Step over walking aid

Abstract

An ambulatory assistance system includes an article of footwear adapted to be worn on a foot of a user or walking aid devices; and a barrier coupled to the article of footwear such that, when the article of footwear is worn on a foot of the user, at least a portion of the barrier extends into a visually engagable region that is adjacent to a medial side of the one foot of the user, that is visible to the user, and that lies in a path of movement of another foot of the user. Further, the barrier may be coupled to the article of footwear via an attachment. Moreover, the ambulatory assistance system may be adapted for use with one or two articles of footwear.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/750,486, filed Dec. 14, 2005, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] Embodiments exemplarily disclosed herein relate generally to ambulatory assistance systems adapted to assist persons afflicted with diseases such as Parkinsonism, Parkinson's disease, etc., in overcoming a sudden loss of mobility or motor block episode, i.e., "freezing."

[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art

[0005] Parkinsonism, Parkinson's disease, and other similar diseases are neurological disorders caused by imbalance of chemical messengers in the central nervous system. This disease can result in loss of control over voluntary movement in the patient. People who suffer from Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism but are often not positively affected by medication. Some of the well known symptoms are resting tremor, i.e., shaking; muscular rigidity or stiffness; slowness of movement, i.e., bradykinesia; inability to initiate movement, stopping (freezing), i.e., akinesia; impairment of a postural righting reflex, i.e., balance; and other mobility difficulties. Other symptoms may include changes in gait while walking, including shuffling of feet, short steps, difficulty with turns, and decreased arm swing on the affected side. The usual medical management strategy involves medication, and this often may lead to a satisfactory and productive quality of life. A regular exercise regimen will often be beneficial in reducing these symptoms, as the muscular and skeletal system are not directly affected by this disease, and exercise such as regular walking increases blood flow to areas of the brain associated with learning and remembering, formation of new connections between nerve cells, and release of a family of proteins known as "nerve growth factors" keeps the mind and body healthy. See, for example, "Mind, Mood & Memory," Massachusetts General Hospital, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 1-7, September 2005. However, walking can still be affected by immobility or freezing.

[0006] Many people with Parkinson's Disease, or PD, periodically experience a motor block episode, often called "freezing," (i.e., akinesa) in which the person is made immobile, with a feeling as if his or her feet are "glued" to the floor. This can happen while walking (e.g., when walking towards an obstacle or as others walk towards them), and can lead to loss of balance and falls. The occurrence of freezing is controlled somewhat by the patient's medication, but can occur without warning in more advanced cases, or in less advanced cases where the medication wears off. Adjusting the PD medication will not always solve this problem. Freezing episodes are sometimes triggered by visual stimuli, such as a change in flooring patterns, or from observing a doorway or an elevator door closing or opening. Freezing occurs rather frequently when the patient is navigating through narrow passageways or small spaces, even small rises or drops in elevation. Coping with "freezing episodes" can be annoying and frustrating to the patient. Where this happens frequently, the patient is often afraid to go out or to engage in any sort of mobility activity.

[0007] Some compensating strategies that have been tried include visualization techniques in which a patient imagining an object or line on the floor and then steps over the imagined object as if it were actually there. In practice, however, this strategy is often not useful. Other strategies include changing the visual focus to a distant point instead of looking directly down, counting a cadence or marching in place, or rocking from side to side to break the "freeze." These strategies can be successful for some PD patients, but can lose their effectiveness over time. Therefore, these strategies are not always useful to a person suffering from PD or Parkinsonism. Furthermore, as Parkinsonism, PD, and the like, are progressive diseases, eventually these strategies are not useful to the afflicted person.

SUMMARY

[0008] Numerous embodiments disclosed herein advantageously address the needs above as well as other needs by providing ambulatory assistance systems and related methods.

[0009] One embodiment exemplarily described herein provides an ambulatory assistance system that includes an article of footwear adapted to be worn on a foot of a user; and a barrier coupled to the article of footwear such that, when the article of footwear is worn on a foot of the user, at least a portion of the barrier extends into a visually engagable region that is adjacent to a medial side of the one foot of the user, that is visible to the user, and that lies in a path of movement of another foot of the user.

[0010] In another embodiment, an ambulatory assistance system includes an attachment adapted to be coupled to an article of footwear, wherein each article of footwear is adapted to be worn on a foot of a user; and a barrier coupled to the attachment such that, when the article of footwear is worn on one foot of the user, at least a portion of the barrier extends into a visually engagable region that is adjacent to a medial side of the one foot of the user, that is visible to the user, and that lies in a path of movement of another foot of the user.

[0011] In still another embodiment, an ambulatory assistance system includes a visual stimulation means for visually stimulating a user; and means for coupling the visual stimulation means to a foot of the user such that at least a portion of the visual stimulation means extends into a visually engagable region that is adjacent to a medial side of the foot of the user, that is visible to the user, and that lies in a path of movement of another foot of the user.

[0012] In yet another embodiment, an ambulatory assistance system includes a pair of visual stimulation means for visually stimulating the user; and means for coupling the pair of visual stimulation means to respective articles of footwear such that, when an article of footwear is worn on a foot of the user, at least a portion of the visual stimulation means extends into a visually engagable region that is adjacent to a medial side of the foot of the user, that is visible to the user, and that lies in a path of movement of another foot of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of several embodiments disclosed herein will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1A illustrates an external perspective view of a portion of an ambulatory assistance system in accordance with one embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 1B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a multi-component barrier in accordance with one embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 1C illustrates an external perspective view of a portion of an ambulatory assistance system in accordance with another embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 1D illustrates an external perspective view of a portion of an ambulatory assistance system in accordance with yet another embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 2A illustrates a schematic view of the ambulatory assistance system exemplarily shown in FIG. 1A, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0019] FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic view of the ambulatory assistance system in accordance with another embodiment;

[0020] FIG. 2C illustrates a perspective view of the ambulatory assistance system shown in FIG. 2B when coupled to a user's foot, either directly or via an article of footwear;

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a sensor subsystem incorporated within the ambulatory assistance system shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, 2A and 2B;

