METHOD FOR CAPTURING SENSOR DATA

Abstract

A method includes fixing at least one sensor to a body part of a person, sending signals, with the at least one sensor, to an electronic data processing device, the signals containing measurement data and an individual sensor identifier, and determining, with the electronic data processing device, the body part on which the sensor is arranged or is to be arranged, and allocating the measurement data of the at least one sensor to the body part.

Claims

1. A method comprising: fixing at least sensors to a body part of a person; detecting, with the at least one sensor, measurement data about a distance between the two sensors; sending signals to an electronic data processing device, the signals including the measurement data and an individual sensor identifier; determining, with the electronic data processing device, the body part on which the sensors are arranged or is to be arranged and allocates the measurement data of the at least two sensors to the body part.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one detector is allocated to the electronic data processing device, the detector detecting at least one part of the signals, wherein the electronic data processing device determines the body part using the detected signals, and determines a direction or position from which the individual sensor identifier is sent, or from a time path of the measurement data.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signals also contain information on the body part.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the sensors are fixed to the body part with a bracket, which has an effect on the signals sent by the sensors.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the sensors take the information on the body part from the bracket.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the bracket detects the body part to which it is fixed.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the sensor includes an adjustment device, the adjustment device adjusting the information on the body part.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensors only send the signals to the electronic data processing device if sensors have received a request signal.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensors are fixed to different body parts.

10. (canceled)

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the sensors emit test signals that are detected by other sensors, and information on the signals detected in this way, especially the times of detection, are transmitted from the sensors to the electronic data processing device.

12. A method comprising: fixing at least two sensors to a body part of a person; detecting, with the at least one sensor, measurement data about a distance between the two sensors; sending signals to an electronic data processing device, the signals containing the measurement data; sending, with the electronic processing device, a control signal to the sensors and the sensors, in response to the control signal, emit a response signal that can be detected by a person.

13. A system comprising: the sensors; the electronic data processing device, the system being configured to conduct the method according to claim 1.

14. A method comprising: fixing at least one sensor to a body part of a person; sending, with the at least one sensor, signals to an electronic data processing device, the signals including measurement data and an individual sensor identifier; determining, with the electronic data processing device, the body part on which the at least one sensor is arranged or is to be arranged and allocates the measurement data of the at least one sensor to the body part; emitting, with the at least one sensor, test signals that are detected by other sensors, and information on the test signals detected in this way, especially during times of detection, are transmitted from the other sensors to the electronic data processing device.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein a detector is allocated to the electronic data processing device, the detector detecting at least one part of the signals, wherein the electronic data processing device determines the body part using the detected signals, and determines a direction or position from which the individual sensor identifier is sent, or from a time path of the measurement data.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the signals contain information on the body part.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor is fixed to the body part with a bracket, the bracket having an effect on the signals sent by the at least one sensor.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor receives the information on the body part from the bracket.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the bracket is used to detect the body part to which it is fixed.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor includes an adjustment device, the adjustment device adjusting the information on the body part.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor only sends the signals to the electronic data processing device if the at least one sensor has received a request signal.

Description

[0075] In the following, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail by way of the attached drawings: They show:

[0076] FIG. 1a system with several sensors that are able to capture information on movements, positions and/or orientations in order to execute a method according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0077] FIG. 2a schematic view of a different system,

[0078] FIG. 3 the schematic depiction of a leg with two brackets according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0079] FIG. 4the depiction of a bracket according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0080] FIG. 5the depiction of a bracket,

[0081] FIGS. 6 and 7schematic details of the bracket from FIG. 5,

[0082] FIGS. 8 and 9schematic depictions of fixing elements,

[0083] FIG. 10the schematic depiction of a further bracket and

[0084] FIG. 11 the schematic view of a method.

