Pressure sensor and orthopedic brace

Abstract

The utility model 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 distributed in a gradient manner 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, the gradient pores are arranged in the wrapping body to divide the wrapping body into a surface layer with a larger pore diameter and an inner layer with a smaller pore diameter, the inner layer is connected with an electrode layer, conductive fillers are filled in the pores, and the utility model further discloses an orthopedic brace which comprises the pressure sensor, 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 utility model relates to pressure sensor technical field especially relates to a pressure sensor and orthopedic brace. BACKGROUND

[0002] The traditional orthopedic brace realizes the effect of spinal orthosis through the fixed brace worn by the patient, lacks monitoring of the orthopedic pressure and the orthopedic effect, and at the same time, due to the transition of the traditional brace orthosis mode, the extrusion force caused by the protrusion of the brace material itself is used for correction, which leads to the fact that the patient is uncomfortable when wearing and is prone to pressure sores and other factors due to long-term wearing, thereby resisting the orthopedic brace, and affecting the expected orthopedic effect.

[0003] With the development of flexible sensing technology, the existing orthopedic brace also has the function of monitoring the orthopedic pressure by additionally arranging a flexible sensing module inside, such as the intelligent orthopedic brace disclosed in document No. CN 215535382 U, which additionally arranges a pressure sensing pad on the inside of the orthopedic brace, and the intelligent brace disclosed in document No. CN 219983158 U, which additionally arranges a capacitive sensor device with adjustable position on the traditional brace, the core orthopedic function still depends on the traditional brace itself, and at the same time, although the capacitive sensor has a certain response ability to the orthopedic pressure, due to the contact between the brace and the human body, a large pre-pressure is generated, so that the capacitive sensor has a large initial value and the linear response range is greatly reduced, which leads to the fact that the orthopedic pressure monitoring effect is not outstanding.

[0004] With the rapid iteration of modern technology, the orthopedic brace is developing towards miniaturization and light weight, and the built-in flexible sensor suitable for the orthopedic brace not only needs to be made of soft material to contact the human body to avoid the occurrence of pressure sores, but also needs to have the ability to clearly perceive the change of the orthopedic pressure under the large supporting force of the brace. UTILITY MODEL CONTENTS

[0005] The utility model aims at providing a pressure sensor and an orthopedic brace, so as to provide the correction force required for orthosis, make the pressure sensor softer and more comfortable when contacting the human body, and meet the demand of monitoring the change of the orthopedic pressure of the patient during use.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the utility model provides a pressure sensor, which comprises a wrapping body and a porous support layer, an electrode layer is arranged between the wrapping body and the porous support layer, the inside of the wrapping body has a plurality of pores, the pore diameter of the plurality of pores is gradiently distributed along the thickness direction of the wrapping body, so as to divide the wrapping body into a surface layer with large pore diameter and an inner layer with small pore diameter, the inner layer is connected with the electrode layer, and the pores are also filled with conductive filler.

[0007] The wrapping body of the utility model is made of flexible material, which can be TPU, PU, etc., and the TPU is taken as an example, DMF solvent is added into the TPU, and the TPU is extruded into a wire after being heated and plasticized, and then the wrapping body with a multi-gradient pore network structure is printed by using a 3D printing device in a 3D printing form.

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

[0009] In the filling process of the conductive filler, a high-pressure extrusion device similar to a syringe can be used to extrude and spray the conductive filler along the side with a high void density to the side with a low void density. Due to the difference in the gradient void density, the density of the conductive filler particles attached to the surface of the wrapping body will also be different, and the force-sensitive response characteristics will be nonlinear to linear.

[0010] Further, the electrode layer includes a deformable substrate and a plurality of conductive electrodes, and the plurality of conductive electrodes are arrayed on the substrate. The substrate has a reserved air passage and a lead hole, and the air passage and the lead hole penetrate through the substrate and are distributed around the conductive electrodes.

[0011] The substrate is arranged between the wrapping body and the porous support layer, and the substrate can be deformed. The conductive electrodes are distributed on the substrate and connected to an external acquisition upper computer through lead wires to realize signal acquisition of the resistance value change of the gradient conductive flexible substrate with the pressure size. The signal acquisition can be a single acquisition point or an array of multiple acquisition points, so that the resistance value change caused by the deformation of the wrapping body can be obtained in time. The air passage reserved on the substrate can improve the air permeability when the pressure sensor contacts the human body, and can also realize sweat removal. The lead hole is used for the lead wire to pass through to realize data acquisition.