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a power subsystem incorporated within the ambulatory assistance system shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, 2A and 2B;

[0023] FIGS. 5A, 6A, and 7A illustrate front views describing an exemplary operation of the ambulatory assistance system shown in FIGS. 1A, 1C, 2A and 2B incorporating a stimulus driving subsystem in accordance with one embodiment;

[0024] FIGS. 5B, 6B-6C, and 7B-7C schematically illustrate relationships between the arrangement of a user's shoes, an ambulatory characteristic detected by the visual stimulation assemblies, and the operation of the ambulatory assistance system as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 6A, and 7A, respectively;

[0025] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary flow chart describing the operation shown in FIGS. 5A-7C;

[0026] FIGS. 9, 10A and 10B illustrate other orientations of the stimulus driving subsystem shown in FIGS. 5A-7C, in accordance with other embodiments;

[0027] FIGS. 11A-11B illustrate external perspective views of an ambulatory assistance system in accordance with other embodiments;

[0028] FIGS. 12A-12B illustrate schematic views of an ambulatory assistance system incorporated within the ambulatory assistance system shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, respectively, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0029] FIGS. 13-15 illustrate an external perspective view of an ambulatory assistance system in accordance with other embodiments;

[0030] FIG. 16 illustrates a control signal generation regulator in accordance with one embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 17 illustrates switching characteristics between high- and low-states of a sensor signal generated by one embodiment of a pressure-switch for use in an exemplary ambulatory assistance system;

[0032] FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary automatic method of regulating the generation of control signals in accordance with switching characteristics shown in FIG. 17;

[0033] FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate front and schematic views describing a relationship between the arrangement of a user's shoes, an ambulatory characteristic detected by the visual stimulation assemblies, and an exemplary operation of the ambulatory assistance system;

[0034] FIG. 20 illustrates a perspective view of an ambulatory assistance system coupled to a shoe in accordance with one embodiment;

[0035] FIG. 21 illustrates a front elevation view of the ambulatory assistance system shown in FIG. 21, without the shoe;

[0036] FIG. 22 illustrates a partial view of a variation of the ambulatory assistance system shown in FIG. 21;

[0037] FIGS. 23A and 23B illustrate front elevation views of two variations of the ambulatory assistance system shown in FIG. 21;

[0038] FIG. 24 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the hinge shown in FIG. 21;

[0039] FIG. 25 illustrates a perspective view of an ambulatory assistance system coupled to a shoe in accordance with another embodiment;

[0040] FIG. 26 illustrates a perspective view of an ambulatory assistance system coupled to an attachment in accordance with one embodiment;

[0041] FIG. 27 illustrates a perspective view of an ambulatory assistance system coupled to an attachment that is, in turn, coupled to a user's shoe in accordance with one embodiment;

[0042] FIG. 28 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the ambulatory assistance system shown in FIG. 27;

[0043] FIGS. 29A and 29B illustrate perspective views of an ambulatory assistance system coupled to an attachment in accordance with other embodiments;

[0044] FIG. 30 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of an ambulatory assistance system in which an attachment body is exemplarily coupled to the bottom of a user's shoe;

[0045] FIGS. 31-34 illustrate numerous exemplary embodiments in which a barrier is coupled with the attachment body shown in FIG. 30;

[0046] FIG. 35 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of an ambulatory assistance system in which an attachment body is exemplarily coupled to a side of a user's shoe;

[0047] FIG. 36 illustrates an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the ambulatory assistance system shown in FIG. 35;

[0048] FIG. 37 illustrates a detailed view of an end of the barrier shown in FIGS. 35 and 36;

[0049] FIG. 38 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a magnetic coupling system incorporated within an ambulatory assistance system;

[0050] FIG. 39 illustrates an exemplary housing into which the ambulatory assistance system can be incorporated;

[0051] FIGS. 40 and 41 illustrate walking assistance devices fitted with the housing shown in FIG. 39;

[0052] FIG. 42 illustrates one embodiment of an ambulatory assistance system coupled to a walker;

[0053] FIG. 43 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of an ambulatory assistance system in which a magnetic attachment body is exemplarily coupled to the bottom of a user's shoe;

[0054] FIG. 44 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of an ambulatory assistance system in which a magnetic attachment body is exemplarily coupled to the bottom of a user's shoe;

[0055] FIG. 45 illustrates a perspective view of still another embodiment of an ambulatory assistance system in which a magnetic attachment body is exemplarily coupled to the bottom of a user's shoe; and

[0056] FIGS. 46A-C illustrate embodiments of an ambulatory assistance system coupled to a leg of a walking assistance device.

[0057] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of exemplary embodiments. The scope of the embodiments disclosed herein should be determined with reference to the claims.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 1A, an ambulatory assistance system, in accordance with one embodiment, includes a stimulus driving subsystem 100 coupled to a shoe 110 configured to be worn on the user's right foot. Although the ambulatory assistance system is illustrated as being used with a shoe 110, it will be appreciated that ambulatory assistance systems in this and other embodiments may implemented in conjunction with substantially any other article of footwear (e.g., boot, sandal, sock, etc.) that can be worn on a user's foot. Although FIG. 1A illustrates an ambulatory assistance system implemented in conjunction with only one shoe 110, it will be appreciated that the ambulatory assistance system may be implemented in conjunction with a pair of shoes, wherein complementary stimulus driving subsystems 100 are each coupled to a particular shoe 110 of the pair of shoes. Either the single shoe or the pair of shoes can be characterized as a walking assistance device, i.e., a device that enables a user (e.g., the wearer of the shoes) to walk over a walking surface (e.g., a floor, sidewalk, street, etc.). As exemplary discussion of the ambulatory assistance system implemented in conjunction with a pair of shoes will now be provided in greater detail below.

