METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING HUMAN BALANCE AND GAIT AND PREVENTING FOOT INJURY

• US 20130072835A1
• Filed: 11/12/2012
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees of Boston University
• Original Assignee: Trustees of Boston University
• Inventors: Harry, Jason D., Collins, James J., Niemi, James B., Priplata, Atilla A., Kleshinski, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,076,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/46
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/00 Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/00 Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/00 Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1464 with adjustable pads to allow custom fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/14 Special medical insertions for shoes for flat-feet, club-feet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus driving means for vibrating A61H23/00; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/125 Foot reflex zones
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/20 continuous direct currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/06 using magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

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.

Claims

1-215. -215. (canceled)

216. A wearable system for neurological stimulation of a human foot, the system comprising:

a platform having at least one bias signal inputting means adapted to apply a stimulation to mechanoreceptors in the foot;

at least one bias signal generator adapted to provide a driving signal to drive the at least one bias signal inputting means;

a controller means for controlling the at least one bias signal generator and the at least one bias signal inputting means; and

a power source providing electrical energy to the controller means and the at least one bias signal generator,

wherein the platform is a removable insole insert of a shoe, and the at least one bias signal inputting means is a vibrational actuator providing stimulating vibration to the mechanoreceptors of the foot.

217. The wearable system of claim 216, wherein the removable insole insert comprises a flexible matrix material filled with rigid beads, wherein the at least one bias signal input means comprises a plurality of actuators disposed underneath the insole such that the insole is optimized for transmitting vibration to the plantar surface of the foot.

218. The wearable system of claim 216, wherein the removable insole insert comprises a flexible matrix material filled with rigid beads, and the at least one bias signal input means comprises a plurality of actuators embedded within the flexible matrix material such that the insole is optimized for transmitting vibration to the plantar surface of the foot.

219. The wearable system of claim 216, wherein the removable shoe insert comprises a flexible matrix material enclosing a vibration transmitting structure and at least one of the actuators, and the flexible matrix material is optimized for transmitting vibration to surfaces of the foot.

220. The wearable system of claim 216, wherein the at least one bias signal inputting means comprise a plurality of vibrational actuators disposed on the removable shoe insert at a predetermined spatial separation between the plurality of actuators to induce random vibration by manipulating the phase of the driving signal of each vibrational actuator.

221. The wearable system of claim 216, wherein the at least one bias signal inputting means comprise a plurality of vibrational actuators adapted to create a vibration when being electrically biased, and wherein the controller means is adapted to operate the plurality of vibrational actuators in reverse of others so as to induce random vibrational stimulation.

222. A wearable system for neurological stimulation of a human foot, the system comprising:

a platform having at least one bias signal inputting means adapted to apply a stimulation to mechanoreceptors in the foot;

at least one bias signal generator adapted to provide a driving signal to drive the at least one bias signal inputting means;

a controller means for controlling the at least one bias signal generator and the at least one bias signal inputting means; and

a power source providing electrical energy to the controller means and the at least one bias signal generator,

wherein the at least one bias signal inputting means is a vibrational actuator providing stimulating vibration to the mechanoreceptors of the foot, and the bias signal for driving the vibrational actuator is composed of one or more frequencies with a bandwidth of greater than 0 Hz to about 1 KHz.

223. The wearable system of claim 222, wherein the bias signal for driving the vibrational actuator is composed of one or more frequencies with a bandwidth more preferably of greater than 0 Hz to about 500 Hz.

224. The wearable system of claim 223, wherein the bias signal for driving the vibrational actuator is composed of one or more frequencies with a bandwidth most preferably of greater than 0 Hz to about 100 Hz.

225. The wearable system of claim 222, wherein the platform is a removable insole insert of a shoe.

226. A wearable system for neurological stimulation of a human foot, the system comprising:

a platform having at least one bias signal inputting means adapted to apply a stimulation to mechanoreceptors in the foot;

at least one bias signal generator adapted to provide a driving signal to drive the at least one bias signal inputting means;

a controller means for controlling the at least one bias signal generator and the at least one bias signal inputting means; and

a power source providing electrical energy to the controller means and the at least one bias signal generator,

wherein the at least one bias signal generator is programmable and comprises at least one of a predetermined algorithm, a noise generator, and a look-up table for generating a bias signal.

227. The wearable system of claim 226, wherein the noise generator comprises at least one of thermal noise source, and diode noise source.

228. The wearable system of claim 226, wherein the signal generator provides a non-deterministic random signal driving the at least one bias signal input means.

229. The wearable system of claim 226, wherein the signal generator provides a signal of a predetermined at least one repetitive pattern and series of patterns.

230. The wearable system of claim 226, wherein the signal generator provides a signal of controllable signal amplitude, frequency content, waveform shape, and repetition.

231. The wearable system of claim 226, wherein the controller is adapted to control each individual bias signal inputting means so as to effect individually controllable amplitude, frequency content, waveform shape, and repetition of the bias signal.

232. The wearable system of claim 226, wherein the controller means controls the at least one bias signal generator and at least one bias signal input means to operate at a sub-threshold level so as to effect sensory enhancement.

233. The wearable system of claim 226, wherein the controller means controls the at least one bias signal generator and the at least one bias signal input means to operate at a supra-threshold level so as to effect therapeutic massage and improvement of blood flow.

234. The wearable system of claim 226, wherein the controller means controls the at least one bias signal generator and the at least one bias signal input means to operate alternately at a sub-threshold level and a supra-threshold level, so as to effect sensory enhancement, therapeutic massage and improvement of blood flow.

235. The wearable system of claim 226, wherein the controller means controls the at least one bias signal generator and the at least one bias signal input means, and the at least one bias signal input comprises at least two bias signal input means, one operating at a sub-threshold level and alternately with another one operating at a supra-threshold level, so as to effect sensory enhancement, therapeutic massage and improvement of blood flow.