Method and apparatus for controlling a device based on spatial discrimination of skeletal myopotentials

Claim 1

A method for controlling a device based upon voluntary skeletal muscle activity of an animal subject, said method comprising the steps of: (a) mounting a plurality of locally sensitive, far-field immune sensors in mutually spaced relation to one another on an exterior body surface of the subject; (b) detecting, by way of said sensors, electrical signals associated with voluntary skeletal muscle activity of the subject only in a physical vicinity immediate each of said electrodes; (c) determining which, if any, of a predetermined series of voluntary skeletal muscle maneuvers is performed by the subject and, in response to determining that one of said series of voluntary skeletal muscle maneuvers has been performed by the subject, (d) initiating transmission to the device at least one control signal bearing a predetermined relationship to said one of said series of voluntary skeletal muscle maneuvers.

Claim 2

A method for controlling a device based upon voluntary skeletal muscle activity of an animal subject, said method comprising the steps of: (a) mounting a plurality of locally sensitive, far-field immune sensors in mutually spaced relation to one another on an exterior body surface of the subject; (b) detecting, by way of said sensors, electrical signals associated with voluntary skeletal muscle activity of the subject only in a physical vicinity immediate each of said electrodes; (c) determining which, if any, of a predetermined series of voluntary skeletal muscle maneuvers is performed by the subject and, in response to determining that one of said series of voluntary skeletal muscle maneuvers has been performed by the subject, (d) initiating transmission to the device at least one control signal bearing a predetermined relationship to said one of said series of voluntary skeletal muscle maneuvers.

Claim 4

An apparatus for controlling a device based on voluntary skeletal muscle activity of a subject, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of locally sensitive, far-field immune sensors mountable in mutually spaced relation to one another on an external body surface of the subject, and signal processing means coupled to said sensors for receiving signals detected by said sensors in response to voluntary skeletal muscle activity of the subject and processing said signals to determine which, if any, of a predetermined series of voluntary skeletal muscle maneuvers is performed by the subject and, upon determining that one or more maneuvers of said series has been performed by the subject, initiating transmission to said device of at least one control signal bearing a predetermined relationship to said one or more maneuvers.

Claim 5

An apparatus for controlling a device based on voluntary skeletal muscle activity of a subject, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of locally sensitive, far-field immune sensors mountable in mutually spaced relation to one another on an external body surface of the subject, and signal processing means coupled to said sensors for receiving signals detected by said sensors in response to voluntary skeletal muscle activity of the subject and processing said signals to determine which, if any, of a predetermined series of voluntary skeletal muscle maneuvers is performed by the subject and, upon determining that one or more maneuvers of said series has been performed by the subject, initiating transmission to said device of at least one control signal bearing a predetermined relationship to said one or more maneuvers.

Claim 6

An apparatus for controlling a device based on voluntary skeletal muscle activity of a subject, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of locally sensitive, far-field immune sensors mountable in mutually spaced relation to one another on an external body surface of the subject, and signal processing means coupled to said sensors for receiving signals detected by said sensors in response to voluntary skeletal muscle activity of the subject and processing said signals to determine which, if any, of a predetermined series of voluntary skeletal muscle maneuvers is performed by the subject and, upon determining that one or more maneuvers of said series has been performed by the subject, initiating transmission to said device of at least one control signal bearing a predetermined relationship to said one or more maneuvers, at least one of said sensors including: (i) an electrically conductive inner surface; (ii) an electrically conductive continuous middle surface spaced from and surrounding said inner surface in a plane; (iii) an electrically conductive continuous exterior surface spaced from and surrounding said middle surface in said plane; and (iv) an electrical conductor electrically connecting said inner surface to said exterior surface.

Claim 7

An apparatus for controlling a device based on voluntary skeletal muscle activity of a subject, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of locally sensitive, far-field immune sensors mountable in mutually spaced relation to one another on an external body surface of the subject, and signal processing means coupled to said sensors for receiving signals detected by said sensors in response to voluntary skeletal muscle activity of the subject and processing said signals to determine which, if any, of a predetermined series of voluntary skeletal muscle maneuvers is performed by the subject and, upon determining that one or more maneuvers of said series has been performed by the subject, initiating transmission to said device of at least one control signal bearing a predetermined relationship to said one or more maneuvers, at least one of said sensors including: (i) an electrically conductive inner surface; (ii) an electrically conductive continuous middle surface spaced from and surrounding said inner surface in a plane; (iii) an electrically conductive continuous exterior surface spaced from and surrounding said middle surface in said plane; and (iv) an electrical conductor electrically connecting said inner surface to said exterior surface.