TW201700025A - Insole device for estimating the risk of falls in real time capable of providing real-time recommendations or warnings to the user for preventing the user from falling over - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses an insole device for estimating the risk of falls in real time, which comprises: a lower pad having a forefoot corresponding region, an arch corresponding region and a heel corresponding region arranged in sequence from the front end to the rear end; a plurality of sensing elements fixedly attached to surfaces of the forefoot corresponding region and the heel corresponding region for sensing the contact of the user's foot and generating measurement information; an upper pad for completely covering the lower pad and the sensing elements; and an arch pad having a signal transmitting device, wherein the arch pad is detachably fixed to a back surface of the arch corresponding region and is electrically connected with the pressure sensing elements to receive the measurement information and accordingly generate a signal for being transmitted to an external receiver in a wireless transmission manner, thereby providing real-time recommendations or warnings to the user so as to achieve the effect of estimating the risk of falls.

Description

Insole device capable of instantly assessing the risk of falling

The present invention discloses an insole device, and more particularly to an insole device that can instantly assess the risk of falling.

In recent years, Taiwanese society has gradually developed towards an aging society. Therefore, elderly care and services have become a serious problem and challenge that has to be faced. According to official statistics, it is a pity that many elderly people die every year due to accidental injuries, and falls are often one of the important factors caused by accidental injuries. Therefore, preventing the fall of the elderly is bound to become a top priority for the care of the children of the younger generation. As a result of walking, the weight will be transmitted to support the lower limbs of the body to produce plantar pressure, and excessive foot pressure will cause lesions in the foot. In particular, patients with diabetes, due to poor end-to-end circulation and excessive foot pressure or excessive shear force, lead to ulcers and other diseases, resulting in diabetes is also a high risk group of falls and injuries. In addition, more than 80% of the country has ankle and foot injuries, which may increase the risk of falls in addition to affecting the joints of other lower limbs.

However, looking at current products and literature on the market, there is rarely an insole device or concept that can be used to assess the risk of falling down for users to evaluate. For example, the Republic of China Patent No. I412734 provides a foot press force measuring device that can be placed in a shoe for being placed in a shoe for pressure and shear measurement, but cannot feed back measurement information to the user. It is also impossible to judge whether there is a risk of falling.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, the inventors of the present invention have invented an insole device that can immediately assess the risk of falling, and timely proposes or warns the user to prevent the fall.

An object of the present invention is to provide an insole device capable of instantly assessing the risk of falling, by sensing the time when the user's forefoot touches the first block sensing element and calculating the proportion of the total walking time, thereby evaluating whether it is low or high. Fall down the risk group and make suggestions or warnings to the user immediately.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an insole device capable of instantly assessing the risk of falling, by acquiring the time when the user's foot only contacts the first block sensing element, and the user's foot only contacts the second block sensing element. Time and the time between the user's foot contacting the first block sensing element and the second block sensing element, and calculating the ratio of each other, thereby evaluating the low or high fall risk group, and promptly making a suggestion or warning To the user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an insole device capable of instantly assessing the risk of falling. In a state of static balance, when the user's feet are standing back and forth, the user's heel is sensed to contact the second block sensing elements. Force and sense the sum of the forces of the user's forefoot touching the first block sensing elements, and calculate the ratio of the sum of the hind legs and the forefoot forces, and then evaluate the low or high fall risk group, and immediately make suggestions or warnings for use. By.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an insole device capable of instantly assessing the risk of falling, calculating the longitudinal and lateral displacement distances of the user's forefoot and the longitudinal and lateral displacement distances of the heel in the walking state, and then evaluating the fall to be low or high. Risk groups and make recommendations or warnings to users immediately.

