ES2396372A1 - Postural evaluation device. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Postural evaluation device. Of the type comprising two arms (2, 2 ') superimposed, articulated with one another at one of their ends, so that it is possible to perform a rotational movement of one arm (2) with respect to the other arm (2'), it stands out essentially by combine a goniometer (3) and an electronic inclinometer (4) in the same package, where a magnetic encoder is used to perform the angle measurement (goniometer function), while an inclination meter (inclinometer function) uses an accelerometer of three axes, by means of which a greater repeatability and precision in the measurements is achieved, besides allowing a measurement to be taken in a greater number of planes or dimensions. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

POSTURAL EVALUATION DEVICE

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OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

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The present invention belongs to the field of devices for measuring the movement of the human body or its parts, for diagnostic purposes.

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The main object of the present invention is a postural evaluation device that combines the use of electronic goniometers and inclinometers, whereby the measurement of angles and inclinations between different joints or parts of the human body is greatly optimized.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are currently various measuring devices for both angles (goniometers) and inclination (inclinometers), by which it is possible to obtain a fairly approximate measurement of the amplitude and / or range of motion between two bodies. These devices have application both in the industrial field and in the medical field, conferring increasing importance as medical recognition and diagnostic tools. The most basic recorded inventions of this type for measuring angles consist of mechanical goniometers, mainly two moving parts of metal or plastic that rotate around a common axis giving the measurement of the resulting angle on a millimeter scale.

The evolution of these devices has been to transform them into

electronic systems to improve resolution and make your

use. In this regard they have been used in the axis of the goniometer different

measurement systems, depending on the end use that will be given. A

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example would be the goniometers used in industrial applications

to measure the perpendicularity of the walls, whose measurement system

It is integrated by a potentiometer, as the document shows

IT1220663-B. In addition, there are other goniometers where the important thing is not

it is only the resulting angle but also the force exerted to perform

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this angle, this aspect is reflected in the international application

W02006038822-A1.

On the other hand, when we refer to inclinometers,

We found several references to these systems, used both in

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Medicine as in other areas. The most basic inclinometers are the

that use a bubble inside a liquid with high density so

measure the inclination, such is the case of document CS8208041-A. These are

often referred to as goniometers that measure the angle with the

Soil surface, finally bending inclinometers. Some even

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They are intended for use in the measurement of joint angles, since

either by mechanical systems or by electronic systems of

Different technology like pendulums. The measurement of angles by

inclinometers allows, not only to measure the angle of inclination with respect to the

ground, but also the relative angle between two inclinometers, so

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Know the resulting angle between two surfaces.

There are also various devices that integrate inclinometers and

Goniometers in one. It is always about mechanical devices whose

inclinometer is based on "bubble levels", giving the numerical inclination

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as described in US Patent US20041 07592. In

In some cases the inclinometer is only used as a level and thus

know if one of the parts of the goniometer is perpendicular or parallel to the

ground.

On the other hand, devices that perform measurements of

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the movements of a single part of the body, not serving all

joints in a generic way. A clear example is the devices

cited in scientific articles used to measure the various

hand movements [Raymond W.], which are based on several

ropes tied to different parts of the hand that move several

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potentiometers located on the wrist, thus managing to model the

hand movement in three dimensions. There are other solutions that

can be applied to more joints [Giovanni L.], which use

various electronic goniometers with several axes coupled

mechanically to, for example, be able to measure the flexion-extension of the elbow

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at the same time that the prono-supination of the hand is also detected.

In summary, existing goniometers and inclinometers

Currently they have the following disadvantages:

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-Goniometers and inclinometers very basic and not very precise,

based on millimeter scales and "bubble levels", respectively.

-Use of potentiometers in electronic goniometers, which

they have low repeatability in the measurements taken when overheating

and be affected by the temperature.

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-Use of gyroscopes or accelerometers of 1 or 2 axes in the

electronic inclinometers, which have limitations to perform

measures in several planes (pitch, roll, yaw, etc.).

-Devices that combine goniometers and inclinometers, but

said bubble inclinometers being, not applied to the medical field.

