Force measurement system

• US 10,646,153 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2019
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bertec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bertec Corporation
• Inventors: Berme, Necip, Pitale, Jaswandi Tushar, Baro, Mohan Chandra
• Primary Examiner(s): Amini, Javid A
• Application Number:
  US16/571,103
• Time in Patent Office: 241 Days
• Field of Search: 345633
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• 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 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/22 using resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/00 Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/163 of potentiometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00

Abstract

A force measurement system is disclosed herein. The force measurement system includes a force measurement assembly configured to receive a subject thereon, and one or more data processing devices operatively coupled to the force measurement assembly. In one or more embodiments, the one or more data processing devices are configured to receive one or more signals that are representative of forces and/or moments being applied to the top surface of the force measurement assembly by the subject, and to convert the one or more signals into output forces and/or moments, and the one or more data processing devices are further configured to determine a type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance on the force measurement assembly.

Claims

1. A force measurement system, comprising:

a force measurement assembly configured to receive a subject, the force measurement assembly including;

a top surface for receiving at least one portion of the body of the subject; and

at least one force transducer, the at least one force transducer configured to sense one or more measured quantities and output one or more signals that are representative of forces and/or moments being applied to the top surface of the force measurement assembly by the subject; and

one or more data processing devices operatively coupled to the force measurement assembly, the one or more data processing devices configured to receive the one or more signals that are representative of the forces and/or moments being applied to the top surface of the force measurement assembly by the subject, and to convert the one or more signals into output forces and/or moments, the one or more data processing devices further configured to determine and characterize a type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance on the force measurement assembly, wherein the type of balance strategy determined and characterized by the one or more data processing devices is selected from the group consisting of;

(i) an ankle strategy, (ii) a hip strategy, (iii) a step strategy, and (iv) combinations thereof, and wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to determine the type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance on the force measurement assembly based upon output data from the force measurement assembly or based upon output data from another device operatively coupled to the one or more data processing devices.

2. The force measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to determine the type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance on the force measurement assembly based upon one or more of the output forces and/or moments determined from the one or more signals of the force measurement assembly.

3. The force measurement system according to claim 2, wherein the one or more output forces and/or moments used by the one or more data processing devices to determine the type of balance strategy comprise one or more shear forces, one or more vertical forces, or one or more moments used to compute the center of pressure of the subject.

4. The force measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising a motion capture system comprising at least one motion capture device configured to detect the motion of the subject, the motion capture system being operatively coupled to the one or more data processing devices;

and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to determine the type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance on the force measurement assembly based upon output data from the at least one motion capture device of the motion capture system.

5. The force measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising a camera configured to capture the motion of the subject, the camera being operatively coupled to the one or more data processing devices;

and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to determine the type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance on the force measurement assembly based upon output data from the camera.

6. The force measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more inertial measurement units configured to detect the motion of the subject, the one or more inertial measurement units being operatively coupled to the one or more data processing devices;

and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to determine the type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance on the force measurement assembly based upon output data from the one or more inertial measurement units.

7. The force measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one visual display device having an output screen, the at least one visual display device configured to display one or more images on the output screen, and the at least one visual display device being operatively coupled to the one or more data processing devices;

and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are further configured to generate a visual indicator indicative of the type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance, and to display the visual indicator in the one or more images on the output screen of the at least one visual display device.

8. The force measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the force measurement assembly is in the form of an instrumented treadmill.

9. The force measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the force measurement assembly is in the form of a force plate or a balance plate.

10. The force measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising a base assembly having a stationary portion and a displaceable portion, the force measurement assembly forming a part of the displaceable portion of the base assembly, and the force measurement system additionally comprising at least one actuator operatively coupled to the one or more data processing devices, the at least one actuator configured to displace the force measurement assembly relative to the stationary portion of the base assembly.

11. The force measurement system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a first actuator configured to rotate the force measurement assembly about a transverse rotational axis and a second actuator configured to translate the displaceable portion of the base assembly that includes the force measurement assembly.

