Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for determining stretch values and movement of body parts, e.g. a foot, by analysing stretch data from a stretch sensor. By analysing data from the stretch sensor it is possible to determine stretch samples which are associated with particular motion phases. Thereby the stretch values determined from the stretch samples have a particular physical meaning since they are associated with particular motion phases.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a method for determining movement of a human or animal body part on basis of measured stretch data. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A non-optimal movement pattern of the body or parts of the body is a major cause of pain and lesions or injuries in the locomotion system. Movement analysis is crucial for prophylaxis, diagnosing and treatment of such lesions, and in sports an optimal movement pattern is essential for optimal and injury free performance. 
         [0003]    Until now movement analysis has primarily been performed by monitoring movement of points on the body during motion, e.g. by use of advanced video technology where retro reflective optical markers on the body are tracked during motion with one or multiple video cameras. However, such video-based methods for analysing body motion and body loads are impractical since they normally require use of a treadmill and large dedicated rooms. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there is a need to enable monitoring of body motion without restricting the motion to be carried out in a particular environment, room or with use of a treadmill. 
         [0005]    U.S. 2010324457 discloses a system that records position data for portions of a body as a function of time. The position data can be collected from one or more sensors secured to the body either individually or using a patch. The sensors, in some embodiments, can include stretch sensors that produce a change in electrical resistance as the stretch sensors are stretched as a result of body movement. A data logger can be used to record the data. Various other elements such as a feedback mechanism or a manual pain indicator can also be included. 
         [0006]    The inventor of the present invention has appreciated that improved methods analysing body motion for determining body load is of benefit, and has in consequence devised the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It would be advantageous to achieve improved method for determining body loads during motion. It would also be desirable to enable determination of body loads without restricting the motion to be performed in a particular environment. In general, the invention preferably seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages singly or in any combination. In particular, it may be seen as an object of the present invention to provide a method that solves the above mentioned problems, or other problems, of the prior art. 
         [0008]    To better address one or more of these concerns, in a first aspect of the invention a sensor device is presented that is configured to process stretch data from a stretch sensor for determining a stretch value of a body part, where the sensor device comprises a processor configured to
       analyse the stretch data to identify a portion of the stretch data which corresponds to a motion of the body part, where the portion of the stretch data is identified so that the portion contains first and second stretch data points associated with respective first and second motion-phases of the body part,   analyse the identified portion of stretch data to determine first and second sensor values of the respective first and second stretch data points,   determine a stretch value from the first and second sensor values.       
 
         [0012]    It is understood that the first and second stretch data points are separated in time and located within a cyclic period of the stretch data. 
         [0013]    Since the sensor device is configured to determine a stretch value from specific stretch data samples of the measured stretch data—where the specific stretch data samples are associated with specific motion phases—it is ascertained that the stretch value is indicative of a particular stretch directly related, e.g. to the navicular drop. The motion phases may be predefined phases such as particular motion phases of a foot. 
         [0014]    The determination of stretch values may be used for determining movement of the body part, i.e. high stretch values which may indicate a high harmful overload. The sensor device may be used by professionals for determining load values of patients or the sensor device may be used by non-professionals e.g. by athletes for determining the load of a body part during training. For example, the sensor device may be used by runners for avoiding overloading of the foot by determining when the stretch values of the foot are becoming too high. Thereby, the athlete is able to maximize training efforts without the risk of overload injuries. 
         [0015]    Herein the word movement is used to define the stretch or movement of a body part, i.e. a stretch or movement between two points on a body part, such as between the tuberosity of the navicular bone and the center of the medial malleolus. The movement may be used for assessing the load of the particular body part. The word motion is used to define e.g. walking, running or other motions of a body part. 
