EP0686011A1 - Dispositif pour controler les forces s'exer ant pendant la marche - Google Patents

Dispositif pour controler les forces s'exer ant pendant la marche

Info

Publication number
EP0686011A1
EP0686011A1 EP94907042A EP94907042A EP0686011A1 EP 0686011 A1 EP0686011 A1 EP 0686011A1 EP 94907042 A EP94907042 A EP 94907042A EP 94907042 A EP94907042 A EP 94907042A EP 0686011 A1 EP0686011 A1 EP 0686011A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
foot
pad
sensor
set point
force
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94907042A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0686011A4 (fr
Inventor
Steven M. Wanderman
Glenn F. Bader
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HW Technologies Inc
Original Assignee
HW Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by HW Technologies Inc filed Critical HW Technologies Inc
Publication of EP0686011A1 publication Critical patent/EP0686011A1/fr
Publication of EP0686011A4 publication Critical patent/EP0686011A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/103—Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/1036—Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to treatment of orthope ⁇ dic conditions of the lower extremities. More particularly it relates to measurement and monitoring of forces placed on a foot.
  • U.S. Patent No. 3,791,375 to Pfeiffer shows two sensors for positioning beneath a patient's foot connected to a sensing/signal unit to be secured to the patient's ankle. Each sensor is comp ⁇ rised of two plates spaced apart by a fluid. The sensor requires a resilient spacer to keep the two plates apart at zero force, but no specific materials are suggested. Upon application of a force, the resilient spacer is deformed allowing the two plates to come closer together displacing some of the fluid between them. The fluid displaced travels to bellows within the signal unit which expand. When the bellows expand enough, a switch arm is engaged and pushed into its opposing contact.
  • Pfeiffer also describes an electro-mechanical embodi ⁇ ment which like the hydraulic embodiment dependents on variation in the distance between two deformable plates as an indication of force.
  • the top plate of the sensor has a contact mounted on its lower surface.
  • the bottom plate has a switch arm mounted on its upper surface. The distance between the switch arm and the contact at zero force is set with a set screw. Upon defor- mation of the upper plate the contact and switch arm meet to complete an electric circuit which actuates the signal.
  • a resistance sensor offered by Tekscan, Inc. (Boston, MA) is described in SENSORS, pp 21-25, May 1991.
  • This monitor is a force mapping system for gait analysis.
  • the force sensor comprises a grid of conductive ink. The rows are separated from the columns by a coat of a force sensi ⁇ tive resistive ink having resistance inversely proportional to force. The force distribution over the sensor's surface is determined by scanning the grid and measuring resistance at each intersection.
  • the system includes a signal detect ⁇ ing/transmission unit designed as an ankle pack having hardware to drive and multiplex the circuit, amplifiers and multiplexors to receive and transmit the output current, analog to digital converter and a parallel to serial converter.
  • the system includes a signal measurement/analysis circuit where the data stream from the ankle pack is reconverted to analog and analyzed.
  • the system's software provides real-time two and three dimensional views of force patterns applied to the sensor. For calibrated measurements the foot pad must be calibrated in a calibration frame.
  • a capacitance sensor under development at Case Western Reserve University to measure grasp force of a hand is briefly described in SENSORS, p. ,19 .
  • This sensor compris ⁇ es chromium and gold rows and columns pattern coated onto polyimide substrates.
  • the pattern coated films are sepa ⁇ rated by a layer of silicone which forms a compliant dielectric layer.
  • the circuitry to detect, transmit and analyze and report the force applied to the sensor are not described.
  • the monitor of the present invention comprises a single foot-pad unit for placement below a patient's foot that includes a tactile force sensor, means to translate a force applied to the tactile force sensor to a voltage, a comparator circuit having a set point and an amplifier that is activated when the voltage from the force sensor is greater than the set point, a piezo-electric annunciator and a power source.
  • the functional components of the food- pad are encased in a protecting material.
  • the set point may be preset, or the comparator circuit may comprise means to vary the set point.
  • the tactile force sensor may be a capacitance sensor in which case the means to translate a force applied to the sensor to a voltage is an AC bridge.
  • the tactile force sensor may be a resistance sensor in which case the means to translate a force applied to the tactile force sensor is a linearized bridge.
  • the comparator circuit is an analog voltage comparator and the set point is the voltage of a reference circuit.
