A Device that Measures the Health of a Tendon in a Joint Area

Abstract

The present invention relates to a measuring device for the condition of a tendon in a joint area, and more specifically, to a measuring device comprising a brace body module made of silicone material, the lower surface of which is in contact with human skin, a transducer fixing module coupled to the upper part of the brace body module, an ultrasonic transducer module inserted and fixed inside the transducer fixing module, and a reference block disposed between the brace body module and human skin, wherein when the measuring device is fixed to human skin via a band, the degree of compression of the band can be adjusted by observing the thickness of the reference block so that the ultrasonic transducer module is placed in an appropriate position.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a measuring device for the condition of a tendon in a joint area, and more specifically, to a measuring device comprising a brace body module made of silicone material, the lower surface of which is in contact with human skin, a transducer fixing module coupled to the upper part of the brace body module, an ultrasonic transducer module inserted and fixed inside the transducer fixing module, and a reference block disposed between the brace body module and human skin, wherein when the measuring device is fixed to human skin via a band, the degree of compression of the band can be adjusted by observing the thickness of the reference block so that the ultrasonic transducer module is placed in an appropriate position. Background Technology

[0003] The Common Extensor Tendon (CET) is a tendon attached to the lateral epicondyle of the elbow that connects to the major muscles responsible for extending the wrist and fingers. It plays a crucial role in wrist and finger extension and maintaining grip strength. In particular, it performs essential functions in daily life and exercise, such as bending the wrist backward, spreading the fingers, and lifting or grasping objects. The health of the CET is directly linked to the accuracy and efficiency of these movements and is closely associated with the risk of developing tendinitis, such as tennis elbow.

[0004] As tendons are vital organs for human movement, tendon monitoring is highly useful for preventing and managing related issues. First, in terms of injury prevention, it can reduce the risk of developing tendinitis caused by repetitive stress and poor posture. Second, by contributing to the optimization of athletic ability, it can maintain or improve the performance of professionals or athletes who require wrist and finger movements. Third, by detecting early signs of damage, it can prevent the condition from developing into a chronic problem and shorten the recovery period through appropriate treatment and rest. Fourth, it helps maximize the effectiveness of rehabilitation and allows for the precise adjustment of rehabilitation programs by monitoring the regeneration process of damaged tendons.

[0005] In the past, an ultrasonic detection method using an ultrasonic device (ultrasonic transducer) was used to measure the condition of tendons. Ultrasonic detection is a type of non-destructive testing that determines the internal condition without destroying the material based on the time the ultrasound is emitted, the time the reflected waves are received, and the intensity of the reflected waves, and it is also useful for determining the inside of the body.

[0006] However, unlike ultrasound detection that detects a relatively large area, such as abdominal ultrasound, tendons are relatively very thin and small tissues, so precise measurements were required to detect them.

[0007] However, since human skin is a soft material, there is a limitation in that errors may occur when detecting relatively thin and small tissues, such as tendons, because the skin is compressed depending on the degree to which the ultrasonic device adheres to the skin. In particular, in research where data must be collected while measuring the condition of tendons on an unspecified number of subjects, such errors acted as a problem that lowered the reproducibility of the experiment.

[0008] Therefore, there is a growing need for the development of a fixation device that maintains a uniform degree of contact between the site and the ultrasonic device for localized ultrasonic detection, such as in the case of a gun. The problem to be solved

[0010] The present invention aims to provide a measuring device for measuring the condition of a tendon in a joint area, and more specifically, a measuring device comprising a brace body module made of silicone material, with a portion of its lower surface in contact with human skin, a transducer fixing module coupled to the upper part of the brace body module, an ultrasonic transducer module inserted and fixed inside the transducer fixing module, and a reference block disposed between the brace body module and human skin, wherein when the measuring device is fixed to human skin via a band, the degree of compression of the band can be adjusted by observing the thickness of the reference block so that the ultrasonic transducer module is positioned in an appropriate location. means of solving the problem