[0060] In the illustrated embodiment, a particular stimulus driving subsystem 100 includes a visual stimulus (e.g., a barrier) 102 coupled to a heel 112 of a particular shoe 110 via a stimulus driver 104. According to many embodiments, the stimulus driver may include, for example, a hinge and an actuator (not shown) connected to the hinge, wherein the actuator is provided as a solenoid, a motor (e.g., electric, pneumatic, etc.), or the like, and is adapted to rotate the barrier 102 about the hinge. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the actuator can be driven to move the barrier 102 about the hinge between a visually engagable position (i.e., a position where the user can observe the barrier 102 or otherwise be assured that the barrier 102 can be observed and use the so-positioned barrier 102 as a visual stimulation tool to overcome "freezing" episodes as described above) and a visually disengagable position (i.e., a position where the barrier 102 provides little or no visual stimulation to a user). FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary visually engagable position that the barrier 102 can be moved to, wherein the barrier extends away from the shoe 110 and into a region where the user can observe the barrier 102 (i.e., a visually engagable region). According to various embodiments, the visually engagable region can be generally characterized as a region proximate (e.g., over) a walking surface, visible to the user, that is adjacent to the medial side of one foot of the user and that lies in the path of movement of another foot of the user so that the user can step over the barrier 102 when engaging in (or initiating) ambulatory movement. As used herein, the term "medial" refers to the part of the user's foot that is nearer to the center of the user's body. For example, the medial side of a user's right foot is the side that is closest to the user's left foot. In one embodiment, the visual stimulus (e.g., barrier 102) is generally oriented perpendicularly (i.e., at substantially 90 degrees) with respect to the side of the user's shoe 110. It will be appreciated, however, that the visual stimulus can be oriented at substantially any other angle such that the visual stimulus can be observed by the user and be used by the user to stimulate ambulatory movement. Exemplary orientations and positions of visually engagable regions will be illustrated in the figures that follow.

[0061] According to various embodiments, the barrier 102 can be brightly colored, reflective, have a surface formed of photo- or electro-luminescent material, include light emitting devices (e.g., light emitting diodes, etc.), light transmitting structures (e.g., optical fibers, etc.), or the like, or combinations thereof, to enhance the degree to which a user is visually stimulated by the barrier 102. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the barrier 102 (e.g., the portion of the barrier 102 that is observable by the user when the barrier 102 is in the visually engagable position) is configured as described above to enhance the degree to which a user is visually stimulated.

[0062] According to various embodiments, the barrier 102 is provided as an elongated member (e.g., a rod, a coil spring, etc.) having a longitudinal length, l, between about 11/2-6 inches and a maximum transverse dimension of about 1/4-2 inches. It will be appreciated, however, that the maximum transverse dimension of the barrier 102 may as large or as small as desired. In one embodiment, the barrier 102 can be either rigid or flexible yet self-supporting. In another embodiment, the barrier 102 may be formed of a hard material (e.g., a metal such as stainless steel or aluminum, etc., wood, polymers, or the like, or combinations thereof, a soft material (e.g., urethane, rubber foam, or the like, or combinations thereof), or any combination thereof. In further embodiments, the barrier 102 can be formed using one or more components. An exemplary multi-component barrier 102 is illustrated in FIG. 1B and includes a coil spring 152 encapsulated with a flexible or elastic membrane 154.

[0063] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the shoe 110 includes a heel 112, within which the visual stimulus driving subsystem 100 is incorporated. It will be appreciated, however, that the shoe 110 may alternatively be provided with a sole 114 instead of a heel 112 and that the visual stimulus driving subsystem 100 can be incorporated within a rear region 114a of the sole 114 of the shoe 110 (see, for example, FIG. 1C) or at some intermediate region 114b (e.g., the instep) between the rear portion of the shoe 110 and the front portion of the shoe 110 (see, for example, FIG. 1D).

[0064] Referring to FIG. 2A, and in accordance with various embodiments, the ambulatory assistance system includes a pair of complementary visual stimulation assemblies (e.g., first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b, respectively, wherein either of the first or second visual stimulation assemblies 200a or 200b can generically be referred to as a visual stimulation assembly 200), wherein each visual stimulation assembly 200 is coupled to a particular shoe 110 in the pair of shoes. According to various embodiments, the aforementioned stimulus driving subsystem 100 is but one component of each particular visual stimulation assembly 200. Thus, each first and second visual stimulation assembly 200a and 200b further includes a controller subsystem 202 (also referred to generically as a "controller"), a main sensor subsystem 204a (also referred to generically as a "main sensor"), a communications subsystem 206 (also referred to generically as a "communications system"), and a power subsystem 208. In one embodiment, and as will be discussed in greater detail below, each first and second visual stimulation assembly 200a and 200b may further include an auxiliary sensor subsystem 204b (also referred to generically as an "auxiliary sensor") incorporated within the sole of each shoe 110.

[0065] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the controller subsystem 202 and the communications subsystem 206 of each first and second visual stimulation assembly 200a and 200b is incorporated within the heel 112 of a respective shoe 110. It will be appreciated, however, that these subsystems, in addition to the main sensor subsystem 204a, the power subsystem 208, and the auxiliary sensor subsystem 204b, can also be coupled to, or formed, or located within any portion of a shoe (e.g., the bottom, side, or top portions of the shoe, the tongue, a sole where provided, etc.) via any suitable means. For example, and with reference to FIGS. 2B and 2C, each visual stimulation assembly 200 can be incorporated within a main body of a platform 210 that is adapted to be detachably coupled (e.g., attached) to the bottom of an object 216 (e.g., an article of footwear such as a user's shoe as those illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1C, and 1D, a user's foot, etc.) via a rear stabilization member 212 and front stabilization member 214. As illustrated, the rear stabilization member 212 is adapted to be secured around a user's ankle and thus secure the rear portion of the platform 210 to the heel 112 of the user's shoe 110 and the front stabilization member 214 is adapted to be secured around a users foot and thus secure the front portion of the platform 210 to the sole of the user's shoe 110. Once platform 210 is secured to the object 216, it will be appreciated that the main sensor subsystem 204a and the auxiliary sensor subsystem 204b operate in substantially the same manner as the components would when incorporated within the actual shoe 110. As both the platform 210 and the shoe 110 are adapted to be worn on a user's foot, the platform 210 and the shoe 110 can be generally characterized as articles of footwear.