  • a ratio metric voltage comparator circuit uses little power and occupies a small volume. Surprisingly, compensation for any non-linearity in the sensor can be made by selection of an appropriate voltage for the reference circuit and inclusion of a linearizing amplifier in the circuitry for the tactile force sensor.
  • the set point can be set precisely without need for external calibration by defining the resistance in the reference circuit of the comparator.
  • the resistance of the reference circuit can conveniently be changed by replacing the resistor with a different resis ⁇ tor.
  • the comparator may include a linearly variable pot having a dial so that the voltage of the reference circuit is set by applying to the sensor a force equal to the desired set limit and adjusting the dial.
  • the dial extends to an external surface of the encasing material to be accessible to a user.
  • the linearly variable pot can be equipped with a calibration cover surrounding the dial that is marked to show the position required of the dial to achieve specific set limits, e.g increments of five pounds.
  • the reference circuit can be equipped with a plurality of linearly adjustable pots.
  • the circuit may have a first pot having a resistance range of 0 to 120k ohms for gross adjustments in increments of 5 or 10 pounds and a second pot with a resistance range of 0 to 10k ohms for fine adjustment in increments of 1 pound.
  • First and second calibration covers indicate the positions required of the dials for each pot to achieve certain set points.
  • the comparator may comprise an analog-to-digital converter and a micro-processor pro ⁇ grammed to drive the annunciator when a preset set point is exceeded.
  • the set point is set by programming the processor with the desired limit.
  • the set point may be varied by using a remote control to set a new limit.
  • the sensor can be equipped with an switch on its exposed surface that is used to vary the set point.
  • the monitor may be equipped with a security lock, a keyed switch or a password protected program, to preclude inadvertent tampering with the limit by the patient.
  • the annunciator is a piezo-electric speaker which is efficient, thin and cost effective. By virtue of its high impedance, a piezo-electric speaker may be driven by directly by the comparator.
  • a single speaker is suitable for the full dynamic range of force limits desired (for example from 5 to 500 pounds in 5 pound increments) because the sensor measuring device is set to activate the speaker circuit with a defined voltage. Piezo-electric speakers also have a suitable frequency response.
  • the senor and the sensor measuring device may be combined in a single integrated circuit.
  • the annunciator is a separate device connected to the flex circuit material. This design enables extremely low cost production so that the sensor is a single use device.
  • the monitor further comprises a remote unit to receive the output of the annunciator for storage or further processing, for example for conversion into an audible signal or into a form suitable for visual output.
  • the output of the piezo-electric speaker may be electro-magnetic energy requiring hard wire connection to the foot pad sensor or preferably is ultra ⁇ sound energy.
  • the output signal may be encoded by the comparator circuit.
  • the receiver strips the carrier frequency and upon recognition of the encoded pattern activates a signal system, e.g. a light circuit or a printer.
  • the cycle may be stored as a function of time for cycle counting summation.
  • the comparator and annunciator circuit ⁇ ry may be designed to output both an audible signal and an encoded ultrasound signal. This can be achieved by driving the annunciator at a frequency in the audible range for a discrete interval followed by an interval when the speaker transmits an encoded ultrasound signal that is received and decoded by the remote unit.
  • hearing impaired patients are provided with a remote unit which receives the encoded ultrasound signal, strips the carrier frequency and upon recognition of the encoded pattern activates a light signal circuit (e.g. a light emitting diode circuit) . Hearing patients are warned by the audible signal and do not need the remote receiver unit.
  • the foot pad sensor assembly can be conveniently secured to a patient's foot by securing it to a disposable slipper. Any one of many fastening systems may be used. A particularly convenient system requires attaching one side of a loop and hook fastening system, e.g. a Velcro® brand fastening system, to the upper surface of the trans ⁇ ducer. Then the other side of the loop and hook fastening system is secured to the lower surface of the disposable slipper.
  • a loop and hook fastening system e.g. a Velcro® brand fastening system
  • the senor when the patient is to wear a foot cast, the sensor can be wrapped into the cast as it is applied. When affixed in this fashion, the switch or dial(s) used to set the force limit should remain exposed if the physician intends to vary the force limit as the patient's condition improves.
  • Figure 1 shows a section view of the foot pad monitor of the present invention
  • Figure 2 shows a section view of a flexible sensor for use in the footpad monitor
  • FIG. 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of a foot pad unit having a ratio voltage comparator and annunciator circuit
