WO2008032967A1

WO2008032967A1 - Gait training control system

Info

Publication number: WO2008032967A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/004370
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeong Soo Choi; Ki Hong Lee
Original assignee: P and S Mechanics Co Ltd
Current assignee: P and S Mechanics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-14
Filing date: 2007-09-10
Publication date: 2008-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-14
Also published as: KR100854511B1; KR20080024695A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gait training control system. The gait training control system is provided in a gait training machine, comprising a control unit (110), implemented using a control data collection device, an operator manipulation unit (120), required to set a gait mode and observe gait status, a walking assistance unit (140) for driving respective joints of an impaired leg, and a detection unit (150) for detecting gait status of a healthy leg. Data from the detection unit (150), worn on the healthy leg, is detected to determine gait status of a patient, and the walking assistance unit, worn on the impaired leg, is driven in real time on a basis of the detected data. Accordingly, a doctor or a physical therapist in charge of the rehabilitation training of a patient can monitor the training status of the patient undergoing gait training in real time.

Description

Description GAIT TRAINING CONTROL SYSTEM

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to a gait training control system, and, more particularly, to a gait training control system, which allows a doctor or a physical therapist in charge of rehabilitation training of a patient to monitor the training status of the patient undergoing gait training in real time, to determine the status of the patient, and to prescribe a gait pattern suitable for the status of the patient. Background Art

[2] Generally, gait training is performed to help paralytics or walking-impaired patients to obtain abilities necessary for independent walking using their remaining sensory ability. For autonomous walking, the assistance of specialists in various fields is required, and furthermore, a lot of effort is required on the part of therapists.

[3] Therefore, the development of a gait training system capable of providing a natural walking rhythm is required to help paralytics or walking-impaired individuals acquire the ability to walk.

[4] For this requirement, systems for providing gait training using a servo-motor control driving system have been developed.

[5] These systems are configured to induce articulatory motion for walking, which is applied to patients incapable of independently walking, and to compensate for balance and weight shifting, and thus gait training is performed according to the status of patients, but are problematic in that, since the path of motion of joints is too different from that of normal walking for normal gait training, it is difficult to apply such systems to actual clinical environments.

[6] Further, the conventional gait training systems are problematic in that a doctor or a physical therapist cannot monitor the status of gait training of patients in real time, and thus a lot of time is required to determine the status of the patients and to prescribe gait patterns suitable for the status of the patients.

[7] Moreover, the conventional gait training systems are problematic in that, when a patient undergoing gait training changes his or her residence, the patient has great difficulty in continuing to undergo previous rehabilitation treatment, thus decreasing the efficacy of treatment. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gait training control system, which is operated using a microprocessor, a control program and gait data, and performs mutual data communication with peripherals, such as a computer and an Operator (OP) panel, thus allowing a doctor or a physical therapist in charge of rehabilitation training of a patient to monitor the training status of the patient undergoing gait training in real time, to determine the status of the patient, and to prescribe a gait pattern suitable for the status of the patient to the patient.

[9] Another object of the present invention is to provide a gait training control system, which can arrange data about the gait training of a patient in a database, and can record and manage the data in the database, thus enabling the management of the patient to be continuously and efficiently performed.

[10] A further object of the present invention is to provide a gait training control system, which stores data about gait training, undergone by a patient, and data about prescriptions, given by a doctor, in an external memory device, so that the external memory device can be easily transferred, thus allowing the patient to undergo previously performed gait training without change even if the patient changes his or her residence. Technical Solution

[11] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a gait training control system for a gait training machine, comprising a control unit, implemented using a control data collection device having a microprocessor mounted therein, an operator manipulation unit, required to set a gait mode and observe gait status, a walking assistance unit for driving respective joints of an impaired leg, and a detection unit for detecting gait status of a healthy leg, wherein data output from the detection unit, worn on the healthy leg, is detected to determine gait status of a patient, and the walking assistance unit, worn on the impaired leg, is driven in real time on a basis of the detected data.

[12] Further, the present invention provides a gait training control system for a gait training machine, comprising a control unit implemented using a control data collection device having a microprocessor mounted therein, an operator manipulation unit required to set a gait mode and observe gait status, and a detection unit for detecting gait status, wherein signals, such as a joint rotation angle, joint muscular strength, and an electromyogram, which are output from the detection unit when a patient walks with the detection unit worn on his or her impaired leg, are received, so that walking ability of the patient is measured/stored, is input to a database, and is utilized as gait training data for the patient.

