Method and apparatus for improving human balance and gait and preventing foot injury
First Claim
1. A wearable system for neurological stimulation of a human foot, the system comprising:
- a platform having at least one vibrational actuator adapted to apply a mechanical stimulation to mechanoreceptors in the foot;
at least one signal generator adapted to provide at least one driving signal to drive the at least one vibrational actuator;
a controller configured to control the at least one signal generator and the at least one vibrational actuator;
a sensor coupled to the controller, the sensor configured to sense activity of the foot; and
a power source providing electrical energy to the controller and the at least one signal generator,wherein the platform is a removable insole insert of a shoe, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the at least one driving signal provided by the at least one signal generator to transition the at least one vibrational actuator between providing, to the mechanoreceptors in the foot, a mechanical stimulation having a subthreshold magnitude based on a first activity of the foot sensed by the sensor and a mechanical stimulation having a suprathreshold magnitude based on a second activity of the foot sensed by the sensor, the first activity being different from the second activity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and wearable system and for enhancing human balance and gait and preventing foot injury through neurological stimulation of the foot and the ankle. Subthreshold stimulation for neurosensory enhancement is provided via electrodes or vibrational actuators, or combination thereof, disposed in or on a wearable a platform, such as an insole, sock shoe, removable shoe insert, or applied without the support of a platform, to the skin surface of an individual. Suprathreshold stimulation for therapeutic purposes, such as improving blood flow, is also provided by the vibrational actuators. The actuators and electrodes are driven by bias signals generated by a bias signal generator that is coupled to a controller. The signal generator under the control of the controller is adapted to generate a non-deterministic random signal, a repetitive pattern or series of patterns. The controller optionally includes a communication port for interfacing with an external computer for purposes of optimizing and programming the controller. The wearable system is powered by a power source.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A wearable system for neurological stimulation of a human foot, the system comprising:
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a platform having at least one vibrational actuator adapted to apply a mechanical stimulation to mechanoreceptors in the foot; at least one signal generator adapted to provide at least one driving signal to drive the at least one vibrational actuator; a controller configured to control the at least one signal generator and the at least one vibrational actuator; a sensor coupled to the controller, the sensor configured to sense activity of the foot; and a power source providing electrical energy to the controller and the at least one signal generator, wherein the platform is a removable insole insert of a shoe, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the at least one driving signal provided by the at least one signal generator to transition the at least one vibrational actuator between providing, to the mechanoreceptors in the foot, a mechanical stimulation having a subthreshold magnitude based on a first activity of the foot sensed by the sensor and a mechanical stimulation having a suprathreshold magnitude based on a second activity of the foot sensed by the sensor, the first activity being different from the second activity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 20, 21)
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7. A wearable system for neurological stimulation of a human foot, the system comprising:
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a platform having at least one vibrational actuator adapted to apply a mechanical stimulation to mechanoreceptors in the foot; at least one signal generator adapted to provide at least one driving signal to drive the at least one vibrational actuator; a sensor configured to sense a pressure on the foot and to sense activity of the foot, the activity of the foot including at least one of;
(i) movement of the foot between a swing phase and a stance phase;
(ii) position change of the foot between a seated position and a standing position;
(iii) acceleration of the foot;
or (iv) any combination of (i), (ii), and (iii);a controller configured to control the at least one signal generator and the at least one vibrational actuator; and a power source providing electrical energy to the controller and the at least one signal generator, wherein the platform is a removable insole insert of a shoe, and wherein the at least one driving signal to drive the at least one vibrational actuator is composed of one or more frequencies with a bandwidth of greater than 0 Hz to about 1 KHz and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the at least one driving signal provided by the at least one signal generator based on the sensed pressure on the foot to thereby cause the at least one vibrational actuator to provide;
(i) at a first time, a first mechanical stimulation having a subthreshold magnitude when the pressure on the foot is greater than at least a pressure threshold;
(ii) at a second time after the first time, a second mechanical stimulation having a suprathreshold magnitude when the pressure on the foot is less than at least the pressure threshold; and
(iii) at a third time after the second time, a third mechanical stimulation having a subthreshold magnitude when the pressure on the foot is greater than at least the pressure threshold. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A wearable system for neurological stimulation of a human foot, the system comprising:
a removable insole insert comprising; a platform having at least one vibrational actuator adapted to apply a mechanical stimulation to mechanoreceptors in the foot; at least one signal generator adapted to provide at least one driving signal to drive the at least one vibrational actuator; a controller configured to control the at least one signal generator and the at least one vibrational actuator; a sensor coupled to the controller to sense activity of the foot; and a power source providing electrical energy to the controller and the at least one signal generator, wherein the controller is programmable and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the at least one driving signal provided by the at least one signal generator to transition the at least one vibrational actuator between providing, to the mechanoreceptors in the foot, a mechanical stimulation having a subthreshold magnitude and a mechanical stimulation having a suprathreshold magnitude based on the activity of the foot sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification