Adaptive weight bearing monitoring system for rehabilitation of injuries to the lower extremities
First Claim
1. An adaptive weight bearing monitoring system for use in rehabilitating injuries to a lower extremity of a patient, comprising:
- at least one sensor disposed so as to detect weight forces applied to the lower extremity of the patient and to generate dynamic weight input signals;
a processor responsive to objective parameters unique to the patient or the injury to the lower extremity of the patient to set an input target weight range for weight forces which may be applied to the lower extremity by the patient during the patient'"'"'s rehabilitation of the lower extremity for optimized rehabilitation of the lower extremity, said processor comparing said dynamic weight input signals to said input target weight range and generating a first output signal when said dynamic weight input signals indicate that a weight force has been applied to the lower extremity which exceeds said input target weight range and generating a second output signal when said dynamic weight input signals indicate that a weight force has been applied to the lower extremity which is less than said input target weight range; and
a stimulator responsive to said first and second output signals so as to generate and apply respective first and second stimulation signals to the lower extremity so as to cause the patient to adjust the amount of weight force to be applied to the extremity during the patient'"'"'s next stride to bring said weight force into said target weight range.
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Abstract
A portable, self-learning adaptive weight bearing monitoring system for personal use during rehabilitation of orthopedic patients with fractures of the lower extremities. The system includes a flexible insole which is worn inside the shoe. The insole includes pressure and/or force sensor that measure the GRF force applied at key bearing points under the foot or other portions of the patient'"'"'s lower extremity. The sensors are, in turn, connected through an A/D converter to a CPU that is connected so as to drive a stimulator that delivers closed-loop sensory stimulation (electrical, mechanical, and/or audio) as feedback to encourage the patient to load the optimal target weight for the limb for which the weight bearing force is being measured. Accurate real-time monitoring of the weight bearing during physical rehabilitation is also provided, and, through the use of closed-loop sensory stimulation, the patient is given continuous feedback for improving rehabilitation.
147 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An adaptive weight bearing monitoring system for use in rehabilitating injuries to a lower extremity of a patient, comprising:
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at least one sensor disposed so as to detect weight forces applied to the lower extremity of the patient and to generate dynamic weight input signals;
a processor responsive to objective parameters unique to the patient or the injury to the lower extremity of the patient to set an input target weight range for weight forces which may be applied to the lower extremity by the patient during the patient'"'"'s rehabilitation of the lower extremity for optimized rehabilitation of the lower extremity, said processor comparing said dynamic weight input signals to said input target weight range and generating a first output signal when said dynamic weight input signals indicate that a weight force has been applied to the lower extremity which exceeds said input target weight range and generating a second output signal when said dynamic weight input signals indicate that a weight force has been applied to the lower extremity which is less than said input target weight range; and
a stimulator responsive to said first and second output signals so as to generate and apply respective first and second stimulation signals to the lower extremity so as to cause the patient to adjust the amount of weight force to be applied to the extremity during the patient'"'"'s next stride to bring said weight force into said target weight range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of monitoring rehabilitation of an injury to a lower extremity of a patient, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a type of rehabilitation suitable to the patient on the basis of objective parameters unique to the patient, such parameters including at least one of age, weight, gender, injury type, and date of injury;
setting in accordance with said objective parameters an input target weight range for weight forces which may be applied to the lower extremity by the patient during the patient'"'"'s rehabilitation of the lower extremity for rehabilitation of the lower extremity;
measuring weight forces applied to the lower extremity of the patient and generating dynamic weight input signals;
storing said dynamic weight input signals over a predetermined period of time;
comparing said dynamic weight input signals to said input target weight range and generating a first output signal when said dynamic weight input signals indicate that a weight force has been applied to the lower extremity which exceeds said input target weight range and generating a second output signal when said dynamic weight input signals indicate that a weight force has been applied to the lower extremity which is less than said input target weight range; and
stimulating the patient to adjust the amount of weight force to be applied to the extremity in response to said first and second output signals so as to bring the weight force applied to said lower extremity into said target weight range during the patient'"'"'s next stride. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification