AU2021104283A4

AU2021104283A4 - Internet of things enabled smart shoes

Info

Publication number: AU2021104283A4
Application number: AU2021104283A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Meenakshi Aggarwal; Mohit Angurala; Monika Chaudhary; Nitin Goyal; Kalpna GULERIA; Sushil Kumar; Mamta Nain; Vrajesh Sharma; Kumar Shashvat
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-07-18
Filing date: 2021-07-18
Publication date: 2022-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-18

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for providing a gait training to a patient, the method comprising steps of receiving a monitored ground contact force exerted by a foot of the patient from sensors inserted into a shoe of the patient, and a monitored rotation of joints of the patient from a joint angle tracker, determining gait phases and abnormalities in a walking pattern of the patient through a contact force measurement, determining walking parameters based on the monitored rotation of the joints of the patient, and transmitting the determined gait phases, the determined abnormalities, and the determined walking parameters to a user device of one, of the patient, an administrator, a medical practitioner, a caretaker, or a combination thereof. 1/3 100 Cloud Sorage 104 Shoe 102 User evice105 Insole 112 User Interface Network 122 Sensors 114 Pcs Processor Joint angle 124 tracker 116 Air Tube 118 ProcesirgUnit] Figr120e Figure 1

Description

1/3

100

Cloud Sorage 104

Shoe 102 User evice105

Insole 112 User Interface Network 122 Sensors 114 Pcs Processor Joint angle 124 tracker 116

Air Tube 118

ProcesirgUnit] Figr120e

Figure 1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INTERNET OF THINGS ENABLED SMART SHOES

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me

INTERNET OF THINGS ENABLED SMART SHOES BACKGROUND

[001] Field

[002] The invention is related to a system and a method of gait training, and more particularly to a system and a method to track movement and improve the gait training of a user.

[003] Description of Prior Art

[004] Technology has made several advancements in a domain beneficial to healthcare and medical industry. One such accomplishment includes smart shoes. A smart shoe is a smart footwear technology, which involves a traditional shoe with an integrated technology. The smart shoe is a wearable shoe that records, tracks data and visualizes the data on a device including, but not limited to a mobile phone application, or a computer application allowing the user to review the data.

[005] The smart shoe is capable to support physically disabled and/or virtually disabled users to communicate with environment, and reduce hardships they may face. Moreover, several times, a user requires an instrumented machine, which measures work performed and captures the user's activities.

[006] Conventional smart shoes comprise of an insole. The insole is associated to, but not limited to, a cell phone, or a computer system through a Bluetooth@. The insole coordinates a wearer by humming the shoes to determine a route. The insole is also capable of checking steps taken and computing calories consumed. The conventional smart shoe involves a non-visual component database that stores data for an application and a Graphical User Interface (GUI), which makes it easier for the user to understand the information. The shoes are also enabled with sensors, which detect obstacles close to the wearer and inform about the detected obstacles.

[007] However, the conventional smart shoes lack several characteristic domains. The method is only capable to detect a route, check the number of steps, compute the calories consumed, and an alert about obstacle. The major limitation of the conventional smart shoes is their tendency to be inefficient in providing walking pattern and the distance of a step taken.

[008] There is thus a need for an advanced and more-effective system and method that can administer the drawbacks faced by the conventional smart shoes.

SUMMARY

[009] Embodiments of the proposed invention may provide a gait training system comprising of an insole to be inserted inside a shoe of a patient, wherein the insole comprises of sensors to monitor a ground contact force exerted by a foot of a patient, wherein the ground contact force is monitored at points of the foot selected from one of, a toe, a medial border of the foot, a lateral border of the foot, a heel, or a combination thereof, a joint angle tracker to monitor a rotation of joints of the patient selected from one of, a hip joint, a knee joint, an ankle joint, or a combination thereof, and a processing unit connected to the sensors and the joint angle tracker, wherein the processing unit is configured to receive the monitored ground contact force from the sensors, and the monitored rotation of the joints from the joint angle tracker, determine gait phases and abnormalities in a walking pattern of the patient through a contact force measurement based on the received ground contact force, determine walking parameters based on the monitored rotation of the joints of the patient, wherein the parameters are selected from one of, a step length, a stride length, a stride width, a toe-out angle, a walking speed, or a combination thereof and transmit the determined gait phases, the determined abnormalities, and the determined walking parameters to a user device of one of the patient, an administrator, a medical practitioner, a caretaker, or a combination thereof.

[0010] Embodiments of the proposed invention may provide a method of providing gait training to a patient, the method comprising steps of receiving a monitored ground contact force exerted by a foot of the patient from sensors of an insole inserted into a shoe of the patient, and a monitored rotation of joints of the patient from a joint angle tracker of the insole, determining gait phases and abnormalities in a walking pattern of the patient through a contact force measurement based on the received ground contact force, determining walking parameters based on the monitored rotation of the joints of the patient, wherein the parameters are selected from one of, a step length, a stride length, a stride width, a toe-out angle, a walking speed, or a combination thereof and transmitting the determined gait phases, the determined abnormalities, and the determined walking parameters to a user device of one, the patient, an administrator, a medical practitioner, a caretaker, or a combination thereof.

