JP2005192744A - Sensor for foot sole pressure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sensor for foot sole pressure used for measuring timing, at which an arbitrary part of the foot sole to be measured of a subject contacts the ground during walking. <P>SOLUTION: The sensor for foot sole pressure has a lower limb attaching part 2 attached to the lower limb of the subject; foot sole pressure measuring means 3 provided on a foot sole of the lower limb attaching part 2; and a measuring part 4 for measuring foot sole pressure of the subject from measured information of the foot sole pressure measuring means 3. A plurality of the foot sole pressure measuring means 3 are provided on parts to be measured of the foot sole of the lower limb attaching part 2. The measuring part 4 judges the size of the foot of the subject from a position of the foot sole pressure measuring means 3, to which the pressure is applied when the subject wears the lower limb attaching part 2, and the foot sole pressure measuring means 3 positioned under the toe to a heel part of the subject are selected, so as to measure the timing, at which the part of the foot sole to be measured of the subject contacts the ground. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a plantar pressure sensor that measures the timing at which an arbitrary measurement site on the plantar of a subject during a walk contacts the ground.

A conventional method for improving the fit of a shoe using a foot type measuring device is that a subject puts his / her foot on the top of a footrest, the pressure distribution of the sole is a pressure-sensitive sensor, and the outer contour of the foot is a non-contact laser type Each is measured by a displacement sensor, and an outer contour line of the foot is output (for example, see Patent Document 1).
FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of a conventional foot-type measuring apparatus described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG.
In the figure, 101 is a measurement unit, 102 is a control unit, 103 is a center of gravity display unit, 104 is a keyboard, 105 is a display with a touch panel, 106 is a plotter, 107 is a printer, and 110 is a main body case. When the person to be measured stands on the footrests 118, 118, the position of the center of gravity is displayed on the center of gravity display 103 by, for example, a bar graph, and the touch panel of the display is displayed according to the instruction of the display 105. By operating the pressure distribution sensors of the footrests 118 and 118 of the measuring unit 101, the grounding part of the sole is detected, and the shape of the grounding part is output from the plotter 106. The displacement sensor 136 operates to measure the dimensions of each part of the foot, and is calculated by the computer of the control unit 102. , The outer contour A of the foot is output from the plotter 106, the measured value is output from the printer 107.
A base plate is installed on the bottom plate of the main body case 110 of the measuring unit 101 through a total of three load cells at the rear left and right and the front center, and loads applied to these three load cells are Wa, Wb, Wc, respectively. When the control unit 102 calculates the average value (Wa + Wb + Wc) / 3 = Wm of the individual loads, and further calculates the differences Wa−Wm, Wb−Wm, and Wc−Wm between the individual loads and the average value, The differences Wa−Wm, Wb−Wm, and Wc−Wm are displayed as distances from the center on the three radial shapes 103a, 103b, and 103c on the display unit 103. Therefore, when load cells are installed at a total of four locations on the toe side and the heel side of the left and right footrests 118, 118, the load on the left heel part is Wa and the load on the right heel part is And the average value of the load on the right and left toe portions is substituted for Wc in the above equation. In this case, as compared with the case where the load cell is arranged on the bottom plate of the main body case 110, it is not affected by the movement of the center of gravity accompanying the movement of the displacement sensor.
Front and rear guide plates are juxtaposed on the left and right sides of the upper surface of the base plate, and a swing plate is swingably supported in a horizontal guide groove provided on the opposite surface. The left and right footrest frames are fixed so as to straddle the swinging plate in the front-rear direction, and the footrest frame is formed in a gate shape with a horizontal portion in the front-rear direction and leg portions at the front and rear ends. It is fixed on the base plate by the part. A footrest is fixed on the horizontal portion, and a pressure distribution sensor is provided on the upper surface of the footrest. In this pressure distribution sensor, the pressure-sensitive rubber sheet whose conductivity changes depending on the pressure is placed on one side in the front-rear direction and many in the width direction on the opposite side, 5 mm apart, and the pressure exceeds the set value. When the person to be measured stands on the footrest, a portion of the ground contact surface above the predetermined pressure is detected, and the contact surface shape S is determined by the plotter. 106.
In the above configuration, the foot type measuring apparatus includes the footrests for the left foot and the right foot, and when the shoe wearer stands with the left and right feet on these footrests, the inclination of the wearer's body, etc. Accordingly, the center of gravity moves and the center of gravity is displayed, so that the wearer can control the inclination of the body by himself while watching the display and keep the center of gravity within a predetermined range.
In addition, a pressure sensor is provided on the upper surface of the footrest, and the ground pressure is detected for each minute portion of the sole, and a grounding point exceeding the set value of the detected value is detected via an arithmetic unit and a plotter. Plotted on recording paper.
Further, the left and right footrests of the above-mentioned foot type measuring apparatus are provided with two left and right laser type displacement sensors 136 that are opposed to each other with the footrests interposed therebetween so as to be slidable back and forth and move up and down. The horizontal displacement from the displacement sensor to the surface of the foot is measured by reciprocating the laser displacement sensor back and forth, and the horizontal distance from the displacement sensor to the surface of the foot is memorized. Further, the cross-sectional shape at an arbitrary position of the foot, the outer contour, etc. are obtained, and the outer contour line of the foot is output.
In this way, the method of improving the fit of a shoe using the foot type measuring device is that the subject puts his / her foot on the upper surface of the footrest, the pressure distribution of the sole is a pressure sensor, and the outer contour of the foot is not contacted Each is measured with a laser displacement sensor and the outer contour of the foot is output.
JP-A-5-184409 (pages 13-14, FIGS. 5-7)

