Sensor prosthetic for improved balance control
AssigneeRxFunction, Inc.
InventorsLars I. E. Oddsson, Peter F. Meyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A feedback device for measuring balance related information, and for producing a stimulation of the skin that encodes that information in a way that is useful to the wearer of the device. At least one sensor detects balance information and transmits at least one balance information signal to a signal processing subsystem. The signal processing subsystem converts the received balance information signal into at least one stimulation control signal. The signal processing subsystem then transmits the stimulation control signal to at least one stimulator, which provides stimulation to a wearer of the device reflecting the stimulation control signal received from the signal processing subsystem.
Claims28
A system for assisting the maintenance of balance over time during standing and gait of a user comprising:
- a sensing layer adapted for user wearing under a user's foot during conditions of standing and gait, said layer having a plurality of sensors positioned for sensing two dimensional force distribution under said user's foot, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to generate, during user standing and gait, signals representing user balance information as a function of said two dimensional force distribution over time;
- said sensing layer adapted to transmit said balance information signals to a remote location under conditions of standing and gait;
- a signal processing subsystem at said remote location and adapted to be user wearable, said subsystem configured to receive said balance information signals and to provide in response thereto balance control signals containing temporal and spatial information reflecting said force distribution for use in user skin stimulation;
- an array of a plurality of stimulators adapted for attachment in contact with a skin area of at least one lower extremity of said user;
- and
- said plurality of stimulators arranged in a two dimensional array and responsive to said balance control signals to provide skin stimulation to said at least one lower extremity of said user in a form reflecting said two dimensional force distribution under said user's foot both spatially and temporally in said two dimensional force distribution over time, both under conditions of standing and gait, to thereby provide feedback to the user via the array of plural stimulators to provide individualized spatial mapping and temporal information to allow complex, multi- dimensional and time varying corrective action.
A system for assisting the maintenance of balance over time during standing and gait of a user comprising:
- a sensing layer adapted for user wearing under a user's foot during conditions of standing and gait, said layer having a plurality of sensors positioned for sensing two dimensional force distribution under said user's foot, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to generate, during user standing and gait, signals representing user balance information as a function of said two dimensional force distribution over time;
- said sensing layer adapted to transmit said balance information signals to a remote location under conditions of standing and gait;
- a signal processing subsystem at said remote location and adapted to be user wearable, said subsystem configured to receive said balance information signals and to provide in response thereto balance control signals containing temporal and spatial information reflecting said force distribution for use in user skin stimulation;
- an array of a plurality of stimulators adapted for attachment in contact with a skin area of at least one lower extremity of said user;
- said stimulators arranged in plural vertically separated horizontal rows;
- and
- said plurality of stimulators responsive to said balance control signals to provide skin stimulation to said user in a form reflecting said two dimensional force distribution under said user's foot both spatially and temporally in said balance control signals to provide skin stimulation to said at least one lower extremity of said user reflecting said two dimensional force distribution changes over time both under conditions of standing and gait, to thereby provide feedback to the user via the array of plural stimulators to provide individualized spatial mapping and temporal information to allow complex, multi-dimensional and time varying corrective action.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.