• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The invention describes a device (1) for monitoring one or more joints of a patient, comprising: at least two articulated units (2) configured to be fixed to the skin (101) of the patient on two bone elements (100) of the articulation to be monitored, in such a way that the movements of said two articulated units (2) correspond essentially to the movements of said bone elements (100); at least one sensor (3) connected to the two units (2) articulated to detect the angle formed by said two units (2) articulated with each other; and an alarm means configured to emit a warning signal in case the detected angle exceeds a maximum threshold. The invention may comprise an interface means (4) for adjusting the maximum threshold of the detected angle. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
    公开号:ES2591035A1
    申请号:ES201631037
    申请日:2016-07-28
    公开日:2016-11-24
    发明作者:Francisco Javier Molina Ortega；Javier TAPIA AMORES；Joaquín Darío GÓMEZ VILLÉN；Julio BELTRÁN ORTEGA；Jaime RUIZ CANALES
    申请人:Universidad de Jaen；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

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    Joint monitoring device of a patient OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
    The present invention belongs in general to the field of medicine, and more specifically to the prevention and treatment of conditions related to alterations in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system, such as low back pain.
    The object of the present invention is a new device designed to monitor the relative position of one or several joints and to notify the user in case the relative position is not within certain limits considered suitable by a healthcare professional.
    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
    Low back pain is the musculoskeletal pathology that causes higher costs to health systems in industrialized countries. It is a condition that is mainly characterized by a back pain located between the first lumbar vertebra and the line of the sacral-coccygeal joint and can reach the pubic region. Its incidence is 80% in the general population. Only 20% of low back pain have a defined organic origin that can be evidenced by imaging tests (hernias, canal stenosis, advanced osteoarthritis, MODIC changes, etc.). The remaining 80% are called unsightly low back pain because they do not have a defined etiology that can be revealed with imaging tests. Different studies have analyzed these cases of unsightly low back pain, concluding that the pain is caused by the overload of the passive systems of spinal restraint (capsules, ligaments, joint veneers).
    These passive systems are going to be constantly mechanically stressed to maintain the position of the lumbar region because the active systems (lumbar muscles) are not able to place the spine in a position where they are not overloaded. This optimal position is called the neutral zone. It is important to keep in mind that tissue overload entails the generation of pain and that this pain can cause muscle inactivation in areas surrounding the area that causes the pain. This fact has been
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    proven in people with low back pain when observing that after a period of pain the activation of the lumbar musculature is less and less precise than in healthy subjects constantly causing the lumbar region to be positioned outside its neutral zone. This could be the cause of a low back pain crisis in 40-80% of patients and that it tends to become chronic in 45% of cases.
    Therefore, it is a fundamental objective to re-educate the patient, making him aware of the optimal position of his lumbar spine to avoid possible future damage and achieve a better rehabilitation in the event that lumbar pain has already been established. Currently, there are several devices designed to continuously monitor the position of the lumbar spine with the purpose of helping the patient to acquire healthy postural habits.
    Document ES2364172 describes a real-time indication and supervision system of the spine formed by a set of accelerometer or gyro type sensors.
    US20070169364 describes a system similar to the previous one to measure the position of the spine of a user comprising at least one sensor capable of measuring the inclination of the spine of the user.
    Known devices have the disadvantage that they are only capable of detecting absolute inclination at a particular point in the column. This information is clearly insufficient, since only the inclination of a point of the spine does not univocally imply an inadequate posture of the patient's spine. For example, it is possible that the posture adopted by each vertebra of the patient's spine in relation to the adjacent vertebrae is adequate, but that the patient is inclined, lying down, or in general is in some position that causes the absolute angle of the column at the specific point where the inclination sensor is located will leave the margin considered acceptable by the device. For this reason, these systems only work correctly when the user is in a position where the trunk is upright, usually when the patient is sitting or standing.
    Another drawback of the currently known devices is that they only obtain information about the position in a small particular segment of the column of the
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    patient, ignoring the position of the rest of the length of the spine. For this reason, the patient's spine can adopt an insane position for most of its length without being detected by the current device as long as the small monitored segment is in a suitable position.
    DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
    The present invention solves the above problems thanks to a device that, instead of measuring the inclination or orientation at a certain point of the articulation of a patient, measures the angle formed by at least a pair of bone elements that make up said articulation. As a result, the results are more suitable than those obtained by the devices currently known, since the device of the invention directly detects the angle formed by the bone elements of the joint. Thanks to this, the device of the invention provides accurate results regardless of the movements that the user performs due to activity being carried out at all times. In addition, by directly detecting the angle formed by the bone elements of the joint, this device can be used to monitor the relative position of other joints that would be impossible to monitor with the currently known devices, such as the wrist, knee, elbow , or others. An additional advantage is that the present invention can measure the angle formed by several pairs of consecutive joints, such as the vertebrae of a patient's spine, so that the relationship between different groups of joints can be taken into account.
    The present invention describes a device for monitoring a patient's joint that essentially comprises: at least two articulated units, at least one sensor, and an alarm means. Next, each of these elements is described in greater detail.
    a) Articulated units
    The device comprises at least two articulated units configured to be fixed to the patient's skin on two bone elements of the joint to be monitored, such that the movements of said two articulated units correspond essentially to the movements of said bone elements.
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    The articulated units are a pair of normally pianic elements configured for fixation on the patient's skin, and which are connected to each other by means of an articulated joint that allows the relative orientation of one unit to be varied in relation to another. The articulated joint has a certain elasticity that is configured to allow variations in the relative orientation of the articulated units only in the longitudinal direction, or to allow variations in the relative orientation of the articulated units according to any direction. For example, in the case of monitoring if a patient keeps the spine correctly erected, articulated units can be used in such a way that only orientation variations in a longitudinal direction coinciding with the direction of the spine are allowed.
    Articulated units may consist of plates without sharp edges whose size depends on the articulation to be monitored. Optionally, with the purpose of facilitating the operation of fixing the articulated units on the skin, these may have a certain curvature or a recessed area in a complementary manner in relation to the protrusion of the bone element on which they are to be fixed. Biocompatible adhesives can be used to fix the articulated units to the patient's skin.
    In this document, the term "bone element" generally corresponds to a bone piece or bone of the joint to be monitored, such as a vertebra. However, in some cases a bone element can be formed by more than one bone itself, for example when it comes to several bones that move together essentially as if they formed a single unit. This may occur, for example, in the case of the wrist, where the bone element located in the area of the base of the hand is formed by a plurality of bones.
    b) Sensor
    The device comprises at least one sensor connected to the two units
    articulated to detect the angle formed by said two articulated units
    each. The sensor can in principle be of any type as long as it allows
    detect the angle formed by each pair of articulated units, either
    direct (for example, by a single sensor connected to both units) or
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    indirectly (for example, using two sensors connected respectively to each of the pieces and performing the necessary calculation operations), although preferably a deformation sensor or an orientation sensor is used. More preferably, a strain gauge, a pair of accelerometers, a pair of gyroscopes, a photon extension, flexion or torsion sensor, a piezoelectric resonance sensor, or a combination thereof can be used.
    In the case of using strain sensors, a sensor would be attached to each pair of articulated units so that, when the relative orientation of one unit varies with respect to the other, there is a flexion or torsion that is detected by the sensor a through the measurement of any suitable physical variable. Therefore, in case the device was formed by a plurality n of articulated units, for example to detect the position of the column, the number of necessary deformation sensors would be (n-1). In general, any sensor capable of detecting this type of deformation can be used, such as an strain gauge.
