KR20200102023A - Smart wearable apparatus for treating foot pain - Google Patents

Abstract

A smart wearable device according to the present invention is attached to a fixing guard worn on a foot and comprises: a controller box attached to the fixing guard; a Velcro for detaching and attaching the controller box from and to the fixing guard; and a vibration unit connected to the controller box. The controller box includes: a communications unit for wirelessly receiving a control signal or food status information of the vibration unit; a controller for controlling operation of the vibration unit based on the control signal or the foot status information; a battery for supplying power for operating the controller box; and an LED unit for displaying an operation status of the controller box or the vibration unit. According to the smart wearable device of the present invention, it is possible to alleviate pain of a patient with plantar fasciitis and foot pain by attaching the smart wearable device to a wrinkle guard of a ready-made article and applying mechanical vibration to a specific area on the inside and the outside of a foot, and to adjust pattern and strength of vibration in a very easy manner through an application of a smartphone.

Description

Smart wearable device for foot pain relief {SMART WEARABLE APPARATUS FOR TREATING FOOT PAIN}

The present invention relates to a smart wearable device for relieving foot pain, and in more detail, a smart wearable device capable of controlling vibration using a smartphone, etc., which is easily detachable and detachable for treatment of plantar fasciitis and pain relief It is about.

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common diseases of middle age, and is a disease in which the plantar fascia is inflamed. It is located on the plantar and reduces the fat layer that acts as a cushion, and the foot bones are degenerated to give continuous stimulation to the plantar fascia and develop into inflammation. It may be caused by factors such as obesity or standing on the soles of the feet for an unreasonable long period, and it is a common disease even among marathon runners because it can be caused by walking or running. The main sites of plantar fasciitis are near the heel and the inside of the sole of the foot, and more severe pain is felt when the big toe is stretched or the forefoot is lifted. Once plantar fasciitis occurs, it is difficult to cure it, so it is important to pay attention to the usual foot care to avoid the onset.

When plantar fasciitis occurs, the most basic treatment method in the hospital is stretching, which relaxes the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia. In addition, heel cups or heel pads may be used.

Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2018-0073013 (Title of the invention: Plantar fasciitis prevention guard for improving blood circulation, Publication date: July 02, 2018) is an elastic rubber containing tourmaline that has excellent effects on improving blood circulation. It relates to a plantar fasciitis prevention protector that can prevent plantar fasciitis by reducing the impact of the heel area using a body material.It may be effective in preventing plantar fasciitis using the shock-relieving function, but it can be used to directly treat plantar fasciitis or relieve symptoms. There is a problem that you cannot.

Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2005-0048538 (name of the invention: plantar fasciitis insole, publication date: May 24, 2005) reduces pain by reducing pressure or pressure applied to the plantar fascia and improves the gait pattern of patients with plantar fasciitis. It relates to a plantar fasciitis insole that helps to lead to a normal gait pattern, and there is a problem that direct treatment is not performed only to induce a normal gait pattern through a change in the material and structure of the shoe insole.

Prior Document 1: Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2018-0073013 (published on July 02, 2018) Prior Document 1: Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2005-0048538 (published on May 24, 2005)

The present invention has been conceived in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a smart wearable device for pain relief and treatment of patients with plantar fasciitis and foot pain. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a smart wearable device that can relieve a patient's pain by applying mechanical vibration to a specific area inside and outside the foot by attaching it to a ready-made ankle protector.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a smart wearable device that can be worn while walking and that can adjust a pattern and intensity of vibration according to a treatment purpose through an application of a smartphone.

A smart wearable device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a smart wearable device attached to a fixed protector worn on the foot, and a controller box attached to the fixed protector; Velcro for attaching and detaching the controller box to the fixed guard; And a vibration unit connected to the controller box, wherein the controller box includes: a communication unit for wirelessly receiving a control signal or foot state information of the vibration unit; A controller controlling an operation of the vibration unit based on the control signal or foot state information; A battery that supplies power to operate the controller box; And an LED unit that displays the operation state of the controller box or the vibration unit.

In addition, the smart wearable device further includes a heating part connected to the controller box, wherein the controller box has a curved part contacting the fixed protector, and the Velcro may be located on the curved part.