In order to achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides an insole device capable of instantly assessing the risk of falling, comprising: a lower pad, the front end of the lower pad to the rear end of the lower pad sequentially having a forefoot corresponding area, one foot a corresponding area of the bow and a corresponding area of the heel; a plurality of sensing elements, the first block sensing element is fixedly attached to the surface of the corresponding area of the forefoot, and the second block sensing element is fixedly attached to the heel corresponding to the heel a surface of the region, and the sensing elements are electrically connected to each other to sense contact of the user's foot and generate a measurement information; an upper pad completely covers the underlying pad and the sensing elements for withstanding and slowing down a pressure on the sole of the user; and an arch pad having a signal transmitting device detachably fixed to the back of the corresponding region of the arch, electrically connected to the sensing elements, receiving the measurement information and analyzing, and then generating a The signal is transmitted to one of the external signal receiving devices via wireless transmission to immediately provide suggestions or warnings to the user to achieve the assessment of the risk of falling. The sensing element may be one of a load cell sensor, a strain gauge or a force sensor, or a combination thereof; wherein the signal emitting device further comprises There is: a processor that receives and reads the measurement information and analyzes and processes the signal, and then generates a signal; a wireless transmission module is electrically connected to the processor and transmits the signal to the signal receiving device; An inertial measurement module is electrically connected to the wireless transmission module, and transmits a measurement signal to the wireless transmission module; and a power supply module, the processor, the wireless transmission module, and the The inertia measurement module is electrically connected and provides the power required. The arch pad further includes a strain gauge disposed at a position where the arc of the center of the arch pad is the highest, electrically connected to the power supply module and the wireless transmission module, and provided by the power supply module The required power supply and the measurement signal are transmitted to the wireless transmission module.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides an insole device capable of instantly assessing the risk of falling, and has the following advantages and characteristics: 1. The present invention only needs to sense the time of the first block sensing element by the user's forefoot, and calculate Its proportion of the total walking time can be quickly assessed as a low or high fall risk group, and promptly suggest or warn the user; 2. Unlike the conventional insole device, only the front and rear two block sensing elements are needed. Detecting the time when the user's foot only contacts the first block sensing element, the time when the user's foot only contacts the second block sensing element, and the user's foot simultaneously contacting the first and second blocks Inductive component time, and calculate the ratio of each other, you can assess the risk of falling, and immediately give suggestions or warnings to the user, which is easier to design; 3. The invention is through the static balance when the user's feet In the state of standing before and after standing, sensing the force of the user's heel contacting the sensing elements of the second block and sensing the force of the user's forefoot contacting the sensing elements of the first block And calculate the ratio of the back foot and the sum of the forefoot forces; in the walking state, calculate the longitudinal and lateral displacement distance of the user's forefoot and the longitudinal and lateral displacement distance of the heel, and then assess the risk of falling. This concept has not yet been seen in the market. And literature.

In order to fully understand the objects, features and advantages of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail by the following specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

Please refer to the first figure and the second figure together, which is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the insole device capable of instantly assessing the risk of falling and a combination of a preferred embodiment. The insole device 1 includes a lower pad 10, which has a forefoot corresponding region 102, an arch corresponding region 104 and a heel corresponding region 106 from the front end of the lower pad 10 to the rear end of the lower pad 10. The material of the underpad 10 can be made of foam (EVA).

a plurality of sensing elements, the first block sensing element 20 is fixedly attached to the surface of the forefoot corresponding area 102, and the second block sensing element 30 is fixedly attached to the surface of the heel corresponding area 106, and The first block sensing component 20 and the second block sensing component 30 are electrically connected to each other to sense contact of a user's foot 90 and generate a measurement information. The number of the first block sensing component 20 and the second block sensing component 30 is one, and the first block sensing component 20 and the second block sensing component 30 can be load cell sensing. One of or a combination of a load cell sensor, a strain gauge, or a force sensor that produces measurement information. In particular, the measurement information may be a ratio of the time that the user's forefoot touches the first block sensing element 20 to the overall walking time; or the time when the user's foot only contacts the first block sensing element 20 The time when the foot contacts only the second block sensing element 30 and the time when the user's foot simultaneously contacts the first block sensing element 20 and the second block sensing element 30.

