Abstract: An apparatus for assessing the strength of a user is disclosed which includes pneumatic reservoir means adapted to be repeatedly vented by the user, and measuring means for measuring parameters indicative of strength, work, work rate and speed of muscle contraction of the user in evacuating the reservoir means.

Abstract: The adjustable to a user's upper extremity the exoskeleton structure provides testing and exercising of the whole upper extremity in a realistic manner without infringement of a locomotor act and with selective biomechanical information and exercise loading in each anatomical motion direction of every joint simultaneously. The exoskeleton structure comprises jointed means for connection with a user's shouldergirdle, upperarm, forearm, and hand. Those means include measuring-loading blocks to measure muscle forces and joint angles and to apply a dosed exercise load. All measuring-loading blocks in the exoskeleton structure are identical. The exoskeleton structure is able to provide a realistic and comprehensive information about both a complex locomotor act and a selective mono-planar motion for both isometric and isotonic muscular contractions.

Abstract: The invention detects the loft time, speed, power and/or drop distance of a vehicle, such as a sporting vehicle, during activities of moving and jumping. A loft sensor detects when the vehicle leaves the ground and when the vehicle returns to the ground. A controller subsystem converts the sensed information to determine a loft time. A display shows the recorded loft time to a user of the system. In addition, a speed sensor can detect the vehicle's speed for selective display to the user. A power sensing section informs the user of expended energy, which can be compared to other users. A drop distance sensing unit informs the user of the peak height of a jump, during an airtime. Gaming on the internet is facilitated to connect worldwide sport enthusiasts.

Abstract: Method for measuring potency of a substance, the method including; administering the substance to a mammal; subjecting the mammal to a stimulus; and monitoring a pinna reflex response of the mammal.

Abstract: The muscle testing device, allows a person to determine, without assistance, the openness of their autonomic nervous system through determining the strength of a muscle, usually the arm muscle. The force of the muscle is applied against a gradually increasing known force, through the use of a solenoid. When the forces are equal a contact opens alerting a microprocessor to indicate this force on a display, through the use of a look-up table within the computer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for evaluating shoes worn by a person for activity on ground, including the steps of determining forces of acceleration experienced by the person in a direction generally perpendicular to the ground, processing signals representative of the forces of acceleration over a time interval to determine energy experienced by the person while wearing the shoes, reporting the energy to the person, and evaluating the shoes based on the energy. Another method is disclosed for ratioing energy from two different locations on a person for determining energy experienced by the person during activity over ground.

Abstract: A sequence of low force, high compliance, long extension, piezofilm-based sensors for a biofeedback system for self-monitoring of selected body motions. Flexible, large area, piezofim sensors are mounted on compliant but less flexible, larger area, backbone structures so as to distribute localized stress anomolies and produce a useful, coherent, signal voltage for realtime body motion monitoring. The sensors are used in combination with body appliances that permit suitable placement of the sensors proximate the body, in areas suitable for measuring body motion, such as twist, stretch and flexure. The sensors provide input signals to a small, self contained signal processing and feedback module that generates a limited sequence of stepped announcements indicating the amount of motion detected. Instant feedback is provided to the user in the form of audible tones, colored lights, or other means intended to provide periphery feedback without directly interferring with the intended motion.

Abstract: There is provided a method of testing power in an individual by measuring the amount of time it takes to move an object from one location to a second location and calculating the power based on the time it took to move to object. Also provided is a power tester including a sensor device for sensing movement of a weight between at least two points, measuring device for measuring time for weight to move between at least two points, and a calculating device for automatically calculating power based upon the measurements.

Abstract: A device for determining a strength profile of a human limb. The device comprises a first tubular member and a support intended to be suspended in a fixed position in relation to a coordinate system X-, y and z-axes. The first tubular member is arranged for holding the human limb and for being in contact with the support via at least one force sensor arranged for detecting forces exercised by the human limb on the first tubular member in directions in the coordinate system when determining the strength profile, wherein the coordinate system is three-dimension and has x-, y and z-axes and the force sensor is/are arranged for detecting forces along each of the x-, y and z-axes. The determined strength profile, for e.g. an arm or a leg of a human subject, can be presented as a table or diagram illustrating the forces and torques the human limb in question can exercise in different directions in the coordinate system.