[0012] The utility model discloses still a kind of orthopedic brace, including a plurality of as described above pressure sensor, still including pressurizing device and fastener, the pressurizing device is set in the back side of the pressure sensor one by one, the fastener connects each the pressure sensor.

[0013] The pressing device is arranged at the back side of the pressure sensor, and after the pressure sensor is worn, the pressing device is used to apply a correction force to the substrate through the porous support layer, the substrate is deformed to drive the wrapping body to deform, and finally a correction force is applied to the human body.

[0014] Further, the pressing device comprises an end cover, a first central shaft, a first driver and a screw rod, the screw rod is arranged at both ends of the porous support layer, the first central shaft extends along the central axis of the end cover and passes through the porous support layer, the first driver is sleeved on the central shaft, the outer edge of the first driver is coupled with the screw rod through a gear, and the first driver is adjusted in spacing from the porous support layer by rotation.

[0015] The first central shaft is fixed with the end cover, in the process of using the pressing device, the first driver is first rotated to allow the screw rod to have a relative displacement with the first driver, the both ends of the pressure sensor are deformed to fit the human body, then the end cover is adjusted in rotation to allow the first central shaft to have a second relative displacement with the driver, the end of the first central shaft contacts the substrate, and the rotation of the end cover is converted into an axial displacement to drive the wrapping body to apply a correction pressure to the user, the correction pressure can be adjusted according to the amount of change of the relative displacement between the central shaft and the first driver, and it should be noted that the elastic deformation amount of the wrapping body after being driven by the first central shaft to contact the user can have a linear relationship with the correction pressure, and after the pressure is matched to the linear range through calibration, the correction pressure is reflected through the linear relationship.

[0016] Further, the fastener comprises a plurality of fastening belts, both ends of each of the fastening belts are connected with both ends of the pressure sensor, and the fastening belts can be elastically deformed.

[0017] In this embodiment, the pressure sensor is fixed on the human body by the fastening belts, and specifically, the elastic deformation of the fastening belts is used to position the pressure sensor.

[0018] Further, the fastener comprises a second driver, a second central shaft, a fastening gasket and a plurality of traction chains, each of the traction chains is connected with each of the pressure sensors and the second driver, the second central shaft is connected with the fastening gasket, the second driver is sleeved outside the second central shaft, the second driver is wrapped with the traction chains, and the second driver can be axially displaced on the second central shaft by rotation.

[0019] In the embodiment, the fastening device is used to wear the orthopedic brace in another way, the second driver can rotate on the second central shaft to adjust the pre-tightening force of the traction chain and the positional relationship of the traction chain, and the fastening pad provides a separation layer directly contacting the human body for the second central shaft and disperses the pressure of the second central shaft.

[0020] The orthopedic brace of the utility model is characterized in that, in view of the fact that the current pressure sensor is prone to pressure sores when contacting the human body, and the problem of insufficient monitoring and sensing of orthopedic pressure changes in the orthopedic pressure monitoring process, the utility model discloses a pressure sensor, the wrapping body part of the pressure sensor is provided with apertures to meet the air permeability requirement, and the aperture part of the apertures is gradient designed, and after corresponding density conductive fillers are filled, the pressure sensor has nonlinear to linear force sensitive response characteristics, so as to meet the requirement of orthopedic pressure monitoring and sensing, and discloses an orthopedic brace using the pressure sensor, which is arranged in a point type distribution form, reduces the contact area of the orthopedic brace with the human body, and improves the air permeability of the orthopedic brace. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical scheme in the embodiments of the utility model or the prior art, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiment or the prior art description will be briefly introduced below, and obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the utility model, and other drawings can be obtained according to these drawings without creative labor for those skilled in the art.

[0022] Figure 1 It is a structure schematic view of a pressure sensor of the utility model.

[0023] Figure 2 It is a structure schematic view of an electrode layer of a pressure sensor of the utility model.

[0024] Figure 3 It is a connection schematic view of a pressure device and a pressure sensor of an orthopedic brace of the utility model.

[0025] Figure 4 It is an embodiment schematic view of a fastener of an orthopedic brace of the utility model.

