Patent Publication Number: US-2020297248-A1

Title: Posture monitoring device employing elastic resistance element, and method and system for monitoring posture by using same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a posture monitoring device and a method and a system for monitoring a posture using the same, and more particularly, to a posture monitoring device for measuring and correcting a user&#39;s posture by utilizing a resistance element which is elastic and has a resistance which is changed according to mechanical strain, and a method and a system for monitoring a posture using the same. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     With the development of computer science and the development of the economy, as the working and academic environment is changed, the sedentary time rather than dynamic physical activity has been rapidly increased. In such an environment, when an incorrect posture is maintained for a long time, fatigue is easily felt, and particularly, backache and cervical pain are easily caused. 
     Pain in the lumbar and cervical spinal column is a major spinal disease that 80% or higher of the total population experiences by various causes and is caused by an incorrect posture as well as the cause of spinal injury. 
     Until the curvature of the spinal column is severely worsened, the curvature of the spinal column may be sufficiently alleviated and improved only by treatment with correct posture and correct habits, rather than recovery through direct treatment. Recently, the development of a posture monitoring system capable of measuring and correcting the posture has been actively performed. 
     For example, there are proposed a system for monitoring a sitting posture in real time by attaching a pressure sensor to a chair to sense the pressure applied to the chair by a body (see Prior Art 1), a system for monitoring a posture based on a captured image by attaching a camera to a display device such as a monitor to capture a user&#39;s posture (see Prior Art 2), and a system for monitoring a posture by wearing clothes with an EMG sensor, an inertial sensor, etc. and analyzing a signal sensed from various sensors (see Prior Art 3). 
     However, such a conventional system requires a separate sensing means such as a chair with a sensor, a photographing device such as a camera, and clothes equipped with a sensor to determine a user&#39;s posture. In the case of Prior Arts 1 and 2, there is a limitation that it may only be used under quite limited conditions in that it is possible to monitor the posture only when the user takes a sitting position at a specific position. In the case of Prior Art 3, there is an inconvenience to the user&#39;s activities in terms of attaching various sensors to the body, acquisition of measurement information or a processing algorithm is complicated, and it is difficult to accurately determine the user&#39;s posture in real time. 
     (Patent Document 1) 1. Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0048617 (Title of the invention: Real-time sitting posture monitoring system using pressure sensor) 
     (Patent Document 2) 2. Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2014-0004320 (Title of the invention: Posture correction system through periodic monitoring) 
     (Patent Document 3) 3. Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0000353 (Title of the invention: Apparatus for measuring bioelectric signal for correcting posture) 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     The present invention is derived to solve the problems above and directed to providing a posture measuring and correcting device including elastic resistance elements which are attached onto or inserted into the body of a user so that the resistance is sensitively changed according to mechanical strain depending on a user&#39;s posture, and a monitoring method and system utilizing the same. 
     Further, the present invention is directed to providing a posture monitoring device configured to be easily portable and be used in everyday life without spatial constraints as compared with a conventional posture monitoring device by using the posture monitoring device of the present invention by the user. 
     Further, the present invention is directed to providing a posture monitoring device, method, and system configured to check posture information in real time and correct the posture by interlocking a terminal such as a smart phone with a monitoring device provided in the body of the user. 
     Further, the present invention is directed to providing a posture monitoring device, method, and system capable of transmitting a signal to correct a posture to a user by utilizing an alarm function when the user maintains an improper posture for a predetermined time or higher. 
     The objects of the present invention are not limited to the aforementioned object, and other objects, which are not mentioned above, will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art from the following description. 
     Technical Solution 
     One aspect of the present invention provides a posture monitoring device configured to monitor a posture by measuring the degree of stretching a first part and a second part of a dorsal part which are divided by the spinal column, the posture monitoring device including: a first elastic resistance element which is configured to be attached onto or inserted into the skin of the first part, disposed to measure the degree of stretching of the skin of the first part in a longitudinal direction of the spinal column, and made of a conductive material to have elasticity; a second elastic resistance element which is configured to be attached onto or inserted into the skin of the second part, disposed to measure the degree of stretching of the skin of the second part in a longitudinal direction of the spinal column, and made of a conductive material to have elasticity; a power supply device configured to apply a current or a voltage to the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element through electrodes formed on both ends of each of the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element; and a communication module configured to transmit data output from the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element to a controller so as to calculate information about mechanical strain occurring in the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element and information about curvatures of the body on the first part and the second part. 
     Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the output data may be data about at least one of resistance, current, and voltage of the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element. 
     Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element may contain conductive carbon particles and be disposed in the form of strings in the longitudinal direction of the spinal column. 
     Further, according to another feature of the present invention, a plurality of first elastic resistance elements and second elastic resistance elements may be provided, respectively, and the output data may be an average value of the data output from the plurality of first elastic resistance elements and an average value of the data output from the plurality of second elastic resistance elements. 
     Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the posture monitoring device may further include a first stimulating element which is attached onto the skin of the first part or inserted to be located into the skin and configured to apply stimulation to the skin or muscle of the first part; and a second stimulating element which is attached onto the skin of the second part or inserted to be located into the skin and configured to apply stimulation to the skin or muscle of the second part. 
     Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the posture monitoring device may further include a third elastic resistance element which is configured to be attached onto the skin or inserted into the skin, disposed to measure the degree of stretching of the skin of a third part which is distinguished from the first part and the second part in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spinal column, and made of a conductive material to have elasticity. 
     Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the posture monitoring device may further include a third stimulating element which is attached onto the skin of the third part or inserted to be located into the skin and configured to apply stimulation to the skin or muscle of the third part. 
     Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the posture monitoring device may further include a fourth elastic resistance element which is configured to be attached onto the skin or inserted into the skin, disposed to measure the degree of stretching of the skin of a fourth part which is distinguished from the first part and the second part in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spinal column, and made of a conductive material to have elasticity. 
     Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the posture monitoring device may further include a fourth stimulating element which is attached onto the skin of the fourth part or inserted to be located into the skin and configured to apply stimulation to the skin or muscle of the fourth part. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides a posture monitoring method configured to monitor a posture by measuring the degree of stretching a first part and a second part of a dorsal part which are divided by the spinal column, the posture monitoring method including: receiving data of at least one of resistance, current, and voltage output from a first elastic resistance element and a second elastic resistance element, from a posture monitoring device including a first elastic resistance element which is configured to be attached onto the skin of the first part or inserted to be located into the skin, disposed to measure the degree of stretching of the skin of the first part in a longitudinal direction of the spinal column, and made of a conductive material to have elasticity, a second elastic resistance element which is configured to be attached onto the skin of the second part or inserted to be located into the skin, disposed to measure the degree of stretching of the skin of the second part in a longitudinal direction of the spinal column, and made of a conductive material to have elasticity, and a power supply device configured to apply a current or a voltage to the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element through electrodes formed on both ends of each of the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element; calculating information about mechanical strain occurring in the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element, based on the data; and measuring the degree of curvatures of the body in the first part and the second part based on the information about mechanical strain. 
     Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the posture monitoring method may further include determining whether the degree of curvatures of the body in the first part and the second part is a preset threshold or higher. 
     Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the posture monitoring device may further include a first stimulating element which is attached onto the skin of the first part or inserted to be located into the skin and configured to apply stimulation to the skin or muscle of the first part and a second stimulating element which is attached onto the skin of the second part or inserted to be located into the skin and configured to apply stimulation to the skin or muscle of the second part, and the posture monitoring method may further include transmitting a signal so that at least one of the first stimulating element and the second stimulating element applies stimulation to the skin or muscle, when the degree of curvature of the body in at least one of the first part and the second part is determined as the preset threshold or higher in the determining. 
     Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the posture monitoring method may further include transmitting an alarm signal to an external terminal, when the degree of curvature of the body in at least one of the first part and the second part is determined as the preset threshold or higher in the determining. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a posture monitoring system configured to monitor a posture by measuring the degree of stretching a first part and a second part of a dorsal part which are divided by the spinal column, the posture monitoring system including: a posture monitoring device including a first elastic resistance element which is configured to be attached onto or inserted into the skin of the first part, disposed to measure the degree of stretching of the skin of a first part in a longitudinal direction of the spinal column, and made of a conductive material to have elasticity, a second elastic resistance element which is configured to be attached onto or inserted into the skin of the second part, disposed to measure the degree of stretching of the skin of the second part in a longitudinal direction of the spinal column, and made of a conductive material to have elasticity, a power supply device configured to apply a current or a voltage to the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element through electrodes formed on both ends of each of the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element, and a communication module configured to transmit data output from the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element so as to calculate information about mechanical strain occurring in the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element and information about curvatures of the body on the first part and the second part; and a controller configured to receive data of at least one of resistance, current, and voltage output from the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element, from the posture monitoring device, calculate information about mechanical strain occurring in the first elastic resistance element and the second elastic resistance element, based on the data, and measure the degree of curvatures of the body in the first part and the second part based on the information about mechanical strain. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the posture monitoring device, method, and system of the present invention, it is possible to provide a posture monitoring device, method, and system with efficiently improved ease of the use as compared with a conventional posture monitoring device requiring various sensors or equipment while efficiently measuring various postures of the user, by utilizing the elastic resistance elements which are attached onto or inserted into the body of a user so that the resistance is sensitively changed according to mechanical strain. 
     In particular, according to the posture monitoring device, method and system of the present invention, it is possible to be easily portable and be used in everyday life without spatial constraints. 
     Further, according to the posture monitoring device, method and system of the present invention, it is possible to utilize a measuring means which is suitable for measuring various postures of the user causing bending or twisting, and other various strains and is not strained even in repeated use, by utilizing a resistance element of which the shape is freely changed by an external force and then restored to an original state without a damage when the external force is released. 
     Further, according to the posture monitoring device, method and system of the present invention, it is possible to check posture information in real time by interlocking a terminal such as a smart phone with a monitoring device provided in the body of the user. 
     Further, according to the posture monitoring device, method, and system of the present invention, when the user maintains an improper posture for a predetermined time or higher, a signal to correct the posture is transmitted to the user, thereby preventing diseases such as discopathy (disc disease) of the spinal column or cyphosis and scoliosis. 
     Further, according to the posture monitoring device, method, and system of the present invention, by inducing patients having surgery due to a spinal lesion and required to maintain a correct posture for a certain period of time to maintain the correct posture, it is possible to prevent postoperative complications. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a posture monitoring device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are configuration diagrams schematically illustrating a posture monitoring device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram schematically illustrating a posture monitoring system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart for describing a posture monitoring method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     MODES OF THE INVENTION 
     Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for accomplishing the same will be more clearly understood from exemplary embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following exemplary embodiments but may be implemented in various different forms. The exemplary embodiments are provided only to make description of the present disclosure complete and to fully provide the scope of the present disclosure to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains with the category of the invention, and the present disclosure will be defined by the appended claims. 
     When elements or layers are referred to as being “on” another element or layer, it may be directly on the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. 
     Although the terms “first”, “second”, and the like are used for describing various components, these components are not confined by these terms. These terms are merely used for distinguishing one component from another component. Therefore, a first component to be mentioned below may be a second component in a technical concept of the present invention. 
     Throughout the whole specification, the same reference numerals denote the same elements. 
     Since the size and thickness of each component illustrated in the drawings are represented for convenience in explanation, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the illustrated size and thickness of each component. 
     The features of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be partially or entirely bonded to or combined with each other and can be interlocked and operated in technically various ways, and the exemplary embodiments can be carried out independently of or in association with each other. 
     Hereinafter, a posture monitoring device, and a method and a system for monitoring a posture using the same will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     First, a posture monitoring device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B . 
