METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PREVENTING ANKLE SPRAIN INJURIES

• US 20100042182A1
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Original Assignee: Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Inventors: Fong, Tik Pui Daniel, Yung, Shu Hang Patrick, CHAN, Kai-Ming
• Granted Patent: US 8,301,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance

Abstract

Devices and methods for preventing ankle sprain injuries. To protect the ankle joint from acute ankle supination or inversion sprain injuries, the device comprises a sensing part configured to sense data of an ankle motion; an analyzing part configured to analyze the data to judge whether the motion is a sprain motion; and a stimulating part configured to stimulate one or more lower limb muscles against the motion in light of a result of the analyzing. The method also involves sensing data of an ankle motion; analyzing the data to judge whether the motion is a sprain motion; and stimulating one or more lower limb muscles against the motion if the motion is a sprain motion.

Claims

1. A device for preventing an ankle sprain injury, comprising:

a sensing part configured to sense data of an ankle motion;

an analyzing part configured to analyze the data to judge whether the motion is a sprain motion; and

a stimulating part configured to stimulate one or more lower limb muscles against the motion in light of a result of the analyzing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the data sensed by the sensing part is transmitted in real time to the analyzing part through a wire or in a wireless manner, wherein the sensing part has a sampling frequency adjustable in a range of 50 Hz˜

1,000 Hz.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing part is attached to an external or internal surface of a heel cup of a shoe or attached to a skin surface of a foot.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the data sensed by the sensing part is an ankle inversion velocity.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing part comprises a tri-axial accelerometer and a gyrometer.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing part comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of a tri-axial accelerometer, a gyrometer, a goniometer and a pressure sensor.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein a threshold is preset in the analyzing part for comparing with the data transmitted from the sensing part, and the analyzing part transmits a trigger signal to the stimulating part if the data exceeds the threshold.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the threshold is adjustable.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the data sensed by the sensing part is an ankle inversion velocity and the threshold is between about 190 to 600 degrees per second.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the stimulating part further comprises:

a pair of electrodes configured to be in contact with a lower limb, and

a circuit configured to deliver an electric stimulation signal applying between the electrodes when the trigger signal is transmitted from the analyzing part.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the electrodes are attached to a skin surface of the peroneal muscle group.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the electrodes are separated by a distance of 1-3 cm on the skin surface of the peroneal muscle group.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the electrodes are disposable/replaceable skin-attached silver chloride discs.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the electric stimulation signal is an electrical pulse.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the electrical pulse has a plurality of cycles with an adjustable width.

25. A shoe comprising the device of claim 1.

16. A method for preventing an ankle sprain injury, comprising:

sensing data of an ankle motion;

analyzing the data to judge whether the motion is a sprain motion; and

stimulating one or more lower limb muscles against the motion if the motion is a sprain motion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the data is sensed in a real-time manner with a sampling frequency adjustable in a range of 50 Hz˜

1,000 Hz.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensed data is an ankle inversion velocity.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the analyzing the data comprises:

comparing the sensed data with a preset threshold, wherein if the sensed data is larger than the threshold, the ankle motion is a sprain motion; and

otherwise, if the sensed data is less than or equal to the threshold, the ankle motion is not a sprain motion.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the threshold is adjustable.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the sensed data is an ankle inversion velocity and the threshold is between about 190 to 600 degrees per second.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more lower limb muscles is the peroneal muscle group.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the stimulating one or more lower limb muscles comprises stimulating the muscles with an electrical pulse.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the electrical pulse has a plurality of cycles with an adjustable width.