1. A method for diagnosing, assessing, or detecting brain injury andor a neurological disorder of a subject, comprising:
presenting objects to the subject within the subject’s workspace such that the subject can choose to interact with the presented objects using either the right or left limb, or portion thereof, of a pair of limbs;
using data acquisition apparatus to obtain position data andor motion data andor kinetic data of the left and right limbs or portions thereof with respect to a presented object;
constructing a data set from the obtained data for a plurality of presented objects; and
analyzing the data set and outputting a result that provides information about condition of the brain andor neurological status in the subject;
wherein analyzing comprises determining from the position data andor motion data andor kinetic data whether the left limb or right limb was used with respect to a presented object, and repeating the determining for a plurality of presented objects to produce the acquired data set;
wherein presenting objects includes presenting objects to the subject within the subject’s workspace such that two or more objects are in the subject’s workspace simultaneously; or
wherein a next object is presented to the subject before the subject can move the right or left limb, or portion thereof, to a selected position after interacting with a previous object.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining includes:
relating location of a presented object within the subject’s workspace to the location of the left limb or right limb that was used to interact with the presented object; and
repeating the relating for a plurality of presented objects to produce the acquired data set.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
recording one or more autonomic functions of the subject with respect to a presented object; and
repeating the recording for a plurality of presented objects;
wherein data for the one or more autonomic functions together with the acquired data set provide information about brain injury andor neurological disorder in the subject.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more autonomic functions are selected from heart rate and blood pressure.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
presenting the objects to the subject using virtual reality or augmented reality;
whereby the virtual reality or augmented reality is two-dimensional or three-dimensional.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the data acquisition apparatus comprises a mechanical linkage;
wherein the subject’s left and right limbs or portions thereof are in contact with the mechanical linkage.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the mechanical linkage is adapted to be held with the left and right limbs or portions thereof.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the mechanical linkage is adapted to be attached to left and right limbs or portions thereof.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the data acquisition apparatus comprises wired or wireless sensors adapted to be attached to left and right limbs of a pair of limbs of a subject, and a detector that detects output signals from the one or more sensors or one or more cameras, to obtain position data andor motion data andor kinetic data of the left and right limbs or portions thereof with respect to a presented object.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining kinetic trajectory data of a limb with respect to a presented object;
wherein kinetic trajectory data provide information about brain injury andor a neurological disorder in the subject.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining speed andor velocity data of a limb with respect to a presented object;
wherein the speed andor velocity data provide information about brain injury andor a neurological disorder in the subject.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the presented objects include at least one characteristic selected from:
(i) presented objects are stationary;
(ii) presented objects are moving;
(iii) presented objects are moving at different speeds;
(iv) a fixed number of presented objects at any given time;
(v) a variable number of presented objects at any given time;
(vi) presented objects have the same characteristics;
(vii) presented objects have different characteristics;
(viii) duration of visibility of each presented object is the same;
(ix) duration of visibility of each presented object is different;
wherein data indicating an effect or no effect of a characteristic of a presented object on the subject’s behaviour with respect to a presented object provide information about brain injury andor a neurological disorder in the subject.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
changing one or more characteristics of the environment in which objects are presented to the subject, including:
(i) presenting distracter objects, which the subject is instructed not to interact with;
(ii) presenting barriers, real or virtual, that the subject must move around while attempting to interact or not interact with the objects;
(iii) presenting workspace-defined force-fields, such as gravity wells;
(iv) presenting audio to the subject;
wherein data indicating an effect or no effect of a characteristic of the environment on the subject’s behaviour with respect to a presented object provide information about brain injury andor a neurological disorder in the subject.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
changing one or more characteristics of the subject’s interface in the environment, the one or more characteristics selected from:
(i) providing body-defined force-fields, as a resistance, force, or bias to the subject’s limbs;
(ii) modulating spatial andor temporal alignment of the presented objects relative to the subject’s limb movement;
(iii) modulating at least one property of a representation of the subject’s limbs used to hit or interact with the objects in the environment, wherein the modulated property is selected from width, length, shape, and a combination thereof; and
(iv) providing a representation of the subject’s limb geometry.
15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining gaze position data as the subject interacts with the objects;
wherein gaze position data together with the acquired data set provide information about brain injury andor a neurological disorder in the subject.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing comprises comparing the data set with control data.
