Non-invasive, vibrotactile medical device to restore normal gait for patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy

A medical device for aiding gait restoration in a patient having a gait cycle, the medical device comprising:

• a housing wearable on the leg of the patient adjacent the tibia tubercle;
• a sensing module connected to the housing and configured to:
• sense both rotational movement of the patient's leg and axial acceleration of the patient's leg;
• identify when the patient's leg is in a prescribed position based on a combined assessment of a measured leg rotation amount, a measured axial leg acceleration amount, with the leg rotation amount and axial leg acceleration amount occurring within a prescribed time period;
• and
• generate a stimulation signal when a sensed position of the patient's leg is in the prescribed position within the prescribed time period;
• and
• a stimulator connected to the housing and in operative communication with the sensing module to receive the stimulation signal therefrom, the stimulator being configured to impart a stimulating force on the patient's leg in response to receipt of the stimulation signal.

A medical device for restoring gait for a patient, the medical device comprising:

• a housing configured to be wearable on a patient's leg adjacent the tibial tubercle;
• a vibrating element connected to the housing and configured to impart a vibrotactile force upon the tibal tubercle, the vibrating element including a magnet and a flange coupled to the magnet, the flange being configured to maintain the magnet within a cavity formed within the housing;
• and
• a control unit connected to the housing and in operative communication with the vibrating element;
• the control unit being configured to:
• measure a leg rotation amount about a rotation axis and an axial leg acceleration amount along an acceleration axis during the patient's gait;
• compare the leg rotation amount and axial leg acceleration amount to respective thresholds;
• and generate an actuation signal based on a combined assessment of the leg rotation amount, axial leg acceleration amount, and a timing threshold associated with a specified period of time, the actuation signal being generated to actuate the vibrating element when the leg rotation amount and leg acceleration amount both meet their respective thresholds within the timing threshold.