[13] Further, the present invention provides a gait training control system for a gait training machine, comprising a control unit, implemented using a control data collection device having a microprocessor mounted therein, an operator manipulation unit, required to set a gait mode and observe gait status, and a walking assistance unit for driving respective joints of an impaired leg, wherein rotation angles and rotation speeds of respective joints and a number of gaits suitable for status of the patient are input through the operator manipulation unit with the walking assistance unit worn on the impaired leg of the patient, thus enabling gait training of the patient to be performed.

[14] In addition, the present invention provides a gait training control system for a gait training machine, comprising a control unit implemented using a control data collection device having a microprocessor mounted therein, an operator manipulation unit required to set a gait mode and observe gait status, and a walking assistance unit for driving respective joints of an impaired leg, wherein the operator manipulation unit is connected to an external memory device, in which data about gait training of a patient and data about gait prescription given by a doctor are stored, thus enabling gait training to be performed on a basis of the gait training data stored in the external memory device.

[15] Preferably, portions of the walking assistance unit corresponding to a hip joint, a knee joint, and an ankle joint may be formed to be separable or combinable, and respective joint portions are controlled by a control unit so that independent driving or combined driving is enabled.

[16] Preferably, the operator manipulation unit may determine whether the patient is ready to undergo gait training, and then assign a driving authority for start, stop and emergency stop of the walking assistance unit to a trainee manipulation unit through the control unit.

[17] Preferably, the control unit may automatically shut off power of the gait training machine when an abnormal gait training pattern is sensed during gait training, or when an emergency stop command button of the trainee manipulation unit is pressed.

[18] Preferably, the operator manipulation unit may be manipulated to increase or decrease a gait speed or a rotation angle depending on status of the patient in each gait training session.

Advantageous Effects

[19] Accordingly, the gait training control system of the present invention is advantageous in that it is operated on the basis of a microprocessor, a control program, and gait data, and performs mutual data communication with peripherals, such as a computer and an OP panel, thus allowing a doctor or a physical therapist in charge of the rehabilitation training of a patient to monitor the training status of the patient undergoing gait training in real time, to determine the status of the patient and to prescribe a gait pattern suitable for the status of the patient.

[20] Further, the present invention is advantageous in that it can arrange data about the gait training of a patient in a database, and can record and manage the data in the database, thus enabling the management of the patient to be continuously and efficiently performed, and more rapidly obtaining the efficacy of rehabilitation.

[21] In addition, the present invention is advantageous in that it stores data about gait training, undergone by a patient, and data about prescriptions, given by a doctor, in an external memory device, so that the external memory device can be easily transferred, thus allowing the patient to undergo previously performed gait training without change even if the patient changes his or her residence, and consequently preventing rehabilitation training from being interrupted. Brief Description of the Drawings

[22] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall construction of a gait training control system according to the present invention;

[23] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the construction of a detection unit and a walking assistance unit according to the present invention;

[24] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the data flow of a gait training control system according to the present invention;

[25] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the gait mode selection procedure of an operator manipulation unit according to the present invention;

[26] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the signal processing procedure of a trainee manipulation unit according to the present invention;

[27] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a gait training system in a treatment mode according to the present invention;

[28] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a gait training system in a pattern driving mode according to the present invention;

[29] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a gait training system in a real-time driving mode according to the present invention;

[30] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a gait training system in a memory mode according to the present invention;

[31] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the gait cycle of a patient whose right leg is impaired; and

[32] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing independent or combined driving of respective joints according to the present invention.

[33] <Description of reference characters of important parts>

[34] 110: control unit 111: computer [35] 113: control data collection device 120: operator manipulation unit

[36] 121: mode selection button 123: joint angle/speed control button

[37] 125: walking status display panel 127: external memory device

[38] 130: trainee manipulation unit 140: walking assistance unit

[39] 141, 143, 145: drive motor 142, 144, 146: encoder

[40] 150: detection unit 151, 154, 157: angle detector

[41] 152, 155, 158: muscular strength measuring device

[42] 153, 156, 159: electromyogram measuring device

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[43] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[44] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall construction of a gait training control system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing the construction of a detection unit and a walking assistance unit according to the present invention.

[45] As shown in the drawing, the gait training control system according to the present invention includes a control unit 110, an operator manipulation unit 120, a trainee manipulation unit 130, a walking assistance unit 140, and a detection unit 150.