Abstract: An improved apparatus is disclosed for use in diagnosing and treating pelvic floor musculature disorders. The device includes a handle (18) and head (10) mounted on opposite ends of a shaft (12), with a barrier (14) mounted on the shaft (12) between the handle (18) and head (10), and an indicator (16) mounted on the shaft (12) between the barrier (14) and handle (18). The other apparatus consists of the head (10) which is detachable from the shaft (12) and attached to a pin (20). The apparatus provide magnetic resistance to pelvic floor musculature contraction to (1) measure and track the progress of pelvic floor musculature strength, and (2) exercise pelvic floor musculature to improve strength at a private, patient-determined frequency.

Abstract: Comparable values for the heights of the individual jumps in a series of multiple jumps can be achieved, if defined initial conditions for first and second successive integrations of measured vertical forces are given for each individual jump. The initial condition for the first integration is taken as a zero velocity in the middle of the flight time interval for each individual jump. For every second integration, as initial condition for the jump height, a constant initial height is taken. This is a characteristic value of the test person.

Abstract: An apparatus (4) and method of non-invasive monitoring of gut motility. An ingestible magnet (10, M) is swallowed by the patient (12) and then linear and rotational movement is directionally detected by an external compass (14, 16). In preferred form, movements of the magnet (10, M) are recorded by a memory means (18) and graphically presented (20) over a period of predetermined time. An alternate embodiment includes multiple compasses (C1, C2) for directionally locating the magnet (10, M) within the patient (12).

Abstract: The present invention provides a pitching training tool, comprising a rod-shaped body portion, which has a hollow, cylindrical shaft portion that is lighter than a regulation ball, and a gripping portion, which is integrally formed to one end of this shaft portion; an acceleration sensor or other such detector, which is incorporated in the gripping portion side of this rod-shaped body portion, and which detects a state of motion when the rod-shaped body portion is swung around; an arithmetic processing portion for performing computations based on motion state data from this detector; and a display for displaying the results of computations by the arithmetic processing portion, and is constituted so as to compute in the computing portion at least the rotational speed of the rod-shaped body portion based on the detection results by this detector and to display same.

Abstract: This remote control qualifier, typically a radio frequency (RF) qualifier, is an apparatus for monitoring a mechanical torque wrench with torque switch. The torque wrench includes a means for stimulating the torque switch wherein the torque switch can provide an electrical signal upon reaching target torque. The torque wrench also includes a transmitter for sending the electrical signals to a receiver. The RF qualifier is remote and includes a receiver for receiving the electrical signals from the transmitter of the torque wrench. The remote qualifier also includes a means for electrically computationally processing the electrical signals into other signals.

Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a device for counting the repetitions of various types of exercise machines 12. A permanent magnet 14 is attached to a movable member, e.g., a weight stack 16, of the exercise machine 12 selected so as to move within an acceptable distance of a magnetic sensor 18 positioned on a stationary member 20 of the exercise machine 12. The sensor 18 has means 28 having a power supply 34 for detecting the magnetic field 26 and displaying the repetition number on a visual display means 22. A reset button 30 is provided along with an alternative embodiment providing a timed reset 38. Also, an embodiment is described wherein a voice synthesizer 42 announces the number of the repetition in addition to having a display 22.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for measuring force, primarily due to fatigue. In one embodiment, a finger fatigue measuring system is provided which measures the force output from fingers while the fingers are repetitively generating forces as they strike a keyboard. Force profiles of the fingers are generated from the measurements and evaluated for fatigue. The system can be used clinically to evaluate patients, to ascertain the effectiveness of clinical intervention, pre-employment screening, to assist in minimizing the incidence of repetitive stress injuries at the keyboard, mouse, joystick, and to monitor effectiveness of various finger strengthening systems. The system can also be used in a variety of different applications adapted for measuring forces produced during performance of repetitive motions.

Abstract: A device for measuring the force-exerting ability of human muscle groups, comprising at least one pressing element which works together with a force-measuring unit which can measure the force exerted on at least one pressing element The pressing element, of which there is at least one in the force-measuring unit. being arranged so that its height can be adjusted and so that it can be fixed at a desired height. The force-measuring device having, in addition to the at least one pressing element working together with a force-measuring unit, at least one and preferably three additional pressing elements serving to hold certain parts of the test person's body in place, whose height can also be adjusted and which can be fixed at the desired height and are horizontally adjustable and can be fixed in the desired horizontal position.