In addition, the controller box is provided with a fastening portion at the corner, a plurality of controller boxes are fixed in a manner surrounding the fixed guard by being connected by the fastening portion, the fixed guard is a vibration unit extending from the plurality of controller boxes It may include a plurality of guides for guiding to a specific region of the foot.

In addition, the smart wearable device has two controller boxes, one side of the two controller boxes hinge-connected to each other, the other side is provided with a locking portion that can be fixed and released, and the air between the controller box and the Velcro A cushion part capable of adjusting the volume through injection may be provided so that the two controller boxes may be in close contact with the ankle of the user.

In addition, it further includes a smart insole interlocking with the controller box, wherein the smart insole includes: a sensor unit for measuring the movement of the foot, pressure for each region, or muscle fatigue; A signal analysis unit that determines the state of the user's foot based on the signal measured by the sensor unit and generates foot state information; And a short-range communication unit for transmitting the foot state information generated by the signal analysis unit to the controller box, wherein the controller of the controller box can control the vibration unit based on the foot state information received from the smart insole. have.

According to the smart wearable device according to the present invention, it is possible to alleviate the pain of a patient with plantar fasciitis and foot pain by attaching to a ready-made ankle protector to apply mechanical vibration to a specific area inside and outside the foot, and through an application of a smartphone. It is possible to control the pattern and intensity of the vibration in a very easy way.

1 is a state diagram of a smart wearable device according to the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a smart wearable device according to the present invention.
3 is a schematic diagram of a smart wearable device according to the present invention.
4 is a schematic diagram of a smart wearable device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a diagram illustrating a state of use of a smart wearable device according to the present invention.
6 is a schematic diagram of a smart wearable device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
7A and 7B illustrate a cushion part of a smart wearable device according to the present invention.
8 is a schematic diagram illustrating interworking and operation of a smart wearable device and a mobile terminal according to the present invention.
9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the interworking and operation of a smart wearable device and a smart insole according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Advantages and features of the present invention, and a method of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in various forms different from each other, and only these embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to completely inform the scope of the invention to those who have it, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. The same reference numerals refer to the same components throughout the specification.

Although the first, second, etc. are used to describe various elements, components and/or sections, of course, these elements, components and/or sections are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component or section from another element, component or section. Therefore, it goes without saying that the first element, the first element, or the first section mentioned below may be a second element, a second element, or a second section within the technical scope of the present invention.

The terms used in the present specification are for describing exemplary embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, the singular form also includes the plural form unless specifically stated in the phrase. As used in the specification, "comprises" and/or "made of" a referenced component, step, operation and/or element is one or more of the other elements, steps, operations and/or elements. It does not exclude presence or addition.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the present specification may be used as meanings that can be commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. In addition, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not interpreted ideally or excessively unless explicitly defined specifically.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a state diagram of a use of a smart wearable device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a smart wearable device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a smart wearable device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the smart wearable device 100 is composed of a controller box 110 and a vibration unit 120, and both are connected by a connection terminal 125. In another embodiment, since the controller box 110 and the vibrating unit 120 are wirelessly connected through short-range communication, the connection terminal 125 may be omitted.

The controller box 110 accommodates various configurations for operating the smart wearable device 100 according to the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 1, attached to the fixed protector S worn on the user's foot (L), Connected, can be fixed. It is preferable that the controller box 110 is made of a material that is as light as possible because the user must function normally while walking and can maintain the attached state.

The controller box 110 includes a controller 111, a communication unit 112, a battery 113, an LED unit 114 and a power supply unit 115, and a Velcro 130 is provided on the surface.

The controller box 110 may be attached to the fixed protector (S) through the Velcro 130. Accordingly, the smart wearable device 100 according to the present invention can achieve the same effect while using various fixed protectors S that have been used in the past. However, the material of the fixing guard (S) is preferably made of a fiber material that is easily detachable by the Velcro 130.

The controller 111 provides a function of overall controlling the smart wearable device 100 and the vibrating unit 120 based on a control signal input from a user, a control signal wirelessly received from a smart device, and state information related to the state of the foot. Have.

In particular, the controller 111 controls the vibration unit 120 connected to the connection terminal 125. The intensity, period, and pattern of vibration suitable for treatment may be determined according to the state of plantar fasciitis, the size of the user's foot, and the shape, and the controller 111 is based on control signals and foot condition information input to the user or from a mobile terminal. Control the eastern part 120.