[0066] It will be appreciated that the rear and front stabilization members 212 and 214 illustrate but one example by which the platform 210 can be attached to a user's shoe and that any other means may be employed to replace the rear and front stabilization members 212 and 214. For example, the platform 210 can also be attached to a user's shoe using, for example, pairs of opposing clips slidably coupled to the platform 210 and adapted to engage opposing sides of the user's shoe 110. It will be appreciated that the platform 210 can be attached to the user's shoe via any other known means (e.g., via laces, snaps, buckles, Velcro, zipper, magnets, etc.).

[0067] According to numerous embodiments, the barrier 102 of each visual stimulation assembly 200 can be moved about the hinge of stimulus driver 104 between the aforementioned visually engagable and disengagable positions. In one embodiment, the actuator of the stimulus driver is coupled to the controller subsystem 202 and can be driven in accordance with control signals output by the controller subsystem 202 to move (e.g., rotate) the barrier 102 between the visually engagable and disengagable positions. It will be appreciated that numerous types and configurations of actuators are known in the art to be suitable for use in the present invention and may include miniature electric motors, pneumatic motors, solenoids, and the like, or combinations thereof. For example, the stimulus driver illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1D and FIGS. 2A-2B may be provided as disclosed in U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2005/0050683 A1 to Tonogai, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the stimulus driver 104 has merely been disclosed as an actuator coupled to a hinge and that the stimulus driver can be provided as substantially any other device capable of moving the barrier 102 between visually engagable and disengagable positions in response to control signals output by a controller subsystem 202.

[0068] According to numerous embodiments, the controller subsystem 202 of the first visual stimulation assembly 200a is provided with circuitry adapted to drive the stimulus driving subsystem 100 of the first visual stimulation assembly 200a in accordance with main sensor signals generated by the main sensor subsystem 204a of the first visual stimulation assembly 200a. Similarly, the controller subsystem 202 of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b is provided with circuitry adapted to drive the stimulus driving subsystem 100 of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b in accordance with main sensor signals generated by the main sensor subsystem 204a of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b. As used herein, the term "circuitry" can refer to any type of executable instructions that can be implemented as, for example, hardware, firmware, and/or software, which are all within the scope of the various teachings described.

[0069] In one embodiment, a particular controller subsystem 202 drives a corresponding stimulus driving subsystem 100 by transmitting control signals to the stimulus driver associated therewith. In another embodiment, the control signals instruct the actuator of the stimulus driver 104 to move (e.g., rotate) the barrier 102 about the hinge to the visually disengagable position when, as will be discussed in greater detail below, a received main sensor signal indicates a high-state and instruct the actuator of the stimulus driver 104 to move (e.g., rotate) the barrier about the hinge to the visually engagable position when, as will be discussed in greater detail below, a received main sensor signal indicates a low-state.

[0070] According to numerous embodiments, the main sensor subsystem 204a of the first visual stimulation assembly 200a is adapted to detect an ambulatory characteristic imparted to a corresponding shoe 110 and includes circuitry adapted to generate a first main sensor signal representing the detected ambulatory characteristic. Similarly, the main sensor subsystem 204a of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b is adapted to detect an ambulatory characteristic imparted to a corresponding shoe 110 and includes circuitry adapted to generate a second main sensor signal representing the detected ambulatory characteristic. As used herein, the term "ambulatory characteristic" refers to an attribute that characterizes some aspect of a user's walk. In one embodiment, an ambulatory characteristic is indicative of whether the user is lifting a shoe over the walking surface to initiate a step or the whether user is placing the shoe down onto the walking surface to complete a step. Accordingly, the main sensor subsystem 204a of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b can, in one embodiment, be adapted to sense an application of a force applied by a user's foot to the heel 112 of a shoe 110.

[0071] Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the main sensor subsystem 204a includes a pressure sensitive-switch 302 coupled to the controller subsystem 202 and a pin actuator 304 coupled to the pressure-sensitive switch 302 and adapted to receive a force imparted by a portion of a user's foot 306 (e.g., the cacaneus, or large heel bone) toward a walking surface 308.

[0072] In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure-sensitive switch 302 is provided as a normally-closed switch. Thus, when a force exceeding a predetermined threshold is applied to the pin actuator 304 by the user's foot 306 (e.g., when the user is standing, when the user's weight is substantially arranged over the heel 112, etc.), the pressure-sensitive switch 302 is open and a main sensor signal indicating a low-state is generated. When a force less than the predetermined threshold is applied to the pin actuator 304 by the user's foot (e.g., when the user lifts the heel 112 over the walking surface 308, when the user's weight is shifted away from the heel 112, etc.), the pressure-sensitive switch 302 becomes closed and a main sensor signal indicating a high-state is generated. It will be appreciated that the placement and general configuration of the main sensor subsystem 204a described above with respect to FIG. 3 can be adjusted as desired to ensure that a main sensor signal indicating a high-state will be generated when the user lifts the heel 112 over the walking surface 308 by a predetermined amount or when the user's weight is otherwise shifted away from the heel 112 by a predetermined amount. Such adjustments are known in the art and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,485 to Goldston et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

[0073] In one embodiment, the auxiliary sensor subsystem 204b is substantially identical to the main sensor subsystem 204a and is adapted to sense an application of a force applied by a user's foot to the sole region of a shoe 110.

[0074] Referring back to FIG. 2A, the communications subsystem 206 of the first visual stimulation assembly 200a is provided as any suitable type of receiver capable of receiving signals from a manually operable control signal generation regulator, discussed in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 16. Similarly, the communications subsystem 206 of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b is provided as any suitable type of receiver capable of receiving signals from the manually operable control signal generation regulator. In one embodiment, the communications subsystems 206 of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b are adapted to receive the signals wirelessly.