An upper pad 40 completely covers the lower pad 10 and the first block sensing element 20 and the second block sensing element 30 for receiving and relieving the pressure of the user's sole, and the upper pad 40 is also Friction can be added to reduce the sliding of the user's foot 90. The material of the upper pad 40 can be made of polyethylene foam (Plastazote).

An arch pad 50 having a signal transmitting device 52 is detachable or fixed to the back of the corresponding arch region 104, and is electrically connected to the first block sensing component 20 and the second block sensing component 30. The sexual connection receives the measurement information and analyzes it, and then generates a signal, and transmits the signal to one of the external signal receiving devices 60 through wireless transmission to immediately provide suggestions or warnings to the user to achieve the effect of the fall risk assessment. The signal transmitting device 52 further includes: a processor 522 that receives and reads the measurement information, analyzes and processes the signal, and then generates a signal; a wireless transmission module 524 is coupled to the processor 522. Electrically connecting and transmitting the signal to the signal receiving device 60; an inertial measurement module 526 is electrically connected to the wireless transmission module 524, and transmits the measurement signal to the wireless transmission module 524 and a power source. The supply module 528 is electrically connected to the processor 522, the wireless transmission module 524, and the inertia measurement module 526, and provides the power required. The arch pad 50 further includes a strain gauge 54 disposed at a position where the arc of the center of the arch pad 50 is the highest, and is electrically connected to the power supply module 528 and the wireless transmission module 524. The power supply module 528 provides its required power and transmits the measurement signal to the wireless transmission module 524. In particular, the wireless transmission module 524 can be one of a Bluetooth wireless transmission module, a Wi-Fi module, an RFID module, an infrared module, an ANT+ wireless transmission module, or a Zigbee module, or a combination thereof; The power supply module 528 can be one of a primary battery or a secondary battery or a combination thereof; the signal receiving device 60 can be a personal computer host, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a smart phone, or a cloud host. One of them or a combination thereof.

However, in order to enable the insole device 1 to provide the user with the best support, thereby reducing the degree of user body shaking, improving the stability of the user while walking, and reducing the risk of falling, the insole device 1 corresponds to the A tibial pad 70 is disposed on the surface of the upper pad 40 at the position of the forefoot corresponding region 102, and a heel pressure reducing pad 80 is disposed on the back surface of the lower pad 10 corresponding to the position of the heel corresponding region 106. The material of the tibial pad 70 and the heel pressure reducing pad 80 may be composed of a micro cell polymer (Poron).

Please refer to the third figure, which is a schematic diagram of the instant evaluation system of the insole device capable of instantly assessing the risk of falling down. The instant evaluation system is composed of the first block sensing component 20, the second block sensing component 30, the strain gauge 54, the processor 522, the wireless transmission module 524, the inertia measurement module 526, and the The power supply module 528 and the signal receiving device 60 are configured.

Referring to the second figure together, when the user places the insole device 1 into the shoe for activity, the person will touch the ground first and then switch to the forefoot portion when the person walks. Therefore, the second block sensing component 30 will separately sense the time when the user's foot 90 is in contact, and the first block sensing component 20 and the second block sensing component 30 simultaneously sense the user's foot 90. At the time of contact, finally the first block sensing element 20 will separately sense the time the user's foot 90 is in contact. Next, the time when the user's foot 90 only contacts the first block sensing element 20, the time when the user's foot 90 only contacts the second block sensing element 30, and the user's foot 90 simultaneously contact the The time of the first block sensing component 20 and the second block sensing component 30 is transmitted to the processor 522 to calculate the mutual ratio thereof, and the measurement information is transmitted to the user through the wireless transmission module 524 by wireless transmission. The signal is received by the device 60 and an immediate recommendation or warning is made to assess the effect of the risk of falling. Here, the signal receiving device 60 is described by taking a mobile phone as an example. The first example: when walking, if the user touches the first block sensing element 20 for a period of not less than 60% of the total walking time, It is assessed as a low fall risk group; and when the forefoot touches the first block sensing element 20 for an overall time of no more than 50%, it can be assessed as a high fall risk group. A second example: when the user's foot 90 contacts only the second block sensing element 30, the first block sensing element 20 and the second block sensing element 30 are simultaneously in contact with the user's foot 90. When the time ratio is less than 0.46, it can be evaluated as a low fall risk group; and when it is greater than 0.55, it can be evaluated as a high fall risk group. Similarly, when the time when the user's foot 90 contacts only the second block sensing element 30 and the user's foot 90 only contacts the first block sensing element 20 is less than 0.86, it can be evaluated as low. Falling risk groups; when greater than 1.03, it can be assessed as a high risk group. If the processor 522 analyzes the user as a high fall risk group, the wireless transmission module 524 transmits a warning message to the user's mobile phone to achieve the alarm function and promptly prompts the user to correct the walking posture. And pay attention to walking conditions.

