DEVICE FOR PROPRIOCEPTIVE FOOT STIMULATION

Abstract

 The invention realizes the prefixed aims since it provides a device for proprioceptive stimulation of the sole of the foot, comprising a supporting base (1) whose upper surface (11) is divided in a first (2) and a second portion (3) at a division plane (12), said first and second portion comprising a plurality of holes (4, 6) configured so that to each hole (4) positioned in the first portion of said upper surface corresponds a respective hole (6) positioned in said second portion of the upper surface, and to each hole (4, 6) provided both on the first and second portion of the upper supporting surface a respective vertically sliding pin (5, 7) is associated, characterized in that each couple of sliding pins (5, 7) associated to a couple of corresponding holes (4, 6) is joined by a kinematism configured so that a displacement downwards of the pin (7) relative to the hole (6) positioned on said second portion (3) of the upper surface (11) determines a respective displacement upwards of the corresponding pin (5) relative to a hole (4) arranged on the first portion (2) of the upper surface (11).

Description

[0001] Object of the present invention is a device for plantar stimulation, configured to be able to provide mechanical stimulations by reproducing the shape of arbitrary solid objects.

[0002] At the state of the art, the method Puccini-Perfetti is known, which is based on the proprioceptive stimulation of the child.

[0003] It is to be specified that "proprioception" (also known as kinaesthesia) is the capacity to sense and recognize the position of one's body in the space as well as the state of contraction of one's muscles, without the help of the sight. Proprioception has a fundamental importance in the complex mechanism of motion control by means of sensory feedback neurons, so it is used efficiently also in physiotherapy and sport training.

[0004] According to what known at the state of the art, to stimulate a patient needing a proprioceptive rehabilitation, particularly in case the subject is a child with motion and balance problems, the child is positioned standing near a support that helps him keeping the balance, and a series of objects are positioned under the sole of the foot of the child so that the child can refine his own sensory perception.

[0005] To such aim, panels with reliefs of any shape or materials with any thickness are generally realized, often handmade by the same therapists.

[0006] For example, rubber balls with different consistency and different dimension.

[0007] According to what known, anyway there are not available on the market devices allowing to optimize this kind of treatment.

[0008] Instead, at the state of the art there are known many examples of devices configured to apply pressures localized on the sole of the foot for massaging purpose.

[0009] A first example is described in document JPH1156960, where it is shown a device provided with a plurality of sliding pins, projecting through holes of a support and configured to press, only if actuated by the foot, respective sensors allowing then to determine the shape of the foot.

[0010] In WO2020032500 it is described a device in which a plurality of vertical pins mounted on springs are actuated by a mechanism to massage the sole of the foot.

[0011] In JP2006014821 it is described a holed table, comprising a plurality of holes arranged in lines and columns, and a plurality of pins installed on springs, each pin projecting down-upwards through a respective hole. In this manner, the massaging action of each pin is exerted on the sole of the foot, when the foot leans from up-downwards on the table.

Technical problem

[0012] To the best knowledge of the current inventors, despite the great quantity of devices thought to apply a massage to the sole of the foot in any manner, there are not known devices optimized to apply a proprioceptive stimulation, and in particular configured to stimulate only a portion of the sole of the foot, which allow to vary simply and rapidly the stimulated portion of the foot, which allow to stimulate said portion of the foot causing that the elements stimulating it take an arbitrary shape, so to simulate the positioning of the foot on any object.

[0013] Moreover, there are not known devices optimized to allow the subject under treatment to visualize the shape of the object stimulating him during treatment. In fact, in all the devices known at the state of the art, the object of stimulation is positioned under the foot and so it is not visible during the treatment.

[0014] Moreover, at the state of the art, there are not known devices with all the just described features and that are also cheap in their realization and simple and efficient in their use.

Aim of the invention

[0015] So, aim of the present invention is to provide a device configured to stimulate one or more portions of the sole of the foot, which allows to vary simply and rapidly the stimulated portion of the foot, and to stimulate said portion of the foot causing that the elements stimulating it take an arbitrary shape, so to simulate the positioning of the foot on any object.

