# US 11,896,822 B2 · Gait-correcting systems to prevent degenerative disease of joints and ligaments in dogs

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- Number: US 11,896,822 B2
- Document ID: US11896822B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/967,812
- Filed: 2019-03-11
- Published: 2021-02-11
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-13
- Assignees: Kyon AG
- Applicants: Kyon AG
- Inventors: Slobodan Tepic; Stephen Bresina
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896822B2

## CPC

- A61N 1/36003: {of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance}
- A61B 5/112: {Gait analysis}
- A61N 1/08: Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating {(for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925)}
- A61B 5/0024: {for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network}
- A61B 5/6828: {Leg}
- A61B 2503/40: Animals
- A61N 1/3603: {Control systems}
- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

The present invention relates to devices and methods useful in training dogs how to control the muscles involved in rotation of the tibia in order to reduce the risk of cranial cruciate rupture. The invention has further applications in training dogs to increase abduction of the hind limbs to avoid hip dysplasia, as well as abduction of the front limbs to avoid elbow dysplasia.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for correcting dog gait comprising:
two orientation sensors and at least one stimulator for attaching to a limb of a dog, wherein the two orientation sensors are adapted for being attached to contralateral limbs of the dog, and
a computing device receiving orientation sensor data,
wherein the at least one stimulator is adapted for being activated by the computing device when the sensor data exceeds acceptable threshold levels,
wherein
the two orientation sensors are adapted for being attached to tarsal bones of the contralateral limbs, and the computing device is adapted for estimating an internal rotation of the tibiae in gait and activating the at least one stimulator adapted to deliver signals to a medial aspect of a dog's foot.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is adapted for communicating with the two orientation sensors and the at least one stimulator wirelessly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulator is adapted to deliver electrical signals to the dog.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulator is adapted to deliver mechanical signals to the dog.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein an orientation sensor integrates a triaxial accelerometer, a triaxial gyroscope, and a triaxial geomagnetic sensor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the two orientation sensors are adapted to be attached to the tarsal bones of the contralateral limbs.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the computing device is adapted to estimate internal rotation of the tibiae in gait and activate the at least one stimulator delivering signals to the medial aspect of the foot.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a smart phone.

### Claim 9

A non-invasive method for preventing cruciate rupture by correcting dog gait comprising:
attaching two orientation sensors and at least one stimulator to tarsal bones of contralateral limbs of a dog,
providing a computing device for receiving orientation sensor data, wherein the computing device estimates an internal rotation of the tibiae in gait, and
activating the at least one stimulator by the computing device when the sensor data exceeds acceptable threshold levels, wherein the at least one stimulator delivers signals to a medial aspect of the dog's foot.