       FIG. 1  is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a posture monitoring device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are configuration diagrams schematically illustrating a posture monitoring device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a posture monitoring device  100  of the present invention includes a first elastic resistance element  110  and a second elastic resistance element  120  which are configured to be attached onto the skin or inserted into the skin, a power supply device  130  for applying a current or a voltage to the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 , a resistance measuring device  140  for measuring variable resistances of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 , and a communication module  150  for transmitting data output from the resistance measuring device  140  to an external device. 
     The first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  are elements which are configured to measure the degree of stretching of a first part  11  and a second part  12  on a dorsal part, which are divided by the spinal column of the body. The first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  are made of conductive materials to have elasticity and have a characteristic in which the resistance is sensitively changed according to mechanical strain depending on a user&#39;s posture. 
     Here, the dorsal part means the neck, the back, the waist of the back of the spinal column, and for convenience of description, the exemplary embodiment illustrates that the elastic resistance elements  110  and  120  are disposed on the back part, but is not limited thereto. 
     In this case, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  are arranged in the form of strings in a longitudinal direction of the spinal column, and electrodes  111  and  121  of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  may be formed at both ends. However, the forms of the elastic resistance elements  110  and  120  illustrated in  FIG. 1  are illustrative, and for example, it should be noted that the resistance elements  110  and  120  may be variously modified in the form of wide strings. 
     At this time, the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  may be configured to be attached onto skins of the first part  11  and the second part  12  or to be inserted into the skins, respectively. 
     For example, the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  may be resistance elements manufactured in various structures in a film form and a three-dimensional form through a combination of a stretchable elastic material and conductive nanoparticles. The elastic material may be polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), which is a kind of silicone rubber having elasticity and flexibility, and the conductive nanoparticles may be carbon particles. In addition, the conductive nanoparticles may be nanomaterials having high conductivity, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, metal nanowires, and metal nanoparticles. At this time, it is preferable that the materials forming the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  are adopted as a material having a small change in specific resistance due to external influences (temperature, humidity, etc.). 
     Meanwhile, the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  may also be formed in the form in which an electronic ink (E-ink) containing conductive nanoparticles and manufactured to be applied to the skin is applied to the skin or inserted into the skin (e.g., tattoo). Such an E-ink may employ a configuration of conductive ink that is safe for the skin disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0133556. 
     When the E-ink is applied to the skin or inserted into the skin to form the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 , the E-ink is preferably made of a material that can be combined with living tissue, is a soft and elastic material, and is harmless to the human body. In addition, when a current flowing in the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  may cause a direct effect (e.g., electric shock) on the tissue, it is preferable that an insulating layer is formed between the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  and the skin or subcutaneous tissue. 
     The insulating layer may also be formed to surround the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 , or may also be formed in the form of a film in contact with the skin or subcutaneous tissue. In addition to the illustrated shapes, of course, the insulating layer may be formed to protect the skin or subcutaneous tissue in various ways. At this time, it is preferable that the insulating layer is formed of a material having the same or similar elasticity as or to that of the elastic resistance elements  110  and  120 . 
     In addition, the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  may be applied in various forms (e.g., a film form, etc.) in which the resistance is sensitively changed according to mechanical strain, and of course, a technique known as a flexible tactile material capable of sensing changes in the body such as pressure and strain may be applied to the present invention. 
     The power supply device  130  applies a voltage or current to the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  by the electrodes  111  and  121 . 
     When the voltage or current is applied to the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  by the power supply device  130 , the resistance measuring device  140  may measure the current or voltage flowing in the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  to calculate the resistances of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 . 
     The displacement of the calculated resistances of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  or the changed resistances is used for calculating information about mechanical strain occurring in the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  and information about the curvatures of the body in the first part  11  and the second part  12 . This will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The communication module  150  transmits data output from the resistance measuring device  140 , that is, data about at least one of resistance, current, and voltage, to an external device. 
     The communication module  150  is preferably a Bluetooth module. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and of course, the communication module  150  may be a near field communication module such as radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ZigBee, and Wi-Fi Direct, and any known network may be used. 
