Products and methods for motor performance improvement in patients with neurodegenerative disease

• US 8,702,567 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2009
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: De AIDI Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: De AIDI Technology Company Limited
• Inventors: Hu, Nicholas S., Grill, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): GINSBERG, OREN ISAAC
• Application Number:
  US12/647,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20100100013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,578 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482 3- 9, 482/51, 482/54, 482 66- 69, 434/247, 434/255, 600/300, 600/587, 600/595, 135/65, 135/67, 297 5- 6, 280/87.021, 280/87.051
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/50 Control means thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5023 Interfaces to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/00 Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04; orthopaedic devices for correcting deformities of, or supporting, limbs A61F5/0102; exercising apparatus for the feet or toes A63B23/10; stairways or ramps E04F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/04 Wheeled walking aids for disabled persons A61H3/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• 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 22/20 using rollers, wheels, castors or the like, e.g. gliding means, to be moved over the floor or other surface, e.g. guide tracks, during exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/22 Stride length
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0009 for handicapped persons

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to improve the gait performance of subjects with neurodegenerative disease movement disorders, injuries, surgical wounds, athletic performance objectives, or combinations thereof through feedback-enhanced training A subject walks, jogs or runs on a surface with the use of an assistive walking device such as a walker, cane, rollator or railings. Attached to the assistive walking device is a distance sensor and processing unit that detects, measures, and evaluates certain gait characteristics and delivers feedback to the subject. The subject is trained to exhibit desirable gait characteristics such as stride length, heel-toe motion, cadence, pace and the like.

Claims

1. A system for improving movement in a subject, the system comprising:

an assistive walking device comprising a frame extending up from a walking surface, the frame configured to support the subject moving by foot across the walking surface;

a first distance sensor attached to the frame of the assistive walking device, the distance sensor comprising a range of detection extending along a first straight line running from the frame across the walking surface a constant distance above the walking surface, the distance sensor configured to detect an object crossing into the first line within the range of detection and to determine a distance from that object to the distance sensor; and

a processing unit attached to the assistive walking device, communicating with the first distance sensor, receiving data from the first distance sensor indicating the object crossing into the first line and the distance from the object to the distance sensor and using the data to determine characteristics of a gait the subject, the characteristics comprising stride length along the walking surface and lateral variability of the gait along the first straight line.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the assistive walking device comprises a walker.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the assistance walking device comprises a treadmill and the walking surface comprises a moving treadmill surface of the treadmill.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance sensor comprises an optoelectronic distance sensing device comprising:

an optical light source emitting a pre-defined frequency of light along the first line; and

a photodetector filtered to detect the pre-defined frequency.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the optoelectronic distance sensing device further comprises a timing device in communication with the optical light source and photodetector, the timing device configured to measure an elapsed time for light of the pre-defined frequency to project from the optical light source along the first line, to reflect on the object crossing into the first line and to fall upon the photodetector.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the pre-defined frequency is from about 1 mm to about 750 nm.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance sensor comprises a sonic-electric distance sensing device comprising:

a cyclic sound pressure generator emitting a pre-defined frequency of sound along the first line; and

a sonic detector configured to detect the pre-defined frequency of sound.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sonic-electric distance sensing device further comprises a timing device in communication with the cyclic sound pressure generator and the sonic detector, the timing device configured to measure an elapsed time for sound of the pre-defined frequency to project from the cyclic sound pressure generator, to reflect on the object crossing into the first line and to fall upon the sonic detector.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the pre-defined frequency is at least about 20 kHz.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance sensor comprises a radio detection and ranging device comprising:

a radio transmitter emitting a pre-defined frequency of radiation along the first line; and

a radio receiver configured to detect the pre-defined frequency of radiation.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the radio detection and ranging device further comprises a timing device in communication with the radio transmitter and the radio receiver, the timing device configured to measure an elapsed time for radiation of the pre-defined frequency to project from the radio transmitter, to reflect on the object crossing the first line and to fall upon the radio receiver.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second distance sensor separate from the first distance sensor and attached to the frame of the assistive walking device and comprising a second range of detection extending along a second straight line running from the frame across the walking surface a constant distance above the walking surface, the second line separate from and parallel to the first line and the second distance sensor configured to detect an object crossing into the second line within the range of detection and to determine a distance from that object to the second distance sensor.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first distance sensor and the second distance sensor comprise a unitary structure.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first distance sensor and the second distance sensor comprise different types of distance sensors.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first distance sensor and the second distance sensor comprise the same type of distance sensor.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first line is spaced above the walking surface a desired height and intersects a walking path of the subject using the assistive walking device.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a distance sensor mount attached to the frame of the assistive walking device, the distance sensor mount comprising:

a body having a length;

an attachment mechanism disposed on a first end of the body and attached to a selected location on the frame of the assistive walking device;

a second end opposite the first end, the first distance sensor disposed on the second end;

and a telescoping mechanism disposed in the body between the first and second ends and configured to adjust the length of the body.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the distance sensor mount further comprises a rotation mechanism disposed in the body and configured to permit relative rotation between the first end and the second end of the body around an axis parallel to the length of the body.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the distance sensor mount further comprises a pivoting mechanism disposed between the body and the attachment mechanism, the pivoting mechanism configured to facilitate pivoting movement between the body and the attachment mechanism.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to send control commands to the distance sensor.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises an analog circuit, a programmable microprocessor or combinations thereof.

22. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface to the assistive walking device and in communication with the processing unit, the user interface configured to accept input from and provide output to the subject, the processing unit configured to provide output regarding the determined movement characteristics through the user interface.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the user interface comprises a display, knobs, dials, buttons, switches or combination thereof.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the display comprises a light, a printed label, a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, a projected image, a computer display or combinations thereof.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising a feedback mechanism attached to the assistive walking device and in communication with the processing unit, the feedback mechanism configured to communicate the determined movement characteristics to the subject.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the feedback mechanism comprises tactile feedback, visual feedback, auditory feedback or combinations thereof.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the tactile feedback comprises vibration.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the visual feedback comprises a light, a gauge, a computer readout, a light emitting diode display, a liquid crystal display, a projected image, a paper printout, a computer display or combinations thereof.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the auditory feedback comprises a tone, a series of tones, a melody, a synthesized voice, a recorded voice or combinations thereof.