Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of technologies and tools for postural rehabilitation. Even more specifically, the present invention aims to provide a system for postural rehabilitation comprising a set of elements adapted to induce specific rehabilitation of the components of the lower limb and of the vertebral column, exploiting the latest electronic and digital technologies.

Prior art

The progress of posturological and bioengineering studies is demonstrating that the scenario of pathologies linked to the posture of individuals is very high. The alterations of posture, of the tonic postural system and of the connective system are also common in all human organisms mainly due to the flat terrain. The latter is, in fact, the main cause of the physiological modifications of the curves of the spine, from which anomalies and dysfunctions, both at the musculoskeletal and organic level, depart over time and on the basis of the characteristics of each subject, throughout the subject's body.

A number of innovative therapies have been developed in the past to help people relearn how to walk, move and improve their overall health. Recently, mechanized gait retraining devices have emerged, however, these devices are mainly used in research-affiliated facilities and large metropolitan areas.

People with disabilities and chronic medical conditions are at a higher risk of developing additional medical problems than people without disabilities.

The human organism tends to evolve, adapt and recalibrate itself on the basis of the information received moment by moment, from the external and internal environment. Although it represents a cybernetic system, like all systems of this type, it still runs into adjustment and programming errors which are greater the smaller the number of perturbations and the more detailed the number of external stimuli. In other words, the more environmental information that the human organism receives is numerous and different, the more it is able to carry out a fine and correct adjustment of its own functioning. Postural alterations and dysfunctions deriving from flat ground, as well as from other artificial surfaces such as chairs and/or desks, are the basis of many musculoskeletal and organic problems. The skeletal system and consequently all the muscles, tendons and nerve endings responsible for posture, react to external factors by compensating in some way and tending to assume the posture that is most stable and functional to the needs dictated by the environment.

To date, technological innovations and in the field of medical research have led to new instruments and methods of diagnostics, control, prevention and correction. Below are some examples of systems and devices specially designed to ensure postural correction in the most effective way possible.

An example is the subject of patent application US9350951B1 to S.D. ROWE. The invention relates to a method for interactive training and analysis. Apparatus and methods are provided, adapted to enable selected predetermined postures or predetermined movements to be displayed on a frame-by-frame basis or as continuous movement for imitation or emulation by a system user or subject, for example, at movement or posture learning, or to be guided in rehabilitation from trauma, surgery, or other injury, or to enable the user's posture or movement to be compared to a baseline posture or movement for analysis or diagnosis purposes.

Another example is the object of patent application US8556836B2 to G. MENGA. The invention relates to a system for controlling a haptic exoskeleton for rehabilitation purposes and the related haptic exoskeleton. A control system for a haptic exoskeleton is disclosed, having: a frame structure, to be coupled to the body of a subject; actuators carried by the frame structure and adapted to cause movement of a plurality of body joints; and sensors coupled to the body for detecting early signals indicative of a subject's intention to move. The control system is provided with: a feedback stage, which controls a joint position based on a reference position; and a combiner block, which combines the outputs of the feedback stage to generate a driving signal for the actuators, thus imposing a controlled position on the joints. This primary control action can also be integrated with postural balance control, to control the subject's postural balance during movement.

Another example is the object of the patent application ES2782377T3 to J. BURNFIELD, Y. SHU, A. TAYLOR, T. BUSTER, C. NELSON. The invention relates to an improved exercise and rehabilitation machine. An improved exercise and rehabilitation machine is provided that allows a person with physical limitations, disabilities, or a chronic condition to use the machine to rehabilitate muscles, improve joint flexibility, and improve cardiovascular fitness. One embodiment of the device includes a frame, first and second crank arms, first and second handlebars, first and second pedals, a motor and pulley assembly, first and second coupling link, and a motor controller with speed knob.

The object of the present invention is to propose a postural rehabilitation system which makes use of an instrumental apparatus specifically designed for posture rehabilitation, simultaneously carrying out a series of operations guided by ad hoc designed components.

Furthermore, the instrumental apparatus allows a series of degrees of freedom which guarantee considerable flexibility in use compared to the inventions currently present on the market.

Even more advantageously, the system of the present invention makes use of latestgeneration technologies and artificial intelligences for a great accuracy in data acquisition and to provide types of rehabilitation therapies able to adapt to each user.

Description of the invention

According to the present invention, a computerized postural rehabilitation system is provided.

The system adopts various hardware and software technological devices to guarantee users an innovative, very accurate, tailor-made treatment that tends to evolve with the user. The system comprises two main parts which are a mechanical apparatus and a computerized sensor apparatus. The mechanical apparatus includes a solid and weighted base, to provide a counterweight and stable support, and two insoles provided with a large number of degrees of freedom, on which the user can climb and perform his/her own exercise in a static or dynamic position for postural rehabilitation. The mechanical apparatus is also made up of supports for lumbar attachment in the form of elastic ropes whose tension can be adjusted automatically, manually or semi-automatically, and in the form of fixed vertical and horizontal rods, to ensure stable support while balance is sought. The computerized sensor apparatus comprises a set of pressure sensors which can be coupled to the springs disposed under the insoles of the mechanical apparatus. These pressure sensors detect the pressure punctually and send the data to a data processing unit which returns them via graphic processing on a GUI (Graphic User Interface ) on a display, and via sound processing through a set of loudspeakers in order to be completely usable even by people with reduced vision. The display is mounted on a revolving and removable support and can be used as a tablet device by communicating with the mechanical apparatus and with the computerized sensor apparatus in wireless mode using a network connection and/or Bluetooth.

