Gait rehabilitation device projecting a light target

Abstract

A gait rehabilitation device, intended to be fixed to a support, comprising: a means for projecting a luminous 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 luminous 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 physicians and physiotherapists in the treatment of gait disorders. Previous technique

[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 allowing walking in place (with a few minor differences, it is the same device as the treadmills in fitness centers).

[0004] The treadmill allows for perfect control of walking speed, which is an essential parameter in many rehabilitation protocols. However, it also has disadvantages: it is expensive, bulky, and tedious 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 invention relates to a gait rehabilitation device (1), intended to be fixed to a support (2), comprising: 1. a means (10) of projecting a luminous target (3); 2. a means (11) of orienting said projection; 3. a means (14) of determining the patient's movements (4); 4. a means (12) of receiving the motion parameters to be printed to the light target (3) depending on patient movements (4); 5. a computing means (13), characterized in that it controls said orientation as a function in particular of said parameters and said displacements.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the device (1) further includes a means (15) of knowing the angle of the device (1) with respect 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 displacements 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 displacements of the patient (4).

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

[0010] The support (2) can be a wall, a tripod mast, or any other device for holding the apparatus (1) 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 operation, the device (1) is programmed so that the light target moves along the floor 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 keeping up. 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, is slowly caught by them. When the patient reaches the target, an audible or visual signal indicates that they have scored a point, and the target repositions itself a few meters in front of them, inviting them to try again. The aim of the game is to score a certain number of points within a given time.

[0016] Other features will become apparent upon reading the detailed description that follows. Brief description of the drawings

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

[0018] [Fig.2] Schematic cross-sectional view of the device that is the subject of the invention, according to a mode particular implementation and use of the invention. Detailed description

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

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

[0021] The laser module (10) is fixed to 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 embodiment, 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 luminous targets with complex shapes, thanks to persistence retinal.

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

[0024] The Bluetooth interface (12) allows the device to be connected to a smartphone equipped with a dedicated mobile application, where the therapist selects the exercise to be performed. This interface constitutes an example of a means of receiving the movement parameters to be imparted to the light target based on the patient's movements.

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

[0026] In one variant, the device (1) is equipped with a sensor enabling 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 with respect to the vertical.

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

[0029] The microcontroller program (13) dynamically varies the angle or angular speed of the motor (11) as a function of: 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 performed involves various movements of the luminous 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 target position command on the ground in an angle command for the motor (11); 2. a linear velocity setpoint of the target on the ground into an angular velocity setpoint for the motor (11).

[0031] The ultrasonic transceiver (14) emits sound pulses at a predetermined frequency. These pulses are received by the ankle bracelet (5), which is itself equipped with an ultrasonic transceiver. It immediately re-emits the received pulses, but at a different frequency. The transceiver (14) detects 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 one embodiment, a second ultrasound transmitter-receiver is added to the device (1). This makes it possible to determine, by comparing the two returning sound signals, whether the patient (4) is moving to the right or left of the device (1). Two methods can be used for this purpose: 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 between "patient on the left or right" is then made by comparing the flight times between the two measurements.

[0035] The ultrasound transmitter-receiver (14) is an example of a means of determining the movements of the patient (4), and the ankle bracelet (5) is 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 ultrasound transceiver is replaced by an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) transceiver, and the additional device consists of a UWB beacon. 3. The ultrasound transceiver is replaced by a camera, and the additional device, if present, consists of a visual marker. 1. The ultrasound transceiver is replaced by a Bluetooth or WiFi interface, which allows the patient's movement data (4) to be received from an external device, such as an instrumented pressure sensor mat.

Claims

Demands

1. A gait rehabilitation apparatus (1), intended to be fixed to a support (2), comprising: a. ...

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

3. Gait rehabilitation system comprising: ab the device of one of the preceding claims; an additional device (5) worn by the patient (4); and where the means (14) for determining the displacements of the patient (4) uses said additional device (5) to determine the displacements of the patient (4).

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