrument and an actuator system coupled to the writing instrument carriage to move the writing instrument carriage. A controller is electrically coupled to the actuator system, and the controller includes logic that when executed by the controller causes the controller to perform operations including: receiving input data including a user's handwritten characters; and controlling the actuator system to move the writing instrument carriage in response to the input data. The writing instrument carriage traces a shape of the user's handwritten characters.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for detecting and evaluating grip by a user operating a handheld tool. In an embodiment, the tool includes a handle, one or more pressure sensors disposed in or on the handle, and an attachment arm. An output from the one or more sensors is generated while a user-assistive device is coupled to a distal end of an attachment arm of the tool. Logic of the tool calculates a grip metric based on the sensor output, and the tool transmits, based on the grip metric, a signal including medical diagnostic information. In another embodiment, the user-assistive device includes a utensil attachment or a personal hygiene attachment.

Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing unintentional muscle movements are disclosed. In a first aspect, a non-contact sensing system comprises a stabilization unit, at least one non-contact position sensor coupled to the stabilization unit, and a processing unit coupled to the at least one non-contact position sensor, wherein the processing unit transmits motion commands to the stabilization unit to cancel unintentional muscle movements. In a second aspect, the method comprises a processing unit of a non-contact sensing system receiving position data of a stabilization unit that is detected by at least one non-contact position sensor and filtering the position data to identify the unintentional muscle movements. The method includes modeling the position data to create a system model and determining motor commands based upon the system model to cancel the unintentional muscle movements.

Abstract: A method of tremor reduction in a handheld device includes measuring a tremor motion and a tilt motion with a motion tracking module (“MTM”) disposed in a housing of the handheld device. In response to measuring the tremor motion, an attachment arm is moved with at least one motion generating mechanism to reduce the tremor motion in the attachment arm. Additionally, in response to measuring the tilt motion, the attachment arm is moved with the at least one motion generating mechanism to resist the attachment arm hitting a hard stop in the handheld device.

Abstract: A portable writing apparatus includes a writing instrument carriage to hold a writing instrument and an actuator system coupled to the writing instrument carriage to move the writing instrument carriage. A controller is electrically coupled to the actuator system, and the controller includes logic that when executed by the controller causes the controller to perform operations including: receiving input data including a user's handwritten characters; and controlling the actuator system to move the writing instrument carriage in response to the input data. The writing instrument carriage traces a shape of the user's handwritten characters.

Abstract: Embodiments regard nutrition assessment using a handheld device. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a handle with a controller within the handle, an attachment arm extending from the handle, and a user-assistive device coupled with an end of the attachment arm, wherein the apparatus is to determine a mass held by the user-assistive device, the determination being made during a task by a user of the handheld tool including manipulation of the handheld tool.

Abstract: Embodiments regard nutrition assessment using a handheld device. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a handle with a controller within the handle, an attachment arm extending from the handle, and a user-assistive device coupled with an end of the attachment arm, wherein the apparatus is to determine a mass held by the user-assistive device, the determination being made during a task by a user of the handheld tool including manipulation of the handheld tool.

Abstract: A method predicts the fall risk of a user based on a machine learning model. The model is trained using data about the user, which may be from wearable sensors and depth sensors, manually input by the user, and received from other types of sources. Data about a population of users and data from structured tests completed by the user can also be used to train the model. The model uses features and motifs discovered based on the data that correlate to fall risk events to update fall risk scores and predictions. The user is provided a recommendation describing how the user can reduce a predicted fall risk for the user.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for detecting and evaluating grip by a user operating a handheld tool. In an embodiment, the tool includes a handle, one or more pressure sensors disposed in or on the handle, and an attachment arm. An output from the one or more sensors is generated while a user-assistive device is coupled to a distal end of an attachment arm of the tool. Logic of the tool calculates a grip metric based on the sensor output, and the tool transmits, based on the grip metric, a signal including medical diagnostic information. In another embodiment, the user-assistive device includes a utensil attachment or a personal hygiene attachment.

Abstract: Embodiments regard nutrition assessment using a handheld device. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a handle with a controller within the handle, an attachment arm extending from the handle, and a user-assistive device coupled with an end of the attachment arm, wherein the apparatus is to determine a mass held by the user-assistive device, the determination being made during a task by a user of the handheld tool including manipulation of the handheld tool.

Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing a position of an object are disclosed. The system comprises a housing that includes a subsystem. The system also includes an attachment arm coupled to the housing. At least one first sensor is placed along the attachment arm, wherein the attachment arm is configured to receive the object thereto. In response to an unintentional muscle movement by a user that adversely affects the motion of the object, the subsystem stabilizes the position of the object. The method comprises providing a subsystem within a housing and coupling an attachment arm to the housing. The method also includes placing at least one first sensor along the attachment arm, wherein the attachment arm is configured to receive the object thereto. In response to an unintentional muscle movement by a user that adversely affects the motion of the object, the subsystem stabilizes the position of the object.

Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing unintentional muscle movements are disclosed. In a first aspect, a non-contact sensing system comprises a stabilization unit, at least one non-contact position sensor coupled to the stabilization unit, and a processing unit coupled to the at least one non-contact position sensor, wherein the processing unit transmits motion commands to the stabilization unit to cancel unintentional muscle movements. In a second aspect, the method comprises a processing unit of a non-contact sensing system receiving position data of a stabilization unit that is detected by at least one non-contact position sensor and filtering the position data to identify the unintentional muscle movements. The method includes modeling the position data to create a system model and determining motor commands based upon the system model to cancel the unintentional muscle movements.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of conditioning a thermally activated shape memory alloy wire for use in an application, wherein the apparatus includes an adjustable hard-stop and the preferred method includes pre-determining a minimum activating current, allowable strain, and a loading magnitude and form based on the wire configuration and application, and further includes applying a double-exponential model to determine a final recoverable strain over fewer cycles.

Abstract: A handheld device for canceling unintentional muscle movement. The device includes a base comprising a handgrip for a user to hold, a gripping element linked to the base for releasably connecting the handheld device to an object, a sensor that detects movement of the base, a controller linked to the sensor, and at least one actuator that operates under control of the controller to cause movement of the gripping element in a direction that at least partially counteracts the detected movement of the base.

Abstract: A handheld device for canceling unintentional muscle movement. The device includes a base comprising a handgrip for a user to hold, a gripping element linked to the base for releasably connecting the handheld device to an object, a sensor that detects movement of the base, a controller linked to the sensor, and at least one actuator that operates under control of the controller to cause movement of the gripping element in a direction that at least partially counteracts the detected movement of the base.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of conditioning a thermally activated shape memory alloy wire for use in an application, wherein the apparatus includes an adjustable hard-stop and the preferred method includes pre-determining a minimum activating current, allowable strain, and a loading magnitude and form based on the wire configuration and application, and further includes applying a double-exponential model to determine a final recoverable strain over fewer cycles.