JP6488131B2 - Foot motion detection supporter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a foot motion detection supporter and a foot motion detection sensor mounting supporter.

  In recent years, a decline in exercise ability associated with a decrease in muscle strength of elderly people, so-called locomotive syndrome, has been regarded as a problem. In particular, when the motor function of the lower limbs declines, it is often the case that the person falls down and becomes bedridden due to a fracture or the like due to a trivial matter. Therefore, an exercise called locomotion training is recommended to maintain or improve the muscle strength and exercise ability of the lower limbs of the elderly.

  In locomotion training, for example, light exercises such as standing on one leg, raising heels, and squats are performed. However, if the exercise is not performed properly, the training effect is reduced. For example, in squats, it is important to use the thigh muscles to lower the hips by bending the knees so that the knees do not protrude from the toes, but elderly people with reduced exercise ability should not use the muscles. It is easy to move by simply bending the knees forward and lowering the waist.

  Therefore, if it can be confirmed as data whether or not exercise in locomotion training is performed correctly, appropriate exercise can be easily instructed, bedridden prevention, and the effect of suppressing medical expenses for the elderly There is expected.

  By the way, various attempts have been made to enable scientific analysis by detecting the movement of the human body with a sensor and converting it into data. In particular, as a method of detecting the movement of the foot, a pressure sensor is provided on the sole of the foot to detect the foot pressure, or a motion sensor such as an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor is provided on each part of the foot. A method for detecting the movement of each part has been proposed (see, for example, JP 2009-125506 A).

  In the method described in the above publication, a motion sensor is used, so that it has sufficient detection accuracy if a relatively large and intense motion such as running is detected. However, a fine motion or a slow motion or on the spot is sufficient. It is difficult to accurately detect the motion (stationary motion) performed while standing. For example, in the locomotion training squat, it can be used as a measure of whether or not the ankle can be correctly exercised by detecting an ankle flexion angle. It is not easy to detect accurately.

  Moreover, in order to use a motion sensor in the guidance of the locomotion training, it is required that many subjects can attach the sensor at an easy and accurate position.

JP 2009-125506 A

  In view of the above-described disadvantages, an object of the present invention is to provide a foot motion detection supporter and a foot motion detection sensor mounting supporter that can be easily worn and can detect a slow motion or a stationary motion of a foot.

  The invention made in order to solve the above-described problems includes: an extensible baseband that is mounted in an annular shape so as to span between a sole and an instep of the foot; and one or more strain sensors that detect expansion and contraction of the baseband. It is a leg motion detection supporter provided.

  Since the foot motion detection supporter uses an extendable base band that is mounted in an annular shape so as to be spanned between the soles and insteps of the foot, it can be easily mounted on the foot. In addition, the foot motion detection supporter detects that the base band expands or contracts according to the shape of the foot that changes with the movement of the lower limbs by one or a plurality of strain sensors. Even if it exists, it can detect comparatively accurately. In addition, the change in the shape of the foot that causes the expansion and contraction of the base band is caused by a plurality of types of lower limb movements using different muscles, and may be caused by the movement of muscles at remote positions. For this reason, the detection values of the respective strain sensors can reflect the movements of a plurality of muscles, so that various motions of the lower limbs can be detected using the foot motion detection supporter.

  The two strain sensors may be disposed substantially opposite to the base band. As described above, since the two strain sensors are disposed substantially opposite to the base band, the state of the two different portions can be detected by the strain sensor, so that the movement of the foot can be detected more accurately.

  The strain sensor may detect the expansion and contraction in the circumferential direction of the base band at a position corresponding to the sole or instep of the foot. In this way, the strain sensor detects the expansion / contraction of the base band in the circumferential direction at a position corresponding to the sole or instep of the foot, thereby efficiently determining whether the sole of the foot is grounded and whether the ankle is bent or stretched. Can be detected well.

  It is preferable to further include one or a plurality of fixing bands that extend from the base band and can be stretched and wound around the rear side of the foot. In this way, by further including one or more extendable fixing bands extending from the base band and wound around the rear side of the foot, the base band is prevented from being displaced, and the base band is accurately positioned. The movement of the foot by the strain sensor becomes more accurate.

