WO2018211535A1

WO2018211535A1 - Analysis and treatment kit, particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like

Info

Publication number: WO2018211535A1
Application number: PCT/IT2017/000099
Authority: WO
Inventors: Valentina TERLIZZI
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-05-16
Filing date: 2017-05-16
Publication date: 2018-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-16
Also published as: WO2018211535A8

Abstract

An analysis and treatment kit, particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like, comprising a control and management element and at least two position sensors (2) which are mutually controlled; the sensors are designed to be arranged, even indirectly, at predefined points of the body of the person (P) arranged beforehand in an ideal posture; the kit (1) further comprises an electric power supply unit (3), which is validly connected to the control and management element; the control and management element is configured to check the match between the mutual arrangement of the sensors (2) and an ideal arrangement thereof, which is representative of a correct posture of the person, with consequent issuing of an alarm signal if a mismatch occurs.

Description

ANALYSIS AND TREATMENT KIT, PARTICULARLY FOR MEDICAL, DIAGNOSTIC, SPORTS AND REHABILITATION USE AND THE LIKE

The present invention relates to an analysis and treatment kit, particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like.

It is known that musculoskeletal ailments affecting the spinal column arise mainly from the incorrect posture that we assume over the years due to various factors.

Since school age, i.e., when the number of hours for which one remains seated and generally motionless begin to increase, the first bad postural habits begin to emerge and can become more intense and established as age increases in relation to the lifestyle that one has.

It has in fact been observed that the sedentary lifestyle that increasingly characterizes our society (for example due to work, which leads us to stay in a predefined and same position, be it standing or sitting, for long periods of time) is causing an increase in musculoskeletal ailments.

These incorrect habits, if prolonged over time, inevitably influence our fibroelastic structures which, by stiffening and shortening, lose elasticity, reducing their contraction-elongation capacity; the spinal column therefore assumes incorrect attitudes which, due to wrong habits, may become consolidated, leading even to the alteration of the physiological curves of our body, even to their reversal.

Our anatomical and physiological nature is in fact studied to maintain a dynamic and active lifestyle; everything that is passive, stable and continuous therefore inevitably leads to negative consequences not only on the locomotor apparatus but on the entire structure of our body (on all the organs and systems that constitute it).

In recent years, therefore, an attempt has been made to identify therapeutic tools that allow to treat these ailments, identifying an optimum therapeutic path for attaining, stabilizing and then maintaining the achieved results.

However, it has been observed that the best results can be obtained only by means of active and continuous collaboration on the part of the patient.

However, the patient is unlikely to be cooperative once he has achieved the result, performing, for example the specific physical exercises, a continuous sports activity, and adopting a different, healthier and more dynamic lifestyle, since these activities require considerable commitment on the part of the patient in terms of time and of physical effort.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, proposing an analysis and treatment kit, particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like, that allows the person to perceive immediately whether the assumed postural attitude is correct.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to propose a analysis and treatment kit, particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like that allows to obtain an active and continuous cooperation on the part of the patient.

Another object of the invention is to propose an analysis and treatment kit, particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like, that allows to attain, stabilize and then maintain the results achieved during therapy.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an analysis and treatment kit, particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like that has modest costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and is safe in application.

This aim, these objects and others which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an analysis and treatment kit, particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like, characterized in that it comprises: - a control and management element;

- at least two position sensors which are mutually controlled by and functionally associated with said management element and are designed to be arranged, even indirectly, at predefined points of the body of the person arranged beforehand in an ideal posture;

- an electric power supply unit;

said control and management element being configured to check the match between the mutual arrangement of said sensors and an ideal arrangement of said sensors, which is representative of a correct posture of the person, with consequent issuing of an alarm signal if a mismatch occurs.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the analysis and treatment kit, particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like, according to the invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of the analysis and treatment kit according to the invention in a possible position for use;

Figure 2 is a view of the analysis and treatment kit according to the invention in a different position for use;

Figure 3 is a view of the analysis and treatment kit according to the invention in a further position for use;

Figure 4 is a view of a second embodiment of the analysis and treatment kit according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a view of a third embodiment of the analysis and treatment kit according to the invention.