12. The force measurement system according to claim 10, further comprising at least one visual display device having an output screen, the at least one visual display device configured to display one or more images on the output screen so that the one or more images are viewable by the subject, and the at least one visual display device being operatively coupled to the one or more data processing devices;

wherein the one or more data processing devices are further configured to generate a virtual representation of the subject and a visual element with which the virtual representation of the subject is able to interact, and to display the virtual representation of the subject and the visual element in the one or more images on the output screen of the at least one visual display device; and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are further configured to generate tactile feedback for the subject using the at least one actuator based upon the virtual representation of the subject interacting with the visual element in the one or more images on the output screen of the at least one visual display device.

13. The force measurement system according to claim 12, wherein the visual element in the one or more images on the output screen of the at least one visual display device comprises an obstacle disposed in a virtual walking path of the virtual representation of the subject;

and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to generate the tactile feedback for the subject using the at least one actuator when the virtual representation of the subject on the output screen collides with the obstacle disposed in the virtual walking path in the one or more images displayed on the at least one visual display device.

14. The force measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one visual display device having an output screen, and a user input device, the at least one visual display device configured to display one or more images on the output screen so that the one or more images are viewable by the subject, the user input device configured to output an input device signal based upon an input by a user, and the at least one visual display device and the user input device being operatively coupled to the one or more data processing devices;

and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to set a parameter related to the balance strategy of the subject based upon the input by the user entered using the user input device; and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are further configured to generate and display visual feedback to the subject on the output screen of the at least one visual display device based upon the parameter entered by the user.

15. The force measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising a radar-based sensor configured to detect the posture of the subject, the radar-based sensor being operatively coupled to the one or more data processing devices;

and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to determine the type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance on the force measurement assembly based upon output data from the radar-based sensor.

16. The force measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising an infrared sensor configured to detect the posture of the subject, the infrared sensor being operatively coupled to the one or more data processing devices;

and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to determine the type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance on the force measurement assembly based upon output data from the infrared sensor.

17. A force measurement system, comprising:

a force measurement assembly configured to receive a subject, the force measurement assembly including;

a top surface for receiving at least one portion of the body of the subject; and

at least one force transducer, the at least one force transducer configured to sense one or more measured quantities and output one or more signals that are representative of forces and/or moments being applied to the top surface of the force measurement assembly by the subject; and

one or more data processing devices operatively coupled to the force measurement assembly, the one or more data processing devices configured to receive the one or more signals that are representative of the forces and/or moments being applied to the top surface of the force measurement assembly by the subject, and to convert the one or more signals into output forces and/or moments, the one or more data processing devices further configured to determine and characterize a type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance on the force measurement assembly, wherein the type of balance strategy determined and characterized by the one or more data processing devices is selected from the group consisting of;

(i) an ankle strategy, (ii) a hip strategy, (iii) a step strategy, and (iv) combinations thereof, and wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to determine the type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance on the force measurement assembly based upon output data from a device selected from the group consisting of;

(i) a motion capture device, (ii) a camera, (iii) an inertial measurement unit, (iv) a radar-based sensor, (v) an infrared sensor, and (vi) the force measurement assembly.

18. The force measurement system according to claim 17, further comprising at least one visual display device having an output screen, the at least one visual display device configured to display one or more images on the output screen, and the at least one visual display device being operatively coupled to the one or more data processing devices;

and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are further configured to generate a visual indicator indicative of the type of balance strategy that the subject is using to maintain his or her balance, and to display the visual indicator in the one or more images on the output screen of the at least one visual display device.

19. The force measurement system according to claim 17, further comprising at least one visual display device having an output screen, and a user input device, the at least one visual display device configured to display one or more images on the output screen so that the one or more images are viewable by the subject, the user input device configured to output an input device signal based upon an input by a user, and the at least one visual display device and the user input device being operatively coupled to the one or more data processing devices;

and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to set a parameter related to the balance strategy of the subject based upon the input by the user entered using the user input device; and

wherein the one or more data processing devices are further configured to generate and display visual feedback to the subject on the output screen of the at least one visual display device based upon the parameter entered by the user.