  Further, another invention made to solve the above-mentioned problems is a stretchable baseband that is mounted in an annular shape so as to span between the soles and back of the foot, and a rear side of the foot that extends from the baseband. It is a supporter for a foot motion detection sensor wearing provided with one or a plurality of stretchable fixing bands wound around.

  The foot motion detection sensor mounting supporter uses an extendable base band that is mounted in an annular shape so as to be spanned between the soles and insteps of the foot, and thus can be easily mounted on the foot. In addition, by further including one or a plurality of stretchable fixing bands extending from the base band and wound around the rear side of the foot, the base band can be prevented from being displaced and the base band can be accurately fixed. Become. For this reason, by using the foot motion detection sensor mounting supporter with the sensor mounted thereon, it is possible to detect the slow motion or stationary motion of the foot relatively accurately.

  As described above, the foot motion detection supporter and the foot motion detection sensor mounting supporter of the present invention are easy to mount and can detect a slow motion or a stationary motion of the foot.

It is a typical perspective view of the foot motion detection supporter which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic development view of the foot motion detection supporter of FIG. 1. It is a schematic diagram which shows the mounting state of the foot motion detection supporter of FIG. It is a graph which shows the change of the detected value of the foot motion detection supporter concerning one example of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

[Foot motion detection supporter]
The foot motion detection supporter 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a supporter body 2 formed of a stretchable cloth, two strain sensors 3 and 4 disposed on the supporter body 2, and the strain on the supporter body 2. A plurality of stretchable wires 5 extending from both ends of the sensors 3 and 4 and a plurality of terminals 6 disposed at the ends of the stretchable wires 5 are provided.

<Supporter body>
The supporter body 2 is an embodiment of a supporter for mounting a foot motion detection sensor according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the supporter body 2 includes an extendable base band 7 that is mounted in an annular shape so as to be spanned between the soles and insteps of the foot, and extends from the base band 7, It has a pair of stretchable fixed bands 8 and 9 to be wound. The illustrated foot motion detection supporter 1 can be worn on either the left or right foot, but is designed mainly for detecting the motion of the right foot. The foot motion detection supporter for the left foot is formed symmetrically with the foot motion detection supporter 1 shown in the drawing.

(Base)
The base band 7 is formed from a stretchable fabric. The fabric forming the base band 7 is not particularly limited as long as it has elasticity and expands and contracts following the expansion and contraction of the skin of the foot to be worn. For example, non-woven fabric, warp aligned in one direction And a woven fabric consisting of weft yarns that are aligned in a direction crossing this one direction and regularly combined with warp yarns, and one or several yarns are knitted so that many loops are formed and many loops are intertwined Examples thereof include a knitted fabric, a sheet obtained by impregnating any of these with an elastomer, and an elastomer sheet that does not contain fibers. Among these, a knitted fabric is preferable from the viewpoint of stretchability. In addition, although it has been described that it follows the expansion and contraction of the skin of the foot, this is not intended that the supporter body 2 is directly attached to the skin, and the supporter body 2 may be attached via socks or the like. .

  The base band 7 may be formed in a ring shape in advance, or may be formed in a ring shape at the time of mounting by bonding both ends with, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the base band 7 is comprised so that the diameter at the time of mounting | wearing may expand to an ankle side according to the shape of the leg | foot to be mounted | worn. That is, it is preferable that the base band 7 is curved or bent so that the side edge on the ankle side is inward when the flat surface is developed as shown in FIG. In the illustrated embodiment, the base band 7 is connected to both ends of the lower band part 7a so as to connect the lower band part 7a of the linear band extending across the sole and both sides of the foot and both ends of the lower band part 7a. And an upper belt portion 7b that is bent and sewn and is stretched over the instep.

  The angle of bending or bending (1/2 of the angle between the direction of one end and the direction of the other end) at the time of flattening opened apart from the bent portion of the base band 7, that is, the bottom in FIG. The lower limit of the inclination angle between the side band portion 7a and the upper band portion 7b (the angle of 7b with respect to the horizontal direction in FIG. 2) is preferably 10 °, and more preferably 15 °. On the other hand, the upper limit of the bending or bending angle of the base band 7 is preferably 40 °, and more preferably 35 °. When the bending or bending angle of the base band 7 is less than the lower limit, the degree of adhesion of the base band 7 to the toe-side portion of the base band 7 with respect to the foot is low, and slipping may occur during exercise, leading to a decrease in detection sensitivity. On the other hand, when the bending or bending angle of the band 7 exceeds the upper limit, the degree of adhesion of the base band 7 to the ankle portion of the base band 7 when worn is low, and slipping may occur during exercise, leading to a decrease in detection sensitivity. .

