Abstract: A system and method for is provided for operation of an orthopedic system. The system includes a load sensor for converting an applied pressure associated with a force load on an anatomical joint, and an inertial sensing device configured to measure alignment. The inertial sensing device provides alignment measurement data to measure alignment. An ultrasonic transducer, MEMs microphone, electromagnets, optical elements, metallic objects or other transducers can be configured to convert or convey a physical movement to an electrical signal and support measurement of muscular-skeletal alignment. The load sensor can be used to measure load magnitude and position of load of an applied load by the muscular-skeletal system.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an electronic device configured to collect acoustic information or a method including the steps of collecting acoustic data by a microphone communicatively coupled to a mobile device, analyzing the acoustic data for a sound signature, tagging the sound signature with metadata, sending the sound signature with metadata to an acoustic database, associating sounds within the acoustic data with information, presenting the information on a map on the mobile device, and accessing at least audio from the acoustic database when a cursor is placed over a specific location on the map corresponding to captured ambient sounds from a geographic location and wherein acoustic information can be retrieved corresponding to the geographic location and for different selected periods of time.

Abstract: Methods and devices for processing and voice operated control are provided. The method can include performing a non-difference comparison between a first received sound and a second received sound, determining if speech exists based on the comparison, and transmitting or providing a decision that the speech is present to at least one among the device, a cell phone, a media player, or a portable computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system of conferencing can include the steps of initiating a conference call at a communication device with two or more communication devices and selecting to suppress a voice communication of at least one communication device on the conference call where a modified electronic signal is generated with the selected at least one communication device so that the voice communication from the selected at least one communication device is inaudible. The method or system further includes sending the modified electronic signal to at least one other communication device on the conference call. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for is provided for operation of an orthopedic system. The system includes a load sensor for converting an applied pressure associated with a force load on an anatomical joint, and an ultrasonic device for creating a low-power short-range ultrasonic sensing field within proximity of the load sensing unit for assessing alignment. The system can adjust a strength and range of the ultrasonic sensing field according to position. It can report audible and visual information associated with the force load and alignment. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a website configured to collect sound signatures from around the world and beyond. A communication device automatically stores acoustic information received by a microphone of the communication device. The acoustic information is analyzed for a trigger event. The trigger event stores the acoustic information, attaches metadata, creates a Gaussian Mixture Model, and measures sound pressure level. The communication device automatically sends the sound signature to a database when a communication path is opened to communication device. Each sound signature has associated metadata including a time stamp and geocode. Automatically collecting sounds using a communication device adapted for the process enables a database that captures sounds globally on a continuous basis.

Abstract: Methods and devices for wearable sound processing and voice operated control are provided. The method can include monitoring a sound pressure level between a first received sound and a second received sound, identifying a voicing level from a comparison of the sound pressure level, determining if a wearer is speaking based on the comparison and the voicing level, and transmitting a decision that the wearer's spoken voice is present to at least one among a cell phone, a media player, and a portable computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an acoustic device including an ear canal microphone configured to detect a first acoustic signal, an ambient microphone configured to detect a second acoustic signal, and a processor operatively coupled to the ear canal microphone and the ambient microphone. The processor is configured to detect a predetermined speech pattern based on an analysis of the first acoustic signal and the second acoustic signal and upon detection of the predetermined speech pattern, subsequently process acoustic signals from the ear canal microphone for a predetermined time or until the ear canal microphone detects a lack of an acoustic signal for a second predetermined time. After the predetermined time or after a second predetermined time, the processor processes acoustic signals from the ear canal microphone and the ambient microphone.

Abstract: A portable measurement system is provided comprising a probe, two trackers, a receiver and a pod. A user interface control captures a location and position of the probe in a three-dimensional sensing space with respect to a coordinate system of the receiver from time of flight waveform analysis. The system suppresses a ringing portion of the received ultrasonic and minimizes distortion associated with ultrasonic transducer ring-down during high-resolution position tracking of the probe and the two trackers. Media is presented according to a customized use of the probe and two trackers during an operation workflow.

Abstract: An earpiece (100) and acoustic management module for in-ear canal suppression control are provided. A method for suppressing signals for a conference call, a vehicle, and a general communication event is also provided. The earpiece can include an Ambient Sound Microphone (111) to capture ambient sound, an Ear Canal Receiver (125) to deliver audio content to an ear canal, an Ear Canal Microphone (123) configured to capture internal sound, and a processor (121). The processor can generate a voice activity level (622) and suppress an echo, spoken voice, and media content in the electronic internal signal, and mix an electronic ambient signal with an electronic internal signal in a ratio dependent on the voice activity level and a background noise level to produce a mixed signal (323) that is delivered to the ear canal (131).

