Systems, devices, and method for the treatment of osteoarthritis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12575780-B2
Application number	US-202318231049-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2023
Priority date	Jul 31, 2015
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

The present disclosure describes devices, methods and systems for modifying or altering gait kinematics via sensory augmentation and/or modifying muscle activation patterns via augmented motor learning to slow the progression of and/or reduce the pain associated with knee OA, particularly during gait (e.g., walking, running, stair climbing, etc.). Sensors can be used to measure gait parameters and characteristics and muscle activation patterns. Stimulation can be provided to the individual in order to promote learning new gait kinematics and muscle activation patterns.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for reducing knee pain associated with osteoarthritis in an individual, the system comprising:
at least one wearable sensor for measuring a plurality of gait parameters; one or more computing devices; and a therapy device in communication with the at least one wearable sensor, wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to track the plurality of gait parameters over time and select, based on an analysis of data, a chosen measured gait parameter determined to be most effective for reducing knee pain associated with osteoarthritis for the individual, wherein the therapy device is configured to deliver a sensory stimulation, wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to control the sensory stimulation based on the chosen measured gait parameter that is configured to alter the individual's gait, wherein the sensory stimulation has a stimulation parameter that is proportional to a deviation of the chosen measured gait parameter from a set range or value for the chosen measured gait parameter for the individual; wherein the sensory stimulation is configured by the one or more computing devices to reduce an excitability of a gastrocnemius muscle and enhance an excitability of a soleus muscle, wherein the sensory stimulation is configured by the one or more computing devices to retrain the gait of the individual such that the sensory stimulation is provided less frequently or at a decreased intensity level until the sensory stimulation is no longer needed, and wherein at least a portion of the analysis is performed using data stored on a cloud server.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensory stimulation is electrical and is configured to not induce contraction of a muscle.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensory stimulation is configured to enhance motor plasticity.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensory stimulation is tactile or auditory.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wearable sensor comprises an IMU or a force sensor.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gait parameters is at least one of foot progression angle, toe angle, ankle plantar flexion angle, step width, knee flexion angle, knee adduction angle, or knee adduction moment, knee flexion moment, or ankle plantar flexion moment, or any combination of these gait parameters.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wearable sensor and/or therapy device comprises a knee band, ankle band, leg band, sock, knee brace, ankle brace, shoe, insole, compliant patch, pants, leg sleeve, knee sleeve, ankle sleeve, knee wrap, foot wrap, ankle wrap, or shoe attachment.

8 . A system for reducing knee pain associated with osteoarthritis in an individual, the system comprising:
a first wearable EMG sensor configured for measuring a plurality of gait parameters indicative of an activation of a gastrocnemius muscle; a second wearable EMG sensor configured for measuring a plurality of gait parameters indicative of an activation of a soleus muscle; one or more computing devices; and a therapy device in communication with the first and second wearable EMG sensors, wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to analyze the plurality of gait parameters from the first wearable EMG sensor and the second wearable EMG sensor and select, based on the analysis, a selected gait parameter from the plurality of gait parameters determined to be most relevant for altering the gait of the individual, wherein the analysis includes determining deviations of the plurality of gait parameters from an ideal range for the individual, wherein the therapy device is configured to deliver sensory stimulations, wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to control the sensory stimulations based on the selected gait parameter indicative of activation of the gastrocnemius muscle and the soleus muscle, wherein the sensory stimulations are configured by the one or more computing devices to provide feedback to reduce the activation of the gastrocnemius muscle and enhance the activation of the soleus muscle, and wherein the sensory stimulations are configured by the one or more computing devices to retrain gait such that the sensory stimulations are provided less frequently or at a decreased intensity level until the sensory stimulations are no longer needed.

9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a wearable sensor for measuring a gait event.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the gait event is selected from the group consisting of foot strike and toe off.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the therapy device is configured to deliver the stimulations based on the measured activation.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the therapy device is configured to deliver the stimulation configured to enhance the activation of the soleus muscle based on the measured activation.

13 . A system for reducing knee pain associated with osteoarthritis in an individual, the system comprising:
at least one wearable sensor for measuring a plurality of gait parameters; one or more computing devices, wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to analyze the plurality of gait parameters from the at least one wearable sensor and select, based on the analysis, a selected gait parameter of the plurality of gait parameters that is determined to be most effective at altering the gait of the individual, a wearable EMG sensor for measuring an activation of a gastrocnemius muscle; and a therapy device configured for communication with the at least one wearable sensor and the wearable EMG sensor, the therapy device configured to deliver a first sensory stimulation and a second sensory stimulation, wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to control the first sensory stimulation based on the selected gait parameter and to control the second sensory stimulation based on the measured activation of the gastrocnemius muscle, wherein the first sensory stimulation has a stimulation parameter that is proportional to a deviation of the selected-gait parameter from a set range or value for the selected gait parameter, wherein the second sensory stimulation is configured to inform the individual to reduce the activation of the gastrocnemius muscle, wherein the first and second sensory stimulations are configured by the one or more computing devices to retrain gait such that the first and second sensory stimulations are provided less frequently or at a decreased intensity level until the first and second sensory stimulations are no longer needed; and wherein at least a portion of the analysis is performed on a cloud server or external computing device of the one or more computing devices separate from the therapy device.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the therapy device is configured to deliver a fourth stimulation configured to enhance the activation of a soleus muscle.

15 . A system for reducing knee pain associated with osteoarthritis in an individual, the system comprising:
a plurality of wearable sensors for measuring a plurality of gait parameters; one or more computing devices; wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to track the plurality of gait parameters over time and select, based on the tracking, a subset of gait parameters of the plurality of gait parameters that are likely to be most effective at reducing knee pain associated with osteoarthritis in the individual, wherein at least one of the subset of gait parameters is a foot angle; a wearable EMG sensor for measuring an

Assignees

• Cala Health Inc

Inventors

• Hamner Samuel Richard
• Rosenbluth Kathryn H
• Delp Scott Lee
• Coleman Daniel Lev
• Shull Peter Bradley
• Wong Serena Hanying

Classifications

• A61B5/389

  Electromyography [EMG] · CPC title

• A61N1/36034

  specified by the stimulation parameters · CPC title

• A61B5/4836

  Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods (A61B5/0036 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61N1/36003

  of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance · CPC title

• A61N1/0456

  Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS] · CPC title