  The lower limit of the average width of the base band 7 is preferably 1 cm, and more preferably 1.5 cm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the average width of the base band 7 is preferably 10 cm, and more preferably 7 cm. When the average width of the base band 7 is less than the lower limit, the base band 7 may be deformed in the surface direction and the mounting position may be easily shifted. On the contrary, when the average width of the base band 7 exceeds the upper limit, there is a possibility that the exercise of the subject wearing the supporter body 2 may be hindered or uncomfortable.

  The lower limit of the average thickness of the base band 7 is preferably 100 μm and more preferably 200 μm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the average thickness of the base band 7 is preferably 2 mm, and more preferably 1 mm. When the average thickness of the base band 7 is less than the lower limit, the strength of the base band 7 may be insufficient. On the contrary, when the average thickness of the base band 7 exceeds the upper limit, there is a possibility that the exercise of the subject wearing the supporter body 2 may be hindered or uncomfortable.

The lower limit of the basis weight of the base band 7 is preferably 100 g / ^{m 2,} and more preferably 150 g / ^{m 2.} On the other hand, the upper limit of the basis weight of the base band 7 is preferably ^{300g / m 2, 250g / m} 2 is more preferable. If the basis weight of the base band 7 is less than the lower limit, the strength of the base band 7 may be insufficient. On the contrary, if the basis weight of the base band 7 exceeds the above upper limit, the rigidity of the base band 7 becomes high and the detection sensitivity may be insufficient, or the movement of the subject wearing the supporter body 2 may be hindered or uncomfortable. There is a risk of giving.

  The lower limit of the 100% elongation load (the tension at which the average length is doubled) of the base band 7 is preferably 1N, and more preferably 10N. On the other hand, the upper limit of the 100% elongation load of the base band 7 is preferably 10 kN, and more preferably 1 kN. When the 100% elongation load of the base band 7 is less than the lower limit, the contraction force of the base band 7 is insufficient, and there is a possibility that the detection at the time of contraction may be delayed or the detection accuracy may be deteriorated due to the displacement. On the other hand, when the 100% elongation load of the base band 7 exceeds the upper limit, there is a risk that the movement of the site to be measured may be hindered or the subject may feel uncomfortable.

(Fixed belt)
The fixed bands 8 and 9 are extended from the substantially opposed positions on both sides in the width direction of the foot of the base band 7 to the ankle side, respectively. The illustrated leg motion detection supporter 1 is for detecting the movement of the right foot, and the end surface of the fixed band 8 opposite to the base band 7 extending from the right side (outside of the foot) of the base band 7 is shown. A hook-and-loop female material 10 is disposed on the surface (the surface on the outer side when worn), and the hook-and-loop male material on the back of the end opposite to the band 7 of the fixing band 9 extending from the left side (inside the foot). 11 is disposed.

  As a result, the supporter body 2 is fixed to the inner side in a state where the outer fixing band 8 extends from the base band 7 and is wound from the outer side of the ankle to the front side via the heel on the rear side of the foot. The band 9 is wound from above the fixed band 8 substantially symmetrically with the fixed band 8. As a result, the fixing band 8 and the fixing band 9 intersect at the upper part of the heel on the rear side of the foot, and are bonded to each other on the front side surface of the ankle. That is, on the front side surface of the ankle, the surface disposed on the back surface side of the fixing band 9 to be wound later with respect to the surface fastener female member 10 disposed on the outer surface of the fixing band 8 to be wound first. The fastener male material 11 is bonded.

  In this manner, the fixing bands 8 and 9 are attached so as to be wound around the rear side of the foot, thereby fixing the base band 7 to the subject's foot so as to pull the base band 7 rearward. Accordingly, the fixing bands 8 and 9 are formed of a stretchable fabric so that tension can be exerted. The fabric forming the fixing bands 8 and 9 can be the same as the base band 7, and may be cut out from the same base material as the base band 7 and integrally formed.