[0075] According to numerous embodiments, the power subsystem 208 is provided with any suitable battery capable of providing an operating power to the subsystems described above. Further, the power subsystem 208 may be configured so as to permit replacement of depleted batteries. For example, and with reference to FIG. 4, the power subsystem 208 includes a battery housing 402, battery contacts 404 and 406 extending into recess 408 defined within the battery housing 402, and a protector cap 410. The recess 408 is adapted to receive a battery 412 in addition to the protector cap 410. Once the battery 412 is received within the recess 408, the battery contacts 404 and 406 receive one of two voltage terminals of the battery 412 and complete an electrical circuit to provide power to the subsystems within a visual stimulation assembly. The power subsystem 204 is electrically coupled to the controller subsystem 202 via well known means.

[0076] An exemplary operation of the ambulatory assistance system described above with respect to FIGS. 1A and 1C and 2A-2B will now be discussed in greater detail with respect to FIGS. 5A to 7C. Concurrent reference is also made to the flow chart of FIG. 8.

[0077] As generally shown in FIGS. 5A to 7C, an ambulatory assistance system includes a pair of complementary stimulus driving subsystems 100 (e.g., first and second stimulus driving subsystems 100a and 100b, respectively), wherein each stimulus driving subsystem 100 is coupled to one of a pair of complementary shoes 110 (e.g., first and second shoes 110a and 110b, respectively). As described above, each of the first and second stimulus driving subsystems 100a and 100b include first and second barriers 102a and 102b, respectively, and first and second stimulus drivers 104a and 104b (only hinges shown), respectively. Although not shown, it is appreciated that each of the first and second stimulus driving subsystems 100a and 100b are respective components of particular visual stimulation assemblies (e.g., first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b, as shown in FIG. 2).

[0078] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an embodiment where, for example, a control signal generation regulator 1600 (discussed in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 16) has been manipulated by a user to generate, for example, an on/off signal causing the controller subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies to output control signals in response to main sensor signals output by their associated main sensor subsystems. Accordingly, FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the result where a force exceeding the predetermined threshold is applied to main sensor subsystems of both the first and second visual stimulation assemblies and the first and second barriers 102a and 102b are located in a visually engagable position 502.

[0079] Specifically, FIG. 5A illustrates a front view of the ambulatory assistance system while FIG. 5B schematically illustrates an exemplary arrangement of the first and second shoes 110a and 110b when the first and second barriers 102a and 102b are located in the visually engagable position 502 shown in FIG. 5A. Although the first and second barriers 102a and 102b are generally illustrated in FIG. 5B as being coupled to the heel 112 of the first and second shoes 110a and 110b, it will be appreciated that the first and second barriers 102a and 102b may be coupled anywhere along the length of the instep of the first and second shoes 110a and 110b and, in some embodiments, to the front of the respective first and second shoes 110a and 110b. As shown in FIG. 5B, the user is standing with the first and second shoes 110a and 110b together while applying a force, in excess of the predetermined threshold, to the main and auxiliary sensor subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies (e.g., as indicated by the shaded heel 112 and sole of the first and second shoes 110a and 110b).

[0080] Because the user is applying a force exceeding the predetermined threshold to main sensor subsystems of both the first and second visual stimulation assemblies in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the main sensor subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies generate first and second main sensor signals, respectively, both indicating a low-state. Moreover, because the user is applying a force exceeding the predetermined threshold to auxiliary sensor subsystems of both the first and second visual stimulation assemblies in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the auxiliary sensor subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies generate first and second auxiliary sensor signals, respectively, both indicating a low-state. As will be discussed in greater detail below, auxiliary sensor signals indicating a low-state may be used in automatically regulating an operation of the controller subsystems in each of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies.

[0081] Within the first visual stimulation assembly 200a, the first main sensor signal is transmitted from the main sensor subsystem to the controller subsystem. Upon receipt of the main sensor signal indicating the low-state (see step 802 in FIG. 8), the controller subsystem outputs a control signal instructing the actuator of the first stimulus driver 104a to move (e.g., rotate) the barrier 102a to the visually engagable position indicated at 502 (see step 804 in FIG. 8). In response, the actuator of the first stimulus driving subsystem 100a moves (e.g., rotates) the barrier 102a about the hinge of the first stimulus driver 104a to the visually engagable position 502 (see step 806 in FIG. 8). A process similar to that described above is also performed to ultimately move (e.g., rotate) the barrier 102b of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b in accordance with a second main sensor signal generated by the main sensor subsystem therein. FIGS. 5B, 6B-6C, and 7B-7C further illustrate wherein the visually disengagable position 602 is located within a visually engagable region 504, proximate to a respective shoe and observable by the user.

[0082] FIGS. 6A-6C and 7A-7C illustrate embodiments wherein a force less than the predetermined threshold is applied to the main sensor subsystem of one visual stimulation assembly (e.g., the second visual stimulation assembly as shown in FIGS. 6A-6C or first visual stimulation assembly as shown in FIGS. 7A-7C) and a force exceeding the predetermined threshold is applied to the main sensor subsystem of the other visual stimulation assembly (e.g., the first visual stimulation assembly as shown in FIGS. 6A-6C or second visual stimulation assembly as shown in FIGS. 7A-7C). Therefore, FIGS. 6A-6C and 7A-7C illustrate embodiments wherein one of the first and second barriers 102a and 102b is located in a visually disengagable position 602 and the other of the first and second barriers 102a and 102b is located in the visually engagable position 502.

[0083] Specifically, FIGS. 6A and 7A illustrate front views of the ambulatory assistance system and FIGS. 6B-6C and 7B-7C schematically illustrate exemplary arrangements of the first and second shoes 110a and 110b when one of the first and second barriers 102a or 102b is located in the visually engagable position 502 and the other of the first and second barriers 102a or 102b is located in the visually disengagable position 602. As shown in FIG. 6B, the user is initiating a step (e.g., from the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5B) and has, therefore, either applied a force less than the predetermined threshold (e.g., as indicated by the unshaded heel 112 of the second shoe 110b--the trailing shoe) to the main sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly while maintaining the heel 112 of the second shoe 110b on the walking surface 308 or has completely lifted the heel 112 of the second shoe (i.e., the trailing shoe) over the walking surface 308. As shown in FIG. 6C, the user is in the process of completing a step (e.g., from the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 6B) using the first barrier 102a provided in the visually engagable position 502 as a visual stimulation tool to help overcome a freezing episode. Accordingly, the user has applied a force less than the predetermined threshold (e.g., as indicated by the unshaded sole of the second shoe 110b) to the auxiliary sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly by completely lifting the sole of the second shoe (i.e., the trailing shoe) over the walking surface 308.

