Gait Analysis System

• US 20090124938A1
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebris Medical GmbH
• Original Assignee: Zebris Medical GmbH
• Inventors: Brunner, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 8,790,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• 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 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0285 Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2213/00 Exercising combined with therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• 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 2220/78 Surface covering conditions, e.g. of a road surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A gait analysis system for training or rehabilitation has an endless belt with pressure sensors underneath the belt to sense a person walking on the belt and an analyzing unit for analyzing the gait of the person. The system further includes an image display system with stored data for displaying images to a person using the apparatus training and/or therapy purposes.

Claims

1. A gait analysis system, especially for training or rehabilitation purposes, comprising:

an endless belt guided over at least two rollers and serving as a treadmill belt, the upper surface of which serves as walking surface,

a sensor system for determining a pressure/force distribution on a force measurement plate located underneath the walking surface, which is provided with a plurality of pressure/force sensors on the side facing the endless belt,

an analyzing unit connected, on the input side, to the pressure/force sensors, which detects pressure distributions generated on the walking surface by a walking or running subject, and a processing unit connected, on the input side, to the analyzing unit, which generates from the pressure distributions values or signals, respectively, characterizing the gait of the subject,

an image display surface assigned to the treadmill and arranged in the field of view of the subject,

a film or video reproducer with visual material stored in a visual material storage means or a connection to connect a visual material database for receiving visual material to simulate a walking environment and/or to illustrate demands on, questions or the like to the subject, and

a synchronization stage for synchronizing the processing of the pressure distribution images with the illustrations on the image display surface.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the film or video reproducer is represented by a PC or a television receiver, the screen of which serves as image display surface.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the film or video reproducer comprises a laser beamer and the image display surface is embodied by a projection surface.

9. The system according to claim 1, comprising inclination adjustment means to adjust the inclination of the treadmill, and/or speed adjustment means to adjust the running speed of the treadmill belt.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the inclination adjustment means and/or the speed adjustment means are synchronized with the film or video reproducer in such a way that the inclination and speed adjustment, respectively, can be performed in coordination with visual material illustrated to the subject and/or demands on or questions to the subject.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization stage can be programmed with data, which are based on the visual material or the demands on, questions or the like to the subject, in such a way that the processing of the pressure distribution images can be accomplished on the basis of corresponding defaults.

12. The system according to claim 1, comprising additional measuring means for detecting at least a second biometrical or medical measured quantity, wherein the processing unit is designed to perform the combined processing of the pressure distribution images and of measured values of the biometrical or medical measured quantity.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein a synchronization unit is provided for synchronizing the pressure/force distribution measurement with the detection of the or another biometrical or medical measured quantity carried out by the additional measuring means.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the synchronization unit is connected, on the input side, to the analyzing or processing unit in such a way that synchronization signals are outputted in response to features of the pressure distributions or the values or signals derived therefrom, respectively.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the visual material for the simulation of a walking environment and/or for the illustration of demands, questions or the like is coordinated with the gait-effectively structured surface of the endless belt, and the film or video reproducer and the treadmill belt are synchronized by a surface/image synchronization stage so as to ensure a coordination in terms of time.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the surface/image synchronization stage and the synchronization stage for synchronizing the processing of the pressure distribution images are programmable in such a coordinated manner that the processing of the pressure distribution images includes both the current gait-effective surface elements of the walking surface and image contents coordinated therewith, which are shown to the subject as he is walking or running.

4. A gait analysis system, especially for training or rehabilitation purposes, comprising:

an endless belt guided over at least two rollers and serving as a treadmill belt, the upper surface of which serves as walking surface,

a sensor system for determining a pressure/force distribution on a force measurement plate located underneath the walking surface, which is provided with a plurality of pressure/force sensors on the side facing the endless belt,

an analyzing unit connected, on the input side, to the pressure/force sensors, which detects pressure distributions generated on the walking surface by a walking or running subject, and a processing unit connected, on the input side, to the analyzing unit, which generates from the pressure distributions values or signals, respectively, characterizing the gait of the subject,

wherein the endless belt comprises a, specifically irregularly, gait-effectively structured surface and/or an assembly of actuators acting on the endless belt is provided underneath the walking surface so as to locally deform the upper surface of the belt to produce irregularities in the walking surface.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein

the endless belt having a gait-effectively structured surface is provided with a position coding to assign the position of surface elements, the processing unit comprises profile storage means for storing the profile of the gait-effectively structured surface and is assigned a position signal receiver for addressing the profile storage means, and a processing algorithm is implemented in the processing unit, by means of which the pressure distribution images are assigned to the surface elements of the walking surface.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein

the assembly of actuators is assigned a profile control unit, which outputs control signals for actuating the actuators to form a predetermined dynamic profile of the walking surface, and

the processing unit comprises a control signal receiver for receiving the control signals outputted by the profile control unit as position assignment signals, and

a processing algorithm is implemented in the processing unit, by means of which the pressure distribution images are assigned to the dynamic profile of the walking surface.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the assembly of actuators comprises a plurality of individually driven lifters to produce elevations on the walking surface.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein in the endless belt or underneath the walking surface an assembly of chambers is provided to form elevations on the walking surface, said chambers having a controllable fluid connection and being elastically expandable by the fluid pressure.