[0026] Figure 5 It is an embodiment schematic view of another fastener of an orthopedic brace of the utility model.

[0027] Figure 6 It is a structure schematic view of a pressure device of a fastener of an orthopedic brace of the utility model.

[0028] Figure 7It is the principle diagram of fastener of the embodiment of the orthopedic brace.

[0029] 1, package body; 2, porous support layer; 3, electrode layer; 4, pore; 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, pressure device; 40, fastener; 21, end cover; 22, first central shaft; 23, first driver; 24, screw rod; 41, fastening belt; 42, second driver; 43, second central shaft; 44, fastening gasket; 45, traction chain. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the drawings, wherein the same or similar notations represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below by reference to the drawings are exemplary and are intended to explain the present application, and cannot be understood as a limitation of the present application.

[0031] Please refer to Figure 1 And Figure 2 The utility model discloses a pressure sensor 20, it includes package body 1 and porous support layer 2, be equipped with electrode layer 3 between package body 1 with porous support layer 2, the inside of package body 1 has a plurality of pores 4, the pore diameter of a plurality of pores 4 is gradient distribution along the thickness direction of package body 1, will package body 1 divide into the surface layer 5 of larger pore diameter and the inner layer 6 of smaller pore diameter, the inner layer 6 connects electrode layer 3, the pore 4 still fills with conductive filler 7.

[0032] The utility model discloses a pressure sensor 20, it utilizes package body 1 contact human body, and porous support layer 2 as the external support of package body 1, and package body 1 imitates human skin design, is the porous structure of 3D printing for manufacturing, and the inside is divided into surface layer 5 and inner layer 6, and the surface layer 5 of contact with human body has higher flexibility, and the surface layer 5 of contact with human body can provide more comfortable and breathable wearing feeling, and the inner layer 6 has higher support force, avoids orthopedic pressure concentration, and appears pressure sore, in the embodiment, electrode layer 3 is connected through lead-out line and gathers host computer, and the resistance value size of package is signal acquisition with pressure change, and the pore 4 fills conductive filler 7, and the conductive filler 7 can select CNT carbon nanotube powder to prepare, after filling conductive filler 7 in the inside of pore 4, cooperate the deformation of package body 1, have linear force sensitive response in the inner layer 6, so that pressure sensor 20 can realize detection.

[0033] The electrode layer 3 comprises a deformable substrate 8 and a plurality of conductive electrodes 9, the plurality of conductive electrodes 9 are arrayed on the substrate 8, the substrate 8 is provided with air passages 10 and lead holes 11, the air passages 10 and the lead holes 11 both penetrate the substrate 8 and are distributed on the periphery of each conductive electrode 9.

[0034] The plurality of conductive electrodes 9 are arranged on the substrate 8, the conductive electrodes 9 are used to collect signals of the resistance of the package 1 changing with the pressure, the air passages 10 cooperate with the pores 4 to realize sweat and air permeation, and the lead holes 11 are used to connect leads.

[0035] Please refer to Figures 3 to 5 The utility model discloses still a kind of orthopedic brace, including a plurality of as described above pressure sensor 20, still including pressurizing device 30 and fastener 40, the pressurizing device 30 is correspondingly set in the back of the pressure sensor 20, the fastener 40 connects each pressure sensor 20.

[0036] The utility model discloses a kind of orthopedic brace, on the basis of preceding pressure sensor 20, additional pressurizing device 30, when needing to apply orthopedic force to user, utilize the pressurizing device 30 to the pressure sensor 20 is applied orthopedic force, orthopedic force can be adjusted artificially according to the data returned by the pressure sensor 20, to meet the specific treatment needs.

[0037] The pressurizing device 30 includes end cover 21, first central shaft 22, first driver 23 and screw rod 24, the screw rod 24 is arranged at the both ends of the porous support layer 2, the first central shaft 22 extends along the middle axis of the end cover 21 and penetrates the porous support layer 2, the first driver 23 is sleeved on the central shaft, the outer edge of the first driver 23 is coupled with the screw rod 24 by gear, and the first driver 23 can adjust the spacing with the porous support layer 2 by rotation.