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-Impossibility of such devices to send the values of

angles and / or inclinations via wireless to a computer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

By the present invention the drawbacks are resolved

previously cited providing an evaluation device

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postural, of special application in medical diagnoses for measurement

of angles and / or inclinations between different surfaces or joints of the

human body, said device can also be used for purposes

industrial, standing out mainly for combining in the same

encapsulated an electronic goniometer and inclinometer, where to

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measure angles (goniometer function) an encoder is used

magnetic, while measuring inclinations (function

inclinometer) a three-axis accelerometer is used.

Said device allows to obtain greater repeatability and

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precision in the measurements made with respect to existing devices,

in addition to allowing a measurement in a larger number of planes,

such as pitching, balancing, vertical or horizontal rotation.

The postural evaluation device, object of this

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invention, is of the type comprising two overlapping arms,

articulated with each other by one of its ends, so that it is possible

perform a rotating displacement of one arm with respect to the other,

standing out for further understanding:

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an electronic goniometer arranged inside one of the

arms, adapted to measure the angle between the two

arms,

an electronic inclinometer also disposed within one

of the arms, which measures the inclination of the device subject to

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invention in up to three different orientation planes,

an internal power device, adapted to

provide the goniometer and inclinometer with the necessary energy

for operation, preferably consisting of a

rechargeable battery,

a control system, arranged inside one of the

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arms, which processes and manages information from the

goniometer and inclinometer, and

a digital display connected to the control system, being

preferably a LeO screen, in which they are shown

measured angle and / or inclination values.

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Preferably, the electronic goniometer is based on a

magnetic encoder housed inside one of the arms of the

device object of the invention, whereby a greater

repeatability and accuracy of the angle measurements performed. He

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operation of said magnetic encoder is based on the detection of the

variation of a magnetic field produced by a magnet located in the

inside of the arm that has no magnetic encoder, so that at

rotate said magnet in solidarity with the arm, a pole of the magnet moves away from the

magnetic encoder while the other approaches, causing this a

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magnetic field variation that is detected by the magnetic encoder.

For its part, the inclinometer preferably consists of a

Three-axis accelerometer, which allows measurements to be taken in up to three

different planes or dimensions, being able to analyze angles of inclination

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in "pitch", "roll", vertical or horizontal turns of the

device object of invention. Basically, what does this

three-axis accelerometer is to determine the component of acceleration

caused by the gravity that acts on the device, and from this

It is capable of measuring the inclination of the device object of the invention.

Preferably there are additional buttons available

control through which a user can access and select the

different measurement options, which will be described in more detail

ahead.

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In addition, the possibility of sending the values of

the angles or inclinations obtained with the device object of

invention in a computer or electronic equipment whatever

adapted for data exchange, either wired,

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via a USB connector, OC connector or similar; or wirelessly

by incorporating a wireless communications module

arranged inside one of the arms.

It is also provided that the device object of the invention

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have some lighting LEOs, which allow to notify the

user of the occurrence of different events, such as battery

sold out or recharging, data transfer, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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To complement the description that is being made and with

in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the

invention, according to a preferred example of practical embodiment of

it is accompanied as an integral part of said description, a

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set of drawings where, with an illustrative and non-limiting nature,

represented the following:

Figure 1.-Shows a top view of the evaluation device

postural object of the invention, in which the device is appreciated

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being used as a goniometer, with its two arms forming an angle

which is what you want to measure.

Figure 2.- It shows different views of the device being used as an inclinometer, where its two arms can be seen in a closed position, said device presenting pitching, warping and vertical rotation movements.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 1, the postural evaluation device (1)

10 comprises two superimposed arms (2, 2 '), articulated with each other by one of its ends, so that it is possible to make a rotating displacement of one arm (2) with respect to the other arm (2'), standing out mainly by understanding:

an electronic goniometer (3) arranged inside one of

15 the arms (2), based on a magnetic encoder adapted to measure the angle between the two arms (2, 2 '), an electronic inclinometer (4) also disposed within one of the arms (2, 2'), consisting of a three-axis accelerometer that measures the inclination of the postural evaluation device

20 (1) in up to three planes (10, 11, 12) of different orientation, pitching, balancing and vertical rotation, as shown in Figure 2, an internal feeding device (5), which in the present embodiment It consists of a rechargeable battery that powers the

25 goniometer (3) and inclinometer (4), a control system (6), arranged inside one of the arms (2, 2 '), which processes and manages the information from the goniometer (3) and the inclinometer (4), a LeO screen (7) connected to the control system (6), in

30 which shows the measured angle and / or inclination values, and control buttons (8), in this embodiment are two, by which a user can access the different measurement options.

