LU500248B1 - Intelligent orthopedic brace and orthopedic method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses an intelligent orthopedic brace and the orthopedic method thereof. According to the invention, the collected pressure signals are converted using pressure sensor module into corresponding pressure analog electric signals and then to be detected; The buffer circuit module receives and conditions the pressure analog electric signal; The AD conversion module converts the pressure analog electrical signal into pressure digital electrical signal and processes it, and the wireless module is used for transmitting the processed pressure digital electrical signal to the mobile APP; The power supply module provides power supply voltages for the pressure sensor module, the buffer circuit module, the AD conversion module and the wireless module. It can make timely adjustment according to the change of patients' status and deliver good correction performance.

Description

DESCRIPTION Intelligent orthopedic brace and orthopedic method thereof

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to the field of medical instruments, in particular to an intelligent orthopedic brace and a orthopedic method thereof.

BACKGROUND At present, most of the skeletal orthosis is purely mechanical design which manufactured and installed by the hospital orthodontist at one time according to the patients' injuries, and worn by the patients all the time or intermittently. However, due to the fact that patients wearing the orthosis device do not usually follow the requirements in the actual using, especially teenagers, or upon the changes of the patient's status, such as the user putting on weight and the changes of the bone's status, the one-time manufactured and installed bone orthosis cannot make timely adjustments in response to these changes thus cannot deliver good correction performance.

SUMMARY In view of this, the invention provides an intelligent orthopedic brace and the orthopedic method thereof, which can make timely adjustment according to the change of patient status and deliver good correction performance. An intelligent orthopedic brace is provided according to one aspect of the invention, which comprises: The pressure sensor module, which is used for converting the collected pressure signals into corresponding pressure analog electrical signals and detecting the converted signals; The buffer circuit module, which is used for receiving the pressure analog electric signal and conditioning the received signals; The AD conversion module, which is used for converting the pressure analog electric signal into the pressure digital electric signal and processing the converted signals; The wireless module, which is configured to transmit the processed pressure digital electric signal to mobile APP; ; The power supply module, which is used for providing power supply voltages for the pressure sensor module, the buffer circuit module, the AD conversion module and the wireless module.

In a possible implementation, the intelligent orthopedic brace further comprises a first indicator light module which is used for indicating the working status of the wireless module.

In a possible implementation, the pressure sensor module includes: The pressure sensor array, which is used for collecting the pressure signals and converting the collected signals into corresponding pressure analog electrical signals; The pressure sensor matching module, which is used to adjust the variation of the pressure analog electric signal by matching the pull-up resistor, and detect the pressure signal by detecting the variation of the pressure analog electric signal.

In a possible implementation, the buffer circuit module includes: Filter circuit, used for filtering the pressure analog electrical signal; Buffer circuit, used for conditioning the pressure analog electric signal by increasing the input impedance.

In a possible implementation, the power supply module comprises a battery unit and a charging circuit unit;

Wherein, the charging circuit unit is used for charging the battery unit; And the battery unit is used for providing power supply voltage to the pressure sensor module, the buffer circuit module and the AD conversion module.

In a possible implementation, the power supply module further comprises: The battery power detection unit, which is used for detecting the battery power and sending out prompt information if the battery power 1s lower than the normal working power value; The second indicator light module, which is used for indicating the working status of the charging circuit.

In a possible implementation, the wireless module is Bluetooth module or WIFI module.

In a possible implementation, the pressure sensor array includes at least one pressure sensor.

According to the other aspect of the invention which provides a orthopedic method of an intelligent orthopedic brace, 1.e. the above-mentioned intelligent orthopedic brace, which is installed in a stressed area to which the sensor array is contact.

Monitor the pressure electric signal detected by the sensor array of the intelligent orthopedic brace; Determine the pressure on the stressed area and adjust the intelligent orthopedic brace according to the determined pressure based on the corresponding relationship between the pressure electric signal and the pressure.

The intelligent orthopedic brace provided by the invention convert the collected pressure signals into corresponding pressure analog electric signal through pressure sensor module and further detect the converted signals.