[0084] Because the user is applying a force less than the predetermined threshold to the main sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly to the second shoe 110b (i.e., the trailing shoe) as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the main sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly generates a second main sensor signal indicating a high-state. Moreover, because the user is applying a force less than the predetermined threshold to the auxiliary sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly to the second shoe 110b (i.e., the trailing shoe) as shown in FIG. 6C, the auxiliary sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly generates a second auxiliary sensor signal indicating a high-state. As will be discussed in greater detail below, auxiliary sensor signals indicating a high-state may be used in automatically regulating an operation of the controller subsystems in each of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies.

[0085] Within the second visual stimulation assembly 200b, the second main sensor signal is transmitted from the main sensor subsystem to the controller subsystem. Upon receipt of the second main sensor signal indicating the high-state, the controller subsystem generates a control signal adapted to instruct the actuator of the second stimulus driver 104b to move (e.g., rotate) the barrier 102b to the visually disengagable position 602.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 6C, the first barrier 102a can be observed by the user within the visually engagable region 504 and thus be used as a visual stimulation tool to assist the user to complete a step taken with the fully raised second shoe 110b.

[0087] As discussed above, the barrier 102b is moved to the visually disengagable position 602 when the second main sensor signal indicates a high-state. In another embodiment of present invention, however, the controller subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b generates the control signal adapted to instruct the actuator of the second stimulus driver 104b to move (e.g., rotate) the barrier 102b to the visually disengagable position 602 upon receipt of both main and auxiliary sensor signals indicating a high-state. Accordingly, the barrier 102b is moved to the visually disengagable position 602 only when the second shoe 110b is fully raised over the walking surface 308.

[0088] Upon completion of the step with the second shoe 110b, an arrangement of the user's shoes 110a and 110b can be similar to that shown in FIG. 5B or as shown in FIG. 7B (e.g., the first shoe 110a is the trailing shoe and the second shoe 110b is the leading shoe). Accordingly, a force exceeding the predetermined threshold is applied to the main sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly and a second main sensor signal representing a low-state is generated and output to the controller subsystem. In response to the second main sensor signal indicating a low-state, the controller subsystem generates a control signal adapted to instruct the actuator of the second stimulus driver 104b to move (e.g., rotate) the second barrier 102b to the visually engagable region 502 as shown in FIG. 5A.

[0089] The operational results exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6C and 7A-7C are attained through equivalent processes within the first and second visual stimulation assemblies. Accordingly, the aforementioned process can be repeated as the user initiates and completes a step with the first shoe 110a and as the user alternately initiates and completes successive steps alternating between the first and second shoes 110a and 110b. When used as described above, the ambulatory assistance assembly disclosed herein enables the user to walk in a manner that is as normal as possible.

[0090] As discussed with respect to the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 5A to 7C, each of the first and second stimulus drivers 104a and 104b is provided with a hinge oriented in such a manner enabling a corresponding barrier 102 to be moved (e.g., rotated) vertically between the visually disengagable and visually engagable regions. Accordingly, the hinge of each stimulus driver pivots about a substantially horizontal axis to move the barrier 102 between the visually disengagable and engagable positions 502 and 602, respectively. However, it will be appreciated that each hinge described above with respect to FIGS. 5A to 7C may be oriented as desired in such a manner enabling a corresponding barrier to be moved (e.g., rotated) along substantially any direction between the visually disengagable and visually engagable positions. For example, one or more stimulus driving subsystems 100 within the ambulatory assistance system may include a stimulus driver as shown in FIG. 9. Such a stimulus driver includes a hinge 900 coupled to the heel 112 and oriented in such a manner enabling the barrier 102 to be moved (e.g., rotated) between the visually disengagable and visually engagable positions 902 and 904, respectively. Accordingly, the hinge 900 pivots about a substantially vertical axis to move the barrier 102 between the visually disengagable and engagable positions 902 and 904, respectively. In another embodiment, one or more stimulus driving subsystems 100 within the ambulatory assistance system may include a stimulus driver as shown in FIG. 10A. Such a stimulus driver includes a hinge 1000 coupled to a front region of the shoe 110 and oriented in such a manner enabling the barrier 102 to be moved (e.g., rotated) horizontally between the visually disengagable and visually engagable positions 1002 and 1004, respectively. In another embodiment, one or more stimulus driving subsystems 100 within the ambulatory assistance system may include a stimulus driver as shown in FIG. 10B. Such a stimulus driver includes a hinge 1006 coupled to a front region of the shoe 110 and oriented in such a manner enabling the barrier 102 to be moved (e.g., rotated) horizontally between the visually disengagable and visually engagable regions 1008 and 1010, respectively. Although not explicitly shown, it will be appreciated that actuators coupled to hinges 1000 and 1006 may be electrically connected to the controller subsystem 202 via any suitable means (e.g., via wires embedded within the shoe 110 between the hinge 1000 and the controller 202 disposed within the heel 112).

[0091] As discussed above with respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 1A to 10B, an ambulatory assistance system may include one or more stimulus driving subsystems 100 employing a stimulus driver having an actuator coupled to a hinge that is, in turn, coupled between the user's shoe 110 and the barrier 102, wherein the barrier 102 is rotatably moved between a visually disengagable position and a visually engagable position within a visually engagable region. It will readily be appreciated that, however, that each stimulus driving subsystem can linearly move a respective barrier 102 between the visually disengagable position and the visually engagable position within the visually engagable region.