The communication unit 112 has a function of receiving an input signal by a user, receiving a control signal from a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, or receiving information related to the state of the foot from a smart device such as a smart insole. In addition, the communication unit 112 transmits vibration status information of the vibration unit 120, ON/OFF status information of the power supply unit 115, remaining amount information of the battery 113, flashing information of the LED unit 114, etc. to external devices (mobile It has a function to transmit to the terminal, etc.). The communication unit 112 may be implemented as a communication module applying various previously known wireless network technologies such as Wi-fi, Bluetooth, Internet, and Zigbee.

The battery 113 has a function of supplying power for operating the controller box 110 and the vibration unit 120. The battery 113 may be connected to the charging terminal 116 to be charged, and the charging terminal 116 is provided on the surface of the controller box 110, so that it can be connected to various conventional charging cables such as micro 5 pins and 8 pins. Can be configured.

The LED unit 114 displays the operation state of the controller box 110 or the vibration unit 120. That is, the operation for each state of each component can be displayed in the color, brightness, blinking, blinking, etc. of the LED, and the user can immediately check the usage state by looking at the state of the LED unit 114. In addition, the LED unit 114 may display the connection state of the controller box 110 and an external device (smart phone, smart insole, etc.). Even at this time, the communication status can be classified by the color, brightness, flicker, and flicker of the LED.

The power supply unit 115 has a function of turning the controller box 110 on and off, and is provided on the outer surface of the controller box 110 as shown in FIG. 3 so that the user can immediately operate it. The power supply unit 115 may be implemented in various ways, such as a switch method and a touch method.

The smart wearable device 100 according to the present invention may further include a heating unit (not shown). Like the vibration unit 120, the heating unit (not shown) is connected to the controller box 110 and has a function of dissipating heat according to a control signal. The vibration unit 120 and the heating unit are located in necessary areas such as the ankle, the back of the foot, the side of the foot, and the foot of the foot, and apply vibration or heat to reduce muscle fatigue and help to treat and relieve plantar fasciitis.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3, the controller box 110 has a curved portion in contact with the fixed guard (S). Since the smart wearable device 100 according to the present invention is attached to the ankle of the user, the attachment efficiency is increased through the curved portion of the controller box 110. Therefore, it is preferable that the Velcro 130 is also provided on the curved surface.

In the smart wearable device 100 according to the present invention, a plurality of vibration units 120 of one controller box 100 may be connected. In this case, the controller 111 may individually control the plurality of vibration units 120 connected to the plurality of connection terminals 125. The vibration intensity, period, and pattern of each vibrating unit 120 may be determined according to the state of plantar fasciitis, the size of the user's foot, and the shape, and the controller 111 responds to the control signal and foot state information input to the user or from the mobile terminal. Each vibration unit 120 is individually controlled on the basis of.

In addition, it is also possible to simultaneously use a plurality of smart wearable devices 100-1 and 100-2. As shown in Figure 4, two smart wearable devices (100-1,100-2) are attached to the ankle on which a fixed protector (S) is worn, and two vibrations extending from each controller box (100-1,100-2) The additional plantar is placed in an appropriate position.

In this case, each of the controller boxes 110-1 and 110-2 may be connected to each other by a fastening portion and securely fixed to each other, unlike in FIG. 4. For example, the controller boxes 110-1 and 110-2 are provided with fastening parts (not shown) at the corners, and the two controller boxes 110-1 and 110-2 are connected by a fastening part (not shown). It can be attached and fixed in a way that surrounds (S). The fastening part (not shown) may be implemented in various ways known in the art, such as screws, Velcro, belts, buckles, as well as fastening, button, and fitting structural devices.

In this case, the fixed guard S may include a plurality of guide units 10 for guiding the vibration units extending from the plurality of controller boxes to a specific area of the plantar part (area required for treatment). Although not explicitly shown in the drawings, the guide unit 10 may be a passage through which the connection terminal 125 is inserted and movable, or may be a Velcro or a clip capable of fixing the connection terminal 125 on the surface. . Meanwhile, the connection terminal 125 is fixed by the guide unit 10 so that the vibration unit is guided to be located in a specific region, and a pocket (not shown) for fixing the vibration unit may be provided in the region where the vibration unit is located. have.

