Plantar pressure monitoring and adjusting system, insole assembly and shoe

Abstract

The invention provides a plantar pressure monitoring and adjusting system, an insole assembly and a shoe. In the plantar pressure monitoring and adjusting system, an air bag cushion is used for supporting the plantar, a plurality of air bags are arranged on the air bag cushion, and each air bag is independently communicated with an air path; the air pressure sensor is independent of the air bag cushion, is communicated with the air path and is used for detecting the air pressure value of the air bag; the electromagnetic valves are respectively and independently communicated with the air path so as to respectively inflate and deflate the air bags; the inflating and deflating device is communicated with each electromagnetic valve and is used for inflating and deflating each air bag or deflating each air bag; the control module is in electric signal connection with the air pressure sensor, the electromagnetic valve, the inflating and deflating device and the intelligent terminal, and can transmit electric signals with the intelligent terminal to control the electromagnetic valve to inflate or deflate the air bag. According to the plantar pressure monitoring and adjusting system provided by the invention, the barometric pressure sensor can be prevented from being in direct contact with the plantar, so that the problems of pollution and quick abrasion can be avoided, and the service life of the barometric pressure sensor can be prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of functional shoes, and more specifically, relates to a plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system, an insole assembly and shoes. Background Art

[0002] Diabetic foot is caused by distal nerve abnormalities and varying degrees of vascular lesions in diabetic patients' lower limbs. Patients will experience ulcers, foot infections, and deep tissue damage on the soles of their feet. Conventional insoles do not have the function of regulating sole pressure, which can easily lead to concentrated pressure on the soles of patients' feet, thus aggravating the condition.

[0003] In the related technology, diabetic pressure-reducing insoles have emerged. One technical direction is to set a pressure regulating component and a pressure sensor on the insole. The pressure regulating component includes but is not limited to an air bag, a detachable pressure-reducing block, etc. The pressure sensor generally adopts a thin film sensor directly laid on the pressure regulating component to directly monitor the pressure conditions at various parts of the patient's sole. The patient or guardian adjusts the pressure value of the pressure regulating component in time according to the monitoring data of the pressure sensor to alleviate the pressure on the patient's sole.

[0004] However, the above-mentioned pressure-reducing insole has a pressure sensor that is directly laid on the surface of the pressure regulating component and is in direct contact with the sole of the patient's foot. The pressure sensor is easily contaminated due to the inevitable sweating of the patient's sole and the possible leakage of body fluids from ulcer sites, as well as the high friction between the sole and the pressure sensor. The high friction environment will also accelerate the wear of the pressure sensor, thereby shortening the service life of the pressure sensor. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide a plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system, an insole assembly and a shoe to solve the technical problem of the short service life of the pressure sensor in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the technical solution adopted in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application is to provide a plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system, which includes: an airbag cushion, which is used to be placed on the sole of the foot to support the sole of the foot, and a plurality of airbags are arranged on the airbag cushion, and each of the airbags is separately connected to an air path; at least one air pressure sensor independently arranged on the airbag cushion, the air pressure sensor can be connected to the air path, and the air pressure sensor is used to detect the air pressure value of the airbag connected thereto; and solenoid valves with the same number as the airbags, and each of the solenoid valves is separately connected to the air path. The air circuit is used to inflate and deflate each airbag respectively; the inflation and deflation device is connected to each solenoid valve and is used to inflate or deflate the air circuit where each solenoid valve is located; the control module is independently arranged with the airbag cushion and is electrically connected with the air pressure sensor, the solenoid valve, the inflation and deflation device and the smart terminal; the control module can transmit electrical signals with the smart terminal and control the solenoid valve to inflate or deflate the airbag according to the air pressure value or according to the instruction of the smart terminal, so that the air pressure value of the airbag is kept within a preset range.

[0007] Optionally, the air circuit includes a main ventilation circuit and a plurality of ventilation branches; the main ventilation circuit is connected to the inflation and deflation device and each of the solenoid valves; each of the ventilation branches is connected to each of the solenoid valves and the airbags respectively.

[0008] Optionally, one air pressure sensor is provided and is connected to the main ventilation circuit.