     Meanwhile, a plurality of first elastic resistance elements  110  and second elastic resistance elements  120  may be provided. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the plurality of first elastic resistance elements  110  and second elastic resistance elements  120  configured in the form of strings in a longitudinal direction of the spinal column may be connected to each other and arranged in parallel. 
     In this case, the resistance measuring device  140  may calculate an average value of data output from the first elastic resistance elements  110  and the second elastic resistance elements  120  to provide the average value to the communication module  150 . Each data output from the first elastic resistance elements  110  and the second elastic resistance elements  120  may also be provided to the communication module  150  without a separate operation. 
     Furthermore, the posture monitoring device  100  of the present invention further includes a first stimulating element  160  and a second stimulating element  170  which are attached onto the skins of the first part  11  and the second part  12  or inserted to be located inside the skins. 
     The first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170  are configured to apply stimulation to the skins or muscles of the first part  11  and the second part  12 . For example, the first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170  may be elements configured to apply stimulation to the user&#39;s skin or muscle in the same manner as electrical muscle stimulation or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. In this case, the stimulation applied by the first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170  may be an electrical stimulation signal, and in addition, may also be a vibration stimulation signal. 
     The first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170  may be configured to operate upon receiving a stimulation signal from the communication module  150 , and the operation of the first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170  will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170  are arranged in the form of a string together with the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  to be elongated in the longitudinal direction of the spinal column. Further, the first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170  may be disposed to be connected in parallel with the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 , so as to share the first elastic resistance element  110  and the electrode  111  and share the second elastic resistance element  120  and the electrode  121 , respectively. 
     However, the arrangement manner of the first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170  is not limited to the illustrated, and so long as the stimulation may be applied to the first part  11  and the second part  12 , of course, the first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170  may be arranged in various structures. 
     Meanwhile, referring to  FIG. 2A , a posture monitoring device  100 ′ of the exemplary embodiment may further include a third elastic resistance element  180  in a third part  13  which is distinguished from the first part  11  and the second part  12 . The third elastic resistance element  180  may be included in the posture monitoring device of the present invention in addition to the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 , and is preferably disposed to monitor a posture of the shoulder portion of the user. 
     The third elastic resistance element  180  is also configured to be attached onto the skin or inserted into the skin like the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 , and may be disposed to measure the degree of stretching of the skin of the third part  13 . However, unlike the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 , the third elastic resistance element  180  may be disposed to measure the degree of stretching of the skin in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spinal column. 
     The posture monitoring device  100 ′ further includes the third elastic resistance element  180  in the third part  13  to have an advantage of more precisely monitoring various postures by measuring the stretching of the skins of the first part  11 , the second part  12 , and the third part  13 . 
     Further, referring to  FIG. 2B , a posture monitoring device  100 ″ of the exemplary embodiment may further include a fourth elastic resistance element  180 ′ in a fourth part  14  which is distinguished from the first part  11  and the second part  12 . The fourth elastic resistance element  180 ′ may be included in the posture monitoring device of the present invention in addition to the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 , and is preferably disposed to monitor a posture of the neck portion of the user. 
     The fourth elastic resistance element  180 ′ is also configured to be attached onto the skin or inserted into the skin like the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 , and may be disposed to measure the degree of stretching of the skin of the fourth part  14 . However, unlike the third elastic resistance element  180 , the fourth elastic resistance element  180 ′ may be disposed to measure the degree of stretching of the skin in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spinal column. 
     The posture monitoring device  100 ″ further includes the fourth elastic resistance element  180 ′ in the fourth part  14  to have an advantage of more precisely monitoring various postures by measuring the stretching of the skins of the first part  11 , the second part  12 , and the fourth part  14 . 
     Meanwhile, in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , although the first part  11 , the second part  12 , the third part  13 , and the fourth part  14  are illustrated as being independent of each other, the third part  13  and the fourth part  14  may partially overlap with the first part  11  and the second part  12 . 
     Since a driving principle of the third elastic resistance element  180  and the fourth elastic resistance element  180 ′ is the same as that of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 , a duplicated description will be omitted. 