    In the case of using orientation sensors, a sensor would be attached to each of the articulated units. That is, for each pair of articulated units, two orientation sensors capable of determining the position of each of the units would be required. Subsequently, a simple calculation allows to determine which is the angle formed by the two units with each other and in what way it has varied as a consequence of the movement of the joint. Therefore, in case the device was formed by a plurality n of articulated units, for example to detect the position of the column, the number of necessary deformation sensors would also be n. In general, any type of sensor capable of detecting the relative orientation of each pair of articulated units can be used, such as a pair of accelerometers, or a pair of gyroscopes.
    c) Alarm medium
    The device comprises an alarm means configured to issue a warning serial in case the detected angle exceeds a maximum threshold. The alarm means may comprise sound, visual, vibratory or thermal emission means to indicate to the user that the monitored joint is adopting a position not recommended.
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    In the case of a device formed by a single pair of articulated units, the maximum threshold corresponds to the maximum recommended angle for the joint being monitored. In the case of a device formed by a plurality of articulated units, the warning signal may be emitted when a certain number of pairs of articulated units exceeds angular thresholds determined as recommended.
    The alarm means can be physically connected to the articulated units. Alternatively, the alarm medium may be physically separated from the articulated units and configured to communicate wirelessly with a communication medium connected to the sensor. In this way, depending on the angle detected by the sensor, the device will determine if it is necessary to activate the warning signal and, if so, the means of communication will indicate it to the alarm means wirelessly. In this case, the alarm means may be constituted by a bracelet, mobile phone, tablet or the like.
    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises an interface means for adjusting the maximum threshold of the detected angle. In the event that the device has a plurality of articulated units, the interface means will also allow the alarm activation condition to be configured based on how many, or which, of the pairs of articulated units exceed the threshold considered advisable. For example, the device of the invention may be in communication with an external interface means provided with a screen that allows the healthcare professional to establish the maximum threshold angle of the joint. It would also be possible to set several thresholds associated with alarms of different types, for example a first warning alarm with a first tone or volume and a second danger alarm with a second tone or higher volume. All this information would be sent from the interface medium to a processing medium connected to the sensors for the control of the alarms.
    In another preferred embodiment, the device of the invention further comprises a storage means configured to store the data obtained by the sensor and / or the information on the activation of the alarm means. These data may be subsequently extracted or communicated abroad for use and study by health personnel.
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    Until now, the device has been described in its simplest version formed by two articulated units for the monitoring of an articulation formed by two bone elements, such as the wrist, the knee, the elbow, etc. However, it is also possible to use this device to monitor an articulation formed by a plurality of bone elements such as the spine. In this case, the device preferably comprises a plurality of articulated units and a plurality of sensors. The articulated units are configured to engage the patient's skin on a corresponding plurality of bone elements of the joint to be monitored, such that the movements of said articulated units essentially correspond to the movements of said bone elements. The plurality of sensors are connected to each pair of articulated units to detect the angle formed by each pair of articulated units. Thus, this alarm means is configured to issue a warning signal in case at least one of the detected angles exceeds said threshold.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
    Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of the device of the invention.
    PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
    Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of the device (1) of the invention configured to monitor the position of a patient's spine, and more specifically to monitor the position of five vertebrae (100) of the patient's spine.
    The device (1) of this example has five articulated units (2) fixed on the patient's skin (101) just above each of the vertebrae (100). The fixation was made with the help of biocompatible adhesives. Each articulated unit (2) may also be formed with a recess or other form complementary to the shape of the skin (101) in the area of the vertebrae (100). Fixed to each pair of articulated units (2) are arranged sensors (3) that detect the angle (a1, a2, a3, a4) formed by each pair of vertebrae (100). In this example, the sensors (3) detect only the angle formed by the vertebrae (100) in the longitudinal direction. In this example, the sensors (3) are in communication with an interface means (4) that can be manipulated by a healthcare professional to establish the thresholds corresponding to each angle (a1, a2, a3, a4).