[0085] FIG. 1 shows a person 2 to whose body a multitude of sensors 4 are fixed. The sensors 4 detect measured values, such as absolute angles, relative angles, speeds or accelerations and are preferably able to wirelessly transmit said values to an electronic data processing device 6. To ensure that the measured values determined by the sensors 4 are correctly evaluated in the electronic data processing device 6, the sensor must first of all be allocated to a body part 8. For the sake of clarity, only one body part 8 is illustrated, namely the upper arm of the person 2 shown on the left of FIG. 1.

[0086] To be able to achieve an allocation of the sensors 4 to the various body parts 8, the electronic data processing device 6in the example of an embodiment shownsends a signal 10, by means of which the sensor 4 arranged on the body part 8 is stimulated to emit a sensor signal or response signal.

[0087] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment in which the person 2 only has sensors 4 in the arm area. According to the example of the embodiment of the present invention, the sensors on the upper and lower arms in particular can be arranged on the upper and lower arms by way of brackets, which are described in more detail later. The sensor 4 depicted on the upper right of the upper arm in FIG. 2 emits signals 10 that can be detected by the other sensors 4. By determining run-times, distances between the sensors 4 can be determined, thereby also enabling the determination of the arrangements of the individual sensors 4 on the body parts 8 through the comparison of said distances with pre-defined, calculated or measured patterns.

[0088] FIG. 3 shows a schematic depiction of a leg 12 on which two sensors 4 are arranged. This is achieved via brackets 14 which may be configured according to the invention and are only schematically depicted in FIG. 3.

[0089] FIG. 4 shows such a bracket 14. It features two fixing elements 16 that are separated from one another by a spacer element 18. The two fixing elements 16 features slits 20, through which, for example, a fixing belt can be guided, so that the bracket 14 can be fixed to the respective body part 8.

[0090] In the example of an embodiment shown, the spacer element 18 has two individual elements 22 that are arranged next to one another. This ensures that the bending stiffness of the spacer 18 is considerably lower in a first direction than the bending stiffness in a second direction.

[0091] FIG. 5 shows a different configuration of the bracket 14. It also features two fixing elements 16, between which the spacer element 18 is situated, wherein said spacer element also features two individual elements 22. A sensor fixing element 24 is situated on these individual elements 22, wherein in the example of an embodiment shown said fixing element is designed such that it can be displaced along the individual elements 22 and thus along the spacer element 18.

[0092] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged depiction of one of the fixing elements 16 from another perspective. Two openings 26 can be seen in which the individual elements 22 are inserted. A belt 28 is situated on the fixing element 16, wherein said belt can be placed around a body part. In the example of an embodiment shown, a velcro element 30 is situated at the free end of the belt 28, wherein said velcro element can be attached to an outer side 32 of the belt 28, such that the belt 28 is closed and the fixing element 16 is arranged on the body part 8. In the example of an embodiment shown, an anti-slip coating 34 is provided on a side of the fixing element 16 facing the body part 8, by means of which a slipping of the fixing element 16 and therefore of the bracket 14 relative to the body part 8 should be prevented.

[0093] FIG. 7 depicts the sensor fixing element 24 and the individual elements 22, depicted by a dashed line only. The sensor fixing element 24 features two clamping arms 36 which at least partially enclose the individual elements 22 as depicted, thereby fixing the sensor fixing element 24 to the individual elements 22. In the example of an embodiment shown, an anti-slip coating 34 is provided between the individual elements 22 and the clamping arms 36 of the sensor fixing element 24, by means of which an inadvertent displacement and slipping of the sensor fixing element 24 relative to the spacer element 18 and its individual elements 22 is prevented.

[0094] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a fixing element 16 in the form of a belt 28. An adjustment device 38 with a control dial 40 is situated on said belt. The control dial can carry out adjustments depending on the body part 8 on which the sensor with this fixing element 16 is arranged. The corresponding identifier is shown on a small display 42; in the example of an embodiment shown, a slide controller 44 can also be used to adjust whether a sensor 4 arranged on a bracket 14, which is equipped with such a fixing element 16, is arranged on a right or left-hand side of the body.