     In addition, the posture monitoring devices  100 ′ and  100 ″ of the present invention may further include a third stimulating element  190  or fourth stimulating element  190 ′ configured to apply stimulation to the skin or muscle in the third part  13  or the fourth part  14  which is distinguished from the first part  11  and the second part  12 . The third stimulating element  190  and the fourth stimulating element  190 ′ may be included in the posture monitoring device of the present invention in addition to the first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170 , and are preferably disposed to correct a posture of the shoulder or neck portion of the user. 
     Since a driving principle of the third stimulating element  190  and the fourth stimulating element  190 ′ is the same as that of the first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170 , a duplicated description will be omitted. 
     Meanwhile, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the third elastic resistance element  180  and the fourth elastic resistance element  180 ′ may be performed independently of each other or may be performed by overlapping with each other. When performed by overlapping with each other, posture control of the shoulder and neck portions is also possible. 
     Hereinafter, a method and a system for monitoring a posture of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram schematically illustrating a posture monitoring system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 4  is a flowchart for describing a posture monitoring method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a posture monitoring system of the present invention includes a posture monitoring device  100 , a controller  200 , and a user terminal  300 . The posture monitoring device  100  is as described above with reference to  FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B . 
     The controller  200  processes various data for performing the posture monitoring method of the present invention. 
     Specifically, the controller  200  receives data output from the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  of the posture monitoring device  100  to determine the degree of stretching of the first part  11  and the second part  12  on a dorsal part and determine the degree of curvature of the body and the posture based on the determined degree of stretching. In addition, when the determined degree of curvature of the body is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, the controller  200  may provide a stimulation signal to the first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170  to correct the user&#39;s posture. 
     The controller  200  may correspond to at least one processor or may include at least one processor. 
     In addition, the controller  200  may be implemented as a separate device and driven as illustrated in the drawing, or may be driven in a form included in another hardware device (e.g., the user terminal  300 ) such as a microprocessor or a general purpose computer system. Hereinafter, the controller  200  may be implemented as a separate device to perform the posture monitoring method of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     The user terminal  300  may be a communication terminal capable of using a web or mobile service in a wired or wireless communication environment. Specifically, the user terminal  300  may be a device or a terminal including a processor, a storage unit, a communication module, and may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a mobile terminal such as a smart phone, a desktop or laptop computer, or an accessory device used in combination with them. The user terminal  300  may include a display unit that displays a screen and an input device that receives data from a user. 
     The user terminal  300  may communicate with the controller  200  and share posture information of the user measured by the posture monitoring device  100 , and may also transmit a signal input to the user terminal  300  to the posture monitoring device  100  through the controller  200 . 
     Hereinafter, for convenience of description, it is assumed that the user terminal  300  is a smart phone equipped with an application related to the posture monitoring method of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and of course, the user terminal  300  may be one of the terminals listed above. 
     Hereinafter, a method of performing the posture monitoring method of the present invention by the controller  200  will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . For understanding of the invention, the drawings illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3  may be referred together. 
     The controller  200  receives data output from the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  from the communication module  150  of the posture monitoring device  100  (S 10 ). 
     Here, the data is data relating to the current, voltage, and resistance of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120 . 
     The controller  200  calculates information on mechanical strain generated in the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  based on the received data (S 20 ), and determines the user&#39;s posture by measuring the degree of curvature of the body in the first part and the second part based on the calculated information on mechanical strain (S 30 ). 
     A principle is as follows in which the controller  200  calculates the information on mechanical strain generated in the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  through the data output from the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  and determines the user&#39;s posture by measuring the degree of stretching of the first part  11  and the second part  12  of the dorsal part and the degree of curvature of the body. 
     When the first part  11  and the second part  12  of the dorsal part are stretched, the lengths of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  are increased, but the thicknesses of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  are decreased. At this time, the resistances of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  are increased. On the contrary, when the first part  11  and the second part  12  of the dorsal part are contracted, the lengths of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  are decreased, but the thicknesses of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  are increased. At this time, the resistances of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  are decreased. 