         [0016]    The sensor device is particularly advantageous since it enables determination of stretch values by use of a single sensor. That is, no other sensors than a stretch sensor is required since the sensor device enables determination of stretch values in a way so that the stretch values are synchronized with the body motion. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment of the invention the body part is a foot, where the portion of the stretch data corresponds to a walking or running motion, where the first motion-phase of the foot is the heel strike, and where the second motion-phase of the foot is the mid stance, i.e. the phase where both the toe and the heel are in contact with the ground. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment the first data point is determined by determining a minimum value within at least a fraction of the identified portion of the stretch data and the second data point is determined by determining a maximum value within at least a fraction of the determined portion of the stretch data. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment the second data point is determined by determining a maximum value within at least a fraction of the portion of the stretch data and the first data point is determined by determining a minimum value located in time before the second data point. 
         [0020]    The stretch data may have a profile so that the maximum value always corresponds to a specific motion phase (e.g. both heel and toes are in contact with ground) and so that the minimum value located in the determined portion of the stretch data and before the maximum value always corresponds to another specific motions phase (heel impact). 
         [0021]    In an embodiment of the processor comprised by the sensor device is further configured for determination of a period of time between the first and second stretch data points. This period may advantageously be used as a second measure (in addition to the first measure of stretch data) for determining the movement of the body part. E.g. a period of time between the first and second stretch data points which increases may indicate a decreased stability (corresponds to a softness) of the body part and, thereby, an increased risk of an overload injury. 
         [0022]    In an embodiment the period of time between the first and second stretch data points is compared with a period of time of the cyclic walking motion for determination of the stability of the body part. 
         [0023]    In an embodiment the sensor device further comprises a processor or filtering electronics for low pass filtering the stretch data. 
         [0024]    A second aspect of the invention relates to a sensor system comprising
       a sensor device according to the first aspect,   a stretch sensor configured to be directly or indirectly connected to a body part for determining a stretch value of a body part.       
 
         [0027]    The stretch sensor may be a capacitive or resistive sensor which changes its capacitance or resistance as a function of elongation. Accordingly, stretch data can be determined from the stretch sensor by monitoring changes in the sensor&#39;s electrical characteristics. 
         [0028]    A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for determining a stretch value of a body part, the method comprises,
       obtaining stretch data from a stretch sensor connected to the body part,   analysing the stretch data to identify a portion of the stretch data which corresponds to a motion of the body part, where the portion of the stretch data is identified so that the portion contains first and second stretch data points associated with respective first and second motion-phases of the body part,   analysing the identified portion of stretch data to determine first and second sensor values of the respective first and second stretch data points,   determining a stretch value from the first and second sensor values.       
 
         [0033]    A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a computer program containing computer program instructions for enabling processor to carrying out of a method according to the third aspect. 
         [0034]    In summary the invention relates to a method for determining stretch values and loading of body parts, e.g. a foot, by analysing stretch data from a stretch sensor. By analysing the stretch sensor it is possible to determine stretch samples which are associated with particular motion phases. Thereby the stretch values determined from the stretch samples have a particular physical meaning since they are associated with particular motion phases. 
         [0035]    In general the various aspects of the invention may be combined and coupled in any way possible within the scope of the invention. These and other aspects, features and/or advantages of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]    Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which 
           [0037]      FIG. 1  shows a curve  100  of measured stretch data, 
           [0038]      FIG. 2  shows a stretch sensor  201  attached to a foot for determining a stretch of the foot such as navicular drop, 
           [0039]      FIG. 3  shows sensor device  301  configured to process stretch data from a stretch sensor  302 , and 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  shows a second example of a curve  400  of measured stretch data. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0041]      FIG. 1  shows a stretch data curve  100  of measured stretch data from a stretch sensor. The stretch data curve  100  is analyzed by a sensor device for determining a stretch value  103  of e.g. a foot. 
         [0042]      FIG. 2  shows a stretch sensor  201  attached to a foot for measuring a stretch of the foot. In  FIG. 2  the sensor is located close to the points  202  (the tuberosity of the navicular bone), and  203  (the center of the medial malleolus) for measuring the navicular drop  210  of the point  202 . The heel part  205  and the toe part  204  of the foot are also indicated. A stretch of the foot such as the navicular drop  210  is indicative for the load of the foot. 
         [0043]    From the stretch data curve  100  in  FIG. 1  it is possible to determine stretch values of the foot. However, in order to relate the measured stretch to e.g. load of the foot the measured stretch has to be associated with a particular motion of the foot. By identifying particular motion phases of the foot the stretch values measured when the foot is in these phases can be used to quantify the load of the foot. An example of determining a stretch for a particular motion of the foot is given below. 