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the present invention provides a measuring device for measuring the condition of a tendon in a joint area, comprising: a brace body module including a contact plate portion made of silicone material, a portion of which contacts human skin, and a through hole formed therein; a transducer fixing module coupled to the brace body module on the upper side of the brace body module and having a lateral hole formed extending longitudinally from one end of the side; an ultrasonic transducer module disposed in a space formed by the through hole of the brace body module and a portion of the lateral hole of the transducer fixing module; and a reference block disposed on the lower surface of the ultrasonic transducer module and accommodated within a recess of the brace body module.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the reference block is positioned below the ultrasonic transducer module, so that when the measuring device and the skin are in close contact by the band, it is possible to check whether the thickness of the reference block has reached a preset first thickness and to adjust the distance between the skin and the ultrasonic transducer module by adjusting the degree of compression of the band to reach the first thickness.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the brace body module further includes a frustum-shaped module coupling member formed vertically on the upper surface of the contact plate portion; and the transducer fixing module further includes a module coupling hole, which is a through hole formed in a shape corresponding to the module coupling member; and the brace body module and the transducer fixing module can be coupled in a fixed position as the module coupling member is fitted into the module coupling hole.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the brace body module includes a module coupling portion that extends vertically from one end of the contact plate portion and has a plurality of coupling holes formed on its surface; and the transducer fixing module further includes a plurality of coupling protrusions formed at positions corresponding to the coupling holes of the module coupling portion and a plurality of coupling ribs formed at one end and the other end; and the brace body module and the transducer fixing module can be fixed by fitting the plurality of coupling protrusions of the transducer fixing module into the plurality of coupling holes of the module coupling portion and fitting the coupling ribs into grooves formed in the brace body module.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the transducer fixing module further includes a groove-shaped slit portion formed concavely in the longitudinal direction from the end to the middle of the upper surface of the transducer fixing module, and the slit portion is formed extending from the lateral hole, and the cable of the ultrasonic transducer module can be mounted through the slit portion.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic transducer module comprises: a module case in which one end is fitted into a lateral hole and the other end is fitted into a through hole of the contact plate; a piezo sensor disposed on the cross-section of the other end of the module case; a cable including a cathode ray connected to the piezo sensor and a positive ray connected to the piezo sensor; a connection part to which the cable is connected; a pulser connected to the connection part; and a receiver connected to the connection part; wherein when an external power source is applied to the controller, a preset first signal is generated from the pulser and vibrates the piezo sensor through the connection part and the cable, and the ultrasonic waves generated from the piezo sensor are reflected by the skin of a user contacted by the reference block and received by the piezo sensor, and can be received by the receiver through the cable and the connection part. Effects of the invention

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by attaching the measuring device to the skin, the effect of fixing the ultrasonic transducer module on the skin can be achieved.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the brace body module is made of silicone material, so it is harmless when in contact with the skin and can exhibit the effect of not slipping on the skin.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the reference block and the brace body module can have the effect of preventing the ultrasonic transducer module from adhering excessively to the user's skin by offsetting the pressure of the band.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by measuring the degree of deformation of the reference block by compression by a band, the distance between the skin and the ultrasonic transducer module can be maintained constant in repeated experiments, thereby improving reproducibility.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by measuring the thickness of the tendon using ultrasound, the effect of measuring the fatigue accumulated in the tendon can be achieved.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic transducer module disposed in a lateral hole by means of a first transducer detachment groove can be detachably attached through a through hole of a contact plate portion. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0026] FIG. 1 schematically discloses a perspective view of a measuring device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an exploded view of a measuring device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a measuring device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a transducer fixing module according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a transducer fixing module according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a brace body module according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an ultrasonic transducer module according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a circuit diagram of an ultrasonic transducer module according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a reference block according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 illustrates a photograph of a measuring device being worn according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a method for measuring the condition of a gun using a measuring device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 illustrates a graph of measurement results obtained through a measuring device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 schematically illustrates a measurement example according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0027] Hereinafter, various embodiments and / or aspects are disclosed with reference to the drawings. For illustrative purposes, numerous specific details are disclosed in the following description to aid in a general understanding of one or more aspects. However, it will also be recognized by those skilled in the art that these aspects may be practiced without such specific details. The following description and the accompanying drawings describe specific exemplary aspects of one or more aspects in detail. However, these aspects are exemplary, and some of the various methods in the principles of the various aspects may be used, and the description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.