In a method for improving the fit of a shoe using a conventional foot type measuring device, when a subject puts his / her foot on the upper surface of the footrest, a pressure sensor on the upper surface of the footrest is used for each minute portion of the sole. The grounding point which detects the grounding pressure and exceeds the set value of the detected value is plotted on the recording paper through the arithmetic unit and the plotter, and the horizontal distance from the displacement sensor to the foot surface is measured by the laser displacement sensor. Can be measured and stored, the three-dimensional shape of the foot can be obtained from the stored data, the cross-sectional shape of the foot at any position, the outer contour can be obtained, and the outer contour line of the foot can be output. There is a problem in that it is impossible to measure the timing at which the subject's sole touches the ground while walking.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a plantar pressure sensor that measures the timing at which the measurement site of the plantar of an arbitrary subject in contact with the ground contacts the ground. To do.

In order to solve the above problem, the present invention is configured as follows.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lower limb mounting portion for mounting the lower limb of the subject, the sole pressure measuring means on the sole of the lower limb mounting portion, and the measurement information of the foot pressure measuring means based on the measurement information of the subject. A plantar pressure sensor including a measurement unit that measures plantar pressure, the plantar pressure sensor includes a plurality of plantar pressure measurement means in a measurement site of the plantar of the lower limb wearing unit, Judging the foot size of the subject based on the position of the plantar pressure measuring means which is pressured when the lower limb wearing part is worn, and the plantar pressure measuring means located below the buttocks from the subject's toes And measuring the timing at which the part to be measured on the sole of the subject touches the ground.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, as the plantar pressure measuring means, one pressure-sensitive sensor is provided at the heel portion of the lower limb wearing portion, and a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors are provided at the MP joint outer side portion and the foot apex portion. And the measurement unit determines the foot size of the subject based on the position of the pressure-sensitive sensor at the toe portion where pressure is applied when the subject wears the lower limb wearing unit, and measures the human body dimensions. The position of the MP joint outer part is estimated based on the value, and the pressure at which the buttocks of the subject's sole, the MP joint outer part, and the foot apex touch the ground is measured.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 includes, as the plantar pressure measuring means, a plurality of switches on the plantar of the lower limb wearing unit, and the measuring unit is configured when the subject wears the lower limb wearing unit. The foot size of the subject is determined based on the position of the switch that is ON, and the switch under the buttocks is selected from the foot of the subject, and the measurement site of the foot of the subject is the ground It measures the timing of grounding.
Furthermore, the invention according to claim 4 comprises, as the plantar pressure measuring means, a switch on the heel part of the lower limb wearing part, and a plurality of switches on the MP joint outer part and the apex part, The measuring unit determines the foot size of the subject based on the position of the switch of the tip of the foot that is ON when the subject wears the lower limb wearing unit, and MP based on the statistics of the human body dimensions The position of the joint outer part is estimated, and the timing at which the buttocks of the sole of the subject, the MP joint outer part, and the foot apex contact with the ground is measured.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to cope with individual differences in the foot size of the subject, and it is possible to measure the timing at which an arbitrary measurement site on the subject's sole during walking is grounded. According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to cope with individual differences in the foot size of the subject, and the buttocks, the MP joint outer portion, and the foot apex portion of any subject during walking are grounded to the ground. The pressure can be measured. Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to cope with individual differences in the foot size of the subject, and it is possible to measure the timing at which the measurement site on the sole of any subject during walking is grounded. Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to cope with individual differences in the foot size of the subject, and the buttocks, the MP joint outer portion, and the foot apex of any subject during walking are grounded to the ground The timing to do can be measured.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a system configuration of a plantar pressure sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an arrangement of plantar pressure measuring means.
In both figures, 1 is a subject, 2 is a lower limb mounting portion for mounting the lower limb of the subject 1, 3 is a plantar pressure measuring means for measuring plantar pressure applied to the sole of the lower limb mounting portion 2, and 4 is a foot of the subject 1 A measuring unit 5 that estimates the size and measures the plantar pressure of the subject 1 is a pressure-sensitive sensor disposed on the plantar of the lower limb wearing unit 2.
The lower limb wearing part 2 is a short leg brace used for walking rehabilitation training, and a plantar pressure measuring means 3 for measuring plantar pressure is provided at a portion where the plantar at the tip is placed. An analog voltage corresponding to is output. The pressure sensor 5 is an example of the sole pressure measuring means 3. The output voltage measured by the pressure sensor 5 is amplified, A / D converted, and then stored in a memory such as a PC card at regular intervals.
The portion of the plantar pressure sensor according to the present invention that is different from that of Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of plantar pressure measuring means at a site to be measured of the plantar of the lower limb wearing unit, and an arbitrary portion of the plantar of the subject during walking. It is to measure the timing at which the part to be measured contacts the ground.

First, a method for measuring a subject's foot size will be described.
Prior to the measurement of the plantar pressure, the subject 1 is caused to wear the lower limb wearing portion 2. And the measurement part 4 judges a test subject's foot size based on the position of the plantar pressure measurement means to which the pressure when the test subject 1 wears the lower limb mounting part 2 is applied.
Next, a method for measuring plantar pressure during walking will be described. FIG.1 (c) is a figure which shows the phase which the plantar pressure generate | occur | produces in the walking cycle of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. A typical joint angle change in the phase of the walking cycle is also shown. The phases of the walking cycle are: (1) heel contact, (2) sole contact, (3) mid-stance, (4) heel off, (5) toe off, (6) early swing leg, and (7 ) It consists of the late stage of the swing leg, and flexion and extension movements of the hip joint, knee joint and ankle joint are repeated according to each phase.
(1) heel contact ・ The hip joint is in the maximum bending position and then extends.
・ The knee joint extends almost completely and then bends.
・ Ankle joints are bent from the dorsiflexion position.
(2) Plantar contact ・ The hip joint extends.
・ The knee joint bends.
-The ankle joint is in the flexion position (about 10 °).
(3) Middle stance ・ The hip joint extends.
-The knee joint is in the maximum flexion position (approximately 20 °) in the stance phase.
・ Ankle joints are dorsiflexed.
(4) Isolation ・ The hip joint is in the maximum extended position (about 10 °).
・ Knee joints flex from extension.
-The ankle joint will be in the maximum plantar flexion position (about 10 °) and will then bend.
(5) Toe-off ・ The hip joint bends.
・ The knee joint bends.
-The ankle joint is in the maximum plantar flexion position (about 20 °).
(6) Initial swing leg ・ The hip joint flexes while accelerating.
・ The knee joint bends up to about 60 °.
・ Ankle joints are dorsiflexed.
(7) Late swing leg ・ The hip joint flexes while decelerating.
・ The knee joint extends.
・ Keep the ankle in the dorsiflexion position.