Abstract: A navigation system is provided to direct control of a user interface work-flow during a procedure. Such a need can arise in sterile environments were touchless interaction is preferable over physical contact. The system includes a wand and receiver for controlling a pagination and parameter entry of the work-flow, a processor to compare wand movement profiles, a clock for limiting a time window between the comparison, and a controller for activating a user interface control in the workflow when a wand movement profile or gesture is recognized. The comparison can be based on the wand's direction, orientation and movement to and from various locations. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A low-cost and compact electronic device toolset is provided for orthopedic assisted navigation. The toolset comprises wireless sensorized devices that communicate directly with one another. A computer workstation is an optional component for further visualization. The sensorized devices are constructed with low-cost transducers and are self-powered. The toolset is disposable and incurs less hospital maintenance and overhead. As one example, the toolset reports anatomical alignment during a surgical workflow procedure. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A spine alignment system is provided to assess load forces on the vertebra in conjunction with overall spinal alignment. The system includes a spine instrument having an electronic assembly and a sensorized head. The sensorized head can be inserted between vertebra and report vertebral conditions such as force, pressure, orientation and edge loading. A GUI is therewith provided to show where the spine instrument is positioned relative to vertebral bodies as the instrument is placed in the inter-vetebral space. The system can distract vertebrae to a first height and measure the load applied by the spine region. The GUI can indicate that the load is outside a predetermined range. The spine region can be distracted to a second height where the load is measured within the predetermined load range.

Abstract: A touchless sensor device (110) for touchless signing and recognition is provided. The sensor device can include a recognition engine (114) for recognizing at least one finger sign (140), and a controller (120) for composing a text from the recognized at least one finger sign and providing predictive texting. A recognized pattern can be an alphanumeric character or a finger gesture. The controller can generate a trace (145) from the finger sign. The trace can include spatio-temporal information (153) that is characteristic to a touchless writing style. The controller can provide text messaging services, email composition services, biometric identification services, phone dialing, and navigation entry services through touchless finger signing.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for resolving a pivot point via touchless interaction. It applies to situations where one end of a rigid object is inaccessible but remains stationary at a pivot point, while the other end is free to move and is accessible to an input pointing device. As an example, the rigid object can be a leg bone where the proximal end is at the hip joint and the distal end is at the knee. The system comprises a wand and a receiver that are spatially configurable to touchlessly locate the pivot point without contact. The receiver tracks a relative displacement of the wand and geometrically resolves the location of the pivot point by a spherical mapping. The system can use a combination of ultrasonic sensing and/or accelerometer measurements. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of touchless interaction is provided for resolving a pivot point of an object where direct placement of a sensor at the pivot point is not practical. It applies to situations where the pivot point of a rigid object is inaccessible but remains stationary, while the other end is free to move and is accessible. The system maps the object's pivot point by way of an external sensor that detects constrained motion of the rigid object within a hemispherical banded boundary. It can also detect a geometric pattern and acceleration during the constrained motion to compensate for higher order rotations about the pivot point. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and devices for wearable sound processing and voice operated control are provided. The method can include monitoring a sound pressure level between a first received sound and a second received sound, identifying a voicing level from a comparison of the sound pressure level, determining if a wearer is speaking based on the comparison and the voicing level, and transmitting a decision that the wearer's spoken voice is present to at least one among a cell phone, a media player, and a portable computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method and device for voice operated control with learning. The method can include measuring a first sound received from a first microphone, measuring a second sound received from a second microphone, detecting a spoken voice based on an analysis of measurements taken at the first and second microphone, learning from the analysis when the user is speaking and a speaking level in noisy environments, training a decision unit from the learning to be robust to a detection of the spoken voice in the noisy environments, mixing the first sound and the second sound to produce a mixed signal, and controlling the production of the mixed signal based on the learning of one or more aspects of the spoken voice and ambient sounds in the noisy environments.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method and device for voice operated control. The method can include measuring a first sound received from a first microphone, measuring a second sound received from a second microphone, detecting a spoken voice based on an analysis of measurements taken at the first and second microphone, mixing the first sound and the second sound to produce a mixed signal, and controlling the production of the mixed signal based on one or more aspects of the spoken voice.

Abstract: A method of calibration and a calibration machine is provided for calibrating sensory controls of an ultrasonic navigation system. It can include an enclosure for containing a paired device group to minimize air flow therein, one or more holder mechanisms for rigidly mounting the paired devices at specific and adjustable orientations, and a rail system for holding the one or more holder mechanisms at specific locations within the enclosure. A computer communicatively coupled to the calibration machine can precisely adjust actuators for configuring the distances and orientations of the holding mechanisms and control a transmission and reception of the paired devices for calibrating the paired devices.