Method and Apparatus for Analysis of Gait and to Provide Haptic and Visual Corrective Feedback

Abstract

A system for analysis of user gait and to provide correction in form of haptic and visual feedback. This system comprises a motion and force sensors and a haptic actuator embedded in the user shoe insoles in communication with a smart-phone based analysis application, configured to calculate motion and orientation of the user feet in relation to the value, location and distribution of ground reaction forces measured by sensors located in the shoe insoles and after analysis of said forces and motion, to provide haptic feedback to the user foot instructing about the location (and timing) of pressure the user must apply to achieve an optimal gait.

Description

[0001]This application is a Continuation in Part application of non-provisional application Ser. No. 14 / 747,179 titled “Method and Apparatus to Provide Haptic and Visual Feedback of Skier Foot Motion and Forces Transmitted to the Ski Boots” filled on Jun. 23, 2015, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to the field of visualization of motion, weight distribution and forces transferred by the feet to the insole of the user shoe. Such invention may be used for the purpose of monitoring forces projected through the foot to the ski or snowboard to the snow or an athlete shoe to aid in training and performance evaluation, or to the sole of a shoe to allow analysis or user gait in order to correct the user walking pattern or aid in the recovery after physical injuries. Said analysis is achievable by embedding a gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer, pressure and force sens...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]As the gait analysis is a function of modification of many movement factors, the gait patterns can be transient or permanent. As such the gait analysis system of this embodiment can aid both to provide information of natural abnormalities and help selection of suitable prosthetics, as well as in rehabilitation of a temporary gait abnormalities during the recover from physical injuries, such as cerebral palsy or recover of stroke patient, or add in training in order to optimize athlete performance.

[0013]This embodiment of the invention, allow for the assessment of gait disorders and effects of corrective orthopedic surgery, as well as to help in selection of options for treatment and correction of distorted bony anatomy such as a misaligned pelvis or sacrum.

Problems solved by technology

In skiing as well as gait analysis, monitoring of performance relies on few techniques, such as: user feelings, instructor / coach observations, etc, and some empirical factors, such as: time measurements and video analysis, however, most of those techniques are not practical for the every day training or improve in diagnostics and recovery of physical injuries, as they require bulky equipment, large team of highly skilled technicians while lacking sufficient amount of data and have no ability to provide corrective, real-time feedback.

Due to complexity of the said measurement system, collected data rarely correlates with normal activity of the subject while the feedback is delayed.

However, those devices record only distribution of pressure while requiring synchronization with real-time video to provide meaningful information.

And as real-time video synchronization is rarely available outside of the lab, the benefit of such devices is very limited.

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