17. Apparatus for diagnosing, assessing, or detecting brain injury andor a neurological disorder of a subject, comprising:
a display device that presents objects to the subject within the subject’s workspace such that the subject can choose to interact with the presented objects using either the right or left limb, or portion thereof, of a pair of limbs, wherein the display device displays a representation of the subject’s limbs or portions thereof;
data acquisition apparatus that obtains position data andor motion data andor kinetic data of the left and right limbs or portions thereof with respect to a presented object; and
computer readable media that directs a computer to perform one or more of:
present the objects on the display device such two or more objects are in the subject’s workspace simultaneously; or such that a next object is presented to the subject before the subject can move the right or left limb, or portion thereof, to a selected position after interacting with a previous object;
present the representation of the subjects limbs or portions thereof on the display device;
input and analyze the position data andor motion data andor kinetic data corresponding to the subject’s left limb and right limb with respect to the presented objects; including determining from the position data andor motion data andor kinetic data whether the left limb or right limb was used with respect to a presented object, and repeating the determining for a plurality of presented objects;
output information about condition of the brain andor neurological status in the subject.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the data acquisition apparatus that obtains position data andor motion data andor kinetic data of the limbs comprises a mechanical linkage adapted to be attached to each limb.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the data acquisition apparatus that obtains position data andor motion data andor kinetic data of the limbs comprises a mechanical linkage adapted to be grasped by the subject.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the data acquisition apparatus that obtains position data andor motion data andor kinetic data of the limbs comprises one or more sensors adapted to be attached to each limb, and a detector that detects output signals from the one or more sensors, or one or more cameras.
21. A method for obtaining position data andor motion data andor kinetic data of the left and right limbs or portions thereof of a subject, comprising:
presenting objects to the subject within the subject’s workspace such that the subject can choose to interact with the presented objects using either the right or left limb, or portion thereof, of a pair of limbs;
using data acquisition apparatus to obtain position data andor motion data andor kinetic data of the left and right limbs or portions thereof with respect to a presented object;
constructing a data set from the obtained data for a plurality of presented objects; and
analyzing the data set and outputting a result that provides information about condition of the brain andor neurological status in the subject;
wherein analyzing comprises determining from the position data andor motion data andor kinetic data whether the left limb or right limb was used with respect to a presented object, and repeating the determining for a plurality of presented objects to produce the acquired data set;
wherein presenting objects includes presenting objects to the subject within the subject’s workspace such that two or more objects are in the subject’s workspace simultaneously; or
wherein a next object is presented to the subject before the subject can move the right or left limb, or portion thereof, to a selected position after interacting with a previous object.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising using the result to diagnose, assess, or detect brain injury andor a neurological disorder in the subject.
23. A method of diagnosing, assessing, or detecting brain injury andor a neurological disorder of a subject, comprising:
analyzing a data set to determine a brain injury andor a neurological disorder of a subject;
wherein the data set is obtained by:
presenting objects to the subject within the subject’s workspace such that the subject can choose to interact with the presented objects using either the right or left limb, or portion thereof, of a pair of limbs;
using data acquisition apparatus to obtain position data andor motion data andor kinetic data of the left and right limbs or portions thereof with respect to a presented object;
constructing the data set from the obtained data for a plurality of presented objects;
wherein presenting objects includes presenting objects to the subject within the subject’s workspace such that two or more objects are in the subject’s workspace simultaneously; or
wherein a next object is presented to the subject before the subject can move the right or left limb, or portion thereof, to a selected position after interacting with a previous object;
or wherein the data set is obtained by:
presenting objects to the subject within the subject’s workspace such that the subject can choose to interact with the presented objects using either the right or left limb, or portion thereof, of a pair of limbs;
presenting one or more distractions to the subject while the subject is interacting with a presented object;
using data acquisition apparatus to obtain position data andor motion data andor kinetic data of the left and right limbs or portions thereof with respect to a presented object; and
constructing the data set by obtaining position data andor motion data andor kinetic data of the left and right limbs or portions thereof for a plurality of presented objects;
wherein analyzing comprises determining from the position data andor motion data andor kinetic data whether the left limb or right limb was used with respect to a presented object, and repeating the determining for a plurality of presented objects; and outputting a result that provides information about condition of the brain andor neurological status in the subject.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for calcinationcarbonation cycle processing, the system comprising:
mineral sorbent granules having a size distribution between about 40 microns and about 125 microns;
A calciner reactor for receiving the mineral sorbent granules in a partially carbonated state, the calciner reactor being configured for granular flow of the partially carbonated sorbent granules under gravitational forces at a residence time of from 1 to 10 seconds;
a heat exchange structure for transferring heat from hot flue gas through a wall of the calciner reactor to a granular flow of the sorbent granules for facilitating a calcination reaction of the sorbent granules to regenerate the sorbent granules;
a gas extraction unit for removing gas products from the calciner, wherein the gas products comprise carbon dioxide from the calcination reaction;
a carbonator reactor located below the calciner reactor for receiving the regenerated sorbent granules from the calciner reactor and for receiving a cold flue gas, such that the regenerated sorbent granules are partially carbonised while the flue gas is scrubbed and the partially carbonated sorbent granules and the scrubbed flue gas exit the carbonator reactor as respective hot materials; and
a riser unit for cycling the partially carbonated sorbent granules from the carbonator reactor to the calciner reactor.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calciner reactor comprises:
a feeder unit for the granules;
a retort chamber having the feeder unit located at a top portion thereof, whereby the sorbent granules move through the retort chamber under gravitational forces in a granular flow; and
the heat exchange structure is thermally coupled to a wall of the retort chamber for providing heat to the granules inside the retort chamber through heat transfer through the wall of the retort chamber.