  • Figure 4 is a flow chart showing a micro-processor controlled comparator routine
  • Figure 5 is a flow chart showing a write routine to change the reference voltage of the comparator
  • Figure 6 is a flow chart showing a read routine to allow a user to determine the value of a set point pro ⁇ grammed into the foot-pad;
  • Figure 7 is a top plan view showing the lay out of a remote unit to interact with the micro-processor of the foot-pad;
  • Figure 8 is a circuit diagram for the remote unit shown in Fig. 7;
  • Figure 9 is a flow chart showing a read routine for the remote unit shown in Fig 7 to be used in conjunction with the read routine of Fig 6 to display to a user the value of a set point programmed into the foot-pad;
  • Figure 10 is a flow chart showing a write routine for the remote unit to be used in conjunction with the write routine of Fig. 6 to program the foot-pad with a new set point;
  • Figure 11 shows an alternative ratio voltage comp- arator circuit.
  • Figure 1 shows the foot-pad unit of the present inven- tion.
  • the unit comprises power source 10, linearized bridge 20 including tactile load sensor 22, comparator 30 and annunciator 40.
  • the functional components are conveniently mounted on a flex circuit support. Other materials can be selected for the support provided that they are conformable and durable. To protect the sensor from moisture and extreme temperature variations and to cushion the components from the shear, torsional and compression forces applied in use, all the components are encased in silicone rubber.
  • the tactile load sensor is mounted in area that will be placed under a patient's heel in use and connected by leads 224 to the linearized bridge. Dials 35 and 36 to vary the set point limit in the analog embodiment of the sensor extend from pots 32 and 33 to the exposed surface of the unit where calibration covers 37 and 38 indicate set points in suitable increments.
  • the construction of tactile sensor 22 is shown in Figure 2.
  • the sensor comprises two dielectric film sup ⁇ ports 220 which are each coated on one surface with a conductive layer 221.
  • the film supports are positioned with their conductive layers facing each other.
  • Sandwiched in between the layers 221 of conductive ink is a compress ⁇ ible semi-conductor layer 222.
  • the support 220 is conve ⁇ niently made of polyester film, e.g "Scotchpar" brand polyester film available from Minnesota Mining and Manufac- turing Company, St. Paul, MN.
  • the conductive layer 221 is conveniently a coating of conductive ink, e.g. #5005 silver composition ink available from E.I du Pont De Nemours, Co. Wilmington, DE.
  • the semi-conductor layer 222 is com- prised of conductive particles (e.g silver or graphite) suspended in a polymeric binder. Suitable materials are described in U.S. Patent No 4,856,993 to Maness et al. The entire composite is commercially available from Tekscan, Inc., Boston, MA (a F-ScanTM unit) or from Dynaforce, Chicago, IL (a generic unit) .
  • Figure 3 shows a detailed circuit diagram of a ratio metric voltage comparator and annunciator circuit for use as the sensor measuring device.
  • the circuit comprises a power source 10, a linearized bridge 20, a comparator circuit 30 and piezo-electric annunciator 40.
  • the power source 10 is two batteries 11 of 1 % V each boosted to 12 volts by a power booster chip 12. This configuration gives a small power source with approximately 6 months useful life.
  • the power source circuit may option ⁇ ally include a spring loaded switch 13 that is biased to open the power source circuit at zero load and to close the circuit upon application of a minimum load, e.g 1 pound. Also a low voltage alarm could be included if desired. Alternatively, the batteries can be tested before installa ⁇ tion and at regular intervals thereafter.
  • the linearized bridge 20 has three resistors 21 of fixed resistance e.g. 120k ohms, and a tactile sensor 22 with resistance varying as a function of force applied to the sensor.
  • Linearizing ampli ⁇ bomb 23 compensates for any non-linearity in the change in resistance of the tactile sensor as a function of force applied.
  • the linearizing amplifier is selected to have low offset voltage, for example less than 10 ⁇ v and low cur ⁇ rent, e.g. less than lOna.
  • the amplifier's drift should also be low, for e.g. 0.2 ⁇ v/degree C, because these three parameters, voltage, current and drift are amplified by the comparator.
  • the reference circuit of voltage comparator 30 is conveniently comprised of a fixed resistor 31 and a vari ⁇ able resistor.
  • the value of the fixed resistor should be set no greater than required for the minimum load on the sensor, e.g 5 lbs.
  • the fixed resistor With a 12 volt power source, a tactile sensor constructed as described above, and 120k ohm resis ⁇ tors in the bridge, the fixed resistor should have a resistance of 120k ohms.
  • the variable resistor comprises linearly variable pots 32 and 33. To achieve a large dynamic range, e.g. 5 to 500 lbs., and the ability to precisely set the set point, e.g.
  • linearly adjustable pot 32 has a broad dynamic range of 0 ohms to 100k ohms.
