Sensor device for gait enhancement

• US 7,632,239 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioness Neuromodulation Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Bioness Neuromodulation Ltd.
• Inventors: Bar-Or, Jonathan, Dar, Amit
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stout; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US11/552,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20070112285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 600/592, 600/595
• 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 senor device for gait enhancement, comprising:

(a) a sensor configured to be disposed within a shoe, the shoe including and upper portion defining a cavity, the shoe further including a rim defining an opening adjacent the cavity, said sensor configured to sense a parameter associated with a gait event;

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

(i) a microcontroller,

(ii) a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit gait information based on said signal to a unit of and orthosis distinct from the foot sensor device, and

(iii) a housing configured to house at least one of said microcontroller and said transmitter, at least a portion of the housing being concave and configured to substantially conform to an adjacent body part when the housing is coupled to the shoe; and

(c) a fastener attached to said housing, said fastener configured to couple the electronic communication unit to said shoe to secure said electronic communication unit during said gait event, said fastener includes a clamp having at least two arms adapted to fasten around a portion of the rim of said shoe, bottom end of the housing being coupled to a top end of the clamp such that the housing is disposed above the fastener and wholly above the portion of the rim of said shoe when the clamp is fastened around the portion of the rim of said shoe during the gait event, a face of the housing and a face of the clamp forming and angle within a range of about 150°

to about 175°

.

2. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said is at least semi-rigidly coupled to said housing.

3. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said clamp is rigidly coupled to said housing.

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

5. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said clamp further includes a locking lever adapted to lock said arms in position around said portion of said rim of said shoe.

6. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said face of said housing is generally concave, so as to match a natural curvature of a leg.

7. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said angle is in a range of about 155°

to 175°

.

8. The foot sensor device of claim 4, wherein said angle is in a range of about 160°

to 175°

.

9. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said angle is in a range of about 160°

to 170°

.

10. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter includes a transceiver.

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

(d) said shoe.

12. The foot sensor device of claim 11, wherein said senor unit is disposed under an insole of said shoe.

13. The foot sensor device of claim 1, wherein of the clamp is configured to be fastened to said shoe using a single hand.

14. A foot senor device for gait enhancement, comprising:

(a) a sensor configured to be disposed within a shoe, the shoe including and upper portion defining a cavity, the shoe further including a rim defining an opening adjacent the cavity, said sensor configured to sense a parameter associated with a gait event;

(b) an electronic communication unit, electrically associated with and physically distinct from said sensor, said electronic communication unit configured to receive a signal associated with said parameter, said electronic communication unit having;

(i) a microcontroller,

(ii) a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit gait information based on said signal to a unit of and orthosis distinct from the foot sensor device, and

(iii) a housing configured to house at least one of said microcontroller and said transmitter, at least a portion of the housing being concave and configured to substantially conform to an adjacent body part; and

(c) a fastener including a proximal end at least semi-rigidly attached to a distal end of said housing, said fastener adapted to secure said electronic communication unit to said shoe during said gait event, the housing of the electronic communication unit being disposed above the fastener and being disposed wholly above a portion of said rim of said shoe when the electronic communication unit is secured to said shoe by the fastener during the gait event.

15. The foot sensor device of claim 14, wherein said fastener is attachable to said rim of said shoe, said housing disposed at a substantially fixed distance above said portion of said rim, irrespective of a height of said shoe, when said fastener is attached to said rim of said shoe.

16. The foot sensor device of claim 14, wherein said fastener includes a clamp having at least two arms adapted to fasten about a portion of said rim of said shoe.

17. The foot sensor device of claim 14, wherein said fastener is rigidly fixed with respect to the housing such that an angle formed between a face of the housing and a face of the fastener is substantially constant irrespective of a movement of the shoe during said gait event.

18. The foot sensor device of claim 16, wherein said housing and said clamp are coupled to form angle with a range of about 150°

to 175°

between a face of said housing and a face of said clamp.

19. The foot senor device of claim 16, wherein said clamp is at least Semi-rigidly associated with said housing.

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

(a) a sensor having a casing, configured to be disposed within a shoe, the shoe including an upper portion defining a cavity, the shoe further including a rim defining an opening adjacent the cavity, said sensor configured to sense a parameter associated with a gait event;

(b) an electronic communication unit, electrically associated with said sensor, the electronic communication unit configured to receive a signal associated with said parameter, said electronic communication unit having;

(i) a microcontroller,

(ii) a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit gait information based on said signal to a unit of an orthosis distinct from the sensor, and

(iii) a housing configured to house at least one of said microcontroller and said transmitter, the housing of the electronic communication unit and the casing of the sensor being physically distinct, at least a portion of the housing being concave and configured to substantially conform to an adjacent body part when coupled to the shoe; and

(c) a fastener including a proximal end at least semi-rigidly attached to a distal end of said housing, said fastener adapted to couple the electronic communication unit to a portion of said rim of said shoe during the gait event, the housing of the electronic communication unit being disposed above the fastener and wholly above the portion of said rim when the electronic communication unit is coupled to the portion of said rim of said shoe during the gait event.

21. The foot sensor device of claim 20, wherein when said fastener is coupled to portion of said rim, said housing is disposed at a substantially fixed distance above the portion of said rim, irrespective of a height of said shoe.

22. The foot sensor device of claim 20, wherein said fastener includes a clamp having at least two arms adapted to fasten around the portion of said rim.

23. The foot sensor device of claim 22, wherein said housing of said clamp are attached to form an angle within a range of about 150°

to 175°

between a face of said housing and a face of said clamp.

24. The foot sensor device of claim 22, wherein said clamp is at least semi-rigidly associated with said housing.