[0009] Optionally, when the air pressure sensor detects the pressure value of each airbag, the control module controls each solenoid valve to open and close cyclically in sequence so that the air pressure sensor can be connected to each airbag one by one.

[0010] Optionally, the number of the air pressure sensors is consistent with the number of the airbags, and each of the air pressure sensors is respectively connected to each of the ventilation branches.

[0011] Optionally, the inflation and deflation device includes an inflation and deflation pump and a main solenoid valve electrically connected to the control module, and the main solenoid valve is arranged on the main ventilation line.

[0012] Optionally, the airbags are distributed on the airbag cushion along a horizontal direction; and / or, the airbags are arranged in at least two layers on the airbag cushion along a height direction.

[0013] In a second aspect of the present application, an insole assembly is provided, comprising:

[0014] An insole body; a power module, which is independently arranged from the insole body; and the aforementioned plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system, wherein the airbag pad is arranged on the insole body; and the control module is electrically connected to the power module.

[0015] In a third aspect of the present application, a shoe is provided, comprising:

[0016] A shoe body; the aforementioned insole assembly, wherein the insole assembly is arranged in the shoe body, wherein the insole body and the airbag cushion are stacked in the height direction of the shoe body, and the air pressure sensor and the control module are arranged at positions in the shoe body that do not contact the sole of the foot.

[0017] The plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system, insole assembly and shoes provided in the embodiments of the present application have at least the following beneficial effects:

[0018] An airbag cushion and several air paths independently connected to each airbag are provided, and the pressure of the airbag cushion is monitored by an air pressure sensor independent of the airbag cushion that monitors the air pressure in the air path. In this way, the air pressure sensor does not need to be provided at the sole of the foot, and the air pressure sensor can avoid direct contact with the sole of the foot, thereby avoiding the problems of contamination and rapid wear of the pressure sensor in previous solutions, which is beneficial to increasing the service life of the pressure sensor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative labor.

[0020] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Schematic diagram of a plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system in different embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial effects to be solved by the present application more clearly understood, the present application is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0022] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and are not used to limit the present application.

[0023] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being “fixed to” or “disposed on” another element, it may be directly on the other element or indirectly on the other element.

[0024] When an element is referred to as being “connected to” another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or indirectly connected to the other element.

[0025] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0026] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features.

[0027] In the description of the present application, “plurality” means two or more than two, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0028] Please also read Figure 1 to Figure 2 , the plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system provided in the embodiment of the first aspect of the present application is now described.

[0029] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 It can be understood that the plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system described in the present application is used to be installed on the insole to monitor the plantar pressure of diabetic patients, which includes an airbag cushion 100, an air pressure sensor 300, a solenoid valve 400, an inflation and deflation device 500 and a control module 600.

[0030] The airbag cushion 100 is used to be placed on the sole of the foot to support the sole of the foot, that is, the airbag cushion 100 is placed on the insole, and the airbag cushion 100 directly contacts the sole of the foot, or a flexible anti-fouling pad is arranged between the airbag cushion 100 and the sole of the foot. The airbag cushion 100 is made of a flexible material, such as a silicone material.

[0031] At least one airbag 110 is disposed on the airbag cushion 100, and each airbag 110 is independently connected to an air path 200, and the air path 200 extends to the outside of the airbag cushion 100. In an embodiment where multiple airbags 110 are disposed, different airbags 110 are disposed corresponding to different parts of the sole (preferably the areas of the sole that are often under pressure).

[0032] At least one air pressure sensor 300 is provided and is independently provided from the airbag cushion 100, that is, the air pressure sensor 300 is not in direct contact with the sole of the foot, and it can be provided at a position at the bottom of the insole that is not in direct contact with the sole of the foot, or it can be provided outside the insole (such as the side of the shoe). The air pressure sensor 300 is connected to the air circuit 200. It should be understood that each air pressure sensor 300 is used to monitor the air pressure in each air circuit 200. Since each air circuit 200 is independently connected to each airbag 110, the air pressure in each air circuit 200 is also the air pressure in each airbag 110.