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method useful for gait training or gait training. Embodiments of the present invention is capable to improve the gait training and smarten up a therapy process.

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method to collect data associated to shoe user's activity and measure a user action-based parameter including, but not limited to, a ground contact force on a toe, a medial border of a forefoot, and a lateral borer of the forefoot and heel.

[0013] The data collected may be transferred wirelessly to a server through which it may be fetched by an admin. The admin may be a gait-training patient, or a gait-training physician or a regular wearer of the Internet of Things (loT) enabled smart shoe. Based on the data, walking pattern may be monitored and understood easily. Moreover, this enables the wearer to improve his walking pattern; a physician reading the patient's walking activity and pattern may monitor the improvements and also suggest appropriate exercises to the patient.

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method to determine additional information regarding the walking pattern including, but not limited to a step length, stride length, stride width, toe-out angle, and walking speed. This may be accessed through the readings obtained by a wireless joint angle tracker enabled to measure readings for hip, knee and ankle joint rotation.

[0015] These and other features will be useful as described herein.

[0016] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a gait training system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates components of a processing unit present in a smart shoe associated to the gait training system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of operating a gait training system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention may be considered useful in gait training. It may also be useful for determine additional information regarding the walking pattern of a user. These include, but not limited to a step length, stride length, stride width, toe-out angle, and walking speed.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a gait training system 100, in an embodiment of the present invention. The gait training system 100 may include components such as, but not limited to, a shoe 102, a cloud storage 104, and a user device 106. These are connected over a network 110.

[0024] The network 110 may include a data network. The network 110 may include a wireless network, such as, but not limited to, a cellular network. Further, the network 110 may include or otherwise cover networks or sub-networks, each of which may include, for example, a wireless data pathway. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shoe 102, the cloud storage 104, and the user device 106 may be configured to communicate with each other by one or more communication mediums connected to the network 110. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the communication mediums, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.

[0025] The gait training system 100 initiates by collecting data from the shoe 102 connected in the network 110. The shoe 102 may be enabled with an loT technology and may include an insole 112, which involves a mechanism to detect and trace activities. The insole 112 may include one or more sensors 114, a joint angle tracker 116, an air tube 118, and a processing unit 120 connected together. The sensors 114 may be capable of sensing nearby activities without any physical contact. The air tube 118 may be a coil connected to the sensors 114. The sensors 114 may capture a change in air pressure inside the air tube, caused by a patient's walking activity. The sensors 114 may be configured to monitor a ground contact force exerted by a foot of a patient. The ground contact force is monitored at points of a foot of a user selected from one of, a toe, a medial border of the foot, a lateral border of the foot, a heel, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensors 114 are barometric sensors.

[0026] The joint angle tracker 116 may comprise of several devices such as, but not limited to, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, or a combination thereof. The joint angle tracker 116 may monitor rotation of the joints of the patient and determine parameters based on the monitored rotation. The joint may include, but not limited to, a hip joint, a knee joint, an ankle joint, or a combination thereof.

[0027] The processing unit 120 automatically processes the data collected by the sensors 114 and the joint angle tracker 116. The processing unit 120 may determine walking pattern abnormalities, gait phases and walking parameters based on the data collected by the sensors 114 and the joint angle tracker 116. The processing unit 120 may further transfer the processed data automatically to the cloud storage 104 and the user device 106. The user device 106 may be for example, a cell phone, a computer system, a tablet and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the user device 106, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.

[0028] The user device 106 may comprise of a user interface 122 to display the data to the user. The user interface 122 may be in the form of an application, a simple pop-up window, a text message and the alike, in the user device 106.

[0029] The processing unit 120 comprises of several modules, each responsible for own functions. The working of the processing unit 120 is explained in conjunction with FIG. 2.

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates components of the processing unit 120. The processing unit 120 may include, but not limited to, a monitoring module 200, an activity determination module 202, a data transmission module 204, and a storage module 206.

[0031] The monitoring module 200 operates as an automatic data collector and monitor. The monitoring module 200 obtains information from the sensors 114 and the joint angle tracker 116 to monitor the user's activity that is wearing the shoe 102.

[0032] The monitored data may be transmitted to the activity determination module 202. The activity determination module 202 determines the walking pattern abnormalities and the gait phases based on the monitored user's activity. Based on the monitored user activity, the walking parameters may be determined. The walking parameters may include, but not limited to, joint angles, walking speed, a step length, a stride width, a toe-out angle, or a combination thereof.