With particular reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an analysis and treatment kit, particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like.

According to the invention, the kit 1 comprises a control and management element and at least two position sensors 2 which are mutually controlled.

The sensors 2 are functionally associated with the management element and are designed to be arranged, even indirectly, at predefined points of the body of the person P previously placed in an ideal posture.

It is specified that the sensors 2 might be differential position sensors. In any case, the possibility to use other types of sensor 2, such as for example proximity sensors and the like, is not excluded.

Furthermore, the kit 1 comprises an electric power supply unit 3 which is validly connected to the control and management element.

It is specified that the control and management element is configured to check the match between the mutual arrangement of the sensors 2 and an ideal arrangement thereof, which is representative of a correct posture of the person P, with consequent issuing of an alarm signal when a mismatch occurs.

In practice, the person P can check in real time and at any moment of the day, for example while sitting at work or performing sports activity, the correctness of his/her own posture and, if the alarm signal is issued, correct it immediately until the alarm ceases.

If the control and management element checks the match between the mutual arrangement of the sensors 2 and an ideal arrangement thereof, the person P in fact detects no signal and therefore does not have to modify his/her body position; on the contrary, if the control and management element checks the absence of said match, it activates the issuing of an alarm signal and therefore the person P, by detecting the alarm signal, intervenes immediately, changing his/her body position until the correct posture is recovered, i.e., when the issuing of said signal ceases.

This simple and straightforward feedback allows to have self-control and constant supervision of one's own posture and accordingly, as in the case of a heart rate meter or other body parameter detection device, to self- correct, learning over time the best postural and motor pattern for one's own well-being.

For example, if the part to be treated is the back, the sensors 2 might be three and might be arranged in three predefined points of the back along the spinal column, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

These points, identified as fundamental in maintaining a certain alignment of the spinal column, when they are arranged according to an ideal mutual arrangement, allow to keep unchanged the main physiological curves of the spinal column.

These curves are necessary for our spinal column, the nature of which is not that of a rigid and straight configuration but rather is a movable configuration that is generated by an alternation of curves, in which a convexity is matched, in an upper region and in a lower region, by a concavity, and vice versa.

The alternation of curvatures, also by virtue of the presence of the muscles and ligaments, indeed allows us to maintain the upright and at the same time flexible and movable posture, distributing correctly and uniformly the mechanical stresses on all the vertebral bodies.

Therefore, the physiological curves are beneficial for the spinal column, since they give it a greater capacity to dampen pressures and stresses.

If the structure were linear, the weight would in fact bear only on the base.

In any case, the possibility is not excluded to arrange the sensors 2 in different parts of the body (such as for example on a leg, on an arm, the shoulder joint, and the like) according to precise technical and anatomical indications, in order to treat different ailments.

Furthermore, the kit 1 can comprise at least one alarm unit 4, preferably chosen from an acoustic alarm, a visual alarm, a vibrating unit, and the like. According to a particularly useful and practical solution, the kit 1 can comprise at least one load cell (not visible in the figure, in any case of a known type) to detect the force applied by the person P during the execution of predefined movements or in predefined positions (for example from a sitting or supine position).

The load cell is therefore also functionally associated with the control and management element.

The presence of the load cells therefore allows to detect the intensity, direction and variations of the force applied by the person P at the points where they are located: in this manner it is possible to identify whether the weight is well balanced and uniformly distributed or whether it bears excessively on one part of the body.

According to a solution that is particularly effective and efficient, the sensors 2, the alarm unit 4, the power supply unit 3 and the load cells, if present, can be comprised in a support 5 of the type preferably chosen from an adhesive plaster, an adhesive strip, an elastic band, an insole, a cushion, a backrest, and the like.

In order to render the kit 1 efficient, the control and management element can be associated with a memory unit.

Said memory unit of the element is validly preset to store a plurality of data strings that correspond to profiles of the patients; data of the type preferably chosen among the ideal mutual arrangement of the sensors 2, an identification code, medical history, diagnosis, detections made and the like, are associated with each profile.