[0033] When a diabetic patient walks in shoes, the soles of the patient's feet apply pressure to each airbag 110 in the airbag cushion 100. Since the air circuit 200 is directly connected to the airbags 110, the pressure changes in each airbag 110 cause the pressure in the air circuit 200 to change synchronously. At this time, the air pressure sensor 300 can monitor the pressure changes in the air circuit 200, thereby obtaining the pressure distribution of the sole of the foot.

[0034] The number of solenoid valves 400 is the same as the number of airbags 110, and each solenoid valve 400 is connected to each air path 200 to inflate or deflate each airbag 110. The inflation and deflation device 500 is connected to each solenoid valve 400, and is used to inflate or deflate the air path 200 connected to each solenoid valve 400.

[0035] When the pressure value of the airbag 110 monitored by the air pressure sensor 300 is inconsistent with the preset pressure value of the airbag 110, the solenoid valve 400 is opened to inflate and deflate the air circuit 200, thereby adjusting the pressure of the airbag 110. That is, when the pressure of a certain airbag 110 is too high, the device deflates the air circuit 200 to release the pressure of the airbag 110, thereby reducing the pressure on the sole of the patient's foot; on the contrary, when the pressure of a certain airbag 110 is too low, the control module 600 controls the inflation and deflation device 500 to inflate the air circuit 200 to increase the pressure of the airbag 110, so that the supporting force of the airbag cushion 100 on various parts of the sole of the foot can meet the walking needs of the patient.

[0036] It should be understood that the aforementioned preset pressure value of the airbag 110 can be the normal pressure value distribution range of the sole of a normal user; it can also be the safe pressure value distribution range for diabetic patients with sole ulcers; it can also be a pressure distribution value adjusted accordingly according to the patient's condition and the condition of the patient's sole, and it is not limited to this.

[0037] The control module 600 is independently provided from the airbag cushion 100 and is electrically connected to the air pressure sensor 300, the solenoid valve 400, the inflation and deflation device 500 and the smart terminal. The control module 600 is used to obtain the pressure data monitored by the air pressure sensor 300, and control the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 400 and the inflation and deflation device 500 according to the pressure data to adjust the pressure in the airbag 110. At the same time, the collected pressure data can also be sent to the smart terminal for the patient or guardian to view in real time and manually adjust the pressure range of each airbag 110 according to the actual pressure value. It is understandable that the smart terminal can be a smart wearable device such as a smart phone and a smart watch.

[0038] Specifically, there are multiple ways for the control module 600 to adjust the pressure of the airbag 110 .

[0039] For example, in some embodiments, a storage device is provided in the control module 600, and a pressure threshold is preset in the storage device, for example, different pressure thresholds are preset for different parts of the sole of the foot. It is understandable that the aforementioned pressure threshold can be a reference value obtained after an actual assessment of the patient's sole condition. When the pressure value collected by the air pressure sensor 300 corresponding to a certain part of the sole of the foot exceeds the threshold, the control module 600 automatically controls the inflation and deflation device 500 and the electromagnetic valve 400 to open to deflate the airbag 110 corresponding to the part of the sole of the foot to avoid excessive pressure on the sole of the foot caused by excessive support of the airbag 110 on the sole of the foot; when the pressure value is lower than the threshold, the control module 600 automatically controls the inflation and deflation device 500 and the electromagnetic valve 400 to open to inflate the airbag 110 corresponding to the part of the sole of the foot, so that the sole of the foot is properly supported.

[0040] For example, in some other embodiments, a memory and a transmitter are provided in the control module 600, and the control module 600 is connected to the smart terminal via Bluetooth, and the transmitter is used to send the pressure data collected by the memory to the smart terminal. The patient or the guardian can view the actual pressure distribution of the patient's sole through the interactive interface on the smart terminal, and selectively control the airbag 110 in a certain area of ​​the sole to inflate or deflate on the interactive interface of the smart terminal.

[0041] In the present application, the pressure monitoring method of the air pressure sensor 300 is changed from a conventional thin film sensor that collects pressure data by being pressurized to an air pressure monitoring method that collects pressure data, and the air pressure sensor 300 is independently provided from the airbag cushion 100 and is positioned so as not to be in direct contact with the sole of the foot. Compared with the pressure monitoring method using the thin film air pressure sensor 300 in the related art, the air pressure sensor 300 does not come into contact with the sole of the foot during the pressure monitoring process, thereby avoiding the problem of pressure sensor contamination caused by sweat on the soles of the patients' feet, ulcers, etc., and can also reduce or avoid the friction and pressure on the pressure sensor, thereby helping to increase the service life of the air pressure sensor 300.