Brief description

[0016] The invention realizes the prefixed aims since it provides a device for proprioceptive stimulation of the sole of the foot, comprising a supporting base (1) whose upper surface (11) is divided in a first (2) and a second portion (3) at a division plane (12), said first and second portion comprising a plurality of holes (4, 6) configured so that to each hole (4) positioned in the first portion of said upper surface corresponds a respective hole (6) positioned in said second portion of the upper surface, and to each hole (4, 6) provided both on the first and second portion of the upper supporting surface a respective vertically sliding pin (5, 7) is associated, characterized in that each couple of sliding pins (5, 7) associated to a couple of corresponding holes (4, 6) is joined by a kinematism configured so that a displacement downwards of the pin (7) relative to the hole (6) positioned on said second portion (3) of the upper surface (11) determines a respective displacement upwards of the corresponding pin (5) relative to a hole (4) arranged on the first portion (2) of the upper surface (11).

Description

[0017] It is now described a preferred and not limiting embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0018] As it is shown in figure 1, the device according to the invention comprises a supporting base (1), whose upper surface (11) is divided in a first (2) and a second portion (3) at a central division plane (12) of the supporting base.

[0019] Both the first and second portion of said upper surface comprise a plurality of holes (4, 6), configured so that to each hole (4) positioned in the first portion of said upper surface corresponds a respective hole (6) positioned in said second portion of the upper surface.

[0020] In a preferred but not limiting embodiment, the corresponding holes are symmetrical to said central division plane (12) of the supporting base (1). Even if it is not needed, it is to be specified that for symmetrical holes it is intended that the joining line between two corresponding holes drawn on the upper surface is perpendicular to said central division plane (12), and the central division plane intersects the joining line at its center.

[0021] In another embodiment, said corresponding holes are positioned from opposite portions to the division plane, their joining line is orthogonal to said division plane but the distance of one of the two holes from the division plane is greater than the other one.

[0022] To each hole (4, 6) provided both on the first and the second portion of the upper supporting surface a respective sliding pin (5, 7) is associated. Each pin is configured so that it can slide vertically so that it can project more or less with respect to the upper supporting surface.

[0023] In particular, each sliding pin (5) relative to a hole (4) of the first portion of said upper surface is preferably configured to slide between a first position in which it does not project with respect to said upper surface, and a second position in which said pin projects with respect to said upper surface.

[0024] The device is characterized in that each couple of pins associated to a couple of corresponding holes is joined by a lever with its own fulcrum in a point arranged on said central division plane (12). The two corresponding pins and the lever joining them are configured so that a displacement downwards of the pin relative to the hole positioned on the second portion of the supporting surface determines a respective displacement upwards of the corresponding pin relative to a hole arranged on the first portion of the upper supporting surface.

[0025] Clearly, if the two holes are symmetrical to the division plane, the dimension of the displacement downwards of a pin and the dimension of the displacement upwards of the corresponding pin are the same. Instead, if the distances of said holes to the central division plane are different, the dimension of the displacement of the pin arranged at greater distance from the central division plane is greater than the dimension of the displacement of the other pin, according to the known rule of the lever.

[0026] Moreover, preferably, each couple of pins and the respective lever mechanism are balanced so that in resting conditions the pin relative to the first portion of the upper supporting surface is positioned on the bottom, in its own position where it does not project from its own hole.

[0027] This result can be obtained in any way without departing from the aims of the present invention. It can be obtained for example by using springs that push downwards the pins relative to the first portion of the upper supporting surface (or similarly upwards the pins relative to the second portion of the upper supporting surface), it can be obtained by springs positioned at the axis of rotation of the lever, or it can be obtained by balancing the weights of the two pins and respective portions of lever so that the balance of rotation around the fulcrum of the lever, in case of absence of outer forces, causes all the pins relative to the first portion of the upper supporting surface to be positioned downwards.

[0028] Said plurality of holes relative to each one of said portions of the upper supporting surface is organized preferably regularly according to a plurality of lines and columns, for lines being intended a plurality of holes arranged at the same distance with respect to the central division plane and for columns being intended a plurality of holes aligned on an orthogonal line with respect to said central division plane.

[0029] Clearly, as it is shown in figure 4, the lever mechanisms of all the pins arranged in the same column have to be contained structurally inside said column.

[0030] Even if this is not limiting for the aims of the invention, in a preferred embodiment each lever is made up of a shaped plate (8) provided with vertical projections (81, 82) at its ends. Clearly, the thickness of each plate is lower than the thickness of relative pins (5, 7), and so a plurality of plates can be placed side by side by introduction on a shaft positioned at the central division plane, thus taking up the thickness of only one column of pins.

