1. A method utilizing plural vestibular-parameter data communication devices for assisting in the computer-aided, substantially real-time diagnoses and treatments of vestibular disorders comprising
selecting for use plural ones of such devices,
anchoring selected devices to a head-wearable frame structure in conditions thereon of relative positional stability both with respect to the frame structure and with respect to one another, each such selected device being adapted to engage in at least one of the activities including (a) delivering to, and (b) receiving from, a subject’s head vestibular-relevant parameter data,
securing the frame structure, bearing the anchored devices, to the head of a subject in a manner causing the secured frame structure to operate as a unit with the subject’s head, and
establishing operative data-flow connections between the devices and a computing structure.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the devices are selected from a list including (a) an electronic video image-collecting device, (b) a linear accelerometer, (c) an angular accelerometer, (d) a sound deliverer, (e) an air-pressure modifier directly coupleable to the ear, (f) fluid-flow structure directly coupleable to the ear, (g) light-emitting structure, (h) visual image-presenting structure, (i) an inclinometer, (j) evoked-potential electrode structure, (k) galvanic stimulus structure, (l) caloric stimulus structure, and (m) vibration-generating structure.
3. A method for preparing nystagmus-activity data for useful analysis regarding the desired diagnosis and prospective treatment of a subject’s related vestibular disorder comprising
collecting from a subject data relative to the subject’s observable nystagmus behavior,
acquiring, during said collecting, acceleration data generated by accompanying subject movement, and
utilizing such acquired acceleration data, differentiating physiologic and pathologic components of the collected nystagmus data, thus to isolate these two components recognizably from one another, and
following said differentiating, making available the recognizably isolated pathologic component for use respecting the desired diagnosis and prospective treatment.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said collecting and acquiring are performed by relevant data sensors which are affixed in non-relative-motion stability conditions effectively to the subject’s head.
5. The method of claim 4 which further includes applying, via the subject’s head, selected vestibular-activity stimuli during said collecting and acquiring steps.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said applying is performed utilizing selected stimulators which are affixed in non-relative-motion stability conditions effectively to the subject’s head.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the data sensors include a linear accelerometer, an angular accelerometer, and an electronic video image-collecting device which observes subject eye movement.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the data sensors include a linear accelerometer, an angular accelerometer, and an electronic video image-collecting device which observes subject eye movement.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the data sensors and stimulators, in addition to including the mentioned accelerometers and electronic video image-collecting device, are additionally drawn from a list including (a) a sound deliverer, (b) an air-pressure modifier directly coupleable to the ear, (c) fluid-flow structure directly coupleable to the ear, (d) light-emitting structure, (e) visual image-presenting structure, (f) an inclinometer, (g) evoked-potential electrode structure, (h) galvanic stimulus structure, (i) caloric stimulus structure, and (j) vibration-generating structure.
10. The method of claim 9 which further comprises utilizing the mentioned electronic video image-collecting device to observe nystagmus behavior while simultaneously delivering selected liquid to the ear employing the mentioned fluid-flow structure.
11. The method of claim 10 which additionally involves providing a controller for controlling the delivery of liquid to the ear by the fluid-flow structure, and utilizing data derived from observations made by electronic video image-collecting device of simultaneously observable nystagmus behavior to affect the controlling operation of the controller.
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 rechargeable battery comprising:
an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode;
a case containing the electrode assembly; and
a cap assembly coupled to the case, the cap assembly comprising a cap plate, the cap plate having a short circuit opening, a first tab electrically coupled to the first electrode, the first tab being at an exterior of the case, and a deformable plate covering the short circuit opening, the deformable plate comprising a first portion and a second portion that is thinner than the first portion, the deformable plate being configured to form an electrical path between the first electrode and the second electrode by directly or indirectly contacting, the first tab when deformed.
2. The rechargeable battery of claim 1, wherein the cap assembly further comprises a first terminal electrically coupled to the first electrode and mounted on the cap plate, wherein the first tab is electrically connected to the first terminal.
3. The rechargeable battery of claim 2, wherein the first tab has an opening through which the first terminal protrudes from an interior to an exterior of the case.
4. The rechargeable battery of claim 1, wherein the cap assembly further comprises an insulating member between the first tab and the cap plate for electrically insulating the first tab from the cap plate, wherein the insulating member includes an opening to accommodate upward deformation of the deformable plate.
5. The rechargeable battery of claim 1, wherein the first tab comprises a protrusion which is at least partially inserted into the short circuit opening.
6. The rechargeable battery of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is electrically coupled to the cap plate.
7. The rechargeable battery of claim 1, wherein the deformable plate is curved to protrude toward an inside of the case.
8. The rechargeable battery of claim 1, wherein the deformable plate is configured to break and open at the second portion in response to an increase in pressure inside the case.
9. The rechargeable battery of claim 1, wherein the first tab has a vent hole.
10. The rechargeable battery of claim 9, wherein a diameter of the vent hole decreases from the interior of the case toward the exterior of the case.
11. The rechargeable battery of claim 1, further comprising a middle member between the first tab and the deformable plate and attached to the deformable plate.
12. The rechargeable battery of claim 1, further comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, and a second tab, the first tab being connected to the first terminal and the second tab being connected to the second terminal, the deformable plate being configured to deform and electrically contact the first tab and the second tab in response to an increase in pressure inside the case.
13. The rechargeable battery of claim 1, wherein the second portion is at the center of the deformable plate.
14. The rechargeable battery of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a notch.
15. A rechargeable battery comprising:
an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode;
a case containing the electrode assembly; and
a cap assembly coupled to the case, the cap assembly comprising a cap plate, the cap plate having a short circuit opening, a first tab electrically coupled to the first electrode, the first tab being external to the case, and a deformable plate covering the short circuit opening, the deformable plate being configured to deform and break to allow gas to exit the case, the deformable plate being configured to form an electrical path between the first electrode and the second electrode by directly or indirectly contacting, the first tab when deformed.
16. The rechargeable battery of claim 15, wherein the cap plate has a vent hole configured to allow gas to exit the case when the deformable plate breaks.
17. A rechargeable battery comprising:
an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode;
a case containing the electrode assembly; and
a cap assembly coupled to the case, the cap assembly comprising a cap plate, a first terminal, a second terminal, a first tab electrically coupled to the first electrode and connected to the first terminal, a second tab connected to the second terminal, and a deformable plate comprising a first portion and a second portion that is thinner than the first portion, the deformable plate being configured to deform and electrically contact the first tab and the second tab in response to an increase in pressure inside the case,
wherein the cap plate has a short circuit opening, and wherein a first end of the first tab is connected to the first terminal and a second end of the first tab is in the short circuit opening and a first end of the second tab is connected to the second terminal and a second end of the second tab is in the short circuit opening.