5 Said magnetic encoder detects the variation of the magnetic field produced by a magnet (13), shown in Figure 1. This variation of the magnetic field is produced as a consequence of the progressive separation of the arms (2, 2 ') as they they rotate, so that one of the poles of the magnet (13) will be closer to the

10 magnetic encoder, while the other pole will be further away.

According to a preferred embodiment, there are three ways of obtaining measures:

15 Standard measurements: the user takes the angle and / or inclination measurements, and these are displayed instantly on the digital screen (7).

Relative measures: the user can obtain measures

20 between two determined angles of position or inclination, for example, it is possible to measure an angle between a surface that is at 10 ° and another that is at 30 °, giving a resulting angle of 20 °.

25 Blind measurements: allows you to quickly and easily save the measurements made, automatically saving those measurements after pressing one of the control buttons (8), without these being displayed on the screen (7). Once the user has finished registering measurements, he can proceed to

30 observe them on said screen (7) after actuation of the other control button (8).

Also, the postural evaluation device (1) allows saving

or send the values obtained from angles and / or inclinations, in any computer or electronic equipment that is adapted for the exchange of data, either wired, through a connector

5 USB, an OC connector, or similar; or wirelessly through the incorporation of a wireless communications module (9), shown in figure 1, also arranged inside one of the arms (2, 2 ').

10 For the latter case of sending data wirelessly: different sending modes are available:

Individual: a single value of the angle or inclination taken is sent.

15 Together: the angle and inclination value are sent together.

Sending data in "raw": sends the acceleration value, as and

20 as read by the three-axis accelerometer of the inclinometer (4), so that the computer extracts more information from it. Likewise, the value of the angle between the arms (2, 2 ') of the device can be sent at the same time, using it as a goniometer function (3).

Finally, in figure 1 it can be seen that the postural evaluation device (1) additionally has an on / off button (14) for its operation or deactivation.

Claims (7)

1.-Postural evaluation device (1) comprising two superimposed arms (2, 2 '), articulated with each other by one of its ends, so that it is possible to perform a rotating displacement of one arm (2) with respect to the other arm (2 '), characterized in that it additionally comprises: an electronic goniometer (3) arranged inside one of 10 the arms (2, 2 '), adapted to measure the angle between them, an electronic inclinometer (4) also disposed within one of the arms (2, 2'), which allows to measure the inclination of the postural evaluation device ( 1) in up to three planes (10, 11, 15 12) of different orientation, an internal feeding device (5), which feeds the goniometer (3) and the inclinometer (4), a control system (6), arranged inside one of the arms (2, 2 '), responsible for processing and managing information 20 from the goniometer (3) and the inclinometer (4), and a digital display (7) connected to the control system (6), in which the measured angle and / or inclination values are displayed. 2. Postural evaluation device (1) according to claim 25, characterized in that the electronic goniometer (3) is based on a magnetic encoder. 3. Postural evaluation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic inclinometer (4) consists of a three-axis accelerometer. 4. Postural evaluation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises control buttons (8), by means of which a user can access the different measurement options. 5. Postural evaluation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a wireless communications module (9) by means of which it is possible to send the values of angles and / or inclinations obtained to a computer or equipment 10 similar electronic adapted for data exchange. 6. Postural evaluation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a connector for coupling a cable adapted for connection to a computer, wherein the connector is selected from a 15 USB connector and one OC connector. 7. Postural evaluation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises an on / off button (14) for operation or deactivation. 20 8. Postural evaluation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the power device (5) is a rechargeable battery. 25 9. Postural evaluation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen (7) is an LCD screen (7). I 1 I I I I 6 I I / I

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FIG. 2