Method of gait evaluation and training with differential pressure system

• US 10,342,461 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Inventors: Basta, Steven L., Jue, Clifford T., Shughart, Mark A., Duffy, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganesan, Sundhara M
• Application Number:
  US14/769,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20160007885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/04 with movable multiple steps , i.e. more than one step per limb, e.g. steps mounted on endless loops, endless ladders steppers with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0048
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2213/004 with electrotherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 : Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/36 : Speed measurement by electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 : Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 : Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 : Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 : Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 : Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/02 : Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 : with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 : Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 : User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/60 : muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

There is described an integrated unweighted gait training system having an unweighting system comprising a computer controller; a gait measurement system in communication with the controller; and a display in communication with the computer controller adapted and configured to provide real-time feedback to a user of the integrated unweighting gait training system. The unweighting system may be a differential air pressure (DAP) unweighting system or a non-DAP unweighting system.

Claims

1. A method of providing integrated differential air pressure assisted gait training, comprising:

customizing the integrated differential air pressure system to a user by performing a calibration routine to determine a patient specific calibration factor;

unweighting the user in the integrated differential air pressure system based on the customizing step;

performing a therapy routine with the user during the unweighting step;

collecting under control of the integrated differential air pressure system controller output data from a plurality of components of the integrated differential air pressure system during the unweighting step and the performing step; and

recommending a user action for gait correction based on one or more of the output data from the collecting step, wherein the user action for gait correction is visible on the display in view to the user during the performing step.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the output data comprises synthesized data.

3. The method of claim 1 the collecting step further comprising a continuous output data stream, a nearly continuous output data stream, a segmented output data stream, or a synthesized output data stream from the integrated differential air pressure system.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the output data in a database.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the database contains DAP and gait system data corresponding to a user'"'"'s progress through a continuum of care.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the continuum of care ranges from immobile, to partially mobile, to fully mobile.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising comparing the data to data from a device in another segment of the continuum of care.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the data from a device from another segment is gait data collected from a leg worn actuator.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the data is gait data collected from a full mobility measurement system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the recommending step permits connection of an alteration of a parameter of the differential air pressure system or user gait change to a real time feedback.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of collecting output data from the plurality of components includes an instrumented article worn by the user.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the instrumented article worn by the user is within a pressurized chamber of the integrated differential air pressure system during the performing step and the collecting step.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the output data collected from the instrumented article worn by the user during the collecting step includes data about a hip position of the user.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the instrumented article worn by the user is a shoe.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the instrumented article worn by the user is a garment.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the user action for gait correction with the output data of the collecting step.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the user action for gait correction is related to a correction of a user foot strike force asymmetry, a user stride, a user cadence asymmetry, or a user body phase coordination.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising initiating capture of a video image of the user using a trigger provided by at least one of the plurality of components of the collecting step.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein a trigger provided by at least one of the plurality of components of the collecting step is provided by a sensor worn by the user.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein a trigger provided by at least one of the plurality of components of the collecting step is provided by a sensor of the integrated differential air pressure system to detect an impact of the user foot with a treadmill within the integrated differential air pressure system.

21. The method of claim 1 the recommending step further comprising:

providing a recommendation to decrease the amount of unweighting provided by the integrated differential air pressure system.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing data from a sensor worn by the user during the performing step; and

synchronizing the data from the sensor to the output data collected during the unweighting step and the performing step.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the synchronizing step is done during the performing step.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the synchronizing step is done after completion of the performing step.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the sensor worn by the user is within a shoe worn by the user.

26. The method of claim 1, the collecting step further comprising:

wirelessly receiving output data from one component of the plurality of components.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein the user action for gait correction visible on the display includes a graphic indication of a detected asymmetry.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the detected asymmetry is a differential air pressure assisted force asymmetry.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the detected asymmetry is a differential air pressure assisted cadence asymmetry.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the user action for gait correction visible on the display is a recommended adjustment to the level of differential air pressure unweighting provided by the integrated differential air pressure system.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the display is within reach of the user during the performing step and the collecting step.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein the user action for gait correction visible on the display includes a pictogram of at least one of stepping performance, upper body phase coordination, cadence, left/right stride length, left/right stride time, stride length, heel strike, knee bend, foot placement phase asymmetry, and stride time jitter.