  • Linearly adjustable pot resistor 33 is chosen to have a smaller dynamic range, e.g. 0 ohms to 10k ohms, to permit fine adjustments.
  • the reference circuit of the comparator 30 is comprised of a 100 ohm current limiting fixed resistor 330 connected to wiper 331 of lOk-10 turn pot 330.
  • the range of the pot is between the power source and ground.
  • the comparator amplifier 39 gives out a voltage to the annunci ⁇ ator 40. Increasing the resistance of the pot will in- crease the reference voltage which in turn increases the amount of force that can be applied to the tactile sensor 22 before the voltage from the bridge exceeds the reference voltage.
  • a calibration cover may be added to each of the pots shown in Figure 3 or to the single pot shown in Figure 11.
  • calibration cover 37 is marked to show gross increments, e.g. increments of 10 pounds
  • calibration cover 38 is marked to show fine incre- ments, e.g. increments of 1 pound.
  • the calibration cover can be marked to show increments of 5 pounds.
  • the annunciator is a speaker, e.g. a piezo electric speak ⁇ er, oscillating at a rate in the audible range, e.g. 2000 hz.
  • a remote signalling unit e.g. a the annunciator can be selected to put out an encoded ultra ⁇ sound signal that is received by remote unit which in turn gives off a signal, e.g. a flashing light or shrill alarm.
  • a second annunciator can be added. In this way the first annunciator oscillates in the audible range and the second annunciator produces an encoded ultrasound signal to activate an liquid crystal display in a remote unit.
  • a micro-processor controlled comparator routine is shown in Fig. 4.
  • the sensor comprises a linearized bridge as described above, a micro-processor controlled comparator and an annunciator.
  • the output of the linearized bridge is converted to digital and compared to the set point programmed into the micro-processor. If the output from the bridge is greater than the value programmed as the set point, the annunciator speaker is oscillated. If the output of the bridge is lower than the value programmed as the set point the speaker remains off.
  • the comparator process is repeated at discrete intervals.
  • Figure 5 shows a routine to change the set point setting.
  • an ultrasound interrupt signal is transmitted from a remote unit, received by an ultra ⁇ sonic decoder in the footpad unit, converted to digital and decoded by the micro-processor.
  • the interrupt signal instructs the processor to stop the comparator routine and receive and decode a new set point value.
  • the new set point value overwrites the preexisting set point value, a confirmation signal is sent to the remote unit, and the comparator routine is resumed.
  • Figure 6 shows a routine to instruct the foot-pad to read out its existing set point value.
  • An ultrasound or infrared interrogation signal is transmitted by a remote unit. The signal is received by the sensor and decoded. The signal instructs the processor to read its existing set point value, encode it and transmit the encoded value to the remote unit.
  • Figure 7 shows a layout of remote unit for setting and interrogating the sensor unit.
  • Figure 8 shows the circuit ⁇ ry for the remote unit of Figure 7.
  • the remote unit 50 comprises a liquid crystal display 51, an on/off switch 52, and a rocker 53 switch to increase or decrease the value shown in the liquid crystal display.
  • a transmit button 54 is used to activate a write routine to reset the set point value in the sensor with the value currently displayed in the liquid crystal display.
  • a read button 55 activates a read routine to inquire of the sensor unit the value of the current set point.
  • Indicator lights 56 and 57 serve either to confirm completion of a successful communication or to indicate a communication error as the case may be.
  • a read routine activated upon depressing button 55 is shown in Figure 9.
  • the remote sends an encoded code to the food-pad micro-processor.
  • the food-pad micro ⁇ processor determines if the signal is a proper signal, reads the current set point value, encodes the value and transmits it to the remote unit.
  • the remote unit decodes the received signal, determines if it is a proper signal and then displays the set point in the liquid crystal display. If the signal received from the footpad is not a proper signal, the error light is activated.
  • a write routine that is activated upon depressing transmit button 54 to change the value of the set point in the foot-pad is shown in Figure 10.
  • the remote unit sends an encoded interrupt signal to the foot- pad micro-processor.
  • the foot-pad micro-processor receives the signal, decodes it, interrupts the comparator process, and signals the remote that it is ready to receive a new set point value.
  • the remote transmits a new set point value which upon decoding is used to overwrite the previous value.
  • the foot-pad micro-processor signals the remote unit of a successful communication and the appropriate indicator light 56 is illuminated. If any of the signals are not successfully received in the expected time, the error light is illuminated and the routine restarts.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Dentistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)

Abstract

Un dispositif est placé sous la plante des pieds pour mesurer la force exercée par le talon du patient à chaque pas. Le dispositif en question a un détecteur (22) détectant la force de contact, un pont linéarisé (20) pour transformer une force appliquée au détecteur (22) en une tension, un circuit comparateur (30) et un avertisseur (40). Le comparateur (30), qui peut être un comparateur analogique ou un comparateur commandé par un microprocesseur, a un point de consigne et un amplificateur (39), qui est activé lorsque la tension venant du détecteur (22) dépasse le point de consigne. L'avertisseur (40) est commandé par l'amplificateur (39) pour prévenir le patient qu'une force excessive est transmise par le talon. Dans la forme d'exécution analogique, la tension de référence peut être modifiée en ajustant des potentiomètres à variations linéaires (35, 36). On décrit également une unité pour ajuster à distance le point de consigne dans la forme d'exécution commandée par un microprocesseur.
EP94907042A 1993-11-19 1993-11-19 Dispositif pour controler les forces s'exer ant pendant la marche Withdrawn EP0686011A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1993/011249 WO1995013744A1 (fr) 1993-11-19 1993-11-19 Dispositif pour controler les forces s'exerçant pendant la marche

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0686011A1 true EP0686011A1 (fr) 1995-12-13
EP0686011A4 EP0686011A4 (fr) 1996-02-28

Family

ID=22237199

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94907042A Withdrawn EP0686011A4 (fr) 1993-11-19 1993-11-19 Dispositif pour controler les forces s'exer ant pendant la marche

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0686011A4 (fr)
AU (1) AU6048094A (fr)
WO (1) WO1995013744A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SG121769A1 (en) * 2003-05-07 2006-05-26 Nanyang Polytechnic bio-feedback gait trainer
GB2441733A (en) * 2006-09-18 2008-03-19 Powered Triangle Ltd Footwear display comprising a display
CN105556988B (zh) 2013-09-18 2019-03-22 领先仿生公司 助听装置和与其一起使用的用户界面

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2495463A1 (fr) * 1980-12-04 1982-06-11 Alain Charvet Semelle orthopedique a detecteur d'appui a la marche

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4195643A (en) * 1976-12-27 1980-04-01 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Diagnostic force analysis system
US4858620A (en) * 1986-02-28 1989-08-22 Walgen Corporation Warning system for excessive orthopedic pressures
US5107854A (en) * 1989-05-19 1992-04-28 Boulder Impact Monitors, Inc. Orthopedic limb load monitor

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2495463A1 (fr) * 1980-12-04 1982-06-11 Alain Charvet Semelle orthopedique a detecteur d'appui a la marche

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9513744A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0686011A4 (fr) 1996-02-28
WO1995013744A1 (fr) 1995-05-26
AU6048094A (en) 1995-06-06

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