[46] First, the control unit 110 functions to execute a gait program, to control peripherals, to collect data obtained from each gait session, and to arrange data required to treat a patient in a database, and includes a computer 111 for monitoring the status of the gait training of a patient, arranging the gait data thereof into a database, and interfacing with external memory, and a control data collection device 113 for controlling the walking assistance unit 140 and receiving sensor signals output from both the detection unit 150 and the walking assistance unit 140.

[47] Next, the operator manipulation unit 120 functions to select a gait mode according to the gait training of a patient, or to set training intensity according to the training status of the patient, and to visually display the gait status of the patient, and includes a mode selection button 121, required to select a gait mode, a joint angle/speed control button 123, required to set training intensity, and a gait status display panel 125 for visually displaying the gait status of the patient.

[48] In this case, in the operator manipulation unit 120, a memory connection terminal, which can be connected to the external memory device 127, can be formed.

[49] Further, gait modes can be classified into four modes, that is, a treatment mode, a pattern driving mode, a real-time driving mode, and a memory mode, according to the treatment and training for the gait training of a patient, and can be selected through the operator manipulation unit 120. [50] Next, the trainee manipulation unit 130 is assigned driving authority by the operator manipulation unit 120 through the control unit 110 so that a patient can personally execute driving start and end commands after preparation for gait training has been completed.

[51] The control unit 110 automatically shuts off the power of a gait training machine when an abnormal gait training pattern is sensed or when an emergency stop command button of the trainee manipulation unit 130 is pressed during gait training.

[52] Next, the walking assistance unit 140 allows drive motors 141, 143, and 145 and encoders 142, 144, and 146 to be worn on an impaired leg, thus enabling joints to be moved at the time of gait training.

[53] The walking assistance unit 140 is configured such that the drive motors 141, 143, and 143 for respectively moving the hip joint, the knee joint, and the ankle joint of an impaired leg are installed, and corresponding encoders 142, 144, and 146 are attached to the drive motors 141, 143, and 145, thus detecting or controlling the angles of respective joints.

[54] The detection unit 150 is configured such that a muscular strength measuring device

152, 155, or 158 for measuring muscular strength, a joint angle detector 151, 154, or 157 for measuring the rotation angle of a joint, and an electromyogram measuring device 153, 156, or 159 for measuring an electromyogram are installed at a location corresponding to each of the hip joint, the knee joint, and the ankle joint.

[55] The muscular strength measuring devices 152, 155, and 158 can be manufactured using the force of a Magneto-Rheological (MR) fluid, pneumatics, a spring, etc., and the joint angle detectors 151, 154, and 157 can be implemented using encoders or potentiometers.

[56] The above-described muscular strength measuring devices 152, 155, and 158, the joint angle detectors 151, 154, and 157, and the electromyogram measuring device

153, 156, and 159, can be freely attached to or detached from the detection unit if necessary.

[57] Further, the detection unit 150 is worn on an impaired leg or a healthy leg, and is used. In a treatment mode, the detection unit 150 is worn on the impaired leg (leg having the impairment) of a patient and is utilized to measure the muscular strength, joint rotation angle and electromyogram thereof. In a real-time control mode, the detection unit 150 is worn on the healthy leg of the patient, and is utilized to detect the gait data of the healthy leg in real time.

[58] In this case, sensors, such as the muscular strength measuring devices 152, 155 and

158, the joint angle detectors 151, 154, and 157, and the electromyogram measuring devices 153, 156, and 159, which are installed at the locations of the detection unit 150 corresponding to respective joints, also function as safety devices for detecting the states of respective joints of the patient for the safety of the patient at the time of gait training, as well as functioning to detect gait data.

[59] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the data flow of a gait training control system according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, a walking assistance unit 140 for supplementing muscular strength is worn on the impaired leg, and a detection unit 150 for detecting the data of joints is worn on the healthy leg.

[60] In this case, gait data obtained from the detection unit 150 worn on the healthy leg is collected through the control unit 110, and is utilized as data required to drive the joint drive motors 141, 143, and 145 of the walking assistance unit 140 worn on the impaired leg.

[61] The gait status obtained from the walking assistance unit 140 is output through the operator manipulation unit 120, and is thus used by a patient or a doctor when changing the gait mode or increasing or decreasing training intensity.

[62] Further, the patient can execute a training termination command or an emergency stop command through the trainee manipulation unit 130.