[0029] In addition, various aspects and features will be presented by a system that may include multiple devices, components and / or modules, etc. It should also be understood and recognized that various systems may include additional devices, components and / or modules, etc., and / or may not include all of the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in relation to the drawings.

[0030] Terms such as “embodiment,” “example,” “aspect,” “example,” etc. as used herein may not be interpreted as implying that any aspect or design described is superior or more advantageous than other aspects or designs. Terms used below, such as “part,” “component,” “module,” “system,” “interface,” etc., generally refer to computer-related entities and may, for example, refer to hardware, a combination of hardware and software, or software.

[0031] Additionally, the terms “comprising” and / or “comprising” should be understood to mean that the relevant feature and / or component is present, but not to exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, components and / or groups thereof.

[0032] Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms. Such terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component. The term "and / or" includes a combination of a plurality of related described items or any of a plurality of related described items.

[0033] Furthermore, in the embodiments of the present invention, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, unless otherwise defined, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 1 schematically discloses a perspective view of a measuring device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an exploded view of a measuring device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a measuring device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figures 1 to 3 are the same drawing of the measuring equipment (1), so they will be explained together.

[0040] A device (1) for measuring the condition of a tendon in a joint area according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a brace body module (1000) made of silicone material, having a contact plate portion (1100) in which a portion of the lower surface contacts human skin and a through hole (1110) is formed; a transducer fixing module (2000) coupled to the brace body module (1000) on the upper side of the brace body module (1000) and having a lateral hole (2100) formed extending longitudinally from one end of the side; and an ultrasonic transducer module (3000) disposed in the space formed by the through hole (1110) of the brace body module (1000) and a portion of the lateral hole (2100) of the transducer fixing module (2000). and may include a reference block (4000) disposed on the lower surface of the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) and accommodated in the recess (1400) of the brace body module (1000).

[0041] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the concave portion (1400) may further include a block groove (1410) which is a groove formed concavely on the surface of the concave portion (1400) in a shape corresponding to the reference block (4000).

[0042] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the reference block (4000) is positioned below the ultrasonic transducer module (3000), so that when the measuring device (1) and the skin are in close contact by a band (not shown), it is possible to check whether the thickness of the reference block (4000) has reached a preset first thickness, and to adjust the degree of pressure of the band (not shown) to reach the first thickness, thereby adjusting the distance between the skin and the ultrasonic transducer module (3000).

[0044] Specifically, the measuring device (1) of the present invention is a measuring device (1) used to measure the condition of a tendon in a joint area using ultrasonic detection. Ultrasonic detection is a type of non-destructive testing method that emits ultrasonic waves and receives the reflected waves of these ultrasonic waves to analyze the internal condition of a material without destroying the material.

[0045] Various tissues exist within the body, and due to differences in the physical properties of each tissue, the reflection, refraction, and absorption rates of ultrasound vary. Therefore, using ultrasound allows for the measurement of the condition of various internal tissues without causing physical damage.

[0046] The measuring device (1) of the present invention was invented to measure tendons among various tissues of the body.

[0047] Tendons undergo repeated contraction and relaxation during exercise, subjecting them to significant stress and leading to the accumulation of fatigue. As fatigue accumulates, tendons change in thickness and length; therefore, measuring these changes via ultrasound allows for the analysis of accumulated fatigue and the degree of tendon damage.

[0048] Therefore, if multiple data points analyzing the condition of tendons using ultrasound are collected, a tendon fatigue prediction system using ultrasound can be developed based on that data.

[0049] In this case, measurement data from various individuals is required to collect data analyzing the condition of the tendons. Since the degree of variation among individuals—including not only tendons but also skin thickness and firmness—high reproducibility is required for precise data collection.

[0050] The measuring device (1) of the present invention is a device used to solve the problem of sensitivity to skin and other movements that may affect the reproducibility of the experiment.

[0051] The measuring device (1) of the present invention changes the thickness of the reference block (4000) and the silicone brace body module (1000) according to the force with which the band (not shown) compresses the measuring device (1), and disperses the force with which the band (not shown) compresses the skin to maintain it at an appropriate level.