The buffer circuit module receives the pressure analog electric signal and conditions the received signals; The AD conversion module converts the pressure analog electrical signal into the pressure digital electrical signal and processes the converted signals; The wireless module is used for transmitting the processed pressure digital electric signal to the mobile APP; And the power supply module provides power supply voltages for the pressure sensor module, the buffer circuit module, the AD conversion module and the wireless module. It can make timely adjustment according to the change of patients' status and deliver good correction performance. Other features and aspects of the invention will become clear according to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The accompanied drawings which incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification serve to illustrate exemplary embodiments, features and aspects of the invention and explain the fundamentals of the invention. Fig.1 shows a functional block diagram of an intelligent orthopedic brace according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig.2 shows a structural block diagram of an intelligent orthopedic brace according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig.3 shows the relational graph of pressure and resistance of different types of thin pressure sensors of an intelligent orthopedic brace according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig.4 shows the relational graph of pressure and resistance of thin pressure sensors of the same class but different series (models) of an intelligent orthopedic brace according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig.5 shows a flow chart of a orthopedic method of an intelligent orthopedic brace according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Various exemplary embodiments, characteristics and aspects of the invention will be described in detail as follow with reference to the accompanying features, of which the same reference numerals refer to elements with the same or similar functions. Although various aspects of embodiments are shown in the features, it is not necessary to draw the features to scale unless otherwise specified. The specified word "exemplary" here means "serving as an example, embodiment or illustration". There 1s no need to interpret any “exemplary” embodiment described herein as superior or better than other embodiments. Furthermore, in order to better illustrate the invention, numerous specific details are given in the following detailed description. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced without certain specific details. In some examples, methods, means, elements and circuits well known to those skilled in the art have not been described in detail in order to highlight the main idea of this disclosure. Fig.1 shows a functional block diagram of an intelligent orthopedic brace according to an embodiment of the invention, in which the intelligent orthosis can also communicate with the mobile terminal (e.g., mobile phone, tablet, etc.) of the patient user and/or the hospital orthodontist through the cloud server, so that the patient user and/or the hospital orthodontist can know the matching situation of the orthosis worn by the patient in real time and adjust the use status of the intelligent orthosis in time.

As shown in fig.1, the intelligent orthopedic brace comprises: pressure sensor module, which can be used for converting the collected pressure signals into corresponding pressure analog electrical signals and detecting the converted signals; Buffer circuit module, which can be used for receiving the pressure analog electric signal and conditioning the received signals; AD conversion module, which can be used for converting the pressure analog electric signal into the pressure digital electric signal and processing the converted signal; Wireless module, which is configured to transmit the processed pressure digital electric signal to mobile APP; ; Power supply module, which can be used for providing power supply voltages for the pressure sensor module, the buffer circuit module, the AD conversion module and the wireless module.

Among them, the pressure sensor converts pressure into electrical signals and outputs them and converts the changing pressure signals into corresponding changing resistance signals or capacitance signals.

Pressure sensors are generally divided into ordinary pressure sensors (for example, pressure sensors used in industrial automation) and medical pressure sensors.

Pressure sensors usually consist of sensitive elements and conversion elements.

The former one can be the part of the pressure sensor that can directly respond or collect the measured data.

The later one can be a part of the pressure sensor that can convert what the sensitive element responded or collected into an electrical signal suitable for transmission or measurement.

The pressure sensor module may include one or more than one pressure sensors, which are not limited here.

The pressure sensor can convert the collected pressure signals into corresponding pressure analog electrical signals (which can be resistance signals) for measurement.

Buffer circuit module 1s an important protection circuit which can condition the received electrical signals and prevent excessive current from rising and burning out product components.

The AD conversion module may include one or more than one high-precision AD conversion chips (for example, 16-bit, 22-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit and other AD conversion chips). The AD conversion chip can convert analog signals into digital signals, and then process the data and capture the slightly changed pressure value of the outside world by extracting 8-bit valid data.

Wireless module can connect different terminal devices to realize information transmission.

For example, the wireless module can connect the intelligent orthopedic brace with the mobile terminal APP of the user and/or the hospital orthodontist, so as to transmit the data information of the intelligent orthopedic brace to the mobile terminal APP.

The wireless module can be bluetooth module, WIFI module, ZigBee module, etc., and the user can choose according to actual needs, which is not limited here.

According to the intelligent orthopedic brace disclosed by the invention, the collected pressure signals are converted into corresponding pressure analog electric signals through the pressure sensor module and will be further detected; The buffer circuit module receives the pressure analog electric signal and conditions the received signal, The AD conversion module converts the pressure analog electrical signal into the pressure digital electrical signal and processes the converted signal, and transmits the processed signal to the mobile APP through a wireless module; And the power supply module provides power supply voltages for the pressure sensor module, the buffer circuit module, the AD conversion module and the wireless module.