Please refer to the fourth figure, which is an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the insole device for assessing the risk of falling down in the present invention. The insole device 1 is the only difference from the first embodiment of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in that the number of the first block sensing elements 20 is five; and the number of the second block sensing elements 30 is There are two in the system, and the rest are the same, so I will not repeat them here.

In addition, the insole device 1 can also sense the force of the heel contact and the first portion when the two feet are standing before and after standing when the user is statically balanced. A block sensing element 20 senses the sum of the forces of the forefoot contact and then calculates the ratio of the sum of the hind foot and the forefoot force to assess whether there is a risk of falling. If the ratio is 0.3, the load is on the forefoot, and it can be evaluated as a low fall risk group. When the ratio is 1.33, the load is on the hind foot and can be evaluated as a high fall risk group. Similarly, if the processor 522 analyzes that the ratio is a high fall risk group, the wireless transmission module 524 transmits a warning message to the user's mobile phone to achieve the alarm function and promptly prompt the user to correct the problem. Its walking posture and attention to walking conditions.

Furthermore, the insole device 1 is more responsive to determining whether the user has a distance of displacement in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the forefoot in the walking state to assess whether there is a risk of falling. The driving element is selected as a fulcrum by selecting any one of the first block sensing elements 20, and the distance between the remaining first block sensing elements 20 and the fulcrum is a force arm, and the forefoot is respectively contacted with the first The force of a block sensing element 20 is multiplied by the sum of the force arms divided by the sum of the forces of the forefoot contacting the first block sensing elements 20. When the lateral displacement distance of the forefoot is greater than 1, it can be evaluated as a low fall risk group; when the lateral displacement distance of the forefoot is less than 0.74, it can be evaluated as a high fall risk group.

The insole device 1 can also assess whether there is a risk of falling by determining the distance between the longitudinal and lateral directions of the heel of the user in the walking state. The trajectory is selected as a fulcrum by selecting any one of the second block sensing elements 30, and the distance between the remaining second block sensing elements 30 to the fulcrum is a force arm, and the heel is respectively contacted. The force of the second block sensing element 30 is multiplied by the sum of the force arms divided by the sum of the forces of the heel contacting the second block sensing elements 30. When the lateral displacement distance of the heel is less than 0.9, it can be evaluated as a low fall risk group; when the lateral displacement distance of the heel is greater than 1.57, it can be evaluated as a high fall risk group. Similarly, if the processor 522 analyzes the displacement distance as a high fall risk group, the wireless transmission module 524 transmits a warning message to the user's mobile phone, thereby achieving the function of the alarm and promptly reminding the user. Correct the walking posture and pay attention to walking conditions.

