Pressure sensor and orthopedic brace

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of pressure sensors, in particular to a pressure sensor and an orthopedic brace, the pressure sensor comprises a wrapping body and a porous supporting layer, an electrode layer is arranged between the wrapping body and the porous supporting layer, the wrapping body is internally provided with a plurality of pores, and the pore diameters of the pores are in gradient distribution along the thickness direction of the wrapping body; the pressure sensor comprises a wrapping body with gradient pores, the wrapping body is provided with the gradient pores to divide the wrapping body into a surface layer with a large pore diameter and an inner layer with a small pore diameter, the inner layer is connected with an electrode layer, the pores are further filled with conductive filler, and the invention further discloses an orthopedic brace which comprises the pressure sensor and further comprises a pressurizing device and a fastener. The wrapping body similar to the human skin is in contact with the human body, so that the problem of pressure sores caused by poor air permeability is solved, and the capacity of monitoring and sensing the change of orthopedic pressure can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of pressure sensors, and in particular to a pressure sensor and an orthopedic brace. Background Art

[0002] Traditional orthotic braces achieve spinal correction by having patients wear fixed braces, but lack monitoring of orthopedic pressure and correction effect. In addition, because traditional orthotic braces rely excessively on the squeezing force caused by the bulge of the brace material itself for correction, patients are prone to pressure sores due to uncomfortable physical sensations and long-term wearing, which in turn causes resistance to orthopedic braces, affecting the expected correction effect.

[0003] With the development of flexible sensing technology, existing orthopedic braces also have the function of monitoring orthopedic pressure by adding a flexible sensing module inside. For example, document number: CN 215535382 U discloses an intelligent orthopedic brace with a pressure sensing pad added to the inside of the orthopedic brace, and document number: CN 219983158 U discloses an intelligent brace that adds an adjustable position ion-type sensor device to a traditional brace. Its core orthopedic function still relies on the traditional brace itself. At the same time, although the ion-type sensor has a certain response capability to the orthopedic pressure, the contact between the brace and the human body will generate a large pre-pressure, which causes the ion-type sensor to have a large initial value. At the same time, the linear response range of the sensor is suddenly reduced, resulting in its poor effect on orthopedic pressure monitoring.

[0004] With the rapid iteration of modern technology, orthopedic braces are developing towards miniaturization and lightweight. The built-in flexible sensors suitable for orthopedic braces not only need to work with softer materials in contact with the human body to avoid the occurrence of pressure sores, but also need to have the ability to clearly sense the changes in orthopedic pressure under the large supporting force of the brace. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a pressure sensor and an orthopedic brace, which can provide the corrective force required for orthopedics while making the pressure sensor softer and more comfortable when in contact with the human body, thereby meeting the patient's need to monitor the changes in orthopedic pressure during use.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a pressure sensor, which includes an inclusion body and a porous support layer, an electrode layer is arranged between the inclusion body and the porous support layer, the interior of the inclusion body has a plurality of pores, the pore sizes of the plurality of pores are gradiently distributed along the thickness direction of the inclusion body, so as to divide the inclusion body into a surface layer with a larger pore size and an inner layer with a smaller pore size, the inner layer is connected to the electrode layer, and the pores are also filled with conductive fillers.

[0007] The inclusion body of the present invention is made of flexible materials, and TPU, PU, ​​etc. can be selected. Taking TPU as an example, DMF solvent is added to TPU, and after thermoplastic extrusion into filaments, a 3D printing device is used to print an inclusion body with a multi-gradient pore network structure in the form of 3D printing. It should be noted that the inclusion body of the present invention can be prepared using a variety of flexible materials, and the materials shown in this embodiment should not be understood as a limitation on the inclusion body materials of the present invention. The inclusion body is designed to imitate human skin, and the surface layer with larger pore size has a lower modulus and is in direct contact with human skin during use, while the inner layer with smaller pore size has a larger modulus. The low modulus surface layer can disperse the pressure evenly, while the high modulus inner layer can provide sufficient support force, with a soft and comfortable wearing feel, avoiding orthopedic pressure concentration and the occurrence of pressure sores when worn for a long time. The porous support layer is also prepared by 3D printing, and a 3D printing material with higher toughness is selected.

[0008] Furthermore, the density of the conductive filler in the inner layer is greater than the density of the conductive filler in the surface layer.

[0009] During the filling process of the conductive filler, a syringe-like high-pressure extrusion device can be used to extrude and spray the conductive filler along the side with dense pores toward the direction with sparse pores. Due to the difference in the density of each gradient pore, the density of the conductive filler particles when attached to the surface of the inclusion will also be different, and it has a nonlinear to linear force-sensitive response characteristic;

[0010] Furthermore, the electrode layer includes a deformable substrate and a plurality of conductive electrodes, wherein the plurality of conductive electrode arrays are distributed on the substrate, and air channels and lead-out wire holes are reserved on the substrate. The air channels and the lead-out wire holes both penetrate the substrate and are distributed on the periphery of each of the conductive electrodes.