By the guide part 10, the position of the vibration part and the arrangement of the connection terminal 125 may be facilitated. However, in another embodiment, the guide part 10 is omitted, and the connection terminal 125 and the vibration part are inserted into the fixed guard S, so that the vibration part may directly contact the plantar part of the user (patient).

5 is a diagram illustrating a state of use of a smart wearable device according to the present invention. As shown in Fig. 5, four smart wearable devices 100-3,100-4,100-5,100-6 are attached around the fixed protector S worn on the user's foot (L), and each smart wearable device 100- The vibration unit 120-3,120-4,120-5,120-6 provided in the 3,100-4,100-5,100-6) is located in a specific area of the plantar, and it can relieve and treat plantar fasciitis and foot pain through various vibration patterns. Even in this case, the controller box of each smart wearable device (100-3,100-4,100-5,100-6) includes a locking type, button type, and fitting structure device, as well as a variety of known methods such as screws, Velcro, belt, and buckle. It may be connected by a fastening part (not shown).

6 is a schematic diagram of a smart wearable device according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the smart wearable device 100 includes two controller boxes 110-7 and 110-8 hinged. That is, one side of the two controller boxes 110-7 and 110-8 is connected by a hinge structure 140 and can be rotated around a contact line. At this time, the other side is provided with a locking portion 150 to be fixed and released. The locking portion 150 may be composed of a locking member 150v and a concave portion 150c, and a locking member 150v is provided in one controller box 110-7, and the other controller box 110-8 The concave portion 150c is provided. The user can securely fix the ankle by spreading the two hinged controller boxes 110-7 and 110-8, wearing it on the ankle, and then fastening it and fixing it with the locking part 150. At this time, the two controller boxes (110-7, 110-8) facing each other corresponds to a curved part, and since Velcro is provided here, it is attached to the fixing guard (S) and can be fixed by the locking part 150 at the same time. There is no fear that the smart wearable device 100 will drop out even while walking.

7A and 7B illustrate a cushion part of a smart wearable device according to the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a cushion unit 160 capable of adjusting the volume through air injection is provided between the controller boxes 110-7 and 110-8 and the Velcro 130. When fixing only the Velcro 130 and the locking part 150, the device may not be properly fixed depending on the thickness of the ankle of the user. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7B, when air is injected into the cushion unit 160, the Velcro 130 is in close contact with the ankle of the user to fix the Velcro and fix the locking part by pressure.

8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the interworking and operation of the smart wearable device 100 and the mobile terminal 200 according to the present invention.

As described above, the smart wearable device 100 according to the present invention may be connected to the mobile terminal (smart phone, etc.) 200 through a communication unit. In FIG. 8, it is shown that a short-range wireless network is used through Bluetooth, but a different communication method may be used.

The smart wearable device 100 is operable through an application installed in the mobile terminal 200. A user may control the smart wearable device 100 in a manual mode or an automatic mode through the mobile terminal 200. In the case of controlling in the manual mode, the operating time, intensity, and period of the vibration unit or the heating unit can be arbitrarily set. In the case of controlling in the automatic mode, the mobile terminal 200 generates a control signal based on the foot condition information received from an external device such as the smart wearable device 100 or a smart insole, and then transmits the control signal to the smart wearable device 100. And the smart wearable device 100 controls the vibration unit and the heating unit based on the corresponding signal.

The smart wearable device 100 may be provided with a sensor (such as a strain sensor) for detecting the level of tension of the foot, the level of muscle fatigue, and the like, and may transmit sensing information of the sensor to the mobile terminal 200. On the other hand, the smart wearable device 100 collects vibration record and heat record information made in a manual mode or an automatic mode and transmits it to the mobile terminal 200, and the mobile terminal 200 receives it from the smart wearable device 100. Displays various types of information.

9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the linkage and operation of the smart wearable device 100 and the smart insole 300 according to the present invention.

The smart insole 300 includes a sensor unit 320, a signal analysis unit 330 and a short range communication unit 340. The smart insole 300 is disposed on the user's plantar surface, and may be inserted into a shoe or attached to the inside and outside of the fixed protector (S).