The data processing unit, together with an artificial intelligence is therefore able to understand whether it is necessary to provide a greater or lesser resistance to the springs under the insoles. The resistance can be adjusted in a fully automatic way, in a completely manual way by an operator, or in a semi-automatic way by the operator who manages the process via GUI. Said GUI is divided into two parts, one management for the operator, the other for the user, intended for displaying digital processing and infographics such as to provide help to the user himself to assume the correct posture and the right balance.

The combination of the pressure sensors and the data processing unit makes it possible to understand with a previously unattainable level of detail whether the user is subject to tremors during the execution of the exercise, moreover, the presence of artificial intelligence guarantees an instantaneous analysis of this data allowing to understand, also analyzing the historical data relating to the user, whether it is necessary to reduce the intensity of the exercise or continue with it, to finalize the best corrective and learning strategy.

The set of pressure sensors is also supported by a set of optical sensors capable of tracking the user's position, posture and movements, and by a set of tension sensors capable of evaluating the tension on each support rope. The combination of these sensors allows the artificial intelligence to analyze a learning curve relating to each user by analyzing their age, responsiveness and is therefore able to advise the operator on the most suitable settings for the mechanical apparatus for future rehab appointments.

To conclude, being possibly used in the medical/health field, the system and, specifically, all the components of its mechanical apparatus, are all waterproof, easily washable and sanitizable.

The advantages offered by the present invention are clear in the light of the above description and will be even clearer from the accompanying figures and the related detailed description.

Description of the figures

The invention will hereinafter be described in at least a preferred embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying figures, in which:

- FIGURE 1 shows a general view of the computerized postural rehabilitation system 100;

- FIGURE 2 shows a schematic view of the computerized sensor apparatus 200 of said computerized postural rehabilitation system 100.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention will now be described purely by way of non-limiting or binding example with the aid of the figures, which illustrate some embodiments relative to the present inventive concept.

With reference to FIG. 1, a general view of said computerized postural rehabilitation system 100 according to the present invention is shown. In FIG. 1, as in the following description, the embodiment of the present invention considered to be the best to date is illustrated. Said computerized postural rehabilitation system 100 is adapted to be managed by an operator 101 for the physical postural rehabilitation of a user 102 and comprises at least a mechanical apparatus 110, at least a solid and ballasted base 111, at least a pair of insoles 112, at least a set of springs 113, at least a joint system 114, at least a pair of actuators 115, at least a support system 116, at least a support rope system 117, at least a computerized sensor apparatus 200.

Said mechanical apparatus 110 is adapted to provide a certain number of degrees of freedom of movement for carrying out guided movements for said user 102. Said mechanical apparatus 110 comprises said solid and ballasted base 111 on which to rest and secure the various components. Said pair of insoles 112 provides support for the feet of said user 102, under it, said set of springs 113 is installed to provide, together with said joint system 114, great freedom of movement both in static conditions and during the kinematics of the step. Said pair of actuators 115, electrically powered, is adapted to allow the guided rotation of said pair of insoles 112. Said user 102, in finding his/her balance, can rely on said support system 116, including horizontal and vertical axes, and on said support rope system 117 to which he/she is hooked with a suitable support in the lumbar region. Said mechanical apparatus 110 is constantly monitored in real time by a set of sensors and technologies forming part of said computerized sensor apparatus 200.

With reference to FIG. 2, a schematic view of said computerized sensor apparatus 200 of said computerized postural rehabilitation system is shown. Said computerized sensor apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Said computerized sensor apparatus 200 comprises at least a set of pressure sensors 201, at least a set of optical sensors 202, at least a set of voltage sensors 203, at least a data processing unit 204, at least a display 205, at least a GUI 206, at least a management section 261, at least a user section 262, at least a set of loudspeakers 207, at least a database 208, at least an artificial intelligence 209.

Said computerized sensor apparatus 200 is adapted to exchange incoming and outgoing information with said mechanical apparatus 110 to ensure the adaptability of the treatment to said user 102 and continuous improvement thereof. Said set of pressure sensors 201 is adapted to punctually record the pressure exerted by the weight of said user 102 carrying out the exercise. Said set of pressure sensors 201 is arranged for coupling with said set of springs 113. Said set of optical sensors 202 is adapted to analyze the posture of said user 102 when he/she is in an upright position and/or moving on said mechanical apparatus 110. Said set of tension sensors 203 is adapted to be implemented to determine the state of tension on each string of said support rope system 117.

Said data processing unit 204 receives data from all the sensors of the apparatus and is able to process them to detect whether the assumed posture is balanced and whether it is correctly maintained during exercise. Said display 205 shows said graphical user interface GUI 206 such as to allow said operator 101 to choose the rehabilitation program and the calibration of the system components. Said GUI 260 is divided into a management section 261 accessible only by said operator 101 for the management of the functional aspects of the system, and a user section 262 which said operator 101 makes available for use by said user 102. Said set of loudspeakers 207 is adapted to provide audio indications to said user 102 in order to simplify the work of said operator 101 and in order to ensure greater usability of the system for people with reduced vision. Said database 208 is adapted to store the data of said user 102, the dates and duration of his/her activity, and all the punctual data extrapolated by said data processing unit 204. Finally, said artificial intelligence 209 analyzes the data processed by said data processing unit 204 and understands what the margin for improvement or worsening of said user 102 is in order to recommend to said operator 101 the actions to be taken for subsequent therapy appointments.

Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variants may be made to the invention described thus far which are apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection that is provided by the appended claims.