  The lower limit of the average width of the fixed bands 8 and 9 is preferably 0.5 cm, and more preferably 1 cm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the average width of the fixed bands 8 and 9 is preferably 7 cm, and more preferably 5 cm. When the average width of the fixed bands 8 and 9 is less than the lower limit, the bonding between the fixed bands 8 and 9 may not be easy. On the other hand, when the average width of the fixed bands 8 and 9 exceeds the upper limit, there is a risk that the subject wearing the supporter body 2 may be impeded or feel uncomfortable.

  The lower limit of the 100% elongation load of the fixed bands 8, 9 is preferably 2N, and more preferably 20N. On the other hand, the upper limit of the 100% elongation load of the fixed bands 8 and 9 is preferably 20 kN, and more preferably 2 kN. If the 100% elongation load of the fixing bands 8 and 9 is less than the lower limit, the contraction force of the fixing bands 8 and 9 may be insufficient, and the base band 7 may not be fixed to the subject's foot. On the other hand, when the 100% elongation load of the fixing bands 8 and 9 exceeds the upper limit, the supporter body 2 may not be easily mounted, and the operation of the subject may be hindered or uncomfortable.

  Further, it is preferable that the fixed bands 8 and 9 are disposed to be inclined upward and rearward of the foot when worn with respect to the base band 7. The lower limit of the inclination angle in the extending direction of the fixed bands 8, 9 from the base band 7 (the angle with respect to the direction perpendicular to the base band 7 in the extending direction of the fixed bands 8, 9) is preferably 2 °. ° is more preferred. On the other hand, the upper limit of the inclination angle of the fixed bands 8 and 9 in the extending direction is preferably 45 °, and more preferably 40 °. If the inclination angle of the extending direction of the fixing bands 8 and 9 is less than the lower limit, the fixing bands 8 and 9 are likely to enter the back side of the foot, and the supporter body 2 may not be stably attached to the foot. On the contrary, when the inclination angle in the extending direction of the fixed bands 8 and 9 exceeds the upper limit, the fixed bands 8 and 9 may be bent downward to form unnecessary strain on the base band 7. .

  Further, the fixing bands 8 and 9 are bent so that the arrangement portion of the hook-and-loop fastener female member 10 and the arrangement portion of the hook-and-loop fastener male member 11 are parallel to each other in the unfolded state of FIG. Accordingly, when the supporter body 2 is mounted on the foot with the ankle upright as shown in FIG. 3, the hook-and-loop female member 10 and the hook-and-loop male member 11 are substantially arranged on the front side (the shin portion) of the foot. It becomes easy to overlap by becoming horizontal.

  The hook-and-loop fastener female member 10 and the hook-and-loop fastener male member 11 provided on the fixing bands 8 and 9 are not particularly limited, and any commercially available product can be used.

<Strain sensor>
The strain sensors 3 and 4 are disposed on the base band 7 and detect expansion and contraction in one direction (circumferential direction in the illustrated example) where the strain sensors 3 and 4 of the base band 7 are disposed. These strain sensors 3 and 4 are preferably attached to the surface side of the base band 7 so that the subject does not feel uncomfortable.

  The strain sensors 3 and 4 are preferably disposed substantially at positions opposed to the base band 7, and more preferably disposed at positions corresponding to the soles and insteps as shown. By disposing the strain sensors 3 and 4 at a position substantially opposite to the base band 7, it is possible to detect the expansion and contraction of the skin at the position where the foot of the subject faces, and to detect various movements of the foot. can do. In particular, as shown in the figure, if one strain sensor 3 is disposed at a position corresponding to the sole of the foot and the other strain sensor 4 is disposed at a position corresponding to the instep of the foot, It is possible to accurately estimate the load (weight) applied to the back and the force of the sole, and the strain sensor 4 can accurately estimate the bending of the ankle and the force on the shin side of the foot.

  More specifically, the strain sensor 3 disposed on the sole side of the foot can detect the elongation of the skin on the sole of the foot due to a load applied to the sole of the foot. Since the elongation of the skin due to the load on the sole of the foot increases in the circumferential direction on the sole of the foot due to the extension of the lateral arch of the foot, the strain sensor 3 is disposed on the sole side of the foot so as to detect the expansion and contraction in the circumferential direction. Thus, the weight shift between the left and right feet of the subject can be grasped with relatively high accuracy. In addition, changes in the shape of the sole of the foot due to the expansion and contraction of muscles and tendons acting when applying force to the sole, such as the long flexor tendon, the long flexor tendon, and the short flexor tendon. Can be grasped. Further, by providing the strain sensor 3 so as to detect the expansion and contraction in the circumferential direction, there is an effect that the width of the base band 7 can be reduced.

