Systems, methods, and devices for sensing and providing biofeedback at target axial load

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10849395-B2
Application number	US-201815958947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2018
Priority date	Apr 21, 2017
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

Several embodiments are provided of a device which is tunable for providing a walking aid user with passive haptic feedback. The haptic feedback is provided to the user when a predetermined, desired force in the device is reached. The force, often simply an axial force, in the device is inputted by the user, who is looking to support some of his or her body weight, thereby taking some weight off of one or both legs for some purpose. The amount of body weight support the user would input is often expressed in terms of percentage of the user's total body weight, and can therefore be predetermined and the device tuned accordingly.

First claim

We claim:

1. A device for providing feedback when inputted with a specified axial load, the device comprising:
a feedback mechanism configured to be removably coupled to a walking aid, wherein the feedback mechanism comprises at least one snap dome, wherein the walking aid is configured to be held by a user when in use to thereby support a weight of the user, wherein the feedback mechanism provides discrete feedback when inputted with the specified axial load, wherein the feedback mechanism is tunable to the specified axial load, and wherein the discrete feedback comprises a haptic signal and an audible signal.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device provides feedback passively, through no use of electronic components.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the specified axial load is generated by an external force.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is affixed to the walking aid and both the device and the walking aid bear the specified axial load.

5. A system for providing feedback to a user, the system comprising:
a walking aid configured to receive an axial force applied to the walking aid by the user, wherein the walking aid is configured to be held by the user when in use to thereby support a weight of the user;
a device, removably attached to the walking aid, wherein the device is subjected to the same axial force as the walking aid; and
the device generates a feedback signal about the axial force to the user, wherein feedback about the axial force provides the user feedback when the device is subjected to a predetermined desired force, wherein the feedback signal comprises a haptic signal and an audible signal, and wherein generating the feedback signal comprises applying the axial force input by the user to a series of snap domes comprising at least one snap dome positioned in the walking aid, wherein when the axial force exceeds a designed threshold force of the at least one snap dome, the at least one snap dome trips, thereby causing the feedback signal to the user of the walking aid.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein providing positive feedback to the user when the device is subjected to the predetermined desired force comprising at least the steps of:
when the device is supporting the predetermined desired force, the device trips; and
tripping the device generates the feedback signal.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the walking aid comprises one of:
a cane;
a walker;
a single crutch;
a pair of crutches;
a single forearm crutch; and
a pair of forearm crutches.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the device:
is located in the walking aid on or near the end of the walking aid engaging with the walking surface; and
is further configured to receive walking aid attachments providing better support on walking surfaces of varying conditions.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein axial displacement occurring in the walking aid when the device provides feedback to the user is less than 25 mm.

10. The system of claim 5 , wherein one or more of the at least one snap dome is replaced with a blank disk of the same thickness to reduce the predetermined desired force and maintain the height of the series of snap domes.

11. The system of claim 5 ,
wherein tuning the predetermined desired force at which the device provides feedback to the user comprises:
stacking the series of snap domes including the at least one snap dome, each of the series of snap domes having an individual trip force, wherein the sum of each of the individual trip forces is the total trip force for the series of snap domes;
adding an appropriate assortment of snap domes to set the total trip force for the series equal to the predetermined desired force; and
placing the series of snap domes in the device.

12. A method of providing positive feedback for proper walking aid-assisted gait, the method comprising:
tuning a feedback device to provide a first feedback when inputted with a predetermined desired force;
removably attaching the feedback device to a walking aid;
supporting a user's weight by inputting a force into the walking aid, which is thereby inputted to the feedback device attached to the walking aid, wherein the walking aid is configured to be held by the user when in use to thereby support the user's weight; and
providing the first feedback to the user when the force inputted into the walking aid reaches the predetermined desired force, wherein the first feedback comprises a haptic signal and an audible signal, and wherein providing the first feedback comprises applying the force input by the user to a series of snap domes comprising at least one snap dome positioned in the walking aid, wherein when the axial force exceeds a designed elastic deformation force of the at least one snap dome, the at least one snap dome trips, thereby causing the first feedback signal to the user of the walking aid.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
tuning the feedback device to provide a second feedback when inputted with a predetermined excessive force, wherein the predetermined excessive force is greater than the predetermined desired force; and
providing the second feedback to the user when the force inputted into the walking aid reaches the predetermined excessive force.

Assignees

• Univ Washington
• The United States As Represented By The Dept Of Veterans Affairs
• The United States As Represented By The Dept Of Veteran Affairs

Inventors

• Aubin Patrick M
• Richburg Chris
• Czerniecki Joseph
• Schuster Evan

Classifications

• A61H2201/1246

  by piston-cylinder systems · CPC title

• A45B3/00

  Sticks combined with other objects · CPC title

• A61H2201/0184

  by raising an alarm · CPC title

• A61H2201/5071

  Pressure sensors · CPC title

• A61H2201/1207

  with electric or magnetic drive · CPC title