[0095] By adjusting the control dial 40 and the slide controller 44, it is possible to adjust, for instance, a signal, which is emitted by the respective sensor 4 in response to a request signal 10, as depicted schematically in FIG. 1 for example. As a result, identical sensors can be used for, for example, different patients at different points and on different body parts 8, without having to adjust the sensors or the electronic data processing device.

[0096] FIG. 10 depicts a further embodiment of a fixing element 16, which also features a belt 28. The spacer element 18 is also shown in a side view, said spacer element being designedin the example of an embodiment shownin such a way that the sensor 4 can be arranged directly on the spacer element 18. Here, both the spacer element 18 and the sensor 4 have an electronic assembly 46, which can be brought into electrical contact by arranging the sensor 4 on the spacer element 18. This ensures that a signal, which is sent by the sensor 4 to an electronic data processing device 6, is modified in such a way that the electronic data processing device can determine from the signal information the type of sensor 4 and/or the position and orientation of the sensor 4, i.e. in particular it can determine the body part 8.

[0097] FIG. 11 depicts the schematic sequence of a method for configuring a prosthesis or orthosis or for determining malpositions in the set-up of a prosthesis or orthosis. The present method should check whether a prosthetic foot is correctly positioned in the anterior-posterior direction or whether it must be displaced in the anterior or posterior direction. To this end, the first measurement data is recorded in the first step in the method, characterized by slow walking. This preferably refers to the knee angle, i.e. the angle between the upper leg and the lower leg. This may be achieved, for instance, via two inertial angle sensors that measure the angle of the upper leg relative to the vertical and the angle of the lower leg relative to the vertical. Here, the vertical is the direction along the force of gravity. The thus recorded first set of measurement data is subsequently evaluated to determine whether a stance phase flexion is present. If this is not the case, the second set of measurement data is recorded in a further step of the method, characterized by fast walking. The fast walking constitutes the second state of movement. Here, slow walking and fast walking are not limited to certain ranges of walking speed. In each case, the designation only serves to indicate that the first state of movement of slow walking comprises a lower advancing speed than the second state of movement of fast walking. The walking itself occurs on a plane that is preferably perpendicular to the vertical, i.e. along the horizontal. This plane is preferably not tilted.

[0098] The thus recorded second set of measurement data are also examined to determine whether a stance phase flexion is present. A stance phase flexion refers to a bending of the knee during the first half of the stance phase in a gait cycle. Here, the heel strike is followed by a brief decrease in the knee angle, i.e. a flexion of the knee. If this does not occur in either state of movement, i.e. in neither set of recorded measurement data, it is recommended to displace the prosthetic foot in the posterior direction. In the case of a static set-up, the plantar flexion should then be adjusted. However, if a stance phase flexion is detected from the first set of measurement data and/or the second set of measurement data, it is necessary to check whether this flexion occurs within a reasonable speed range and exhibits sufficient strength. Too fast or too strong a stance phase flexion can be attributed to malpositions in the prosthetic set-up that must be corrected. To achieve this, it is recommended to displace the foot in the anterior direction and subsequently to preferably statically adjust the plantar flexion. This method shall be executed until the bending criteria has been fulfilled and the anterior-posterior alignment of the prosthetic foot has been determined to a sufficient degree. This method is preferably conducted on patients with transtibial amputations who consequently have a natural knee.

REFERENCE LIST

[0099] 2 person [0100] 4 sensor [0101] 6 electronic data processing device [0102] 8 body part [0103] 10 signal [0104] 12 leg [0105] 14 bracket [0106] 16 fixing element [0107] 18 spacer element [0108] 20 slit [0109] 22 individual element [0110] 24 sensor fixing element [0111] 26 opening [0112] 28 belt [0113] 30 velcro element [0114] 32 outer side [0115] 34 anti-slip coating [0116] 36 clamping arm [0117] 38 adjustment device [0118] 40 control dial [0119] 42 display [0120] 44 slide controller [0121] 46 electronic assembly