Abstract: A human extender controller for interface between a human operator and a physical object through a physical plant. The human extender controller uses an inner-feedback loop to increase the equivalent damping of the operating system to stabilize the system when it contacts with the environment and reduces the impact of the environment variation by utilizing a high feedback gain, determined by a root locus sketch. Because the stability of the human extender controller of the present invention is greatly enhanced over that of the prior art, the present invention is able to achieve a force reflection ratio 500 to 1 and capable of handling loads above the two (2) ton range.

Abstract: The invention detects the loft time and/or speed of a vehicle, such as a sporting vehicle, during activities of moving and jumping. A loft sensor detects when the vehicle leaves the ground and when the vehicle returns to the ground. A microprocessor subsystem converts the sensed information to determine a loft time. A display shows the recorded loft time to a user of the system. In addition, a speed sensor can detect the vehicle's speed for selective display to the user. The invention could be used in sporting activities such as snowboarding where users loft into the air on ski jumps and catch “air” time but have no quantitative measure of the actual time lapse in the air. Therefore, users in skiing can use invention to record, store, and playback selected information relating to their sporting day, including the total amount of “air” time for the day and information such as dead time, i.e., time not spent on the slopes.

Abstract: An electronic activity monitor for monitoring the performance of an activity such as an exercise comprises an activity detector responsive to motion associated with the performance of the activity to output a corresponding signal, a processor for receiving the signal and determining a starting address at which a block of corresponding sound data is stored, a memory for storing sound data corresponding to a plurality of values associated with the monitored activity, the sound data preferably comprising data representing a voice representation of the values, and a speech generator for generating a naturally-sounding human voice or reproducing a pre-stored version of an actual human voice or other audible indicia in accordance with the sound data stored in the memory. The speech generator is controlled by the processor in response to the activity detector to provide a verbal representation of the user's performance of the activity.

Abstract: A portable starting block, used by track athletes, is constructed of sections of two lightweight aluminum extrusions. One of these extrusions comprises a foot pedal portion having a generally concave, outwardly facing, foot-engaging portion with an inwardly turned track-engaging end. The other portion of the starting block is a support plate, which also has a track-engaging end and an upper end for pivotal interconnection with the foot pedal portion. The pivotal interconnections are formed as mating extrusions, one of which slides into the other to form a movable hinge between the two portions of the starting block. This permits any desired incremental angle adjustment of the starting block within a fairly wide range of angles. The two parts are locked together by a locking pin; and when the block is folded into its storage position, the foot pedal portion underlies the support plate portion.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing the muscle strength of a subject wherein both static and dynamic strength tests are conducted on the subject during which forces exerted by the muscles are measured by devices which are connected to a computer and a display screen for displaying the strength of the muscles at different positions of a subject's body part. In the dynamic strength test, the subject moves a movement arm by exerting the muscles to be tested. The movement arm is connected to a resistance weight to oppose movement by the subject. In the static strength test, the movement arm is fixed in position and the subject exerts a body part against the movement arm upon exertion of the muscles to be tested. Force and angle measuring devices are connected to the movement arm and the computer for enabling the muscle strength to be displayed in terms of torque at various angular positions of the body part.

Abstract: A training device is disclosed for exercising the pubococcygeal or pelvic floor muscles, for example in the treatment of incontinence. The device includes a cylindrical, deformable probe for insertion into the vagina or rectum of a user. The probe is connected to a pressure transducer, which detects the pressure applied to the probe by contraction of the pelvic floor muscles and displays a pressure indicator to the user to help direct the contraction of the appropriate muscles. The pressure indicator may take the form of a series of nested figures, such as curves or concentric semi-circles, that incrementally converge toward a common point as pressure on the probe increases. The nested figures incrementally retreat from the common point as pressure on the probe decreases. The training unit guides a user through an exercise routine by tracking the overall exercise time and the timing between flexing and relaxation cycles.

Abstract: A testing apparatus of a physical capacity assessment system has a support base, a column extending upwardly from the base and a workstation to which load is applied by an individual being tested on the apparatus. The workstation is supported by and adjustable in a number of different planes relative to the column. Also provided are an indicator which shows positioning of the workstation and a measuring device which measures the load placed on the workstation.