It can make timely adjustment according to the change of patients' status and achieve good correction performance.

In a possible implementation, the intelligent orthopedic brace may further comprises a first indicator light module, which may comprise an indicator light for indicating the working status of the wireless module.

For example, the indicator light of the indicator light module can be LED of any color, which is on when the wireless module is working, but not when the wireless module is not working, or different colors are displayed when the wireless module is in different working status, which is not limited here.

Fig.2 shows a structural block diagram of an intelligent orthopedic brace according to an embodiment of the invention.

The following description takes the pressure sensor of the intelligent orthopedic brace converting the collected pressure signal into the corresponding resistance signal as example.

In a possible implementation, the pressure sensor module includes: Pressure sensor array, which is used for collecting the pressure signals and converting the collected signals into corresponding pressure analog electrical signals; Pressure sensor matching module, which adjusts the variation of the pressure analog electric signal by matching the pull-up resistor, and detects the pressure signal by detecting the variation of the pressure analog electric signal.

Among them, the pressure sensor module may include one or more than one pressure sensor branches, and each pressure sensor branch includes pressure sensor and pressure sensor matching branch.

Pressure sensors including traditional pressure sensors and thin pressure sensors, which are not limited here.

The thin pressure sensors will be taken as an example to explain below.

As shown in fig.2, the pressure sensor array may be a thin pressure sensor array including at least one thin pressure sensor, which is used for detecting pressure information of patient and converting the detected signal into a corresponding pressure analog electrical signal (e.g., a resistance signal). Thin pressure sensors can be FCCK thin pressure sensors (such as FCCK-50N thin pressure sensors, FCCK-100N thin pressure sensors, etc.) and CYG500 thin pressure sensors (such as CYG502 thin pressure sensors, CYG502 thin pressure sensors, CYG503 thin pressure sensors, etc.). Fig.3 and fig.4 show respectively the relation graphs of pressure and resistance of thin pressure sensors of different categories and of same category but different series (models) of an intelligent orthopedic brace according to an embodiment of the invention.

As shown in fig.3 and fig.4, take pressure value as abscissa and use N as unit, and resistance value as ordinate and KQ as unit.

According to fig.3, the external pressure values detected by different types of thin pressure sensors and the corresponding resistance values converted are consistent in terms of mapping relation.

The bigger the external pressure value that thin pressure sensor detected, the smaller the converted corresponding resistance value, and vice versa.

It can be seen from fig.4 that the external pressure values detected by thin pressure sensors of the same category but different series also consistent with the converted corresponding resistance values in terms of mapping relation.

The bigger the external pressure value that thin pressure sensor detected, the smaller the converted corresponding resistance value, and vice versa.

It can be seen from fig.3 and fig.4 that the external pressure value detected by the thin pressure sensor and the converted corresponding resistance value consistent in terms of mapping relations.

Moreover, the converted corresponding resistance value shows more obvious changes when the external pressure changes slightly.

Comparing to the traditional sensor, the thin pressure sensor is more suitable for medical devices like intelligent orthopedic brace fir it can detect the subtle pressure change of the patient user and further help the patient user and/or the hospital orthodontist to improve the use status of the intelligent orthopedic brace in time.

In a possible implementation, the pressure sensor matching module may include one or more than one pressure sensor matching branches (not shown in the figure) which consist of pull-up resistors (not shown in the figure) with no resistance.

For example, select pull- up resistors reasonably according to the corresponding relation between pressure and resistance of thin pressure sensors as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4, and connect them in series on the output branches of each thin pressure sensor so as to enlarge the variation of resistance signals of each thin pressure sensor branch of the thin pressure sensor module.

Voltmeter and ammeter is used here to detect the voltage and current of the thin pressure sensor branch and calculate the variation of resistance signal converted from the pressure signals detected by the thin pressure sensor branches and then to realize the detection of the pressure signals by detecting the variation of resistance signal.

A pressure sensor matching module is designed to meet the high requirements of thin pressure sensor on the stressed area and the using based on the characteristics of the thin pressure sensor and to improve the performance and measurement accuracy of the thin pressure sensor.

The input resistance of the thin pressure sensor 1s small and easy to be affected by the external connection length of the intelligent orthopedic brace and the contact with patient user.

There also are problems of inaccurate measurement due to signal fluctuation which caused by static electricity and user movement.