  In addition, the strain sensor 4 disposed on the instep side of the foot detects the skin stretch of the back of the foot where the expansion and contraction due to the bending and stretching of the ankle is relatively large, so the bending and stretching of the ankle can be grasped with relatively high accuracy. can do. In addition, the instep of the foot associated with the expansion and contraction of the muscles and tendons that act when applying force to the shin side of the foot, such as the long heel extensor tendon, the long mother extensor tendon, and the anterior tibialis tendon It is possible to grasp the shape change in the circumferential direction. Although the instep extension can be detected in any direction, it is preferable to detect the extension in the circumferential direction in which the width of the base band 7 can be reduced and the shift of the base band 7 with respect to the skin is reduced.

  As these strain sensors 3 and 4, strain resistance elements whose resistance values change due to expansion and contraction can be used, and in particular, a CNT strain sensor using carbon nanotubes (hereinafter sometimes referred to as CNT) is preferably used.

  The CNT strain sensor includes, for example, a stretchable sheet-like base material attached to the base band 7, a CNT film laminated on the surface side of the base material, and a protective film for protecting the CNT film. It can be configured.

  The average thickness of the base material of the CNT strain sensor can be, for example, 10 μm or more and 5 mm or less.

  The material of the substrate is not particularly limited as long as it has flexibility, and examples thereof include synthetic resin, rubber, and nonwoven fabric.

  Examples of the synthetic resin include phenol resin (PF), epoxy resin (EP), melamine resin (MF), urea resin (urea resin, UF), unsaturated polyester (UP), alkyd resin, polyurethane (PUR), heat Curable polyimide (PI), polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin (ABS), acrylonitrile styrene resin (AS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyamide (PA), polyacetal (POM), polycarbonate (PC), modified Polyphe Ether (m-PPE), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and cyclic polyolefin (COP) and the like.

  Examples of the rubber include natural rubber (NR), butyl rubber (IIR), isoprene rubber (IR), ethylene / propylene rubber (EPDM), butadiene rubber (BR), urethane rubber (U), and styrene / butadiene rubber (SBR). , Silicone rubber (Q), chloroprene rubber (CR), chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber (CSM), acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), chlorinated polyethylene (CM), acrylic rubber (ACM), epichlorohydrin rubber (CO, ECO), Fluorine rubber (FKM), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and the like can be given. Among these rubbers, natural rubber is preferable from the viewpoint of strength.

  The CNT film of the CNT strain sensor has a rectangular shape in plan view. Electrodes are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the CNT film, and the stretchable wiring 5 is joined to the electrodes by the conductive adhesive 12.

  This CNT film is formed of a resin composition containing a large number of CNT fibers. Specifically, the CNT film has a plurality of CNT fiber bundles composed of a plurality of CNT fibers oriented in one direction, and a resin layer covering the peripheral surface of the plurality of CNT fiber bundles. When such strain for stretching the CNT film is applied, a change occurs in the contact state between the CNT fibers, and a resistance change can be obtained as a strain sensor. In order to detect strain more efficiently, it is preferable that the CNT fibers in the CNT film are oriented in the stretching direction.

  The lower limit of the average thickness of the CNT film under no load is preferably 1 μm and more preferably 10 μm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the average thickness of the CNT film is preferably 1 mm, and more preferably 0.5 mm. When the average thickness of the CNT film is less than the lower limit, it may be difficult to form such a thin film, or the resistance may increase excessively during elongation. On the contrary, when the average thickness of the CNT film exceeds the upper limit, the stretchability may be insufficient, the resistance change with respect to expansion / contraction, that is, the detection sensitivity may be insufficient, or the subject may feel uncomfortable. There is.

  Note that the CNT film may have a single-layer structure in which CNT fibers are arranged substantially in parallel in a planar shape, or may have a multilayer structure. However, in order to ensure a certain degree of conductivity, a multilayer structure is preferable.