[0031] In figure 5, this embodiment is shown with reference to four couples of pins. In figure 5, there are shown in fact four distinct plates of different length, each one being provided with vertical projections at the ends and with a central hole which allows to introduce them in the same shaft arranged at the central division plane.

[0032] So, the rotation around the central shaft of each plate can be determined by the displacement downwards of a pin, which causes a displacement upwards of the corresponding pin in the other portion of the upper surface of the supporting plane.

[0033] The width of each pin will be preferably configured so that it can be pushed by the respective plate, regardless of the axial position of the same.

[0034] The supporting base (1) will be conveniently realized so that it can act as housing of the described mechanism relative to all the pins provided in the device.

[0035] After describing the device, it is now possible to describe its modes of usage.

[0036] As it is shown in figure 3, the device can be used causing that one or both patient's feet are leant on the first portion of the supporting surface.

[0037] As yet said, all the pins relative to said first portion, in their resting position, are not projecting.

[0038] Once the foot is positioned, in order to stimulate it the therapist can lean an object (10) of arbitrary shape on the second portion of the supporting surface and push it manually downwards.

[0039] The shape and position of the object determine the greater or lower projection of each pin on which the object is leaning, and according to the just described mechanism the greater or lower projection of the pins of the first portion of the supporting surface positioned under the sole of the foot of the patient is determined.

[0040] The foot of the patient is so stimulated differently in each portion of his own sole of the foot, as a function of the shape and position of the object (10) used. It is clear that the object can be moved during treatment, giving then more freedom of action to the therapist in choosing the more appropriate stimulations for the patient.

[0041] Moreover, once the foot is leant on the base, it is not needed to move it to change the stimulation applied. This feature is particularly comfortable in the treatment of patients with motion disability, for whom the foot should always be moved manually by the therapist.

[0042] Moreover, it is also possible to apply two distinct objects which stimulate two distinct areas of the sole of the foot of the patient.

[0043] It is also to be specified that, even if this is not limiting for the aims of the invention, at least a portion of said pins is preferably configured so that the upper portion thereof can be substituted easily.

[0044] This can occur conveniently by provision of a threaded hole in which a corresponding end portion of the pin can be screwed. In this manner, it is possible to realize end portions for the pins in different material so that the patient can have different feelings relative to more or less soft materials and more or less isolating materials from the thermal point of view.

Claims

1. Device for proprioceptive stimulation of the sole of the foot, comprising a supporting base (1) whose upper surface (11) is divided in a first (2) and a second portion (3) at a division plane (12), said first and second portion comprising a plurality of holes (4, 6) configured so that to each hole (4) positioned in the first portion of said upper surface corresponds a respective hole (6) positioned in said second portion of the upper surface, and to each hole (4, 6) provided both on the first and second portion of the upper supporting surface a respective vertically sliding pin (5, 7) is associated,
characterized in that
each couple of sliding pins (5, 7) associated to a couple of corresponding holes (4, 6) is joined by a kinematism configured so that a displacement downwards of the pin (7) relative to the hole (6) positioned on said second portion (3) of the upper surface (11) determines a respective displacement upwards of the corresponding pin (5) relative to a hole (4) arranged on the first portion (2) of the upper surface (11).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said kinematism comprises, for each couple of pins, a lever with its own fulcrum in a point arranged on said central division plane.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each couple of corresponding holes is made up of symmetrical holes with respect to said division plane (12) of the supporting base (1).

4. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said corresponding holes are positioned from opposite portions to the division plane, their joining line is orthogonal to said division plane and the distance of one of the two holes from the division plane is greater than the other one.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each sliding pin (5) relative to a hole (4) of the first portion of said upper surface is preferably configured to slide between a first position in which it does not project with respect to said upper surface, and a second position in which said pin projects with respect to said upper surface.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that each couple of pins and the respective lever mechanism are balanced so that in resting conditions the pin relative to the first portion of the upper supporting surface is positioned in its own position where it does not project from its own hole.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plurality of holes relative to each one of said portions of the upper supporting surface is arranged according to a plurality of lines and columns.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each lever is made up of a shaped plate (8) provided with vertical projections (81, 82) at its ends.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting base (1) is realized so that it acts as housing of the kinematism relative to all the pins provided in the device.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a portion of said pins is configured so that the upper portion of the pin can be substituted.

Drawing