Furthermore, the memory unit can comprise an internal archive for collecting all the detections made, including a digital signature and a timestamp.

This archive can then be used by the physiotherapist in order to identify the incorrect posture assumed by the patient, which causes the onset of inflammations, pain and the like, in order to identify the rehabilitation therapy that is suitable for the patient.

The possibility is not excluded that the memory unit might be a memory card inserted in the support 5.

Furthermore, the possibility is not excluded that the kit 1 might comprise a transceiver apparatus for sending data strings to at least one user interface module of the type chosen preferably from a smartwatch, a tablet, a smartphone, a PC, and the like.

The user interface module is therefore suitable for displaying, checking and comparing the results processed by the control element and stored in the memory unit.

It is therefore possible to determine in which phase of the day, during which activity or during which athletic gesture the variation with respect to the correct motor pattern occurs most frequently.

Furthermore, the possibility is not excluded that the alarm unit 4 might be integrated in the user interface, for example in the smartwatch, in order to increase the tactile, acoustic, visual stimulus provided to the person P, facilitating said person in identifying motor and postural errors.

Furthermore, it is useful to specify that the supports 5 can comprise an accommodation cavity for electrical connectors for the transmission of signals and power.

The cavity can be used to connect the kit 1 to a user interface module in order to transfer the data that are present in the memory unit.

If the electric power supply unit 3 is a battery, the possibility is not excluded that the cavity might be used to connect the kit 1 to the electric grid in order to recharge said battery.

It is specified that the sensors 2, once calibrated correctly, can be positioned easily autonomously by the person P by following specific indications.

In order to calibrate the sensors 2 it is sufficient to place the person P in an ideal posture and then arrange the sensors 2 at predefined points and finally store in the memory unit 3 said mutual position of the sensors 2 as their ideal mutual arrangement, which will indeed be identified as a reference value that the control element will use to perform the match check.

Advantageously, the analysis and treatment kit 1 , particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like, allows the person P to perceive immediately whether the postural attitude assumed is correct.

Conveniently, the analysis and treatment kit 1 according to the invention allows to obtain an active and continuous cooperation on the part of the patient.

Effectively, the analysis and treatment kit 1, particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like, allows to attain, stabilize and then maintain the results achieved during therapy.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An analysis and treatment kit, particularly for medical, diagnostic, sports and rehabilitation use and the like, characterized in that it comprises:

- a control and management element;

- at least two position sensors (2) which are mutually controlled by and functionally associated with said management element and are designed to be arranged, even indirectly, at predefined points of the body of the person (P) arranged beforehand in an ideal posture;

- an electric power supply unit (3);

said control and management element being configured to check the match between the mutual arrangement of said sensors (2) and an ideal arrangement of said sensors, which is representative of a correct posture of the person, with consequent issuing of an alarm signal if a mismatch occurs.

2. The analysis and treatment kit according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one alarm unit (4) which is preferably chosen from an acoustic alarm, a visual alarm, a vibrating units and the like, functionally associated with said management element.

3. The analysis and treatment kit according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one load cell for detecting the force applied by the person (P) during the execution of predefined movements or in predefined positions, said load cell being functionally associated with said control and management element.

4. The analysis and treatment kit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sensors (2), said electric power supply unit (3), said alarm unit (4) and said load cells are comprised in a support (5) of the type preferably chosen from an adhesive plaster, an adhesive strip, an elastic band, an insole, a cushion, a backrest and the like.

5. The analysis and treatment kit according to claim 1 , characterized in that said control and management element is associated with at least one memory unit, said memory unit storing a plurality of strings of data that correspond to profiles of patients, data of the type preferably chosen from an identification code, medical history, diagnosis, detections performed and the like being associated with each profile.

6. The analysis and treatment kit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said memory unit comprises an internal archive for collecting all the detections made, including a digital signature and a timestamp.

7. The analysis and treatment kit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a transceiver apparatus for sending a data string to a user interface module.

8. The analysis and treatment kit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support (5) comprises an accommodation cavity for electrical connectors for transmitting signals and power.