Arrangement for Training the Gait

Abstract

A system for training the gait has an endless belt formed of transparent material serving as a treadmill, one surface of which serves as a walking surface, a sensor system for determining a pressure/force distribution on the endless belt, an analyzing unit connected to the pressure/force sensors, a processing unit connected, on the input side, to the analyzing unit, which generates from the pressure distributions values or signals, respectively, that characterize the gait of the subject, an optical display located beneath the walking surface of the transparent endless belt, the display connected to an image signal generator mans and a display process controller for generation and position of images in the optical display, and a synchronization and adaptation stage for synchronizing and adapting the processing of the pressure distribution images with the image representation on the display.

1 . A system for training the gait, comprising:
 an endless belt formed of transparent material guided over at least two rollers and serving as a treadmill, one surface of which serves as a walking surface,   a sensor system for determining a pressure/force distribution on a force measurement plate located underneath the walking surface, which is provided with a plurality of pressure/force sensors on the side facing the endless belt,   an analyzing unit connected, on the input side, to the pressure/force sensors, which detects pressure distributions generated by a walking or running subject on the walking surface,   a processing unit connected, on the input side, to the analyzing unit, which generates from the pressure distributions values or signals, respectively, that characterize the gait of the subject,   an optical display located beneath the walking surface of the transparent endless belt, the display connected to an image signal generator mans and a display process controller for generation and position of images in the optical display, and   a synchronization and adaptation stage for synchronizing and adapting the processing of the pressure distribution images with the image representation on the display.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the image display surface is formed by at least one display screen of an electro-optical display device, being one of Liquid Crystal Display, plasma or organic light-emitting diode type. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the display is a touch-screen display. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the image signal generator comprises an image element storing unit for storing a plurality of predefined image elements. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising an image element mixer for mixing image elements retrieved from the storing unit according to a plurality of stored first mixing programs. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the image signal generator comprises a video memory for storing image sequences. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising a video image element mixer for mixing image sequences read out from the video memory with image elements read out from the image element storing unit according to a plurality of stored second mixing programs. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display process controller comprises a program memory for storing a plurality of predetermined display processes and/or speed and/or relative position adjusting means for adjusting the speed of a display process and for predefining relative positions between image elements of the display. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display process controller comprises a random generator for random-controlled provision of image signals, specifically for random-controlled compilation of image elements loaded from the image element storing unit and/or of image sequences loaded from the video memory. 
     
     
         10 . The system of to  claim 1 , comprising a feedback unit for detecting contacts of the walking surface by the subject at a place where predetermined image elements are displayed, or at places where no predetermined image element is displayed, and for outputting a warning or information signal in response thereto. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a user guide unit for visual and/or audible output of display-accompanying instructions, audibly and/or by text insertions in the display beneath the walking surface. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional optical display for displaying images on another image display surface, outside of the walking surface and especially at eye level of a person walking on the endless belt, wherein the additional display means are likewise connected to the image signal generator and the display process controller, and are specifically used for an additional visualization of the walking surface and/or walking environment.