  As the CNT fiber, either single-walled single-wall nanotubes (SWNT) or multi-walled multi-wall nanotubes (MWNT) can be used, but MWNT is preferable from the viewpoint of conductivity and heat capacity, and the diameter is 1.5 nm. More preferably, the MWNT is 100 nm or less.

  Further, the resin layer of the CNT film is a layer mainly composed of a resin and covering a peripheral surface of a plurality of CNT fiber bundles. Examples of the main component of the resin layer include the synthetic resins and rubbers exemplified as the material for the substrate. Among these, rubber is preferable. By using rubber, a sufficient protection function of the CNT fiber can be exhibited even against a large strain.

  The lower limit of the average width in the no-load state of the strain sensors 3 and 4 formed by such a CNT strain sensor is preferably 0.1 mm, and more preferably 0.5 mm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the average width of the strain sensors 3 and 4 is preferably 10 mm, and more preferably 5 mm. If the average width of the strain sensors 3 and 4 is less than the lower limit, the detection sensitivity may be insufficient, or the strain sensors 3 and 4 may be torn due to foot movement. On the contrary, when the average width of the strain sensors 3 and 4 exceeds the upper limit, there is a possibility that the subject may feel uncomfortable.

  Further, the lower limit of the average length of the strain sensors 3 and 4 in an unloaded state is preferably 3 mm, more preferably 15 mm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the average length of the strain sensors 3 and 4 is preferably 70 mm, and more preferably 50 mm. When the average length of the strain sensors 3 and 4 is less than the lower limit, the change in the detection value due to the shift of the base band 7 or the like becomes large, and the detection error may increase. On the other hand, when the average length of the strain sensors 3 and 4 exceeds the upper limit, the detection sensitivity may be insufficient by including a range in which the amount of expansion / contraction with respect to the detected motion is small.

  Moreover, as a minimum of 10% elongation load of the strain sensors 3 and 4, 0.01N is preferable, 0.03N is more preferable, 0.05N is further more preferable. On the other hand, the upper limit of the 10% elongation load of the strain sensors 3, 4 is preferably 0.5N, more preferably 0.3N, and still more preferably 0.2N. When the 10% elongation load of the strain sensors 3 and 4 is less than the lower limit, the detection accuracy may be insufficient due to expansion and contraction due to factors other than the foot state and movement. On the contrary, when the 10% elongation load of the strain sensors 3 and 4 exceeds the upper limit, the reaction force at the time of extension becomes large, and there is a possibility that the subject may feel uncomfortable or restrained.

  The lower limit of the resistance value of each strain sensor 3 and 4 under no load is preferably 10Ω, for example, and more preferably 100Ω. On the other hand, the upper limit of the resistance value of the strain sensors 3 and 4 under no load is preferably 100 kΩ, and more preferably 10 kΩ. When the resistance value of the strain sensors 3 and 4 in the no-load state is less than the lower limit, the current for detecting the elongation may increase and the power consumption may increase. On the contrary, when the resistance value of the strain sensors 3 and 4 in the no-load state exceeds the upper limit, the voltage of the detection circuit becomes high, and it may be difficult to reduce the size and power consumption.

  The change rate of the resistance value due to the extension of each of the strain sensors 3 and 4 is appropriately selected so that sufficient detection accuracy can be obtained, but 10% of the resistance value of the strain sensors 3 and 4 in the unloaded state. The ratio of the resistance values in the stretched state is, for example, 1.5 times or more and 20 times or less.

  For attaching the strain sensors 3 and 4 to the base band 7, an adhesive that does not inhibit expansion and contraction of the base band 7 and the strain sensors 3 and 4 is used. Examples of such an adhesive include a moisture curable polyurethane adhesive.

<Extensible wiring>
The stretchable wiring 5 is disposed on the surface of the supporter main body 2 so as to extend from both ends of the strain sensors 3 and 4 onto the fixed band 9 that is disposed outside when the strain sensors 3 and 4 are attached.

  More specifically, the telescopic wiring 5 includes a first wiring 5a connected to one end of the strain sensor 3 on the back side of the foot, a second wiring 5b connected to one end of the strain sensor 4 on the back side of the foot, 7 and a ground wiring 5c that branches to the other ends of the strain sensors 3 and 4, respectively. These wirings 5a, 5b, 5c are arranged so as to extend on the surface of the fixing band 9 that is overlaid when the foot motion detection supporter 1 is attached to the foot.