     In this principle, the controller  200  calculates changes in resistances of the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  to measure the degree of stretching of the first part  11  and the second part  12  of the dorsal part in which the first elastic resistance element  110  and the second elastic resistance element  120  are disposed. 
     For example, if the resistance of the first elastic resistance element  110  is increased and the resistance of the second elastic resistance element  120  is increased, both the first part  11  and the second part  12  of the dorsal part are stretched, and thus, the controller  200  determines the user&#39;s posture as a posture of bending the back or waist or lowering the head. 
     On the contrary, if the resistance of the first elastic resistance element  110  is decreased and the resistance of the second elastic resistance element  120  is decreased, both the first part  11  and the second part  12  of the dorsal part are contracted, and thus, the controller  200  determines the user&#39;s posture as a posture of bending back the back or waist or raising the head. 
     Meanwhile, if the resistance of the first elastic resistance element  110  is decreased and the resistance of the second elastic resistance element  120  is increased, or the resistance of the first elastic resistance element  110  is increased and the resistance of the second elastic resistance element  120  is decreased, one of the first part  11  and the second part  12  of the dorsal part is stretched and the other part is contracted, and thus, the controller  200  determines the user&#39;s posture as being inclined to the left or right or rotating the trunk. 
     Next, the controller  200  determines whether the degree of curvature of the body in the first part  11  and the second part  12  is equal to or greater than a preset threshold (S 40 ). 
     When the degree of curvature of the body is equal to or greater than the preset threshold, it means that the user takes an incorrect posture, that is, an improper posture at the time of measuring. 
     Here, the preset threshold may be appropriately set for the user who uses the posture monitoring device  100  of the present invention and preset in the controller  200 . 
     For example, while the user naturally sits or stands (standing position), a setting point is set, and the degree of curvature of the body is measured by setting intentionally each part of the body by flexion, extension, lateral rotation, and lateral bending. In this case, a technique such as radiographic imaging may be utilized. Between the standing position of the user and the position where the body is strained to the maximum value, the degree of deviating from the standing position at a predetermined ratio may be determined as the preset threshold. 
     At this time, the controller  200  may record a time that the degree of curvature of the body lasts at the preset threshold or higher to make a database for giving feedback to the user, and transmit the recorded time to the user terminal  300  to make it for the user to check the monitoring content for the own posture. 
     Next, when the controller  200  determines whether the degree of curvature of the user&#39;s body is equal to or greater than the preset threshold, the controller  200  transmits a signal so that at least one of the first stimulating element  160  and the second stimulating element  170  applies stimulation to the skin or muscle (S 50 ). 
     For example, on the other hand, when the controller  200  determines that the second part  12  of the dorsal part is stretched by the preset threshold or higher by decreasing the resistance of the first elastic resistance element  110  and increasing the resistance of the second elastic resistance element  120 , the controller  200  may transmit a signal to the second stimulating element  170  to apply stimulation to the skin or muscle. 
     Through this feedback process, the muscle on the side applied with the stimulation may be contracted, and at the same time, the user may sense the stimulation to correct the posture. 
     On the other hand, when the controller  200  determines whether the degree of curvature of the user&#39;s body is equal to or greater than the preset threshold, the controller  200  may transmit an alarm signal to the user terminal  300 . When the alarm signal is transmitted to the user terminal  300  as sound, vibration, or visual information, the user may also sense the stimulation to correct the posture. 
     According to the posture monitoring device, method, and system of the present invention, when the user maintains an improper posture for a predetermined time or higher, a signal to correct the posture is transmitted to the user, thereby preventing diseases such as discopathy (disc disease) of the spinal column or cyphosis and scoliosis caused by the improper posture. Further, by inducing patients having surgery due to a spinal lesion and required to maintain a correct posture for a certain period of time to maintain the correct posture, it is possible to prevent postoperative complications. 
     Hereinabove, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described with the accompanying drawings, but it can be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be executed in other detailed forms without changing the technical spirit or requisite features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be appreciated that the aforementioned exemplary embodiments described above are all illustrative in all aspects and are not restricted.