[63] Such gait data of the patient, that is, medical treatment recording, is arranged in a database through the control unit 110, and is stored in an external memory device, so that the external memory device can be connected to a gait training machine at another place and can be used. Accordingly, even if the patient changes his or her residence, he or she can use the previously executed training program without change, thus improving the efficacy of rehabilitation treatment.

[64] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the gait mode selection procedure of the operator manipulation unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the signal processing procedure of the operator manipulation unit according to the present invention. In the drawings, the operator manipulation unit 120, required to select a gait mode, and the signal processing procedure of the trainee manipulation unit 130, in charge of a driving start command, a stop command, and an emergency stop command, are shown in brief.

[65] First, when main power is supplied at step S410, the system is checked at step

S420, and the gait mode is displayed on a main screen at step S440 while the system status is displayed at step S430.

[66] In this case, a patient selects any one gait mode from among a treatment mode

S441, a pattern driving mode S442, a real-time driving mode S443, and a memory mode S44, which are displayed on the main screen.

[67] Thereafter, after mode selection has been performed through the operator manipulation unit 120, driving authority to initiate or terminate the walking assistance unit 140 is transferred to the trainee manipulation unit 130 at step S510.

[68] Next, the patient inputs a start command for initiating the walking assistance unit 140 through the trainee manipulator unit 130, and undergoes gait training at steps S520 and S530.

[69] Further, in order for the patient to terminate gait training, the patient selects any one from among a gait training cycle end command S531, a training stop command S532, and an emergency stop command at step S533.

[70] If the patient inputs an end command in this way, the authority of the trainee manipulation unit 130 to provide a start command to initiate the walking assistance unit 140 is returned to the operator manipulation unit 120 at step S540.

[71] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a gait training system in a treatment mode according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, a user sets a gait mode to a treatment mode through the operator manipulation unit 120.

[72] For this operation, the detection unit 150 is worn on an impaired leg, and is configured to measure the joint muscular strength, joint rotation angle and elec- tromyogram of the impaired leg, and to transmit measurement results to the control unit 110 to allow the measurement results to be arranged in a database.

[73] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a gait training system in a pattern driving mode according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, a user sets a gait mode to a pattern driving mode through the manipulation of the operator manipulation unit 120.

[74] The pattern driving mode is a mode in which gait training is executed according to a gait pattern suitable for the status of a patient, determined through the medical examination of a doctor or a physical therapist, and in which the patient can enter the joint motion angles of a hip joint, a knee joint, and an ankle joint and a gait speed through the operator manipulation unit 120, or can increase or decrease the speeds of the joint motors or joint rotation angles of the walking assistance unit 140 at a certain rate on the basis of the normal gait data stored in the control data collection device 113, thus performing gait training.

[75] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a gait training system in a real-time driving mode according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the user sets a gait mode to a real-time driving mode through the operator manipulation unit 120.

[76] The real-time driving mode is a mode in which the detection unit 150 is worn on a healthy leg and the walking assistance unit 140 is worn on an impaired leg, so that the walking assistance unit 140 is driven in real time on the basis of the signals output from the detection unit 150 to perform training. In this mode, data about the joint angular velocities and joint rotation angles of the healthy leg is detected through the detection unit 150 when the patient walks, and the detected data is applied to the walking assistance unit 140 for the impaired leg through the control unit 110, so that the patient undergoes gait training suitable for his or her physical status.

[77] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a gait training system in a memory mode according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, a user sets a gait mode to a memory mode using the operator manipulation unit 120.

[78] The memory mode is a mode in which data about gait training, undergone by the patient, and data about gait training, prescribed by the doctor, are stored in the external memory device 127, thus allowing the status of the patient to be recorded, or allowing gait training to be executed through another gait training machine. In this mode, the external memory device 127, containing data about the previous gait training of the patient, is connected to the operator manipulation unit 120, so that gait training is executed using the treatment information of the patient stored in the external memory device 127. The patient can undergo the same gait training through another gait training machine using the external memory device 127.

[79] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the gait cycle of a patient whose right leg is impaired. Through this drawing, it can be seen that, when one gait cycle based on a healthy left leg and an impaired right leg is observed, the gait pattern of the healthy leg at the 0% location is coincident with the gait pattern of the impaired leg at the 50% location, the gait pattern of the healthy leg at the 20% location is coincident with the gait pattern of the impaired leg at the 70% location, and the gait pattern of the healthy leg at the 30% location is coincident with the gait pattern of the impaired leg at the 80% location.