3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the riser unit pneumatically cycles the partially carbonated sorbent granules from a base of the carbonator reactor to the feeder unit at the top of the retort chamber.
4. The system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a mixer means disposed inside the retort chamber, the mixer means imparting at least horizontal forces on the granules moving through the chamber such that the granules are moved towards the wall of the retort chamber for facilitating the heat exchange to the granules through the wall of the retort chamber.
5. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gas extraction unit comprises a gasparticles separator structure disposed inside the calcination reactor and coupled to exhaust openings of the retort chamber for facilitating separation of the gas products from the granules.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas extraction unit comprises a vacuum pump for removing the gas products from the calciner reactor.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a gas used to pneumatically cycle the granules from the carbonator to the calciner is steam.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calciner reactor comprises a plurality of retort chambers, each retort chamber comprising a feeder unit located at a top portion of said each retort chamber,
whereby the granules move through said each retort chamber under gravitational forces in a granular flow; the heat exchange structure is thermally coupled to a wall of said each retort chamber for providing heat to the sorbent granules inside said each retort chamber through heat transfer through the wall of said each retort chamber; and the gas extraction unit removes the gas products from said each retort chamber.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of carbonator reactors, wherein the regenerated sorbent granules are fed serially through the plurality of carbonator reactors.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprises a bleed unit for bleeding a portion of the calcinated granules from the ealciner reactor prior to the carbonator reactor, and a feed unit for feeding a corresponding portion of fresh calcinated granules into the carbonator reactor.
11. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for scrubbing dust from the gas products comprising the carbon dioxide.
12. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for cooling the gas products comprising the carbon dioxide.
13. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for compressing the gas products comprising the carbon dioxide.
14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calciner reactor is configured for a residence time of said partially carbonated sorbent granules of about 1.5 seconds.
15. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the riser uses steam as a transport fluid.
16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the steam is superheated steam.
17. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calciner reactor is configured for a residence time of said partially carbonated sorbent granules of about 1.5 seconds.
18. A system for calcinationcarbonation cycle processing, the system comprising:
mineral sorbent granules having a size distribution between about 40 microns and about 125 microns;
A calciner reactor for receiving the mineral sorbent granules in a partially carbonated state, the calciner reactor being configured for granular flow of the partially carbonated sorbent granules under gravitational forces at a residence time of from 1 to 10 seconds;
a heat exchange structure for transferring heat from hot flue gas through a wall of the calciner reactor to a granular flow of the sorbent granules for facilitating a calcination reaction of the sorbent granules to regenerate the sorbent granules;
a gas extraction unit for removing gas products from the calciner, wherein the gas products comprise carbon dioxide from the calcination reaction;
a carbonator reactor for receiving the regenerated sorbent granules from the calciner reactor and for receiving a cold flue gas, such that the regenerated sorbent granules are partially carbonised while the flue gas is scrubbed and the partially carbonated sorbent granules and the scrubbed flue gas exit the carbonator reactor as respective hot materials; and
a riser red to use steam as a transport fluid for cycling the partially carbonated sorbent granules from the carbonator reactor to the calciner reactor.
19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the steam is superheated steam.
20. A method for calcinationcarbonation cycle processing, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving partially carbonated mineral sorbent granules having a size distribution between about 40 microns and about 125 microns in a calciner reactor;
providing for movement of the sorbent granules through the calciner reactor under gravitational forces in a granular flow at a residence time of from 1 to 10 seconds;
transferring heat from hot flue gas through a wall of the calciner reactor to the granular flow of the sorbent granules for facilitating a calcination reaction of the sorbent granules to regenerate the sorbent granules;
removing gas products from the calciner, wherein the gas products comprise carbon dioxide from the calcination reaction;
receiving the regenerated sorbent granules from the calciner reactor and a cold flue gas in a carbonator reactor located below the calciner reactor, such that the regenerated sorbent granules are partially carbonised while the flue gas is scrubbed and the partially carbonated sorbent granules and the scrubbed flue gas exit the carbonator reactor as respective hot materials; and
cycling the partially carbonated sorbent granules from the carbonator reactor to the calciner reactor by a riser unit.
21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the cycling of the partially carbonated sorbent granules uses steam as a sorbent trans tort fluid in the riser unit.