  These stretchable wires 5 are connected to each other or to the strain sensors 3 and 4 by the conductive adhesive 12.

  These stretchable wirings 5 can be formed of conductive thread (filamentous body) having conductivity. As the conductive yarn constituting the stretchable wiring 5, a metallic conductive yarn such as iron can be used, and a stainless steel thread is suitably used as the metallic conductive yarn. According to the stainless steel thread, the electric resistance is small, and even when the supporter body 2 is washed, there is an advantage that the change in the electric resistance is relatively small. In addition, as the yarn constituting the stretchable wiring 5, a thread obtained by coating a conductive material on an insulating thread, a thread obtained by plating a conductive material on an insulating thread, or a blend of conductive materials is formed. It is also possible to use a finished thread.

  The yarn constituting the stretchable wiring 5 preferably has an electrical resistance per 10 cm of less than 100Ω, and more preferably less than 50Ω. Thereby, the electrical resistance of the expansion / contraction wiring 5 can be reduced, and the detection signals from the strain sensors 3 and 4 can be accurately transmitted to the terminal 6. The “resistance value per 10 cm” is a resistance value between 10 cm of the yarn when a voltage of 5 V is applied, and can be measured using a general-purpose tester.

  The stretchable wiring 5 has stretchability and is provided to be deformed following the deformation of the supporter body 2. Specifically, the stretchable wiring 5 is formed by stretching and stretching a conductive thread. As defined in JIS-B-9003 (1999), “stretchable stitching” means “when a stretchable fabric is sewed, the stitches will not be cut or loosened due to the stretch of the fabric. Means sewing. Specifically, the stretchable wiring 5 of the present embodiment can be formed by cover stitch (single-sided decorative stitching) or the like.

  The upper limit of the 10% elongation load of the stretchable wiring 5 is preferably 0.1N, more preferably 0.05N. On the other hand, the lower limit of the 10% elongation load of the stretchable wiring 5 is not particularly limited. When the 10% elongation load of the expansion / contraction wiring 5 exceeds the upper limit, the expansion / contraction of the supporter body 2 may be hindered, and the subject may feel uncomfortable, or the expansion / contraction of the supporter body 2 may be uneven. , 4 may be misaligned and the detection accuracy may be insufficient.

  The stretchable wiring 5 of the present invention may be formed by directly sewing a conductive thread on the supporter body 2, but a supporter that is previously sewn with a conductive thread on another stretchable fabric is supported with an adhesive. You may arrange | position by adhere | attaching on the main body 2. FIG. As an adhesive for bonding the fabric on which the stretchable wiring 5 is formed, for example, a hot melt adhesive or the like can be used.

<Terminal>
The terminal 6 is connected directly or directly to, for example, a lead wire (not shown) or the like to the extension wiring 5 and the strain sensors 3 and 4 to a detection circuit (not shown) for detecting a change in the electrical characteristics of the strain sensors 3 and 4. Used to connect through. Such a terminal 6 is not particularly limited as long as electrical connection is possible. For example, a metal snap button male member or the like can be used. The metal snap button male member is electrically and mechanically connected to the metal snap button female member.

  In addition, in order to keep the interval between the plurality of terminals 6 constant and to facilitate wiring to the terminals 6, a cloth having low stretchability is bonded to a portion where the terminals 6 of the fixing band 9 are disposed. The expansion and contraction may be suppressed.

<Advantages>
Since the foot motion detection supporter 1 uses the extensible base band 7 that is attached in an annular shape so as to be spanned between the soles and insteps of the foot, it is easy to attach to the foot. Since the base band 7 expands and contracts according to the state of the foot, the strain sensor 3 and 4 detects the expansion and contraction of the base band 7 to compare the change in the state of the foot even if it is a slow movement. Can be detected accurately.

[Other Embodiments]
The said embodiment does not limit the structure of this invention. Therefore, in the above-described embodiment, components of each part of the above-described embodiment can be omitted, replaced, or added based on the description and common general knowledge of the present specification, and they are all interpreted as belonging to the scope of the present invention. Should.

  For example, in the foot motion detection supporter, the number of strain sensors arranged in the base band may be one or three or more.