[80] The gait pattern corresponding to one cycle is implemented in this way in such a way that patterns are alternately repeated. The gait training control system according to the present invention uses such a gait pattern. In particular, in the real-time driving mode, data about the gait speed and the joint rotation angle of the healthy leg are collected in real time during the gait cycle, and thus the gait pattern of the impaired leg is generated.

[81] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing independent driving or combined driving of respective joints according to the present invention, which shows a control system for separating respective joint portions of the walking assistance unit 140 and performing gait training only on a specific joint when a patient is impaired only in the specific joint.

[82] In this case, portions of the walking assistance unit 140 corresponding to a hip joint, a knee joint, and an ankle joint may be formed to be separable or combinable in hardware or software form, and the driving of respective joints is controlled by the control unit 110 so that independent or combined driving is enabled.

[83] The gait mode, such as the treatment mode, the pattern driving mode, the real-time driving mode, and the memory mode, can also be applied to the case where the independent driving of a specific joint is performed, as described above.

[84] Further, the walking assistance unit 140 can be implemented to increase or decrease the gait speed or the joint rotation angle on the basis of the determination of a doctor or a physical therapist during or before walking.

[85] Moreover, the patient and the doctor can monitor data about the gait of the patient and data about the status of joints of the patient, which are currently being obtained, through the operator manipulation unit 120 while executing respective gait modes.

[86] The above-described embodiments of the present invention are only examples, and cannot be interpreted to limit the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

[1] A gait training control system for a gait training machine, comprising a control unit (110), implemented using a control data collection device having a microprocessor mounted therein, an operator manipulation unit (120), required to set a gait mode and observe gait status, a walking assistance unit (140) for driving respective joints of an impaired leg, and a detection unit (150) for detecting gait status of a healthy leg, wherein: data output from the detection unit (150), worn on the healthy leg, is detected to determine gait status of a patient, and the walking assistance unit, worn on the impaired leg, is driven in real time on a basis of the detected data.

[2] A gait training control system for a gait training machine, comprising a control unit (110) implemented using a control data collection device having a microprocessor mounted therein, an operator manipulation unit (120) required to set a gait mode and observe gait status, and a detection unit (150) for detecting gait status, wherein: signals, such as a joint rotation angle, joint muscular strength, and an elec- tromyogram, which are output from the detection unit (150) when a patient walks with the detection unit (150) worn on his or her impaired leg, are received, so that walking ability of the patient is measured/stored, is input to a database, and is utilized as gait training data for the patient.

[3] A gait training control system for a gait training machine, comprising a control unit (110), implemented using a control data collection device having a microprocessor mounted therein, an operator manipulation unit (120), required to set a gait mode and observe gait status, and a walking assistance unit (140) for driving respective joints of an impaired leg, wherein: rotation angles and rotation speeds of respective joints and a number of gaits suitable for status of the patient are input through the operator manipulation unit (120) with the walking assistance unit (140) worn on the impaired leg of the patient, thus enabling gait training of the patient to be performed.

[4] A gait training control system for a gait training machine, comprising a control unit (110) implemented using a control data collection device having a microprocessor mounted therein, an operator manipulation unit (120) required to set a gait mode and observe gait status, and a walking assistance unit (140) for driving respective joints of an impaired leg, wherein: the operator manipulation unit (120) is connected to an external memory device (127), in which data about gait training of a patient and data about gait prescription given by a doctor are stored, thus enabling gait training to be performed on a basis of the gait training data stored in the external memory device (127).

[5] The gait training control system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein portions of the walking assistance unit (140) corresponding to a hip joint, a knee joint, and an ankle joint are formed to be separable or combinable, and respective joint portions are controlled by a control unit (110) so that independent driving or combined driving is enabled.

[6] The gait training control system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operator manipulation unit (120) determines whether the patient is ready to undergo gait training, and then assigns a driving authority for start, stop and emergency stop of the walking assistance unit (140) to a trainee manipulation unit (130) through the control unit (110).

[7] The gait training control system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit (110) automatically shuts off power of the gait training machine when an abnormal gait training pattern is sensed during gait training, or when an emergency stop command button of the trainee manipulation unit (130) is pressed.

[8] The gait training control system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operator manipulation unit (120) is manipulated to increase or decrease a gait speed or a rotation angle depending on status of the patient in each gait training session.