[0042] In some embodiments, the aforementioned air circuit 200 includes a main ventilation circuit 210 and a plurality of ventilation branch circuits 220; the main ventilation circuit 210 connects the inflation and deflation device 500 and each solenoid valve 400; each ventilation branch circuit 220 connects each solenoid valve 400 and each airbag 110 respectively.

[0043] refer to Figure 1 Corresponding to the setting of the air circuit 200 , in an embodiment in which only one air pressure sensor 300 is provided, the air pressure sensor 300 is configured to be connected only to the main ventilation circuit 210 .

[0044] In this embodiment, during pressure monitoring, after the solenoid valves 400 connected to different airbags 110 are opened, the air pressure value in the ventilation main circuit 210 is also the air pressure value in the airbag 110, and at this time, the air pressure sensor 300 can detect the pressure data of the airbag 110. Based on this, when the control module 600 needs to obtain the pressure distribution of various parts of the sole, the control module 600 controls each solenoid valve 400 to open for a certain period of time in sequence so that the ventilation main circuit 210 is connected to different ventilation branch circuits 220 in sequence, so that the air pressure sensor 300 can detect the pressure of each airbag 110.

[0045] It should be understood that, in the present embodiment, the time interval for the sequential cyclic opening of each solenoid valve 400 can be set by the patient or guardian operating the interactive interface on the smart terminal, and the time instruction for the cyclic operation of each solenoid valve 400 is sent by the smart terminal to the control module 600; the time interval for the sequential cyclic opening of each solenoid valve 400 can also be an application program pre-stored in the storage, and the application program drives each solenoid valve 400 to cyclically open and close on a regular basis.

[0046] refer to Figure 2In the embodiment where a plurality of air pressure sensors 300 are provided, each ventilation branch 220 is connected with an air pressure sensor 300. In this way, each air pressure sensor 300 can monitor the pressure value of each airbag 110 in real time. When a diabetic patient walks in shoes, the sole of the patient applies pressure to each airbag 110 in the airbag cushion 100. Since each ventilation branch 220 is directly connected to each airbag 110, the pressure change in each airbag 110 causes the pressure in the air circuit 200 to change synchronously. At this time, each air pressure sensor 300 can monitor the pressure change in each ventilation branch 220, thereby obtaining the pressure distribution of the sole of the foot.

[0047] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the inflation and deflation device 500 includes an inflation and deflation pump 510 and a main solenoid valve 520 electrically connected to the control module 600, the main solenoid valve 520 is arranged on the ventilation main circuit 210, and the air pressure sensor 300 is connected to the section on the ventilation main circuit 210 located between the main solenoid valve 520 and each solenoid valve 400.

[0048] By setting the main solenoid valve 520, the main solenoid valve 520 can be closed when inflation or deflation is not required, so that the airflow only flows in the ventilation branch 220 section between the main solenoid valve 520 and each airbag 110, so as to effectively avoid air leakage, thereby making pressure monitoring more accurate.

[0049] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the airbags 110 may be distributed in the horizontal direction on the airbag cushion 100, for example, divided according to different force-bearing areas of the sole of the foot to achieve pressure monitoring of different sole positions; or, they may be stacked in the height direction of the airbag cushion 100, with at least one airbag 110 provided on each layer. In this way, while the top airbag 110 achieves pressure monitoring, the bottom airbag 110 can achieve a better cushioning effect while also achieving pressure monitoring.

[0050] In an embodiment of the second aspect of the present application, an insole assembly is proposed, which includes an insole body, a power module 700 and a plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system of any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0051] Specifically, the power module 700 is independently arranged from the insole body, in which a battery is arranged; the airbag pad 100 in the plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system is arranged on the insole body. At the same time, the control module 600 in the plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system is electrically connected to the power module 700, and the power module 700 is used to power the electronic components in the control module 600.