         [0044]    The motion of the foot is shown in  FIG. 1  with three motion phases  111 - 113 . The first motion phase  111  is the heel strike where the heel  205  contacts the ground, the second motion phase  112  is the mid stance, i.e. the phase where both the toe  204  and the heel  205  contacts the ground and the third phase  113  is the toe-off, i.e. the phase where only the toe  204  contacts the ground before set-off. 
         [0045]    In the second phase  112  the stretch between the first and second points  202 , 203  are maximal, and in the first phase  111  the stretch between the first and second points  202 , 203  are minimal. Accordingly, the difference between the stretch values in the first and second phases  111 ,  112  gives a measure of the loading of the foot during walking or running. 
         [0046]    In  FIG. 1  the measured stretch value or sensor value  121  at the first stretch data point  101  corresponding to the first motion phase  111 , is a global minimal value during the entire data curve  100  or at least during a motion period  106 . Similarly, the sensor value  122  at the second stretch data point  102  corresponding to the second motion phase  112 , is a global maximal value during the entire data curve  100  or at least during a motion period  106 . Accordingly, in an embodiment the first and second stretch data points  101 ,  102  could simply be determined by determining the minimal and maximal sensor values  121 , 122  in a given time interval of the data curve  100 . However, since it may be important that the determined stretch data points are associated with particular predetermined motion phases, this simple approach could lead to an incorrect stretch value  103  if e.g. the minimum value of some reason is not located at the first motion phase  111 , but at some other motion phase  143 . 
         [0047]    As an example,  FIG. 4  shows a stretch data curve  400  of measured stretch data from a stretch sensor. In  FIG. 4  the sensor value of the first stretch data point  401  corresponding to the first motion phase  111 , is not a minimal value within a motion period  406 . Only the sensor value at the second stretch data point  402  corresponding to the second motion phase  112  is a maximal value during a motion period. The minimum value is located at some other motion phase  443 . Accordingly,  FIG. 4  shows an example where the first stretch point  401  cannot be determined by the simple approach where the first stretch point  401  is assumed to be a minimum value during a motion period. 
         [0048]    To avoid incorrectly determined stretch values, the stretch data  100  is advantageously analyzed to identify a portion  104  of the stretch data which corresponds to some motion cycle (e.g. the cycle comprising motion phases  111 - 113 ) of e.g. the foot, where data is analyzed in a way so that this portion  104  contains the first and second stretch data points  101 , 102  associated with the respective first and second motion-phases  111 , 112  of the foot. 
         [0049]    The portion  104  may be identical to an entire period  106  or the portion may be a fraction of a complete period  106 . Here a period is understood as a period of a harmonic signal, for example the cyclic data curve  100 . 
         [0050]    The portion  104  of the stretch data containing the first and second data points  101 , 102  may be identified from a correlation analysis of the stretch data to identify e.g. the high frequency dip of the curve  100  near the start point  141  of a period and the low frequency dip near the end point  142  so as to identify the illustrated fraction  104  of an entire period  106  of the cyclic motion pattern. Accordingly, the portion  104  of the stretch data  100  may be determined by determining a start point  141  and an end point  142  so that the stretch data contained between the start point  141  and the end point  142  corresponds to at least a fraction of one period  106  of a period of the motion. 
         [0051]    Having identified the portion  104  of stretch data  100  the first and second sensor values  121 ,  122  of the respective first and second stretch data points  101 , 102  can be determined, and from the sensor values  121 ,  122  a resulting stretch value  103  can be determined, e.g. by determining the difference between the first and second sensor values  121 ,  122 . 
         [0052]    Having identified the portion  104  of the stretch data, the first data point  101  may be determined by determining a minimum value within at least a fraction of the identified portion, e.g. a first fraction including the start point of the portion  104  and having a given duration equal to a fraction of the duration of the entire portion  104 . Similarly, the second data point  102  may be determined by determining a maximum value within at least a fraction of the determined portion  104  of the stretch data, e.g. a second fraction starting where first fraction ends and ending at the end point of the portion  104 . 