[0052] Accordingly, by visually observing the degree of deformation of the reference block (4000) and the brace body module (1000) and adjusting the degree of compression of the band (not shown), the degree to which the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) adheres to the skin can be adjusted to be as uniform as possible among different subjects.

[0054] The measuring device (1) of the present invention can achieve the effect of ensuring reproducibility for various people by having a reference block (4000) accommodated in a concave portion (1400) on the lower side of a brace body module (1000) made of silicone material, and a portion of the concave portion (1400) of the brace body module (1000) and the lower side of the reference block (4000) come into contact with the user's skin, and by a band (not shown) simultaneously wrapping around and compressing the user's body and the transducer fixing module (2000), the reference block (4000) adheres to the user's skin, and the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) inserted inside the transducer fixing module (2000) maintains a preset first distance from the user's skin.

[0056] Meanwhile, the measuring device (1) of the present invention can be manufactured by the following steps: manufacturing a transducer fixing module (2000) by 3D printing; inserting the transducer fixing module (2000) into a mold (not shown); injecting a first solution mixed with liquid silicone and a curing agent into a module coupling hole (2400) and curing it; separating the mold (not shown); inserting an ultrasonic transducer module (3000) into a lateral hole (2100) of the transducer fixing module (2000) through a through hole (1110) of a brace body module (1000) formed by curing the first solution in the space between the mold (not shown) and the transducer fixing module (2000); and coupling a reference block (4000).

[0058] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a transducer fixing module (2000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a transducer fixing module (2000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the same transducer fixing module (2000), so they will be described together.

[0061] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the brace body module (1000) further includes a frustum-shaped module coupling member (1200) formed vertically on the upper surface of the contact plate portion (1100); and the transducer fixing module (2000) further includes a module coupling hole (2400) which is a through hole (1110) formed in a shape corresponding to the module coupling member (1200); and the brace body module (1000) and the transducer fixing module (2000) can be coupled in a fixed position as the module coupling member (1200) is inserted into the module coupling hole (2400).

[0062] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the brace body module (1000) comprises a module coupling part (1300) that extends vertically from one end of the contact plate part (1100) and has a plurality of coupling holes (1310) formed on its surface; and the transducer fixing module (2000) further comprises a plurality of coupling protrusions (2210) formed at positions corresponding to the coupling holes (1310) of the module coupling part (1300) and a plurality of coupling ribs (2300) formed at one end and the other end; wherein the plurality of coupling protrusions (2210) of the transducer fixing module (2000) are fitted into the plurality of coupling holes (1310) of the module coupling part (1300), and the coupling ribs (2300) are fitted into grooves formed in the brace body module (1000), thereby the brace body module (1000) and the transducer fixing module (2000) It can be fixed.

[0063] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the transducer fixing module (2000) further includes a groove-shaped slit portion (2500) formed concavely in the longitudinal direction from the end to the middle of the upper surface of the transducer fixing module (2000), and the slit portion (2500) is formed by extending from the lateral hole (2100), and the cable (3300) of the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) is mounted through the slit portion (2500).

[0064] The transducer fixing module (2000) according to one embodiment of the present invention further includes a first transducer detachment groove (2130) in which one side of the lateral hole (2100) is concave in a shape corresponding to the ultrasonic transducer module for attaching and detaching the ultrasonic transducer module, and through the first transducer detachment groove (2130), the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) disposed in the lateral hole (2100) can be attached or detached through the through hole (1110) of the contact plate portion (1100).

[0066] Specifically, the transducer fixing module (2000) is made of a hard material.

[0067] A transducer fixing module (2000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be made of a plastic material produced through 3D printing.

[0068] The transducer fixing module (2000) is used to manufacture a brace body module (1000) by combining it with a separate mold (not shown). After combining the mold (not shown) and the transducer fixing module (2000), a first solution mixed with silicone liquid and a curing agent is injected through the module coupling hole (2400) of the transducer fixing module (2000). Once the silicone liquid is cured, the mold is removed to create the brace body module (1000) and simultaneously create a state in which the brace body module (1000) and the transducer fixing module (2000) are combined.