[0033] The data transmission module 204 is configured for transferring the data associated to the determined gait phases, the walking pattern abnormalities and the walking parameters to the user device 106. Further, the data transmission module 204 may be capable to transmit a ground contact force and monitored rotation of joints information to the cloud storage 104.

[0034] The storage module 206 may be configured to store the data on the cloud storage 104. The cloud storage 104 may operate as an automated storage platform, comprising of a storage space and capable to follow instructions commanded by the data transmission module 204. A user may be able to fetch data from the user device 106 connected to the network 110, whenever required from the cloud storage 104. The user may be, but not limited to, a patient, an administrator, a medical practitioner, a caretaker, or a combination thereof, who may operate the user device 106. The user may use the user device 106 to determine and learn about the gait parameters, the walking pattern abnormalities, the improvements, and the walking parameters.

[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 300 of providing a gait training to a patient, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] At step 302, a ground contact force exerted by a foot of the patient may be collected through an insole 112 present in a shoe 102.

[0037] At step 304, gait phases, and walking pattern abnormalities of a patient may be determined.

[0038] At step 306, walking parameters of the user may be determined based on the received data.

[0039] Further, at step 308, the gait phases, the walking pattern abnormalities and the walking parameters may be transmitted to a user device 106.

[0040] At step 310, the data associated to the ground contact force and monitored rotation of joints may be transmitted to a cloud storage 104.

[0041] Embodiments of the invention are described above with reference to block diagrams and schematic illustrations of methods and systems according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the diagrams and combinations of blocks in the diagrams can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto one or more general-purpose computers, special purpose computers, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce machines, such that the instructions which execute on the computers or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks. Such computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function specified in the block or blocks.

[0042] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

[0043] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

1. A gait training system (100) comprising:

an insole (112) to be inserted inside a shoe (102) of a patient, wherein the insole (112) comprises:

sensors (114) to monitor a ground contact force exerted by a foot of a patient, wherein the ground contact force is monitored at points of the foot selected from one of, a toe, a medial border of the foot, a lateral border of the foot, a heel, or a combination thereof;

a joint angle tracker (116) to monitor a rotation of joints of the patient selected from one of, a hip joint, a knee joint, an ankle joint, or a combination thereof; and

a processing unit (120) connected to the sensors (114), and the joint angle tracker (116), wherein the processing unit (120) is configured to:

receive the monitored ground contact force from the sensors (114), and the monitored rotation of the joints from the joint angle tracker (116);

determine gait phases and abnormalities in a walking pattern of the patient through a contact force measurement based on the received ground contact force;

determine walking parameters based on the monitored rotation of the joints of the patient, wherein the parameters are selected from one of, a step length, a stride length, a stride width, a toe-out angle, a walking speed, or a combination thereof; and

transmit the determined gait phases, the determined abnormalities, and the determined walking parameters to a user device (106) of one of, the patient, an administrator, a medical practitioner, a caretaker, or a combination thereof.

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensors (114) are barometric sensors.

3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insole (112) comprises an air tube (118) coiled and connected to the sensors (114) such that a changed air pressure in the air tube (118) is captured by the sensors (114) when the patient exerts a pressure on the air tube (118) while walking.

4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (120) is further configured to automatically transmit the monitored ground contact force exerted by the foot of the patient, and the monitored rotation of the joints of the patient to a cloud storage (104).

5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joint angle tracker (116) comprises one of, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, or a combination thereof.

6. A method (300) of providing a gait training to a patient, the method (300) comprising steps of:

receiving (302) a monitored ground contact force exerted by a foot of the patient from sensors (114) of an insole (112) inserted into a shoe of the patient, and a monitored rotation of joints of the patient from a joint angle tracker (116) of the insole (112);

determining (304) gait phases and abnormalities in a walking pattern of the patient through a contact force measurement based on the received ground contact force;

determining (306) walking parameters based on the monitored rotation of the joints of the patient, wherein the parameters are selected from one of, a step length, a stride length, a stride width, a toe-out angle, a walking speed, or a combination thereof;

transmitting (308) the determined gait phases, the determined abnormalities, and the determined walking parameters to a user device (106) of one of, the patient, an administrator, a medical practitioner, a caretaker, or a combination thereof; and

transmitting (310) the data associated to the ground contact force and monitored rotation of joints to a cloud storage (104).

7. The method (300) as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of automatically transmitting the monitored ground contact force exerted by the foot of the patient, and the monitored rotation of the joints of the patient to a cloud storage (104).

8. The method (300) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensors (114) are barometric sensors.

9. The method (300) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the insole (112) comprises an air tube (118) coiled and connected to the sensors (114) such that a changed air pressure in the air tube (118) is captured by the sensors (114) when the patient exerts a pressure on the air tube (118) while walking.

10. 10. The method (300) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the joint angle tracker (116) comprises one of, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, or a combination thereof.