ES2396372B1 - POSTURAL ASSESSMENT DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Postural evaluation device. # Of the type 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 ?), it stands out mainly for combining in the same package an electronic goniometer (3) and an electronic inclinometer (4), where a magnetic encoder is used to measure angles (goniometer function), while for the inclination measurement (function inclinometer) a three-axis accelerometer is used, through which greater repeatability and precision are achieved in the measurements performed, in addition to allowing a measurement in a larger number of planes or dimensions.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

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

diagnosis.

The main object of the present invention is a postural evaluation device that combines the use of goniometers and inclined electronic meters, by means of which the taking of

measurement of angles and inclinations between different joints or parts

of the human body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are currently several measuring devices for both

angles (goniometers) and inclination (inclinometers), by means of

which is possible to obtain a fairly approximate measurement of the

amplitude and / or range of motion between two bodies. These devices

they have application in both the industrial and medical fields, 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 3 O to a common axis giving the measure of the resulting angle on a scale

millimeter

The evolution of these devices has been to transform them into

electronic systems to improve resolution and make its use more comfortable. 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

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

this angle, this aspect is reflected in the international application W02006038822-A1.

On the other hand, when we refer to the inclinors, we find several references to these systems, used both in

Medicine as in other areas. The most basic inclined meters 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

denominated many times like goniometers that measure the angle with the surface of the floor, being finally inclinometers accounts. Some are even intended for use in the measurement of joint angles, either by mechanical systems or by electronic systems of various technology such as pendulums. The measurement of angles by means of inclined meters allows, not only to measure the angle of inclination with respect to the ground, but also the relative angle between two inclined meters, in order to know the resulting angle between two surfaces.

There are also several devices that integrate inclined meters and goniometers into one. It is always about mechanical devices whose

inclined meter is based on "bubble levels", giving the numerical inclination 3 O 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 measure the movements of a single part of the body are known, not serving all joints in a generic way. A clear example is the devices cited in scientific articles used to measure the different movements of the hand [Raymond W.], which are based on several strings attached to different parts of the hand that move several potentiometers located on the wrist, thus achieving model the movement of the hand in three dimensions. There are other solutions that can be applied in more joints [Giovanni L.], which use various electronic goniometers with several mechanically coupled axes to, for example, be able to measure the flexion-extension of the elbow while also detecting prono-supination of the hand.

In summary, existing goniometers and inclinometers

Currently they have the following disadvantages:

-

Goniometers and inclinometers very basic and not very precise, based on millimeter scales and "bubble levels", respectively. -Use of potentiometers in electronic goniometers, which have low repeatability in the measurements taken when overheating

and be affected by the temperature.

-

Use of gyroscopes or accelerometers of 1 or 2 axes in the electronic inclinometers, which have limitations to perform measurements in several planes (pitch, roll, yaw, etc.).

-

Devices that combine goniometers and inclined meters, but being said inclined meters of bubble, not applied to the medical field. -Impossibility of such devices to send the values of

angles and / or inclinations via wireless to a computer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

By means of the present invention, the aforementioned drawbacks are resolved by providing a postural evaluation device, of special application in medical diagnoses for the measurement of angles and / or inclinations between different surfaces or joints of the human body, said device can also be used for industrial purposes, emphasizing fundamentally by combining in the same encapsulation an electronic goniometer and inclinometer, where to perform the measurement of angles (goniometer function) a magnetic encoder is used, while for the measurement of inclinations (inclinometer function) an accelerated meter of three is used axes

Said device allows to obtain greater repeatability and

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 the present invention, is of the type comprising two superimposed arms, articulated with each other by one of its ends, so that it is possible to perform a rotating displacement of one arm with respect to the other, standing out for further understanding :

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

invention in up to three different orientation planes, an internal feeding device, adapted for

provide the goniometer and inclinometer with the necessary energy

for its funtionability. preferably consisting of a

rechargeable battery,

a control system, arranged inside one of the

5

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.

10

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

fifteen

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

2 o

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

25

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.

In addition, the possibility of sending the values of

the angles or inclinations obtained with the device object of the invention in a computer or electronic equipment whatever

adapted for data exchange, either wired, using a USB connector, DC 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

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

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes,

represented the following:

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

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

3 Or using it as a goniometer, with its two arms forming an angle that 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) comprises two superimposed arms (2, 2 '), articulated with 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 '), standing out mainly for understanding:

an electronic goniometer (3) arranged inside one of

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'), consistent in an accelerometer of three

axes that measures the inclination of the postural evaluation device

(1) in up to three planes (10, 11, 12) of different orientation, pitching, balancing and vertical rotation, as represented in the

figure 2, an internal feeding device (5), which in the present

realization consists of a rechargeable battery that powers the

goniometer (3) and inclinometer (4), a control system (6), arranged inside one of the

arms (2, 2 '), which processes and manages the information

of the goniometer (3) and the inclinometer (4), a screen (7) of LeD connected to the control system (6), in

which shows the angle and / or inclination values

measured, and control buttons (8), in this embodiment are two,

through which a user can access the different measurement options.

Said magnetic encoder detects the variation of magnetic field

produced by a magnet (13), shown in figure 1. This variation of the

magnetic field is produced as a result of separation

progressive of the arms (2, 2 ') as they rotate, so that one of the poles of the magnet (13) will be closer to the magnetic encoder, while the other pole will be further away.

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

Standard measurements: the user takes the angle and / or measurements

tilt, and these are instantly displayed on the

(7) digital display.

Relative measures: the user can obtain measures between two angles of position or inclination

determined, for example, it is possible to measure an angle

between a surface that is 102 and another that is 302, giving a resulting angle of 202.

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 are shown on the screen (7). Once the user has finished recording measurements, he can proceed to observe them on said screen (7) after the activation 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 a

any computer or electronic equipment that is adapted for the

data exchange, either wired, through a connector

USB, an OC connector, or similar; or wirelessly by incorporating a wireless communications module (9),

shown in figure 1, also arranged inside one of the

arms (2, 2 ').

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

Individual: a single angle or tilt value is sent

taken.

As a whole: the angle and inclination value are sent together.

Sending data in "raw": sends the acceleration value, as read by the accelerated three-axis meter of the inclined meter (4), so that the computer extracts more information from

she. You can also send the angle value at the same time.

existing between the arms (2, 2 ') of the device, using it as a goniometer function (3).

Finally, in figure 1 it can be seen that the device

postural evaluation (1) additionally has a button

on / off (14) for commissioning or deactivation.

Claims (8)

1.-Postural evaluation device (1) comprising two superimposed arms (2, 2 '), articulated between 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 the arms (2, 2 '), adapted to measure the angle between they, 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, 12) different orientation, an internal feeding device (5), which feeds the goniometer (3) and inclinometer (4), a control system (6), arranged inside one of the arms (2, 2 '), responsible for processing and managing information from the goniometer (3) and the inclinometer ( 4), and a digital display (7) connected to the control system (6), in the which shows the measured angle and / or inclination values. 2.-Postural evaluation device (1) according to claim 1, 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), through which a user can access the different options of measure. 5. Postural evaluation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises a module of wireless communications (9) by which it is possible to send the values of angles and / or inclinations obtained up to a computer or similar electronic equipment 10 adapted for the exchange of data.  6. Postural evaluation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a connector for attaching an adapted cable for connection to a computer, in which 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 a button on / off (14) for commissioning or deactivation. 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).