[0069] At this time, the plurality of coupling protrusions (2210) of the body coupling portion (2200) of the transducer fixing module (2000) and the coupling ribs (2300) formed on the side portion are surrounded by liquid silicone and hardened, thereby forming the plurality of coupling holes (1310) and grooves (not shown) of the brace body module (1000), so that the brace body module (1000) and the transducer fixing module (2000) can be prevented from being separated.

[0070] Meanwhile, the module coupling hole (2400) is a truncated cone-shaped through hole in which the diameter of the lower part of the transducer fixing module (2000) is larger than the diameter of the upper part of the transducer fixing module (2000).

[0071] The transducer fixing module (2000) has a lateral hole (2100) formed therein, which includes a horizontal hole (2120) formed from the opposite end portion of the body coupling portion (2200) where the coupling projection (2210) is formed to the center, and a vertical hole (2110) that penetrates from the center end portion of the horizontal hole (2120) to the bottom surface of the transducer fixing module (2000) in a vertical direction, and an ultrasonic transducer module (3000) is fitted into and fixed in the lateral hole (2100).

[0072] The ultrasonic transducer module (3000) is connected to a cable (3300), and the cable (3300) extends to the outside through a slit (2500) formed by extending from the horizontal hole (2120) in the cross-sectional direction of the lateral hole (2100) to the upper part, and the slit (2500) can have the effect of organizing the wire of the cable (3300).

[0073] Meanwhile, the horizontal hole (2120) of the lateral hole (2100) extends to the bottom surface of the transducer fixing module (2000), so that the bottom surface of the transducer fixing module (2000) may be penetrated by the lateral hole (2100).

[0075] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a first transducer detachment groove (2130) is formed on the side of the vertical hole (2110) of the lateral hole (2100). The first transducer detachment groove (2130) has a shape corresponding to a part of the ultrasonic transducer module (3000), and when the vertical case (3110) of the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) is placed in the vertical hole (2110), it moves to the first transducer detachment groove (2130), thereby creating sufficient spatial clearance and angle so that it can be detached from the transducer fixing module (2000) through the lower side.

[0077] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a brace body module (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the brace body module (1000) further includes a frustum-shaped module coupling member (1200) formed vertically on the upper surface of the contact plate portion (1100); and the transducer fixing module (2000) further includes a module coupling hole (2400) which is a through hole (1110) formed in a shape corresponding to the module coupling member (1200); and the brace body module (1000) and the transducer fixing module (2000) can be coupled in a fixed position as the module coupling member (1200) is inserted into the module coupling hole (2400).

[0080] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the brace body module (1000) comprises a module coupling part (1300) that extends vertically from one end of the contact plate part (1100) and has a plurality of coupling holes (1310) formed on its surface; and the transducer fixing module (2000) further comprises a plurality of coupling protrusions (2210) formed at positions corresponding to the coupling holes (1310) of the module coupling part (1300) and a plurality of coupling ribs (2300) formed at one end and the other end; wherein the plurality of coupling protrusions (2210) of the transducer fixing module (2000) are fitted into the plurality of coupling holes (1310) of the module coupling part (1300), and the coupling ribs (2300) are fitted into grooves formed in the brace body module (1000), thereby the brace body module (1000) and the transducer fixing module (2000) It can be fixed.

[0082] Specifically, the brace body module (1000) is manufactured by combining a mold (not shown) having a shape corresponding to that of the transducer fixing module (2000) and the brace body module (1000), and then injecting and curing a first solution, which is a mixture of liquid silicone and a curing agent, into the module coupling hole (2400) of the transducer fixing module (2000). Accordingly, the material of the brace body module (1000) is silicone, which is characterized by being soft, pliable, having high friction with the skin, and being harmless to the skin when in contact with the skin.

[0083] The contact plate portion (1100) of the brace body module (1000) is a member that comes into contact with human skin, and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the measuring device (1) preferably comes into contact with a person's forearm. Accordingly, the contact plate portion (1100) has a shape in which the bottom surface is concave to correspond to the shape of a person's forearm, and this is referred to as the concave portion (1400).

[0084] The module coupling member (1200) formed on the contact plate portion (1100) is coupled with the module coupling hole (2400) of the transducer fixing module (2000) to prevent the brace body module (1000) and the transducer fixing module (2000) from being separated. Additionally, the module coupling member (1200) can be formed by solidification of the first solution injected into the module coupling hole (2400).

