Sensor Device For Gait Enhancement

• US 20070112285A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioness Neuromodulation Ltd.
• Original Assignee: N.E.S.S. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems Ltd. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Bar-Or, Jonathan, Dar, Amit
• Granted Patent: US 7,632,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/592
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear

Abstract

A foot sensor device and method for gait enhancement, the device including: (a) a sensor unit having a casing, the sensor unit for disposing within a shoe of a user, the sensor unit for sensing a parameter associated with a gait event; (b) an electronic communication unit, electrically associated with the sensor unit, for receiving a signal pertaining to the parameter, the electronic unit having,: (i) a microcontroller; (ii) a transmitting unit for transmitting, in a wireless fashion, gait information based on the signal, to a unit of an orthosis external to the foot sensor device, and (iii) a housing for housing at least one of the microcontroller and the transmitting unit, and (c) a fastening unit, attached to the housing, adapted to fasten on to the shoe, so as to secure the communication unit in a fixed position during gait

Claims

1. A foot sensor device for gait enhancement, comprising:

(a) a sensor unit having an external casing, said sensor unit for disposing within a shoe of a user, said sensor unit for sensing a parameter associated with a gait event;

(b) an electronic communication unit, electrically associated with said sensor unit, for receiving a signal pertaining to said parameter, said electronic unit having;

(i) a microcontroller;

(ii) a transmitting unit for transmitting, in a wireless fashion, gait information based on said signal, to a unit of the orthosis external to the foot sensor device, and

(iii) a housing for housing at least one of said microcontroller and said transmitting unit, and

(c) a fastening unit, attached to said housing, said fastening unit adapted to fasten on to said shoe, so as to secure said electronic communication unit in a substantially fixed position during gait of said user.

2. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said fastening unit includes a clamp unit

3. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said fastening unit is adapted to fasten on to a rim of said shoe.

4. The foot sensor device of claim 2, wherein said clamp unit has at least two arms designed and configured to fasten around a rim of said shoe.

5. The foot sensor device of claim 4, wherein said clamp unit is at least semi-rigidly associated with said housing.

6. The foot sensor device of claim 4, wherein said clamp unit is rigidly associated with said housings.

7. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said housing of said electronic unit and said casing of said sensor unit are substantially mechanically independent.

8. The foot sensor device of claim 4, wherein said clamp unit further includes a locking lever adapted for locking said arms in position around said rim of said shoe.

9. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein a facing of said housing is concave, so as to fit a natural curvature of a leg of said user.

10. The foot sensor device of claim 4, wherein said housing and said clamp unit each have a face for disposing towards a leg of said user when said user wears said shoe, the device being designed and configured such that said housing and said clamp unit are attached to form an angle within a range of about 150°

to about 175°

between said faces.

11. The foot sensor device of claim 10, wherein said angle is in a range of about 155°

to about 175°

.

12. The foot sensor device of claim 10, wherein said angle is in a range of about 160°

to about 175°

.

13. The foot sensor device of claim 10, wherein said angle is in a range of about 160°

to about 170°

.

14. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said transmitting unit is a transceiving unit.

15. The foot sensor device of claim 1, the device further comprising:

(d) said shoe.

16. The foot sensor device of claim 15, wherein said sensor unit is disposed under an inner sole of said shoe.

17. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said fastening unit includes a clamp unit adapted to enable a hemiplegic patient to affix said clamp unit to said shoe, using a single hand.

18. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said housing is a casing.

19. A method of enhancing gait comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a device including;

(i) a sensor unit having an external casing, said sensor unit for disposing within a shoe of a user, said sensor unit for sensing a parameter associated with a gait event;

(ii) an electronic communication unit, electrically associated with said sensor unit, for receiving a signal pertaining to said parameter, said electronic unit having;

(A) a microcontroller;

(B) a transmitting unit for, transmitting, in a wireless fashion, gait information based on said signal, to a unit of the orthosis external to the foot sensor device, and

(C) a housing for housing at least one of said microcontroller and said transmitting unit, and

(iii) a fastening unit, attached to said housing, said fastening unit adapted to fasten on said shoe, so as to secure said electronic communication unit in a substantially fixed position during gait of said user, and

(b) donning said device by affixing said fastening unit to said shoe

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said affixing of said fastening unit includes affixing of a clamp unit.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said fastening unit is affixed to a rim of said shoe.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said clamp unit has at least two arms that fasten around a rim of said shoe.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said housing of said electronic unit and said casing of said sensor unit are substantially mechanically independent.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising, prior to step (b), the step of

(c) disposing said sensor unit under an inner sole of said shoe.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said affixing of said fastening unit is effected using a single hand.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein said affixing of said fastening unit is effected using a single hand.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein said affixing of said fastening unit is effected by a hemiplegic patient using a single hand.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step oft

(c) locking said arms in position against said rim of said shoe.