         [0053]    Assuming that the second data point  102  can be uniquely identified from the maximum value of the stretch data, then according to an embodiment the second data point  102  can be determined by determining a maximum value within at least a fraction of the portion  104  of the stretch data  100 . Having initially identified the second data point, the first data point  101  can be determined by determining a minimum value located in time before the second data point  102  and within the portion  104 . 
         [0054]    From the above discussion it is clear that a period  106  or a fraction thereof, i.e. a portion  104 , can be identified by analysing the stretch data signal e.g. by frequency analysis. It is also clear that the first and second data points  101 ,  102  corresponding to first and second motion phases  111 ,  112  can be identified by analysing the data within the identified period  106  or portion  104  thereof, e.g. by searching for minimal and maximal values, e.g. by use of a peak detector. 
         [0055]    In an aspect of the invention a period of time  105  between the first and second stretch data points  101 ,  102  is determined e.g. by calculating the difference of the time stamps of the first and second stretch data points. The period of time  105  gives an indication of the softness of the foot or other body part and, thereby, an indication of the loading of the foot since the softness tends to increase with increased loading of the foot. Accordingly, the change of the period of time  105  during monitoring of stretch data  100  may be used for assessing the softness of the foot. A decrease in the time period corresponds to an increase in softness. The period of time  105  may be compared with the period of time  106  of the cyclic motion, or a fraction  104  thereof, to get an absolute measure of the softness of the body part such as the foot. 
         [0056]    The sensor values from the stretch sensor may be noisy and, therefore, a processor or filtering electronics for low pass filtering the stretch data may be used. 
         [0057]      FIG. 3  shows a sensor system  300  which comprises the sensor device  301  for analysing stretch data and a stretch sensor  302 . The sensor device  301  may include a processor  303  configured for analysing the stretch data and determining stretch values  103 . The processor need not be part of the sensor device  301 . 
         [0058]    The sensor system  300  may be configured in various ways. The sensor device  301  may be an electronic device configured to be carried by the user, e.g. on a wrist. Such a sensor device may receive stretch data wirelessly from the stretch sensor which may include a transmitter for transmitting data to a receiver of the sensor device  301 . The sensor device  301  may include a display for displaying results of determined stretch values. The sensor device may be configured so that only part of the processing of stretch data  100  is carried out by the sensor device  301  whereas other parts of the processing of stretch data may be carried out by other processing devices, e.g. a computer which is connectable to the sensor device  301 . Accordingly, the sensor device  301  may contain a storage for storage of stretch data or processed stretch data, so that another processor unit may be connected (wirelessly or wired) to the sensor device. The stretch sensor  302  may also contain a processor and or a storage for storing measured stretch data  100  so that the sensor device  301  or some other processor may be connected to the stretch sensor  302  via a transmitter-receiver pair for further processing of the stored stretch data. 
         [0059]    Whereas the determination of stretch values and analysis of stretch values has been described on basis of a foot and foot motion, the invention is equally applicable to other body parts and their motion phases. For example, the stretch sensor may be attached to the shoulder of a person in order to determine stretch values of shoulder by identifying a portion  104  of the stretch data which corresponds to at least a fraction of a complete period of cyclic motion of the shoulder, where the portion of the stretch data is identified so that the portion contains first and second stretch data points  101 ,  102  associated with respective first and second motion-phases of the shoulder, and by analysing the identified portion of stretch data to determine first and second sensor values  121 ,  122  so that a stretch value  103  can be determined. The invention described herein may be particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to determining stretch values of body parts where a cyclic motion of the body part can be identified. 
         [0060]    The stretch sensor  302  may be connected to a body part by connecting the sensor directly to the skin (e.g. by use of some adhesive material), or the sensor may be indirectly attached, e.g. by integrating the sensor with a sock or a shoe. 
         [0061]    An aspect of the invention include socks, shoes or bandages wherein the sensor system or the stretch sensor is integrated for enabling indirect attachment of the sensor. 
         [0062]    While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.