[0085] The module coupling portion (1300), which is formed by extending vertically from one end of the contact plate portion (1100), has a plurality of coupling holes (1310) formed therein, and is formed by curing while the coupling protrusion (2210) of the transducer fixing module (2000) is covered by the first solution.

[0087] Meanwhile, the contact plate portion (1100) may include a slit coupling portion (1120) into which a part of the slit portion (2500) is fitted, with a shape corresponding to the slit portion (2500) of the transducer fixing module (2000).

[0089] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an ultrasonic transducer module (3000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0090] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a circuit diagram of an ultrasonic transducer module (3000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0091] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the same ultrasonic transducer module (3000), so they will be described together.

[0093] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) comprises: a module case (3100) in which one end is fitted into a lateral hole (2100) and the other end is fitted into a through hole (1110) of the contact plate; a piezo sensor (3200) disposed on the cross-section of the other end of the module case (3100); a cathode ray (3320) connected to the piezo sensor (3200); and a positive ray (3310) connected to the piezo sensor (3200); a cable (3300); a connection part (3410) to which the cable (3300) is connected; and a pulser (3420) connected to the connection part (3410). A controller (3400) including a receiver (3430) connected to the connection part (3410); when external power is applied to the controller (3400), a preset first signal is generated from the pulser (3420) to vibrate the piezo sensor (3200) through the connection part (3410) and the cable (3300), and the ultrasonic waves generated from the piezo sensor (3200) are reflected off the skin of the user contacted by the reference block (4000) and received by the piezo sensor (3200), and can be received by the receiver (3430) through the cable (3300) and the connection part (3410).

[0095] The ultrasonic transducer module (3000) is a module that emits ultrasonic waves and receives reflected ultrasonic waves. By comparing the information of the ultrasonic waves initially emitted by the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) with the information of the reflected waves, the internal structure of the material can be indirectly determined.

[0096] In the case of the present invention, this is used to determine the tissue structure inside the body, and in particular, to determine the condition of tendons.

[0097] The ultrasonic transducer module (3000) may include a piezo sensor (3200), a vertical case (3110) in which the piezo sensor (3200) is housed, and a horizontal case (3120) formed vertically at one end of the outer surface of the vertical case (3110) and through which a cable (3300) connected to the piezo sensor (3200) passes.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 8, the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) is electrically connected to an external controller (3400). Specifically, a piezo sensor (3200) inside the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) is connected to a connection part (3410) of the controller (3400) via a cathode ray (3320) and a positive ray (3310), and a pulser (3420) and a receiver (3430) inside the controller (3400) are connected to the piezo sensor (3200) via a cathode ray (3320) and a positive ray (3310), and an external power source (not shown) supplies power to the controller (3400) and the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) via a power line (3500) and a power supply part (3440).

[0099] At this time, the pulser (3420) determines the initial vibration oscillating from the ultrasonic transducer module (3000), and the receiver (3430) performs the role of analyzing the vibration of the reflected wave detected by the piezo sensor (3200). The data collected by the receiver (3430) appears in the shape of FIG. 12, which will be described later, and by analyzing the graph of FIG. 12, the thickness of the tendon inside the body can be measured.

[0101] FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a reference block (4000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0103] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the concave portion (1400) may further include a block groove (1410) which is a groove formed concavely on the surface of the concave portion (1400) in a shape corresponding to the reference block (4000).

[0104] The above block groove (1410) is an extension of the through hole (1110) of the contact plate portion (1100), and the reference block (4000) fitted into the block groove (1410) preferably contacts the vertical case (3110) of the ultrasonic transducer module (3000).

[0105] That is, a vertical case (3110) and a reference block (4000) are placed between the piezo sensor (3200) of the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) and the skin.

[0106] Since the measuring device is compressed between the skin and the band (not shown) by the band (not shown), the reference block (4000) is also compressed against the skin by the band (not shown). However, since the brace body module (1000) and the reference block (4000) are made of soft silicone material, the brace body module (1000) and the reference block (4000) undergo plastic deformation, thereby reducing the force with which the band (not shown) compresses the skin.

