Biofeedback activated orthosis for foot-drop rehabilitation
First Claim
1. A biofeedback activated orthosis for foot-drop rehabilitation, comprising:
- a. a lifting means for mechanically lifting a foot during the swing phase of a walking cycle, attachable to a human body at a point above said foot and attachable to said foot;
b. a muscle activity sensing means for detecting muscle activity and transmitting data relating to said activity to a control means, attached to an affected leg of said human body and operatively connected to said control means;
c. a control means for receiving and processing said data from said muscle activity sensing means and controlling operation of said lifting means, operatively connected to said lifting means and said muscle activity sensing means; and
d. an electrogoniometer means for detecting the angular position between the thigh and the shin of said leg, and for transmitting data reflecting said position to said control means, operatively connected to said leg of said human body and said control means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A biofeedback activated orthosis for foot-drop rehabilitation is provided including a lifting mechanism, a control circuit, a muscle activity sensing mechanism, and an electrogoniometer. The lifting mechanism lifts a foot through the swing phase of a gait cycle by way of a drive motor mechanism which pulls a cable passing between a foot brace and a shin brace. The drive motor mechanism allows the cable to unwind upon heel-strike by way of a slip coupling. The drive motor mechanism is controlled by a control circuit which assimilates and processes an incoming electromyographic (EMG) signal from the muscle activity sensing mechanism detected by EMG electrodes placed on the skin above the dorsiflexor muscles of the user. The control circuit also processes a leg position information signal obtained by a radial resistor attached to a knee brace strapped to the knee for sensing the angular position of the lower leg. Activation of the drive motor mechanism will not occur until both processed signals exceed their respective threshold levels set in advance by the user.
263 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A biofeedback activated orthosis for foot-drop rehabilitation, comprising:
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a. a lifting means for mechanically lifting a foot during the swing phase of a walking cycle, attachable to a human body at a point above said foot and attachable to said foot; b. a muscle activity sensing means for detecting muscle activity and transmitting data relating to said activity to a control means, attached to an affected leg of said human body and operatively connected to said control means; c. a control means for receiving and processing said data from said muscle activity sensing means and controlling operation of said lifting means, operatively connected to said lifting means and said muscle activity sensing means; and d. an electrogoniometer means for detecting the angular position between the thigh and the shin of said leg, and for transmitting data reflecting said position to said control means, operatively connected to said leg of said human body and said control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for rehabilitating a person having a foot-drop disability using a biofeedback-activated orthosis, which comprises the steps of:
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a. sensing the electromyographic activity in the dorsiflexor muscles of an affected leg as a person progresses through a gait cycle; b. sensing the leg position information between the thigh of said leg and the shin of said leg as said person progresses through said gait cycle; b. transmitting said electromyographic activity signal and said leg position information signal to a control means for comparison with preset threshold levels so that a processed signal may be sent to a lifting means when both said signals simultaneously exceed their respective said threshold levels; c. activating said lifting means so that said foot is pulled upward throughout the swing phase of said person'"'"'s gait cycle; and d. allowing said foot to extend away from said leg by causing said lifting means to release said foot upon heel-strike of said person.
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Specification