Gait rehabilitation device projecting a light target

Abstract

Walking rehabilitation device, intended to be fixed on a support, comprising: a means for projecting a light target; a means for orienting said projection; a means for determining the patient's movements; a means for receiving the parameters of the movement to be imparted to the light target as a function of the patient's movements; a calculation means, characterized in that it controls said orientation as a function in particular of said parameters and said movements. Figure to be published for the abstract: figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Gait rehabilitation device projecting a light target Technical field

[0001] The invention falls within the field of medical equipment. More specifically, the invention relates to systems and methods for assisting doctors and physiotherapists in the treatment of walking disorders. Prior art

[0002] In the field of gait rehabilitation, many pieces of equipment and devices are used to work the legs in a controlled manner.

[0003] A commonly used device is the treadmill, which is a short motorized treadmill that allows you to walk on the spot (with a few minor differences, it is the same device as the treadmills in fitness rooms).

[0004] The treadmill allows for perfect control of walking speed, which is an essential parameter in many rehabilitation protocols. But it also has disadvantages: it is expensive, bulky and off-putting to use, especially for children.

[0005] The present invention aims to correct these drawbacks, while retaining the same therapeutic utility. Presentation of the invention

[0006] The subject of the invention is a walking rehabilitation apparatus (1), intended to be fixed to a support (2), comprising: 1. a means (10) for projecting a light target (3); 2. a means (11) for orienting said projection; 3. a means (14) for determining the movements of the patient (4); 4. a means (12) of receiving the parameters of the movement to be printed at the light target (3) depending on the patient's movements (4); 5. a calculation means (13), characterized in that it controls said orientation in particular as a function of said parameters and said movements.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the apparatus (1) further comprises a means (15) for knowing the angle of the apparatus (1) relative to the vertical, and this angle is used by the calculation means (13) to control the orientation of the projection.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the means (14) for determining the movements of the patient (4) uses at least two sensors, placed at different positions or orientations, and takes into account the difference in measurement between these sensors to determine the movements of the patient (4).

[0009] The invention also relates to a walking rehabilitation device comprising: i. the apparatus (1) previously described; and ii. an additional device (5) worn by the patient (4); and characterized in that the means (14) for determining the movements of the patient (4) uses said additional device (5) to determine the movements of the patient (4).

[0010] The support (2) can be a wall, a mast on a tripod, or any other device allowing the apparatus (1) to be held at a fixed height (h).

[0011] The light target (3) is for example a point, a line, a symbol, text, an image, or any other figure.

[0012] It is projected onto the ground, onto a wall, or onto any other element of the patient's environment (4).

[0013] In its simplest mode of use, the device (1) is programmed so that the light target moves along the ground at a predetermined constant speed. The patient must walk alongside the target at the same speed. This provides functionality equivalent to that of a treadmill.

[0014] In a similar but more subtle mode of use, the target slows down if the patient has difficulty following. This helps prevent patient discouragement.

[0015] In a more playful mode of use, the device is programmed so that the luminous target, placed a few meters in front of the patient, allows itself to be slowly caught by the patient. When the patient reaches the target, an audible or visual signal indicates to the patient that he has scored a point, and the target moves back a few meters in front of him to invite him to start again. The aim of the game is to score a certain number of points in a given time.

[0016] Other characteristics will appear upon reading the detailed description which follows. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] [Fig. 1] Schematic representation of a patient using the device which is the subject of the invention, according to a particular embodiment and use of the invention.

[0018] [Fig.2] Schematic sectional view of the apparatus which is the subject of the invention, according to one embodiment particular method of carrying out and using the invention. Detailed description

[0019] In the following description, paragraphs not beginning with the words "In a variant" or "In variants" relate to the particular embodiment and use shown in Figures 1 and 2. On the contrary, paragraphs beginning with "In a variant" or "In variants" relate to other modes of use or embodiment of the invention.

[0020] The apparatus (1) comprises a laser module (10) which projects a light point onto the ground, said laser module constituting an example of a means for projecting a light target.

[0021] The laser module (10) is fixed on a motor (11), which allows it to be oriented in the plane of [Fig.2]. The motor (11) constitutes an example of a means of orienting the projection.

[0022] In one variant, the projection orientation means comprises mirrors mounted on galvanometers, which reflect the beam from a fixed laser module. This allows: 1. to orient the projection according to two degrees of freedom; 2. to create light targets with complex shapes, thanks to persistence retinal.