  Therefore, the measurement unit measures the timing at which the measurement site of the subject touches the ground while walking by using the plantar pressure measurement means inside the foot size of the subject. Specifically, during the period when the subject's sole is in contact with the ground (heel contact, contact with the bottom of the foot, mid-stance, heel-off, and toe-off) Measure the timing when the part to be measured contacts the ground.

2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining a pressure-sensitive sensor of a plantar pressure sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a diagram showing its arrangement, and FIG. 2B is a method for estimating the MP joint outer portion. FIG.
In the figure, 1 is a subject, 2 is a lower limb mounting portion for mounting the lower limb of the subject 1, 3 is a plantar pressure measuring means for measuring plantar pressure applied to the sole of the lower limb mounting portion 2, 4 is a foot size of the subject 1 And a measurement unit 5 for measuring the plantar pressure of the subject 1 is a pressure-sensitive sensor disposed on the plantar of the lower limb wearing unit 2.
First, a method for measuring a subject's foot size will be described.
Prior to the measurement of the plantar pressure, the subject 1 is caused to wear the lower limb wearing portion 2. And the measurement part 4 judges a test subject's foot size as follows, for example based on the position of the pressure-sensitive sensor of the toe part to which the pressure is applied when the test subject 1 wears the lower limb mounting part 2 .
For example, four pressure sensors at the apex are arranged in the order of A, B, C, D from the lower side (arch side) to the upper side (toe side) as shown in the figure.
(1) When only the pressure sensor A outputs, the foot size Lf is 23 cm,
(2) When the pressure sensors A and B output, the foot size Lf is 24 cm,
(3) When the pressure sensors A, B, C output, the foot size Lf is 25 cm,
(4) When the pressure sensors A, B, C, D output, the foot size Lf is 26 cm,
Thus, the foot size Lf is determined.

Next, a method for estimating the position of the MP joint outer portion will be described.
FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a method for estimating the MP joint outer side portion of the plantar pressure sensor according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Based on the statistical value of the human body dimensions, the position of the outer portion of the MP joint is estimated as follows, for example, from the ratio between the estimated value of the foot size Lf of the subject and the rear buttock-MP joint outer portion LMP.
Since the ratio r between the foot size Lf and the buttock posterior-MP joint outer portion LMP is known from the statistical value of the human body dimension,
MP joint outer side position = subject's estimated foot size Lf × ratio r
Thus, the MP joint outer side can be estimated by multiplying the estimated value Lf of the subject's foot size by the ratio r.
Then, similarly to the first embodiment, the pressure at which the subject's buttocks, the MP joint outer portion, and the foot apex touch the ground is measured.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the switches of the sole pressure sensor according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a subject, 2 is a lower limb mounting portion for mounting the lower limb of the subject 1, 3 is a plantar pressure measuring means for measuring a plantar pressure applied to the sole of the lower limb mounting portion 2, and 4 is for estimating the foot size of the subject 1 A measuring unit for measuring the plantar pressure of the subject 1, and 6 is a switch arranged on the plantar of the lower limb wearing unit.
First, a method for measuring a subject's foot size will be described. Before measuring the timing at which the sole touches the ground, the subject 1 is made to wear the lower limb mounting portion 2. Then, the measurement unit 4 determines the foot size of the subject based on the position of the switch that is ON when the subject 1 wears the lower limb wearing unit 2.
In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the measurement unit uses a switch inside the subject's foot size, so that the measurement site from the subject's buttocks to the foot apex during walking is the ground. Measure the timing of grounding.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the switches of the plantar pressure sensor according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a subject, 2 is a lower limb mounting portion for mounting the lower limb of the subject 1, 3 is a plantar pressure measuring means for measuring a plantar pressure applied to the sole of the lower limb mounting portion 2, and 4 is for estimating the foot size of the subject 1 A measuring unit for measuring the plantar pressure of the subject 1, and 6 is a switch arranged on the plantar of the lower limb wearing unit.
First, a method for measuring a subject's foot size will be described.
In the same manner as in the second embodiment, the lower limb attachment unit 2 is attached to the subject 1 before measuring the plantar pressure. And the measurement part 4 judges a test subject's foot size based on the position of the switch of the foot apex part which is ON when the test subject 1 wears the lower limb mounting part 2.
Next, in the same manner as in the second embodiment, based on the statistical value of the human body dimension, the MP joint outer side is calculated from the ratio between the estimated value of the subject's foot size Lf and the hip rear-MP joint outer part LMP. Estimate the position of the part.
Then, in the same manner as in the third embodiment, the timing at which the subject's buttocks, the MP joint outer portion, and the toe portion touch the ground while walking is measured.
As described above, a plurality of plantar pressure measuring means are provided at the measurement site of the sole of the lower limb wearing unit, and the timing at which the measurement site of the plantar of any subject during the walking touches the ground can be measured. it can.
Regarding the lower limb wearing part, plantar pressure measuring means may be placed on the sole, is it placed on the sole of the short leg brace or the long leg brace worn by stroke patients, etc., and is it grounded from the buttocks? The present invention can also be applied to the use of evaluating a failure level (such as Brunstrom Stage) based on whether or not.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure explaining the sole pressure sensor which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a figure which shows the system structure, (b) is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the sole pressure measurement means, (c) ) Is a diagram showing a phase in which plantar pressure occurs in the walking cycle. It is a figure explaining the pressure sensor of the sole pressure sensor which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning, (b) is a figure which shows the estimation method of the MP joint outer side part It is. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the switch of the sole pressure sensor which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the switch of the sole pressure sensor which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a whole perspective view of a conventional foot type measuring device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Test subject 2 Lower limb wearing part 3 Plantar pressure measuring means 4 Measuring part 5 Pressure sensor 6 Switch