[0038] Please refer to Figure 6 In the process of using the pressurizing device 30 to pressurize, the package 1 can be adaptively adjusted, that is, the first driver 23 is rotated to drive the screw rod 24 and the both ends of the package 1 to move, the fitting performance with the human body is adjusted, then the end cover 21 can be rotated to realize the relative movement between the first central shaft 22 and the first driver 23, the first central shaft 22 drives the middle part of the package 1 to apply orthopedic pressure to the human body, and it should be noted that the use sequence of the pressurizing device 30 should not be understood as a limitation on the technical solution of the utility model, and the pressurizing device 30 of the utility model can also directly apply orthopedic pressure by rotating the end cover 21.

[0039] The fastener 40 comprises a plurality of fastening belts 41, both ends of the plurality of fastening belts 41 are connected to both ends of the pressure sensor 20, and the fastening belts 41 can be elastically deformed.

[0040] Referring to Figure 4 In the embodiment, the fastener 40 is in the form of a plurality of fastening belts 41 to fix the pressure sensor 20, the fastening belts 41 can be elastically deformed, and when the orthopedic brace is used, the fastening belts 41 are wound on the user, and the pressure sensor 20 is fixed by the elastic deformation of the fastening belts 41. The specific use process is as follows: first, the user wears the orthopedic brace, then adjusts the brace through the fastening belts 41, and calibrates and clears the pressure sensor 20, so as to adjust and release the pre-pressure, then uses the pressure device 30 to apply the orthopedic pressure, the sensor obtains the pressure data according to the deformation, and uploads the obtained data for the operator to adjust and select the appropriate orthopedic force.

[0041] 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 is 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 outside the second center shaft 43, the second driver 42 is wrapped outside the traction chain 45, and the second driver 42 can be axially displaced on the second center shaft 43 by rotation.

[0042] Referring to Figure 7 As another embodiment of the fastener 40 of the utility model, in the embodiment, the use mode is that after each of the pressure sensors 20 is placed at a predetermined position of the user, the second driver 42 is driven to displace on the second center shaft 43, the traction chain 45 is wound in a rotating mode, the pre-tightening force of the traction chain 45 is adjusted, and after the traction force of the traction chain 45 is adjusted, the entire orthopedic brace is convenient to wear.

[0043] The above only discloses the preferred embodiment of the utility model, of course, cannot limit the scope of the utility model, and the person skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes of the above embodiment are implemented, and equivalent changes are made according to the utility model claim, which still belongs to the range covered by the utility model.

Claims

1.A pressure sensor, characterized in that, it comprises a cladding body (1) and a porous support layer (2), an electrode layer (3) is arranged between the cladding body (1) and the porous support layer (2), the cladding body (1) has a plurality of pores (4) in the interior, the pore size of the plurality of pores (4) is gradiently distributed along the thickness direction of the cladding body (1), so as to divide the cladding body (1) into a surface layer (5) with large pore size and an inner layer (6) with small pore size, the inner layer (6) is connected to the electrode layer (3), and the pores (4) are filled with conductive fillers (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), the plurality of conductive electrodes (9) are arrayed on the substrate (8), the substrate (8) is provided with air passages (10) and lead hole (11), the air passages (10) and the lead hole (11) both penetrate through the substrate (8) and are distributed on the periphery of each conductive electrode (9). 3.A orthopedic brace, comprising a plurality of pressure sensors according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, it further comprises a pressing device (30) and a fastener (40), the pressing device (30) is arranged on the back side of the pressure sensor (20) one by one, and the fastener (40) is connected to each pressure sensor (20). 4.The orthopedic brace according to claim 3, characterized in that, the pressing device (30) comprises an end cover (21), a first central shaft (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 central shaft (22) extends along the central axis of the end cover (21) and penetrates through the porous support layer (2), the first driver (23) is sleeved on the central shaft, the outer edge of the first driver (23) is coupled with the screw rod (24) through a gear, and the first driver (23) can adjust the distance from the porous support layer (2) by rotation. 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 ends of the pressure sensor (20), and the fastening belts (41) can be elastically deformed. 6.The orthopedic brace according to claim 3, characterized in that, the fastener (40) comprises a second driver (42), a second central shaft (43), a fastening gasket (44) and a plurality of traction chains (45), each traction chain (45) is connected to each pressure sensor (20) and the second driver (42), the second central shaft (43) is connected to the fastening gasket (44), the second driver (42) is sleeved outside the second central shaft (43), the second driver (42) is wrapped outside the traction chain (45), and the second driver (42) can be axially displaced on the second central shaft (43) by rotation.

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