[0011] The substrate is arranged between the inclusion body and the porous support layer. The substrate can undergo a certain deformation. The conductive electrodes are distributed on the substrate and are connected to an external acquisition host computer through lead wires to realize signal acquisition of the gradient conductive flexible substrate resistance changing with the pressure. It can be expressed as a single acquisition point or as an array of multiple acquisition points to timely obtain the resistance change caused by the deformation of the inclusion body. The airway reserved on the substrate is used to improve the air permeability when the pressure sensor is in contact with the human body, and can also realize sweating. The lead wire hole is used to allow the lead wire to pass through to realize data acquisition.

[0012] The present invention also discloses an orthopedic brace, comprising a plurality of pressure sensors as described above, and also comprising a pressurizing device and a fastener, wherein the pressurizing device is arranged one by one on the back side of the pressure sensor, and the fastener connects each of the pressure sensors.

[0013] The pressurizing device is arranged on the back side of the pressure sensor. After the pressure sensor is worn, the pressurizing device is used to apply a corrective force to the substrate through the porous supporting layer. The substrate undergoes a certain deformation to drive the inclusion body to deform, and finally applies a corrective force to the human body.

[0014] Furthermore, the pressurizing device includes an end cover, a first center axis, a first driver and a screw rod, wherein the screw rod is arranged at both ends of the porous support layer, the first center axis extends along the middle axis of the end cover and passes through the porous support layer, the first driver is sleeved on the center axis, the outer edge of the first driver is coupled to the screw rod through teeth, and the first driver can adjust the distance from the porous support layer by rotation.

[0015] The first central axis is fixed to the end cover. During the use of the pressurizing device, the first driver is first rotated to cause relative displacement between the screw rod and the first driver. The two ends of the pressure sensor are deformed to fit the human body. The end cover is then adjusted to rotate so that a second relative displacement occurs between the first central axis and the driver. The end of the first central axis contacts the substrate. The rotation of the end cover is converted into axial displacement to drive the inclusion body to apply corrective pressure to the user. The corrective pressure can be adjusted with the change in relative displacement between the central axis and the first driver. It should be noted that after the inclusion body is driven by the first central axis to contact the user, the elastic deformation that occurs can establish a linear relationship with the corrective pressure. After the pressure is matched to the linear range through calibration, the corrective pressure is reflected through this linear relationship.

[0016] Furthermore, the fastener includes a plurality of fastening belts, two ends of the plurality of fastening belts are respectively connected to two end portions of the pressure sensor, and the fastening belts are elastically deformable.

[0017] In this embodiment, the pressure sensor is worn and fixed on the human body by the fastening belt. Specifically, the pressure sensor is positioned by utilizing the elastic deformation ability of the fastening belt.

[0018] Furthermore, the fastener includes a second driver, a second center shaft, a fastening gasket and a plurality of traction chains, each of the traction chains is respectively connected to each of the pressure sensors and the second driver, the second center shaft is connected to the fastening gasket, the second driver is sleeved on the outside of the second center shaft, the traction chain is wrapped around the outside of the second driver, and the second driver can be axially displaced on the second center shaft by rotation.

[0019] In this embodiment, the fastening device is used to allow the user to wear the orthopedic brace in another way, the second driver can rotate on the second central axis to adjust the preload force of the traction chain and the positional relationship of the traction chain, and the fastening gasket provides a barrier for the second central axis to directly contact the human body and disperse the pressure of the second central axis.

[0020] The orthopedic brace of the present invention is aimed at the problem that the current pressure sensor is prone to pressure sores when in contact with the human body, and the monitoring perception of the orthopedic pressure change is insufficient during the orthopedic pressure monitoring process. On the one hand, the present invention proposes a pressure sensor, the packaging part of the pressure sensor is provided with pores to meet the air permeability requirements, and the aperture part of the pore is gradient designed. After the conductive filler of the corresponding density is filled, it has a nonlinear to linear force-sensitive response characteristic to meet the needs of orthopedic pressure monitoring perception, and discloses an orthopedic brace using the pressure sensor, which is arranged in a point-type distribution to reduce the contact area of ​​the orthopedic brace with the human body to improve the air permeability of the orthopedic brace. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, 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 invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0022] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a pressure sensor of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of an electrode layer of a pressure sensor of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the connection between a pressurizing device and a pressure sensor of an orthopedic brace of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a fastener of an orthopedic brace of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a fastener of an orthopedic brace of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of a pressurizing device of a fastener of an orthopedic brace of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the principle of a fastener of an embodiment of an orthopedic brace of the present invention.