The sensor unit 320 measures the movement of the foot, the pressure of each region, or the degree of muscle fatigue. The sensor unit 320 may include a sensing module such as an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and a geomagnetic sensor. In more detail, the sensor unit 320 may be a 9-axis sensor including a 3-axis acceleration sensor, a 3-axis gyro sensor, and a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor. The sensor unit 320 may detect the acceleration of movement of the plantar surface or angles α and β of the plantar surface relative to the ground while the user is walking. The motion acceleration information measured by the sensor unit 320 may be used as basic data for determining an abnormal state of the foot by determining the walking state or speed of the user, and the angle information of the plantar surface relative to the ground is the abnormality of the plantar. It can be used as basic data for determining the location, etc. Meanwhile, the sensor unit 320 may be implemented as a pressure sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, etc. for sensing pressure for each region, and may be implemented as an EMG sensor for measuring muscle fatigue.

The sensor unit 320 is preferably provided at the front and rear and side portions of the plantar surface 310, but may be located on the ankle bone, ankle, or instep to determine muscle fatigue.

The signal analysis unit 330 determines the state of the user's foot based on the signal measured by the sensor unit 320 and generates foot state information. The foot state information may be transmitted to the smart wearable device 100 and used to control the vibration unit or the heating unit, and may be transmitted to the mobile terminal 200 and used as a signal to control the smart wearable device 100. Meanwhile, the measured values transmitted to the mobile terminal 200 may be stored and processed to be constructed as big data for analyzing a treatment process for plantar fasciitis in the future.

The short-range communication unit 340 transmits the measured value measured by the sensor unit 320 or the foot state information analyzed by the signal analysis unit 330 to the smart wearable device 100 or the mobile terminal 200. The short-range communication unit 340 provided in the smart insole 300 may also be implemented as a communication module applying various previously known wireless network technologies such as Wi-fi, Bluetooth, and Zigbee.

According to the smart wearable device according to the present invention, it is possible to alleviate the pain of a patient with plantar fasciitis and foot pain by attaching to a ready-made ankle protector to apply mechanical vibration to a specific area inside and outside the foot, and through an application of a smartphone. It is possible to control the pattern and intensity of the vibration in a very easy way.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features. You can understand. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not limiting.

100: smart wearable device
110: controller box
111: controller
112: communication department
113: battery
114: LED part
115: power supply
120: vibration unit
125: connection terminal
130: Velcro
140: hinge part
150: locking part
200: mobile terminal
300: Smart insole

Claims (5)

A smart wearable device attached to a fixed protector worn on the foot.
A controller box attached to the fixed guard;
Velcro for attaching and detaching the controller box to the fixed guard; And
Including; a vibration unit connected to the controller box,
The controller box,
A communication unit for wirelessly receiving a control signal or foot condition information of the vibration unit;
A controller controlling an operation of the vibration unit based on the control signal or foot state information;
A battery that supplies power to operate the controller box; And
Smart wearable device comprising a; LED unit for displaying the operation state of the controller box or the vibration unit. The method of claim 1,
The smart wearable device further includes a heating unit connected to the controller box,
The controller box has a curved portion in contact with the fixed protector, and the Velcro is a smart wearable device positioned on the curved portion. The method of claim 2,
The controller box is provided with a fastening part at the corner, and a plurality of controller boxes are connected by the fastening part to be fixed in a manner surrounding the fixing guard,
The fixed guard is a smart wearable device comprising a plurality of guides for guiding the vibration unit extended from the plurality of controller boxes to a specific region of the foot. The method of claim 1,
The smart wearable device has two controller boxes, one side of the two controller boxes hinge-connected to each other, the other side is provided with a locking portion that can be fixed and released,
A smart wearable device provided between the controller box and the Velcro and a cushion part capable of adjusting the volume through air injection to closely contact the two controller boxes to a user's ankle. The method of claim 1,
A smart insole that works with the controller box; further includes,
The smart insole,
A sensor unit for measuring the movement of the foot, pressure for each region, or muscle fatigue;
A signal analysis unit that determines a user's foot state based on the signal measured by the sensor unit to generate foot state information; And
Includes; a short-range communication unit for transmitting the foot state information generated by the signal analysis unit to the controller box, and
The controller of the controller box is a smart wearable device for controlling the vibration unit based on the foot state information received from the smart insole.

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