    The device (1) also comprises an alarm means that can be configured as
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    different modes For example, the alarm means may be integrated into the units (2) articulated in the form of a vibrator, so that when any of the angles (a1, a2, a3, a4) exceeds the threshold value, the patient immediately notices that The position you have taken is not correct. This type of alarm means has the advantage that only the patient himself notices and not the people around him. Alternatively, the alarm means may be acoustic or visual, and in this case it would preferably be integrated with the interface means (4) itself, so that it would emit said signals, as schematically represented in Fig. 1. Alternatively, or additionally, the alarm means may be constituted by an element physically separated from the articulated units (2). In this case, the device will comprise a communication medium capable of communicating wirelessly with the alarm means to cause the activation of the warning signal. For example, the alarm means may be implemented as a wristband worn by the user.
    Thus, once the device (1) has been fixed in the desired position on the patient's spine and is activated, the angle formed by each pair of vertebrae (100) is continuously monitored. When the patient adopts an inadequate posture, the angle formed by at least one of the pairs of vertebrae (100) exceeds the threshold value established by the healthcare professional, and as a consequence the alarm means alerts the user. The user must then modify his posture until the angle formed by all pairs of vertebrae (100) is within the allowed intervals. Otherwise, the alarm, whether vibratory, acoustic or visual, remains active until corrected by the patient.
    权利要求:
    Claims (12)
    [1]
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    1. Device (1) for monitoring a patient's joint, characterized in that it comprises:
    at least two articulated units (2) configured to be fixed to the skin (101) of the patient on two bone elements (100) of the joint to be monitored, such that the movements of said two articulated units (2) correspond essentially to the movements of said bone elements (100);
    at least one sensor (3) connected to the two articulated units (2) to detect the angle formed by said two units (2) articulated with each other; Y
    an alarm means configured to issue a warning signal in case the detected angle exceeds a maximum threshold.
    [2]
    2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the articulated joint between the at least two articulated units (2) allows variations in the relative orientation of said articulated units (2) only in longitudinal direction.
    [3]
    3. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the articulated units (2) comprise a recessed area that has a complementary shape in relation to the bone element (100) on which they are to be fixed.
    [4]
    4. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor (3) is a deformation sensor or an orientation sensor.
    [5]
    5. Device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the sensor (3) is chosen from a strain gauge, a pair of accelerometers, a pair of gyroscopes, an extension, flexion or photonic torsion sensor, a sensor of piezoelectric resonance, or a combination thereof.
    [6]
    6. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which further comprises an interface means (4) for adjusting the maximum threshold of the detected angle.
    [7]
    7. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the alarm means is physically connected to the articulated units (2).
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    [8]
    8. Device (1) according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the alarm means is physically separated from the articulated units (2) and configured to communicate wirelessly with a communication medium connected to the sensor (3) .
    [9]
    9. Device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the alarm means is formed by a bracelet, a mobile phone, or a tablet.
    [10]
    10. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the alarm means comprises sound, visual, vibratory or thermal emission means.
    [11]
    11. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which further comprises a storage medium configured to store the data obtained by the sensor and / or the information on the activation of the alarm medium.
    [12]
    12. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of articulated units (2) configured to engage the skin (101) of the patient on a corresponding plurality of bone elements (100) of the articulation that it is going to be monitored, so that the movements of said articulated units (2) correspond essentially to the movements of said bone elements (100), and a plurality of sensors (3) connected to each pair of articulated units (2) for detect the angle formed by each pair of units (2) articulated with each other, where the alarm means is configured to issue a warning signal in case at least one of the detected angles exceeds said threshold.
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    同族专利:
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    ES2591035B1|2017-09-20|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    WO1998047426A1|1997-04-21|1998-10-29|Virtual Technologies, Inc.|Goniometer-based body-tracking device and method|
    WO2003047430A1|2001-12-03|2003-06-12|Priester, William, B.|Joint angle indication system|
    WO2006038822A1|2004-10-04|2006-04-13|Industrial Research Limited|Angle and force measurement instrument|
    ES2364172A1|2010-12-02|2011-08-26|Manuel Fernández Guerrero|System of indication and supervision in real time of the postural correction of the spinal column and applications that require cinematic or dynamic analysis. |
    ES2543257A1|2015-03-18|2015-08-17|Universidad De Alicante|Device for the control of posture and movement of the lumbar spine |
    法律状态:
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