The invention has been described above in terms of the preferred embodiments, and it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It should be noted that variations and permutations equivalent to those of the embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

1‧‧‧sole device
10‧‧‧ Under pad
102‧‧‧ Forefoot corresponding area
104‧‧‧The corresponding area of the arch
106‧‧‧foot area
20‧‧‧First block sensing element
30‧‧‧Second block sensing element
40‧‧‧Upper pad
50‧‧‧foot arch pad
52‧‧‧Signal launcher
522‧‧‧ processor
524‧‧‧Wireless Transmission Module
526‧‧‧Inertial Measurement Module
528‧‧‧Power supply module
54‧‧‧ strain gauge
60‧‧‧Signal receiving device
70‧‧‧跖骨骨垫
80‧‧‧Heel decompression pad
90‧‧‧User foot
2‧‧‧ Instant Evaluation System

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of an insole apparatus that can instantly assess the risk of falling. Second Figure A schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a preferred embodiment of the insole apparatus for assessing the risk of falling down. Third Diagram The present invention provides a schematic diagram of an instant evaluation system for an insole device that can instantly assess the risk of falling. FOURTH EMBODIMENT An exploded view of another preferred embodiment of the insole apparatus for assessing the risk of falling down in the present invention.

1‧‧‧sole device

10‧‧‧ Under pad

102‧‧‧ Forefoot corresponding area

104‧‧‧The corresponding area of the arch

106‧‧‧foot area

20‧‧‧First block sensing element

30‧‧‧Second block sensing element

40‧‧‧Upper pad

50‧‧‧foot arch pad

52‧‧‧Signal launcher

522‧‧‧ processor

524‧‧‧Wireless Transmission Module

526‧‧‧Inertial Measurement Module

528‧‧‧Power supply module

54‧‧‧ strain gauge

60‧‧‧Signal receiving device

70‧‧‧跖骨骨垫

80‧‧‧Heel decompression pad

Claims (26)