[0023] The motor (11) is controlled by a microcontroller (13), the program of which allows the light target (3) to be moved according to the rehabilitation exercise selected by the therapist. The microcontroller (13) and its program constitute an example of a calculation means.

[0024] The Bluetooth interface (12) makes it possible to connect the device to a smartphone equipped with a dedicated mobile application, where the therapist chooses the exercise to be performed. Said interface constitutes an example of a means of receiving the parameters of the movement to be printed on the light target according to the patient's movements.

[0025] The Bluetooth interface (12) also makes it possible to receive the height (h) at which the device (1) is fixed, this data being entered from said mobile application.

[0026] In a variant, the device (1) is equipped with a sensor allowing it to directly measure its height (h) relative to the ground.

[0027] The inertial unit (15) informs the microcontroller (13) of the orientation of the device (1), said inertial unit constituting an example of a means of knowing the angle of the device relative to the vertical.

[0028] In a variant, the device (1) includes a spirit level, which allows the installer to fix it perfectly horizontally.

[0029] The program of the microcontroller (13) dynamically varies the angle or angular speed of the motor (11) according to: 1. of the exercise to be carried out; 2. of the height (h); and 3. the angle of the device relative to the vertical.

[0030] The exercise to be carried out involves different movements of the light target on the ground. However, it is trivial for the microcontroller (13), knowing the height (h) and the angle of the device relative to the vertical, to transform, for example: 1. a position instruction of the ground target into an angle instruction for the motor (11); 2. a linear speed setpoint of the ground target into an angular speed setpoint for the motor (11).

[0031] The ultrasound transceiver (14) emits sound pulses at a determined frequency. These pulses are received by the ankle bracelet (5), itself equipped with an ultrasound transceiver. It immediately re-emits the received pulses, but at a different frequency. The transceiver (14) captures this return pulse and deduces the distance to the bracelet (5) by measuring the “time of flight” (ToF).

[0032] Knowing the distance to the bracelet (5) and the height (h), the microcontroller program (13) then determines the position of the patient (4) on the ground by simple trigonometry calculation.

[0033] In one variant, no bracelet is used, and the measurement of the distance to the patient (4) is carried out by echolocation.

[0034] In a variant, a second ultrasound transmitter-receiver is added to the device (1). This makes it possible to determine, by comparing the two sound signals received in return, whether the patient (4) is moving to the right or left of the device (1). For this purpose, two methods can be used: 1. The two transceivers are oriented one to the left, the other to the right. The distinction "patient on the left or right" is then made by comparing the attenuation of the received signals. 2. The two transceivers are positioned with the same orientation, but separated by a sufficient distance. The distinction "patient on the left or right" is then made by comparing the flight times between the two measurements.

[0035] The ultrasound transmitter-receiver (14) constitutes an example of a means for determining the movements of the patient (4), and the ankle bracelet (5) an example of an additional device worn by the patient (4).

[0036] In variants, other motion measurement solutions are used. For example: 1. The ultrasonic transceiver is replaced by a radar module, and the additional device, if present, consists of a radar reflector. 2. The ultrasonic transceiver is replaced by an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) transceiver, and the additional device consists of a UWB beacon. 3. The ultrasound transmitter-receiver is replaced by a camera, and the additional device, if present, consists of a visual marker. 4. The ultrasound transceiver is replaced by a Bluetooth or WiFi interface, which allows receiving patient movement data (4) from an external device, such as an instrumented mat with pressure sensors.

Claims

Claims

1. Apparatus (1) for gait rehabilitation, intended to be fixed on a support (2), comprising: ab a means (10) for projecting a light target (3); a means (11) for orienting said projection; c. a means (14) for determining the movements of the patient (4); d. a means (12) for receiving the parameters of the movement to be imparted to the light target (3) as a function of the movements of the patient (4); e. a calculation means (13), characterized in that it controls said orientation as a function in particular of said parameters and said movements.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means (15) for knowing the angle of the apparatus (1) relative to the vertical, and wherein this angle is used by the calculating means (13) to control the orientation of the projection.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the means (14) for determining the movements of the patient (4) uses at least two sensors, placed at different positions or orientations, and takes into account the difference in measurement between these sensors to determine the movements of the patient (4).

4. A walking rehabilitation device comprising: ab the apparatus of one of the preceding claims; an additional device (5) worn by the patient (4); and where the means (14) for determining the movements of the patient (4) uses said additional device (5) to determine the movements of the patient (4).

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