[0092] For example, and with reference to FIG. 11A, a stimulus driving subsystem 1100 includes a stimulus driver adapted to linearly move a barrier 102 into, and out of the heel 112 along the direction indicated at 1102 between a visually disengagable position (e.g., within the heel 112) and the visually engagable position within a visually engagable region proximate to the heel 112. In another embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 11B, a stimulus driving subsystem 1104 includes stimulus driver adapted to linearly move a barrier 102 into, and out of a shoe housing 1106 along the direction indicated at 1108 between a visually disengagable position (e.g., within the shoe housing 1106) and the visually engagable position within a visually engagable region proximate to the front portion of the shoe 110.

[0093] Referring to FIG. 12A, the stimulus driving subsystem 1100 shown in FIG. 11A includes a barrier guide 1202 formed within a portion of the shoe 110 (e.g., within the heel 112) and adapted to receive the barrier 102, and a stimulus driver (herein provided as a solenoid, a energized rack/pinion assembly, etc., 1204) coupled to an end of the barrier 102 via a connection rod 1206 and adapted to move the barrier 102 along the path indicated at 1102. Similarly, and with reference to FIG. 12B, the stimulus driving subsystem 1104 shown in FIG. 11B includes a barrier guide 1208 formed within the shoe housing 1106 and adapted to receive the barrier 102, and a stimulus driver (herein provided as a solenoid. 1204) coupled to an end of the barrier 102 via a connection rod 1206 and adapted to move the barrier 102 along the path indicated at 1108. In another embodiment, the solenoid/connection rod assembly can be replaced by any other suitable mechanism (e.g., a energized rack/pinion assembly, pneumatic system, hydraulic system, or the like, or combinations thereof.

[0094] According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11B and 12A-12B, the solenoid 1204 can project the barrier 102 from within a visually disengagable position within the barrier guide 1202 to a visually engagable position within a visually engagable region outside, for example, the heel 112 along the path indicated at 1102 or the front portion of the shoe 110 along the path indicated at 1108, in response to the aforementioned control signals output by the controller subsystem 202. For example, upon receiving a main sensor signal indicating a high-state, the controller subsystem of a particular visual stimulation assembly outputs a control signal to the solenoid 1204, causing the solenoid to bias the connection rod 1206 toward an exterior of the heel 112 which, in turn, causes the barrier 102 to move through the barrier guide along the direction indicated at 1102 (or 1108) and to a visually engagable position within a visually engagable region proximate to the heel 112 (or the front portion of the shoe 110). Upon receiving a main sensor signal indicating a low-state, the controller subsystem of a particular visual stimulation assembly outputs a control signal to the solenoid 1204, causing the solenoid to bias the connection rod 1206 toward an interior of the heel 112 which, in turn, causes the barrier 102 to move through the barrier guide along the direction indicated at 1102 (or 1108) and to a visually disengagable position within the heel 112 (or within the shoe housing 1106).

[0095] It will be appreciated that numerous types and configurations of solenoids are known in the art to be suitable for use in the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, the solenoid 1204 illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B may be provided as a latching-type solenoid. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the solenoid 1204 has merely been disclosed as an exemplary stimulus driver and that substantially any other device capable of moving the barrier 102 along the path indicated at 1102 (or 1108) in response to control signals output by a controller subsystem 202 may be used to replace the solenoid described above.

[0096] As discussed above with respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 1A to 12B, an ambulatory assistance system may include one or more stimulus driving subsystems incorporating a barrier-type visual stimulus 102 that a user can visually engage solely because it has a discrete boundary and occupies a physical space within a visually engagable region. It will be appreciated, however, that an ambulatory assistance system may also be fitted with one or more stimulus driving subsystems that incorporate other types of visual stimuli having similar discrete boundaries, such as a light-type visual stimulus.

[0097] For example, an ambulatory assistance system may be provided with one or more stimulus driving subsystems as shown in FIG. 13. Such a stimulus driving subsystem includes a visual stimulus (e.g., light projected to illuminate and/or reflect from the walking surface 308) 1302 at a visually engagable region ahead of a user's shoe 110 and a stimulus driver (e.g., a front-facing laser) 1304 adapted to project the light 1302 onto the walking surface 308. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the reflected light 1302 may be projected onto a visually engagable region of the walking surface 308 between a pair of the user's shoes by stimulus driver implemented as a side-facing laser 1402.

[0098] According to the embodiments exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, the lasers 1304 and 1402 can be coupled to the shoe 110 (e.g., at an upper portion thereof. In one embodiment, the lasers 1304 and 1402 can be integrally formed with the shoe 110 or can be attached to the shoe 110 via any known means (e.g., as disclosed in any of U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2004/0103563 A1 to Linge, U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2004/0100792 A1 to Trzecieski, U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,346 to Barker, U.S. Pat. No. 3,067,322 to Sala, each being incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein). As shown, the lasers 1304 and 1402 can be provided as any suitable device adapted to project a discrete pattern of light (e.g., a line, a dot, etc.), oriented in substantially any desired manner, onto the walking surface 308 at a visually engagable region ahead of, or beside a user's shoe 110. Although not explicitly shown, it will be appreciated that the lasers 1304 and 1402 may be electrically connected to the controller subsystem 202 via any suitable means (e.g., via wires 1306 embedded within the shoe 110 between the laser 1304 or 1402 and the controller 202 disposed within the heel 112).

[0099] In another example, an ambulatory assistance system may be provided with one or more stimulus driving subsystems as shown in FIG. 15. Such a stimulus driving subsystem includes a visual stimulus (e.g., emitted light) 1502 projected from a visually engagable region of a user's shoe 110 and a stimulus driver (e.g., one or more light emitting diodes, optical fibers, electroluminescent display device, or the like, or combinations thereof 1504 adapted to generate the emitted light 1502.

[0100] According to various embodiments, the light-type visual stimuli described above with respect to FIGS. 13 to 15, can be driven (e.g., turned on and off) in a manner as exemplarily described in FIGS. 5A-7C and can be driven so as to provide a visual stimulus that is either continuously or intermittently visually engagable by the user.