An insole device capable of instantly assessing the risk of falling, comprising: a lower pad, which has a forefoot corresponding region, a corresponding arch corresponding region and a heel corresponding region from the front end of the lower pad to the rear end of the lower pad; The first block sensing element is fixedly attached to the surface of the forefoot corresponding area, and the second block sensing element is fixedly attached to the surface of the heel corresponding area, and the sensing elements are electrically connected to each other Sexual connection, sensing the contact of the user's foot and generating a measurement information; an upper pad completely covering the underpad and the sensing elements for withstanding and relieving the pressure of the user's sole; and a signal The arch pad of the launching device is detachably fixed to the back of the corresponding region of the arch, electrically connected to the sensing elements, receives the measurement information and analyzed, and then generates a signal, and transmits the signal through wireless transmission To one of the external signal receiving devices, promptly make a suggestion or warning to the user to achieve the effect of assessing the risk of falling. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 1 of the patent application, wherein the material of the underpad is foam (EVA). The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down, as described in claim 1, wherein the number of the first block sensing element and the second block sensing element is one. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 3, wherein the sensing element can be a load cell sensor, a strain gauge or a stress sensor (force) One of the sensors or a combination thereof that produces measurement information. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down, as described in claim 4, wherein the measurement information is a ratio of the time the forefoot touches the sensing element of the first block to the overall walking time, when the forefoot touches The probability that a block sensing element 20 accounts for not less than 60% of the total walking time can be evaluated as a low fall risk group; and when the forefoot contacts the first block sensing element 20 for an overall time of no more than 50%, Assessed as a high risk group of falls. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 4, wherein the measurement information is such that the user's foot only contacts the first block sensing element, and the user's foot only contacts the first The time of the two-block sensing element and one of the times when the user's foot simultaneously contacts the first block sensing element and the second block sensing element. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 6 wherein the user's foot contacts the first block sensing element simultaneously with the user's foot when the user only contacts the second block sensing element. When the ratio of the time of the second block sensing element is less than 0.46, it can be evaluated as a low fall risk group; and when it is greater than 0.55, it can be evaluated as a high fall risk group. An insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 6 wherein the user's foot only contacts the second block sensing element and the user's foot only contacts the first block sensing element. When the ratio is less than 0.86, it can be assessed as a low fall risk group; when it is greater than 1.03, it can be assessed as a high fall risk group. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down, as described in claim 1, wherein the number of the first block sensing elements is five; and the number of the second block sensing elements is two. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 9 of the patent application, wherein the sensing element can be a load cell sensor, a strain gauge or a stress sensor (force) One of the sensors or a combination thereof that produces measurement information. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down, as described in claim 10, wherein the measurement information can be used by the second block when the user is in a state of static balance and the feet are standing back and forth. The component senses the sum of the force of the heel contact and the force of the first block sensing element to sense the forefoot, and then calculates the ratio of the sum of the rear foot and the forefoot force. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 11 of the patent application, wherein the ratio is 0.3, the representative load is at the forefoot, and the low fall risk group can be evaluated; and when the ratio is 1.33, the load is representative. At the hind foot, it can be assessed as a high risk group of falls. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down, as described in claim 10, wherein the measurement information may also be the displacement distance of the forefoot in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction in the walking state, which is selected as the first region. One of the block sensing elements serves as a fulcrum, and the distance between the remaining first block sensing elements and the fulcrum is a force arm, and the force of the forefoot contacting the first block sensing elements is multiplied by the force The sum of the force arms is divided by the sum of the forces of the forefoot contacting the sensing elements of the first block; the measurement information may be the longitudinal and lateral displacement distance of the heel in the walking state, Selecting any one of the second block sensing elements as a fulcrum, and the distance between the remaining second block sensing elements to the fulcrum is a force arm, and the heel is respectively contacting the second block sensing elements The force is multiplied by the sum of the force arms and divided by the sum of the forces of the heel contacting the second block sensing elements. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 13 of the patent application, wherein when the lateral displacement distance of the forefoot is greater than 1, the low fall risk group can be evaluated; when the lateral displacement distance of the forefoot is less than 0.74, It can be assessed as a high fall risk group. The insole device capable of immediately assessing the risk of falling, as described in claim 13 of the patent application, wherein when the lateral displacement distance of the heel is less than 0.9, the risk group of low falls can be evaluated; when the lateral displacement distance of the heel is greater than 1.57, It can be assessed as a high fall risk group. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 1 of the patent application, wherein the material of the upper pad is a polyethylene foam (Plastazote). The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down, as described in claim 1, wherein the signal transmitting device further comprises: a processor that receives, reads, and analyzes and processes the measurement information, and then generates a wireless transmission module is electrically connected to the processor and transmits the signal to the signal receiving device; an inertial measurement module is electrically connected to the wireless transmission module to measure the signal And the power supply module is electrically connected to the processor, the wireless transmission module and the inertia measurement module, and provides a power supply required by the processor. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down, as described in claim 17, wherein the arch pad further comprises a strain gauge disposed at a position where the arc of the center of the arch pad is the highest. The power supply module and the wireless transmission module are electrically connected, and the power supply module supplies the required power and transmits the measurement signal to the wireless transmission module. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down, as described in claim 17 and claim 18, wherein the first block sensing element, the second block sensing element, the processor, the wireless transmission module, The inertia measurement module, the power supply module, the strain gauge and the signal receiving device form an instant evaluation system. The insole device capable of instantly assessing the risk of falling, as described in claim 17, wherein the wireless transmission module can be a Bluetooth wireless transmission module, a Wi-Fi module, an RFID module, an infrared module, an ANT+ One or a combination of a wireless transmission module or a Zigbee module. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 17 of the patent application, wherein the power supply module can be one of a primary battery or a secondary battery or a combination thereof. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 1 of the patent application, wherein the signal receiving device can be one of a personal computer host, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a smart phone or a cloud host or Its combination. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 1 further includes a tibial pad disposed on the upper pad surface corresponding to the position of the forefoot corresponding region. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 23, wherein the material of the tibial pad is a microcellular polymer (Poron). The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 1 of the patent application, further comprising a heel pressure relief pad disposed on the back of the lower pad corresponding to the position of the corresponding region of the heel. The insole device for assessing the risk of falling down as described in claim 25, wherein the material of the heel decompression pad is a microcellular polymer (Poron).