[0107] Therefore, conversely, by examining the degree of deformation of the reference block (4000), the extent to which the band (not shown) is compressing the skin and the measuring device (1) can be determined.

[0108] Since the characteristics of the reflected waves and the measurement results may vary depending on the degree to which the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) is in close contact with the skin, in order to accurately measure the condition of the dryness, the degree to which the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) is in close contact with the skin must be constant. The measuring device (1) including the reference block (4000) of the present invention allows the user to observe the degree of deformation of the reference block (4000) and adjust the degree of compression of the band (not shown) to maintain a uniform degree to which the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) is in close contact with the skin.

[0109] Meanwhile, the reference block (4000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be made of silicon material.

[0110] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the reference block (4000) is 2 to 4 mm, and more preferably 3 mm.

[0111] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the measuring device (1) be in close contact with the skin at a level where the thickness of the reference block (4000) is compressed by 5 to 15%. More preferably, it is appropriate to compress it by 10%.

[0113] FIG. 10 illustrates a photograph of a measuring device (1) being worn according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0114] FIG. 10(a) illustrates the measuring device (1) and skin of the present invention, and the probe in FIG. 10 represents an ultrasonic transducer module (3000).

[0115] FIG. 10(b) illustrates the measuring device (1) of the present invention mounted on a real person's arm along with a band (not shown). The position of the measuring device (1) is adjusted so that the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) is positioned below the elbow.

[0117] FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a method for measuring the condition of a gun using a measuring device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0118] To induce fatigue in the tendons, a method like that shown in Fig. 11 can be used, or a gyroscope powerball can be used as an alternative method. This is an isometric exercise, and compared to the method of Fig. 11, which involves eccentric and concentric motion, it has the advantage of being safer for the user (hereinafter referred to as the subject) performing the exercise.

[0119] The isometric resistance, which increases with the RPM of the aforementioned gyroscope powerball, induces fatigue to accumulate in the subjects' forearm muscles. Each subject was instructed to maintain a minimum of 5,000 RPM for 20 seconds (per set). This exercise was repeated 3 times (half routine = 3 sets) or 5 times (full routine = 5 sets). The full routine exercise was performed before the measurement phase of the relaxed muscles, and the half routine was performed before the muscle contraction test (Figure 3). This routine split was implemented to allow the muscles to reach and maintain a state of fatigue while preventing potential injuries during the experiment.

[0121] FIG. 12 illustrates a graph of the measurement result through a measuring device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0122] The left photograph of Fig. 12 is an image of the internal tissue of the forearm taken using an actual ultrasound scan, and the graph on the right is a graph of the ultrasound measured by the measuring device (1) of the present invention using an oscilloscope.

[0123] In the graph on the right of Fig. 12, the X-axis represents the depth from the ultrasonic transducer module (3000), and the Y-axis represents the amplitude.

[0124] Area A is the distance between the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) and the skin, B is an area of ​​other tissue inside the skin, and C is the area of ​​the tendon. This can be clearly seen by comparing it with the photograph on the left side of FIG. 12. The depth area of ​​C is the thickness of the tendon. Also, the location of area C is the location of the tendon. Therefore, by measuring the change in area C, the condition of the tendon can be inferred.

[0125] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the measuring device (1) preferably measures the CET (gun extension), and can measure the fatigue accumulated in the CET by measuring the degree of increase of the CET.

[0126] Therefore, by collecting and analyzing measurement results before and after fatigue accumulation in the tendons for various subjects, it is possible to achieve the effect of measuring the condition of the tendons of a user wearing the measuring device (1) using only the graph of FIG. 12.

[0128] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by attaching the measuring device (1) to the skin, the effect of fixing the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) on the skin can be achieved.

[0129] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the brace body module (1000) is made of silicone material and can be harmless when in contact with skin and can exhibit the effect of not slipping on the skin.

[0130] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the reference block (4000) and the brace body module (1000) can offset the pressure of the band (not shown), thereby preventing the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) from adhering excessively to the user's skin.

[0131] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the degree of deformation of the reference block (4000) by being compressed by a band (not shown) is measured, and the distance between the skin and the ultrasonic transducer module (3000) is maintained constant in repeated experiments, thereby improving reproducibility.