  In addition, the direction in which the strain sensor of the foot motion detection supporter is arranged may not be the circumferential direction. That is, the strain sensor may detect expansion and contraction in any direction of the base band.

  In addition, if the fixing band of the foot motion detection supporter and the supporter for mounting the foot motion detection sensor is attached to be wound around the rear side of the foot and can be fixed by pulling the base band to the rear side of the foot, Any configuration may be used. As an example, the fixed band may be bonded to each other without being wound up to the front side of the foot. The fixing bands may be connected to each other by a method other than the hook-and-loop fastener. Further, the fixed band is not intended to connect the paired members to each other, and may be a single band integrally formed so as to connect two locations of the base band. Further, the fixed band may be one or a plurality of threads or strings having elasticity.

  The foot motion detection supporter may fix the base band to the subject's foot using a fixing means other than the fixed band. As an example, a supporter in which the base band and the fixed band are preliminarily formed into a shape (for example, a shape as shown in FIG. 3) attached to the subject's foot, or a sock shape in which the shape is integrally formed may be used. That is, the base band and the fixed band in the foot motion detection supporter are not only those having independent bands, but also a concept including a part having a portion that can function as a band wound around the foot.

  Further, in the foot motion detection supporter, each strain sensor may be any sensor as long as it can detect the extension of the supporter body, and may have, for example, a thread-like shape other than the belt shape, and does not have a CNT film. It may be a sensor. As the thread-like CNT strain sensor, a CNT fiber bundle in which a plurality of CNT fibers are oriented in one direction and arranged in a thread shape and covered with an elastic resin can be used. Moreover, as a strain sensor other than the CNT strain sensor, it is only necessary to be able to detect the expansion and contraction of the supporter body and to have appropriate stretchability and flexibility, and is preferably formed in a band shape or a string shape. .

  In the foot motion detection supporter, a wiring board having a detection circuit may be directly connected to the end of the telescopic wiring on the side opposite to the strain sensor without using a terminal. In this case, the wiring board having the detection circuit can transfer the measurement data to a personal computer so that it can be analyzed, for example, a wireless communication device such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or a removable storage medium such as a memory card. It is preferable to further have a recording apparatus for use.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although this invention is explained in full detail based on an Example, this invention is not interpreted limitedly based on description of this Example.

  An example of a foot motion detection supporter manufactured according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 was attached to the right foot, and an experiment was conducted to confirm the relationship between the foot motion and the change in resistance value of each strain sensor. In this experiment, heel lift 5 times, squat 5 times, right foot lift without force on the toe twice, left foot lift without force on the foot 2 times, right foot with force to lift the toe The lift was performed twice, and the left foot lift with the effort to lift the toe was performed twice in this order.

  The experimental results are shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the resistance value of the strain sensor on the back side of the foot increases when the weight is applied to the right foot. On the other hand, the resistance value of the strain sensor on the instep side of the foot increases when the ankle is bent (including when the toe of the right foot is lifted).

  As described above, the foot motion detection supporter of the present embodiment was able to determine relatively accurately whether the weight is applied to the foot and whether the ankle is bent, including when the operation is slow. .

  The foot motion detection supporter and the foot motion detection sensor mounting supporter according to the present invention can be widely used for detecting foot motion, but can be preferably used particularly for efficiently conducting locomotion training.

1 foot motion detection supporter 2 support body (supporter for foot motion detection sensor)
3, 4 Strain sensor 5 Telescopic wiring 5a First wiring 5b Second wiring 5c Ground wiring 6 Terminal 7 Base band 7a Lower side band part 7b Upper side band part 8 and 9 Fixing band 10 Female surface fastener Female material 11 Male surface fastener 12 Conductive adhesion Agent

Claims (4)

A stretchable baseband that is mounted in a ring to span between the soles and back of the foot,
A foot motion detection supporter comprising: one or a plurality of strain sensors that detect expansion and contraction of the base band.   The foot motion detection supporter according to claim 1, wherein the two strain sensors are disposed substantially opposite to the base band.   The foot motion detection supporter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the strain sensor detects expansion / contraction in a circumferential direction of the base band at a position corresponding to a sole or instep of the foot. The foot motion detection supporter according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising one or a plurality of stretchable belts extending from the base band and wound around a rear side of the foot.

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