Claims (4)

  Measurement information of the lower limb mounting part (2) for mounting the lower limb of the subject (1), the plantar pressure measuring means (3) on the sole of the lower limb mounting part (2), and the plantar pressure measuring means (3) A plantar pressure sensor comprising a measurement unit (4) for measuring the plantar pressure of the subject (1) based on a plurality of plantar soles at a measurement site of the plantar of the lower limb wearing unit (2) Pressure measuring means (3), and the measuring section (4) determines the position of the plantar pressure measuring means (3) where pressure is applied when the subject (1) wears the lower limb wearing section (2). The foot size of the subject (1) is judged based on the foot pressure measuring means (3) under the heel from the toe of the subject (1), and the foot of the subject (1) is selected. A plantar pressure sensor characterized by measuring a timing at which a part to be measured contacts the ground.   As the plantar pressure measuring means (3), one pressure sensor (5) is provided at the buttocks of the lower limb wearing part (2), and a plurality of pressure sensors (5) are provided at the MP joint outer side and the foot apex. The measurement unit (4) is based on the position of the pressure sensor (5) of the foot apex where pressure is applied when the subject (1) wears the lower limb wearing unit (2). While judging the foot size of the subject (1) and estimating the position of the MP joint outer side based on the statistical values of the human body dimensions, the subject's (1) plantar buttocks, MP joint outer side, and toe The plantar pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein the pressure at which the part contacts the ground is measured.   The plantar pressure measuring means (3) includes a plurality of switches 6 on the plantar of the lower limb wearing unit (2), and the measuring unit (4) is provided by the subject (1) in the lower limb wearing unit (2). ) And the size of the foot of the subject (1) is determined based on the position of the switch that is ON, and the switch under the buttocks is selected from the foot of the subject (1), The plantar pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein a timing at which a measurement site of the plantar of the subject (1) contacts the ground is measured.   As the plantar pressure measuring means (3), one switch (6) is provided on the heel portion of the sole of the lower limb wearing unit (2), and a plurality of switches (6) are provided on the outer side of the MP joint and the apex. And the measuring unit (4) is configured so that the foot of the subject (1) is based on a position of a switch on the foot apex that is ON when the subject (1) wears the lower limb wearing unit (2). In addition to judging the size, the position of the MP joint outer part is estimated based on the statistics of the human body dimensions, and the buttocks of the sole, the MP joint outer part, and the foot apex of the subject (1) are in contact with the ground. The plantar pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein timing is measured.

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