[0132] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by measuring the thickness of the tendon using ultrasound, the effect of measuring the fatigue accumulated in the tendon can be achieved.

[0133] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic transducer module (3000) disposed in a lateral hole (2100) by means of a first transducer detachment groove (2130) can be detachably attached through a through hole (1110) of a contact plate portion (1100).

[0135] Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to limited examples and drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations from the description above. For example, suitable results may be achieved even if the described techniques are performed in a different order than described, and / or if the components of the described system, structure, device, circuit, etc. are combined or assembled in a form different from described, or replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents. Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims below are also within the scope of the claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0136] 1: Measuring equipment 1000: Brace body module 1100: Contact plate section 1110: Through hole 1120: Slit joint 1200: Module coupling bracket 1300: Module coupling part 1310: Connecting hole 1400: Concave part 1410: Block Home 2000: Transducer Fixing Module 2100: Lateral hole 2110: Vertical hole 2120: Horizontal hole 2130: First transducer removal groove 2200: Body connecting part 2210: Connecting protrusion 2300: Connecting rib 2400: Module connecting hole 2500: Slit section 3000: Ultrasonic transducer module 3100:Modular case 3110:Vertical case 3120: Horizontal case 3200: Piezo sensor 3300:Cable 3310:Positive wire 3320: Cathode ray 3400: Controller 3410:Connector 3420:Pulsar 3430: Receiver 3440: Power supply 3500: Power line 4000: Reference block

Claims

Claim 1 A measuring device for measuring the condition of a tendon in a joint area, comprising: a brace body module made of silicone material, including a contact plate portion having a through hole formed therein and a portion of the lower surface in contact with human skin; a transducer fixing module coupled to the brace body module on the upper side of the brace body module and having a lateral hole formed extending longitudinally from one end of the side; an ultrasonic transducer module disposed in the space formed by the through hole of the brace body module and a portion of the lateral hole of the transducer fixing module; and a reference block disposed on the lower surface of the ultrasonic transducer module and accommodated within the concave portion of the brace body module. Claim 2 A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the reference block is positioned below the ultrasonic transducer module, so that when the measuring device and the skin are in close contact by a band, the measuring device can check whether the thickness of the reference block has reached a preset first thickness, and adjust the degree of compression of the band to reach the first thickness, thereby adjusting the distance between the skin and the ultrasonic transducer module. Claim 3 A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the brace body module further comprises a frustum-shaped module coupling member formed vertically on the upper surface of the contact plate portion; and the transducer fixing module further comprises a module coupling hole, which is a through hole formed in a shape corresponding to the module coupling member; and wherein the brace body module and the transducer fixing module are coupled in a fixed position as the module coupling member is fitted into the module coupling hole. Claim 4 A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the brace body module comprises a module coupling portion that extends vertically from one end of the contact plate portion and has a plurality of coupling holes formed on its surface, and the transducer fixing module further comprises a plurality of coupling protrusions formed at positions corresponding to the coupling holes of the module coupling portion and a plurality of coupling ribs formed at one end and the other end, wherein the plurality of coupling protrusions of the transducer fixing module are fitted into the plurality of coupling holes of the module coupling portion, and the coupling ribs are fitted into grooves formed in the brace body module, thereby fixing the brace body module and the transducer fixing module. Claim 5 A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the transducer fixing module further comprises a groove-shaped slit portion formed concavely in the longitudinal direction from the end to the middle of the upper surface of the transducer fixing module, the slit portion being formed extending from the lateral hole, and the cable of the ultrasonic transducer module being mounted through the slit portion. Claim 6 A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer module comprises: a module case having one end inserted into a lateral hole and the other end inserted into a through hole of the contact plate; a piezo sensor disposed on the cross-section of the other end of the module case; a cable including a cathode ray connected to the piezo sensor and a positive ray connected to the piezo sensor; a connection part to which the cable is connected; a pulser connected to the connection part; and a receiver connected to the connection part; wherein when an external power source is applied to the controller, a preset first signal is generated from the pulser to vibrate the piezo sensor through the connection part and the cable, and the ultrasonic waves generated from the piezo sensor are reflected by the skin of a user contacted by the reference block and received by the piezo sensor, and are received by the receiver through the cable and the connection part.

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