[0029] 1. Inclusion body; 2. Porous support layer; 3. Electrode layer; 4. Porosity; 5. Surface layer; 6. Inner layer; 7. Conductive filler; 8. Base material; 9. Conductive electrode; 10. Airway; 11. Lead-out hole; 20. Pressure sensor; 30. Pressurizing device; 40. Fastener; 21. End cover; 22. First center axis; 23. First drive; 24. Screw; 41. Fastening belt; 42. Second drive; 43. Second center axis; 44. Fastening gasket; 45. Drag chain. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended to be used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0031] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The present invention discloses a pressure sensor 20, which includes an inclusion body 1 and a porous support layer 2, wherein an electrode layer 3 is provided between the inclusion body 1 and the porous support layer 2, wherein the inclusion body 1 has a plurality of pores 4 inside, wherein the pore sizes of the plurality of pores 4 are gradiently distributed along the thickness direction of the inclusion body 1, and the inclusion body 1 is divided into a surface layer 5 with a larger pore size and an inner layer 6 with a smaller pore size, wherein the inner layer 6 is connected to the electrode layer 3, and the pores 4 are also filled with a conductive filler 7.

[0032] The pressure sensor 20 disclosed in the present invention utilizes the inclusion body 1 to contact the human body, and the porous support layer 2 serves as the external support of the inclusion body 1. The inclusion body 1 is designed to imitate human skin and is a porous structure manufactured by 3D printing. The interior is divided into a surface layer 5 and an inner layer 6. The surface layer 5 in contact with the human body has high flexibility and can provide a more comfortable and breathable wearing experience when in contact with the human body. The inner layer 6 has a high supporting force to avoid orthopedic pressure concentration and the occurrence of pressure sores. In this embodiment, the electrode layer 3 is connected to an external acquisition host computer through a lead wire to collect signals of the resistance value of the package changing with pressure. The conductive filler 7 is filled in the pore 4. The conductive filler 7 can be prepared using CNT carbon nanotube powder. After the conductive filler 7 is filled in the pore 4, it cooperates with the deformation of the inclusion body 1 to have a linear force-sensitive response in the inner layer 6, so that the pressure sensor 20 can achieve detection.

[0033] Among them, the electrode layer 3 includes a deformable substrate 8 and a plurality of conductive electrodes 9, and the plurality of conductive electrodes 9 are distributed in an array on the substrate 8. An air channel 10 and a lead-out wire hole 11 are reserved on the substrate 8. The air channel 10 and the lead-out wire hole 11 both penetrate the substrate 8 and are distributed on the periphery of each of the conductive electrodes 9.

[0034] A plurality of conductive electrodes 9 are arranged on the substrate 8, and the signals of the resistance value of the inclusion 1 changing with the pressure are collected through the conductive electrodes 9. The airway 10 cooperates with the pore 4 to achieve sweat discharge and ventilation, and the lead wire hole 11 is used to connect the lead wire.

[0035] See also Figures 3 to 5 The present invention also discloses an orthopedic brace, comprising a plurality of pressure sensors 20 as described above, and also comprising a pressurizing device 30 and a fastener 40, wherein the pressurizing device 30 is arranged one by one on the back side of the pressure sensor 20, and the fastener 40 connects each of the pressure sensors 20.

[0036] The present invention discloses an orthopedic brace. On the basis of the aforementioned pressure sensor 20, a pressurizing device 30 is additionally provided. When it is necessary to apply an orthopedic force to the user, the pressurizing device 30 is utilized to apply the orthopedic force to the pressure sensor 20. The orthopedic force can be manually adjusted according to the data transmitted back by the pressure sensor 20 to meet specific treatment needs.

[0037] Among them, the pressurizing device 30 includes an end cover 21, a first center axis 22, a first driver 23 and a screw rod 24, the screw rod 24 is arranged at both ends of the porous support layer 2, the first center axis 22 extends along the middle axis of the end cover 21 and passes through the porous support layer 2, the first driver 23 is sleeved on the center axis, the outer edge of the first driver 23 is coupled to the screw rod 24 through teeth, and the first driver 23 can adjust the distance from the porous support layer 2 by rotation.

[0038] See also Figure 6 In the process of applying pressure using the pressurizing device 30, the enclosure 1 can be adaptively adjusted, that is, the first driver 23 is manually rotated to drive the screw 24 and the two ends of the enclosure 1 to move and adjust the fit with the human body. Then, the end cover 21 can be rotated to allow the first center axis 22 and the first driver 23 to move relative to each other. The first center axis 22 drives the middle part of the enclosure 1 to apply corrective pressure to the human body. It should be noted that the description of the use sequence of the pressurizing device 30 should not be understood as a limitation on the technical solution of the present invention. The pressurizing device 30 of the present invention can also directly apply corrective pressure by rotating the end cover 21.

