Dynamically adjustable orthotic device

摘要

An orthotic device comprises a flexible support structure comprising at least one surface for contacting a body part of a user, a plurality of pressure sensors configured for coupling to a microcontroller, and a plurality of displacement regions. Each region defines a portion of said flexible support structure, wherein each portion includes at least one sensor disposed on or below the at least one surface and at least one electrically deformable unit. Each unit comprises at least one electroactive material and is configured for coupling to the microcontroller and to a power source. The device is dynamically adjustable to change its shape and support properties, when an electrical voltage is applied to the electroactive material under the control of a microcontroller.

主权项

1. A method of adjusting a dynamically adjustable orthotic device, comprising:
a) coupling a device to a microcontroller and a power source; b) causing an individual in need of an orthotic device to be positioned so that an external body part of the individual contacts said at least one surface of the device; c) causing the body part to move and exert pressure on said at least one surface sufficient to depress at least one said sensor, causing each depressed sensor to emit a respective electrical signal indicative of said pressure; d) operating the microcontroller to measure each said electrical signal, wherein each said measurement is correlated to a physical address of a respective sensor and deformable unit in a said region and includes electrical properties and elapsed time between measurements; e) operating the microcontroller to determine from said measurements whether any said region requires structural modification to increase or decrease physical support for a portion of said body part in contact with said device; and f) based on said determination, applying an electrical voltage to at least one deformable unit in a region determined to require said increased physical support, and/or decreasing or ceasing application of an electrical voltage to at least one deformable unit in a region determined to require said decreased physical support, to change the configuration of the orthotic device, wherein the device comprises a flexible support structure including:
at least one surface for contacting a body part of a user;a plurality of pressure sensors configured for coupling to a microcontroller; and a plurality of displacement regions, each said region defining a portion of a flexible support structure, wherein each said portion includes at least one said sensor disposed on or below said at least one surface, and at least one electrically deformable unit,
wherein each said unit comprises at least one electroactive material and is configured for coupling to said microcontroller wherein: a microcontroller coupled to the plurality of pressure sensors and said flexible support structures determines the shape of the flexible support structure based on input from the pressure sensors; and wherein the plurality of displacement regions displace the plurality of pressure sensors of the orthotic device when the displacement regions deform.