Patent ID: 11871820
Assignee: nan
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  G | IPC A  G

Claim 9:
10. A system for promoting proper use of a walking aid during patient rehabilitation from a lower extremity injury, the system comprising:
an electronic device associated with the walking aid, the electronic device comprising:
a body having a receptacle configured to receive a tip of a leg of the walking aid;
a substantially cylindrical housing configured to cooperate with the body to define an enclosed annular space;
at least one load sensor anchored to the body, the at least one load sensor being configured to measure a load on the walking aid;
a processor housed within the enclosed annular space, the processor communicatively coupled to the at least one load sensor;
a retaining mechanism for retaining the tip of the leg of the walking aid within the receptacle;
a base configured for limited axial movement relative to the body; and
a foot at a lower end of the base,
wherein the at least one load sensor is disposed between the base and the body and is configured to bear a load placed upon the walking aid during use of the walking aid;

a computing device comprising a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the computing device to:
receive rehabilitation program parameter data originating from a medical professional, the rehabilitation program parameter data including, for each of a plurality of time intervals spanning a rehabilitation period, a target relative load for an injured lower extremity during the time interval, the target relative load being relative to a patient body weight;
receive an indication of the patient body weight;
based on the rehabilitation program parameter data and the patient body weight, calculate, for each of the plurality of time intervals spanning the rehabilitation period, a target absolute load for the walking aid during the time interval; and
output rehabilitation program data comprising a schedule for use by the electronic device associated with the walking aid, the schedule specifying:
the plurality of time intervals spanning the rehabilitation period; and
for each of the plurality of time intervals spanning the rehabilitation period, a target absolute load for the walking aid during the time interval,

wherein the processor of the electronic device is operable to automatically adjust, according to the schedule, a currently operative target absolute load on the walking aid by, periodically during the rehabilitation period:
based on a current date, identifying one of the time intervals of the schedule as currently operative;
using the at least one load sensor, determining a peak load on the walking aid during a patient step taken during the currently operative time interval; and
providing a user notification indicating that the peak load upon the walking aid during the patient step is non-compliant with the target absolute load on the walking aid during the currently operative time interval.