[0039] The fastener 40 includes a plurality of fastening belts 41 , two ends of the plurality of fastening belts 41 are respectively connected to two ends of the pressure sensor 20 , and the fastening belts 41 are elastically deformable.

[0040] See also Figure 4 In this embodiment, the fastener 40 uses a plurality of fastening belts 41 to fix the pressure sensor 20. The fastening belt 41 can be elastically deformed. When using the orthopedic brace, the fastening belt 41 is wrapped around the user, and the elastic deformation of the fastening belt 41 is used to fix the pressure sensor 20. The specific use process is as follows: the user first wears the orthopedic brace, and then adjusts the brace through the fastening belt 41, and calibrates and clears the pressure sensor 20 to adjust and release the pre-pressure, and then uses the pressurizing device 30 to apply orthopedic pressure. The sensor obtains pressure data according to the deformation, and uploads the obtained data for the operator to adjust and select the appropriate orthopedic force.

[0041] Among them, the fastener 40 includes a second driver 42, a second center shaft 43, a fastening gasket 44 and a plurality of traction chains 45, each of the traction chains 45 is respectively connected to each of the pressure sensors 20 and the second driver 42, the second center shaft 43 is connected to the fastening gasket 44, the second driver 42 is sleeved on the outside of the second center shaft 43, the traction chain 45 is wrapped around the outside of the second driver 42, and the second driver 42 can be axially displaced on the second center shaft 43 by rotation.

[0042] See also Figure 7 As another embodiment of the fastener 40 of the present invention, in this embodiment, the method of use is to place each of the pressure sensors 20 at a predetermined position of the user, drive the second driver 42 to move on the second central axis 43, and rotate the traction chain 45 to wind it, thereby adjusting the preload force of the traction chain 45. After the traction force of the traction chain 45 is adjusted, it is convenient to wear the entire orthopedic brace.

[0043] What is disclosed above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which certainly cannot be used to limit the scope of rights of the present invention. A person skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes of the above embodiments and equivalent changes made according to the claims of the present invention still fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor, characterized in that: The invention comprises an inclusion body (1) and a porous support layer (2), wherein an electrode layer (3) is arranged between the inclusion body (1) and the porous support layer (2), wherein the inclusion body (1) has a plurality of pores (4) inside, wherein the pore sizes of the plurality of pores (4) are distributed in a gradient manner along the thickness direction of the inclusion body (1), so as to divide the inclusion body (1) into a surface layer (5) with a larger pore size and an inner layer (6) with a smaller pore size, wherein the inner layer (6) is connected to the electrode layer (3), and the pores (4) are also filled with a conductive filler (7).

2. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that The electrode layer (3) comprises a deformable substrate (8) and a plurality of conductive electrodes (9), wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes (9) are distributed in an array on the substrate (8), and an air channel (10) and a lead-out hole (11) are reserved on the substrate (8), wherein the air channel (10) and the lead-out hole (11) both penetrate the substrate (8) and are distributed on the periphery of each of the conductive electrodes (9).

3. An orthopedic brace comprising a plurality of pressure sensors according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that: It also includes a pressurizing device (30) and a fastener (40), wherein the pressurizing device (30) is arranged on the back side of the pressure sensor (20) in a one-to-one correspondence, and the fastener (40) connects each of the pressure sensors (20).

4. The orthopedic brace according to claim 3, characterized in that: The pressurizing device (30) comprises an end cover (21), a first central axis (22), a first driver (23) and a screw rod (24); the screw rod (24) is arranged at two ends of the porous support layer (2); the first central axis (22) extends along the middle axis of the end cover (21) and passes through the porous support layer (2); the first driver (23) is sleeved on the central axis; the outer edge of the first driver (23) is coupled to the screw rod (24) through teeth; the first driver (23) can adjust the distance from the porous support layer (2) by rotating.

5. The orthopedic brace according to claim 3, characterized in that: The fastener (40) comprises a plurality of fastening belts (41), the two ends of the plurality of fastening belts (41) are respectively connected to the two end portions of the pressure sensor (20), and the fastening belts (41) are elastically deformable.

6. The orthopedic brace according to claim 3, characterized in that: The fastener (40) comprises a second driver (42), a second center shaft (43), a fastening gasket (44) and a plurality of traction chains (45), each of the traction chains (45) being respectively connected to each of the pressure sensors (20) and the second driver (42), the second center shaft (43) being connected to the fastening gasket (44), the second driver (42) being sleeved on the outside of the second center shaft (43), the traction chain (45) being wound around the outside of the second driver (42), and the second driver (42) being able to perform axial displacement on the second center shaft (43) by rotation.

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