Method and apparatus for improving human balance and gait and preventing foot injury
First Claim
1. A wearable system for neurological stimulation of a human foot, the system comprising:
- a platform having at least one stimulator adapted to apply a stimulation to mechanoreceptors in the foot;
a controller including at least one bias signal generator providing a driving signal to the at least one stimulator, the at least one stimulator providing a subthreshold bias signal to target cells in response to receiving the driving signal, the subthreshold bias signal having a magnitude that is below a threshold where the target cells are activated by a stimulus; and
a power source providing electrical energy to the controller, including the at least one bias signal generator.
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Accused Products
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.
93 Citations
98 Claims
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1. A wearable system for neurological stimulation of a human foot, the system comprising:
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a platform having at least one stimulator adapted to apply a stimulation to mechanoreceptors in the foot; a controller including at least one bias signal generator providing a driving signal to the at least one stimulator, the at least one stimulator providing a subthreshold bias signal to target cells in response to receiving the driving signal, the subthreshold bias signal having a magnitude that is below a threshold where the target cells are activated by a stimulus; and a power source providing electrical energy to the controller, including the at least one bias signal generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A wearable system for neurological stimulation of a human foot, the system comprising:
a platform having at least one passive vibrational mechanical actuator, the at least one passive vibrational mechanical actuator providing a subthreshold bias signal to target cells in response to a compression or a decompression, the subthreshold bias signal having a magnitude that is below a threshold where the target cells are activated by a stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (70)
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71. A system for optimizing neurological stimulation, comprising:
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a platform having at least one stimulator adapted to apply a stimulation to a skin surface area of a test subject; a controller including at least one bias signal generator providing a driving signal to the at least one stimulator, the at least one stimulator providing a subthreshold bias signal to target cells in response to receiving the driving signal, the subthreshold bias signal having a magnitude that is below a threshold where the target cells are activated by a stimulus; a remote external computer for effecting the control of the controller during an optimization procedure; a communication means between the remote external computer and the controller; and a measurement means for measuring the responses of the test subject as stimulation is adjusted, wherein the remote external computer is adapted to communicate with the controller to effect varying driving signals inputted into the at least one stimulator, while responses from a subject in contact with the platform and executing a prescribed task are observed and measured, wherein the remote computer is adapted to determine the optimal driving signal parameters suitable for the subject based on the observed responses of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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83. A method for providing neurological stimulation in a wearable system, comprising:
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providing a wearable platform having one or more stimulators a controller including at least one signal generator coupled to the one or more stimulators, and a power supply source for powering the controller; adjusting or programming the controller to produce a sensory enhancement bias signal at a subthreshold level via the bias signal generator, the subthreshold level having a magnitude that is below a threshold where target cells are activated by a stimulus; and activating the signal generator and supplying the subthreshold bias signal to the one or more sources of stimulation to stimulate mechanoreceptors based on a determined therapeutic need of an individual. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98)
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Specification