Therefore, the corresponding sensor signal conditioning circuit of the intelligent orthopedic brace is designed.

In a possible implementation, the buffer circuit module (sensor signal conditioning circuit) of the intelligent orthopedic brace includes a filter circuit for filtering the pressure analog electrical signal (resistance signal) and the buffer circuit for conditioning the pressure analog electric signal (resistance signal) by increasing the input impedance.

Among them, the voltage dividing circuit can be realized by connecting appropriate resistors in series with each thin pressure sensor branch; The filter circuit can be realized by RC circuit with proper resistance value and capacitance value; Buffer circuit can also be realized by LC circuit with proper resistance value and inductance value.

All the above circuits can be realized by the commonly used design and will not be described here.

As shown in fig.2, the buffer circuit module may include a voltage dividing circuit, a filter circuit and a buffer circuit.

A buffer circuit module integrated with a voltage dividing circuit, a filter circuit and a buffer circuit is added to each branch of the thin pressure sensor.

The voltage dividing circuit can reduce the influence on the output value of the thin pressure sensor when the receiving end of the input signal of the thin pressure sensor is in a high impedance status.

The RC filter circuit can filter out the influence of static electricity and drastic changes of output signals caused by the movement of patients and users; The buffer circuit can transfer the output of the buffer circuit module into a low resistance status and reduce the variation of output current to the detection signal of the AD conversion module.

The designed buffer circuit module can eliminate the influence of static electricity and the drastic change of output signal caused by the movement of patient user, and improve the resistance that inputted to intelligent orthopedic brace to reduce the influence of data collected by thin pressure sensors, which can further improve the detection accuracy of intelligent orthopedic brace.

In a possible implementation, the power supply module of the intelligent orthopedic brace may further comprises: A charging circuit unit, which is used for charging the battery unit, wherein the charging circuit unit can charge the battery unit by connecting an external adapter; The battery unit, which is used for providing power supply voltage to the pressure sensor module, the buffer circuit module and the AD conversion module; The battery power detection unit, which is used for detecting the battery power and sending out prompt information when the battery power 1s lower than the normal working power value; And the second indicator lamp module, which is used for indicating the working status of the charging circuit.

Among them, the indicator light of the second indicator light module is the same as that of the first indicator light module, which will not be described in detail here.

As shown in fig.2, the charging circuit is respectively connected with the Micro USB interface, the lithium battery and the second indicator module.

The battery power detection unit (not shown in the figure) is connected with the lithium battery and can detect the power of the lithium battery in real time.

It can send out prompt information and activate the charging circuit to charge the lithium battery when the power supply of the lithium battery is lower than the power value required by the pressure sensor module,

buffer circuit module and AD conversion module of the intelligent orthopedic brace for normal operation.

The indicator light of the second indicator light module indicates that the lithium battery 1s being charged or completed by lighting on or emitting light of other colors (such as red). For example, the indicator light of the second indicator light module emits red light if the lithium battery needs to be charged or it is being charged when it is being used; The indicator light of the second indicator light module does not emit light if the lithium battery works normally, The indicator light of the second indicator light module emits blue light if the lithium battery is fully charged.

The indicator lights of the second indicator light module can also be set as other indication modes according to actual needs, which are not limited here.

The power supply module includes a charging circuit unit, a battery unit, a battery power detection unit and a second indicator light module, which can facilitate the confirmation of the current use status of the intelligent orthopedic brace and inform the patient user in advance to charge the intelligent orthopedic brace, so as to ensure the continuity of the pressure signals collected during the use of the intelligent orthopedic brace.

The intelligent orthopedic brace disclosed by the embodiment of the invention enables the patient user and/or the hospital orthodontist to make in time adjustment according to the change of the status of the patient user so as to realize good correction performance.

Fig.5 shows a flow chart of a orthopedic method of an intelligent orthopedic brace according to an embodiment of the invention.

The intelligent orthopedic brace shown in fig.5 can be the intelligent orthopedic brace that described above.

And the following description is taking the pressure sensor of the intelligent orthopedic brace converting the collected pressure signal into the corresponding resistance signal as example.

The orthopedic method as shown in fig. 5 includes: Step S11: Monitoring the pressure electric signal detected by the pressure sensor module of the intelligent orthopedic brace; In a possible implementation as shown in fig.2, the intelligent orthopedic brace is installed in the stressed area where the thin pressure sensor array of the pressure sensor module is in contact with.