[0052] When the plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system has the aforementioned advantages, the insole assembly provided in the embodiment of the present application also has the aforementioned advantages, that is, the air pressure sensor 300 in the insole assembly will not contact the sole of the foot during the pressure monitoring process, thereby avoiding the problem of contamination of the air pressure sensor 300 caused by sweat, ulcers, etc. on the soles of the patient's feet, and can also reduce or avoid the friction force on the air pressure sensor 300, which is beneficial to increase the service life of the air pressure sensor 300.

[0053] In an embodiment of the third aspect of the present application, a shoe is provided, comprising a shoe body and the insole assembly described in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0054] The insole assembly is arranged in the shoe body, wherein the insole body and the airbag cushion 100 are stacked in the height direction of the shoe body, and the air pressure sensor 300 and the control module 600 are arranged in the position of the shoe body that does not contact the sole of the foot. For example, the air pressure sensor 300 and the control module 600 can be arranged in the side or bottom of the shoe body and other areas that are not directly pressurized. In the case where the solenoid valve 400 and the inflation and deflation device 500 and other components are arranged in the plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system, these components are also arranged in the side or bottom of the shoe body and other areas that are not directly pressurized. It can be understood that the aforementioned side or bottom of the shoe body and other areas that are not directly pressurized can be buried in the sole buffer layer, or can be buried in the thicker side of the shoe body, and it is not limited to this.

[0055] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system, characterized in that: include: An airbag cushion, used to be placed on the sole of the foot to support the sole of the foot, wherein the airbag cushion is provided with a plurality of airbags, each of which is independently connected to an air path; At least one air pressure sensor independently provided from the airbag cushion, the air pressure sensor being communicable with the air path, and the air pressure sensor being used to detect the air pressure value of the airbag communicated with the air pressure sensor; The number of solenoid valves is the same as that of the airbags, and each of the solenoid valves is connected to the air path separately to inflate and deflate each of the airbags; An air charging and discharging device, connected to each of the solenoid valves, and used for inflating or deflating the air path where each of the solenoid valves is located; A control module is independently arranged from the airbag cushion and is electrically connected to the air pressure sensor, the solenoid valve, the inflation and deflation device and the smart terminal; the control module can transmit electrical signals to the smart terminal and control the solenoid valve to inflate or deflate the airbag according to the air pressure value or according to the instruction of the smart terminal, so that the air pressure value of the airbag is maintained within a preset range.

2. The plantar pressure monitoring and regulating system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air circuit includes a main ventilation circuit and a plurality of ventilation branches; the main ventilation circuit is connected with the inflation and deflation device and each of the solenoid valves; each of the ventilation branches is connected with each of the solenoid valves and the airbags respectively.

3. The plantar pressure monitoring and regulating system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The air pressure sensor is provided with one and is connected with the main ventilation circuit.

4. The plantar pressure monitoring and regulating system according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the air pressure sensor detects the pressure value of each airbag, the control module controls each solenoid valve to open and close cyclically in sequence so that the air pressure sensor can be connected to each airbag one by one.

5. The plantar pressure monitoring and regulating system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The number of the air pressure sensors is consistent with the number of the airbags, and each of the air pressure sensors is respectively connected to each of the ventilation branches.

6. The plantar pressure monitoring and regulating system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: The inflation and deflation device comprises an inflation and deflation pump and a main solenoid valve connected to the control module by electrical signals, and the main solenoid valve is arranged on the main ventilation line.

7. The plantar pressure monitoring and regulating system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The airbags are distributed on the airbag cushion along a horizontal direction; and / or, the airbags are arranged in at least two layers along a height direction on the airbag cushion.

8. A shoe insole assembly, characterized in that: include: Insole body; A power module is provided independently from the insole body; In the plantar pressure monitoring and adjustment system described in any one of claims 1 to 7, the airbag pad is arranged on the insole body; and the control module is electrically connected to the power module.

9. A shoe, characterized in that: include: Shoe body; The insole assembly as described in claim 8 is arranged in the shoe body, wherein the insole body and the airbag cushion are stacked in the height direction of the shoe body, and the air pressure sensor and the control module are arranged at positions in the shoe body that do not contact the sole of the foot.

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