The thin pressure sensor array collects pressure data once every certain time and calculates the average value of the many time collected data (such as 3 or 5 times). In doing so, the sudden change of pressure signal can be prevented from movement of patients and users during use.

The the intelligent orthopedic brace converts the pressure data collected by the thin pressure sensor array into corresponding resistance data and stores it in SPI flash, which will be further transmitted to the mobile terminal APP (such as mobile phone, tablet and computer) of patient users and/or hospital orthodontists through Bluetooth module.

Step S12: Determine the value of pressure on the stressed area according to the corresponding relationship between the pressure electric signal and the pressure and adjust the intelligent orthopedic brace by the pressure; In a possible implementation, patient user and/or the hospital orthodontist receive the pressure signal (resistance signal) through the mobile terminal APP.

The pressure value corresponding to the resistance value can be determined based on the mapping relations of the pressure signal detected by different types of thin pressure sensors and the converted corresponding resistance signal, therefore to determine the pressure on the stressed area of the patient user.

Patient users and/or hospital orthodontists can timely adjust the use status of the intelligent orthopedic brace according to the pressure on the stressed area, such as adjusting the tightness, the installation direction and angle of the intelligent orthopedic brace, etc.

The orthopedic method of the intelligent orthopedic brace disclosed by the embodiment of the invention enables the patient user and/or the hospital orthodontists to adjust the intelligent orthopedic brace in time according to the change of the status of the patient user, so as to realize good correction performance.

The embodiments of the present disclosure described above are exemplary but not exhaustive, and is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the illustrated embodiments. Terms used herein are selected to best explain the principles of various embodiments, practical applications or improvements to technologies in the market, or to enable other people of ordinary skill in the art to understand various embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:

1. An intelligent orthopedic brace, characterized by comprising: the pressure sensor module, which is used for converting the collected pressure signals into corresponding pressure analog electrical signals and detecting the converted signals; the buffer circuit module, which is used for receiving the pressure analog electric signals and conditioning the received signals; the AD conversion module, which is used for converting the pressure analog electric signals into the pressure digital electric signal and processing the converted signals; a wireless module, which is configured to transmit the processed pressure digital electric signals to a mobile APP; and the power supply module, which is used for providing power supply voltages for the pressure sensor module, the buffer circuit module, the AD conversion module and the wireless module.

2. The intelligent orthopedic brace according to claim 1 is characterized in that the intelligent orthopedic brace further comprises: a first indicator module, which is configured to indicate the working status of the wireless module.

3. The intelligent orthopedic brace according to claim 1 is characterized in that the pressure sensor module comprises: the pressure sensor array, which is used for collecting the pressure signals and converting the collected signals into corresponding pressure analog electrical signals; the pressure sensor matching module, which adjusts the variation of the pressure analog electric signal by matching the pull-up resistor and detects the pressure signal by detecting the variation of the pressure analog electric signal.

4. The intelligent orthopedic brace according to claim 1 1s characterized in that the buffer circuit module comprises: a filter circuit, which 1s used for filtering the pressure analog electrical signal: and the buffer circuit, which is used for conditioning the pressure analog electric signal by increasing the input impedance.

5. The intelligent orthopedic brace according to claim 1 is characterized in that the power supply module comprises: a battery unit and a charging circuit unit; wherein the charging circuit unit is used for charging the battery unit; and the battery unit is used for supplying power to the pressure sensor module, the buffer circuit module and the AD conversion module.

6. The intelligent orthopedic brace according to claim 5 is characterized in that the power supply module further comprises: the battery power detection unit, which is used for detecting the battery power and sending out prompt information when the battery power is lower than the normal working power value; and the second indicator light module, which is used for indicating the working state of the charging circuit.

7. The intelligent orthopedic brace according to claim 1 or 2 is characterized in that the wireless module is a bluetooth module or a WIFI module.

8. The intelligent orthopedic brace according to claim 3 is characterized in that the pressure sensor array comprises at least one pressure sensor.

9. An intelligent orthopedic brace described as claim 1-8 and installed in a stressed area where the sensor array is in contact with is characterized in that its orthopedic method comprises: monitoring the pressure electric signal detected by the sensor array of the intelligent orthopedic brace; determining the pressure on the stressed area and adjusting the intelligent orthopedic brace according to the pressure based on the corresponding relationship between the pressure electric signal and the pressure.