[0101] For example, when a user is applying a force, in excess of the predetermined threshold, to the main sensor subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5B), the main sensor subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies generate first and second main sensor signals, respectively, both indicating a low-state. Upon ultimately receiving the first and second main sensor signals indicating the low-state, the controller subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies, respectively, output control signals causing a stimulus driver (e.g., any of stimulus drivers 1304 or 1402, or 1504) connected thereto, to be turned on. When the stimulus drivers 1304, 1402, or 1504 are turned on (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 13-15), light 1302 or 1502 can be observed by the user and used as a visual stimulation tool to overcome "freezing" episodes as described above.

[0102] When a force less than the predetermined threshold is applied to the sensor subsystem of one visual stimulation assembly and a force exceeding the predetermined threshold is applied to the sensor subsystem of the other visual stimulation assembly (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 6B-6C or 7B-7C), the sensor subsystem receiving less than the predetermined threshold of the force (e.g., the sensor subsystem within the second visual stimulation assembly as shown in FIGS. 6B or 6C or the sensor subsystem within the first visual stimulation assembly as shown in FIGS. 7B or 7C) generates a sensor indicating a high-state. Upon receiving the first and second main sensor signals indicating the high-state, the controller subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies, respectively, output control signals causing a stimulus driver (e.g., any of stimulus drivers 1304 or 1402, or 1504) connected thereto, to be turned off. When the stimulus drivers 1304, 1402, or 1504 are turned off, light is not observable to the user within a visually engagable region

[0103] According to various embodiments, the generation of control signals by a particular controller subsystem 202 can be regulated. Accordingly, a particular controller subsystem 202 can be: 1) selectively activated before a user begins to walk to permit the generation of control signals in response to received main sensor signals or otherwise; 2) selectively deactivated after a user has started walking and does not require ambulatory assistance (e.g., after the user has attained a desired rhythm in his or her walk, when a user is sitting, when the shoes 110 are not being worn, etc.) to prevent the generation of control signals; and 3) selectively re-activated as in step 1, when the user is walking, in anticipation of a freezing episode (e.g., as a user approaches a corner, steps, a narrow space, or other perceived obstacle to ambulatory movement) to permit the generation of control signals in response to received main sensor signals.

[0104] For example, and with reference to FIG. 16, the ambulatory assistance system may include a control signal generation regulator 1600 adapted to communicate with the controller subsystems of each visual stimulation assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, the control signal generation regulator 1600 is external to the first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b, respectively, and includes a housing 1602 enclosing at least one switch 1604 coupled to a transmitter 1606.

[0105] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the housing 1602 can be configured to be held by the user and stored, for example, in the user's pocket, attached to a strap adapted to encircle a user's wrist, neck, waist, belt, etc. The switch 1604 is adapted to be manually operated (e.g., pressed) by a user to generate an on/off signal that is transmitted from the transmitter 1606 to the controller subsystems of the complementary visual stimulation assemblies via respective communications subsystems included therein. In response to the manually generated on/off signal, controller subsystems 202 are either prevented from generating control signals in response to main sensor signals (and are thus deactivated with respect to the main sensor subsystem 204a) or are permitted to generate control signals in response to main sensor signals (and are thus activated or re-activated with respect to the main sensor subsystem 204a). Accordingly, the manually generated on/off signal regulates generation of the control signals by the controller subsystems 202 in response to main sensor signals output by main sensor subsystems 204a associated therewith.

[0106] In another embodiment, the switch 1604 can be coupled to voice recognition circuitry and a microphone embedded within the housing 1602 and can thus be adapted to generate the on/off signals in response to voice commands issued by the user. It will be appreciated, however, that the control signal generation regulator 1600 can be provided as substantially any device capable of transmitting on/off signals in response to substantially any input by the user.

[0107] As described above, the control signal generation regulator 1600 is adapted to transmit on/off signals to the first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b simultaneously. It will be appreciated, however, that the control signal generation regulator 1600 may be adapted to transmit on/off signals to the first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b individually. For example, the control signal generation regulator 1600 can be provided with two switches 1604 wherein a first switch is adapted to generate and transmit an on/off signal to the first visual stimulation assembly 200a and a second switch 1604 is adapted to generate and transmit an on/off signal to the second visual stimulation assembly 200b. In another embodiment, a third switch 1604 may supplement the first and second switches 1604 to generate and transmit an on/off signal to the first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b simultaneously.

[0108] As described above, the control signal generation regulator 1600 is adapted to selectively deactivate and activate (or re-activate) a controller subsystem 202 with respect to an associated main sensor subsystem 204a (and/or auxiliary sensor subsystem 204b). In another embodiment, however, the control signal generation regulator 1600 may include one or more switches 1604 adapted to generate a stimulus deployment signal that can be transmitted from the transmitter 1606 to one or both controller subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b. In response to the manually generated stimulus deployment signal, controller subsystems 202 output control signals driving the stimulus driver associated therewith independently of main sensor signals transmitted by associated main sensor subsystems 204a. Accordingly, stimulus deployment signals may be used to control the operation of controller subsystems 202 independently of any sensor subsystem. This mode eliminates the need for sensor subsystems and the logic system associated with them.

[0109] As discussed above, controller subsystems within the ambulatory assistance system can be manually activated, deactivated, and re-activated with respect to their associated main sensor subsystems 402a using a control signal generation regulator 1600. In one embodiment, and as exemplarily discussed below with respect to FIGS. 17 and 18, the controller subsystems can be automatically deactivated and re-activated to automatically regulate the ability of controller subsystems to generate control signals based on main sensor signals generated by associated main sensor subsystems 204a.

[0110] For example, the controller subsystem 202 of the aforementioned first visual stimulation assembly 200a can be provided with control signal generation regulator circuitry adapted to detect a switch between high- and low-states in a first auxiliary sensor signal generated by the auxiliary sensor subsystem 204b of the first visual stimulation assembly 200a. Similarly, the controller subsystem 202 of the aforementioned second visual stimulation assembly 200b can be provided with control signal generation regulator circuitry adapted to-detect a switch between high- and low-states in a second auxiliary sensor signal generated by the auxiliary sensor subsystem 204b of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b. Accordingly, the controller subsystem 202 of each particular visual stimulation assembly can be characterized as an internal control signal generation regulator.

[0111] Referring to FIG. 17, at time T1, the force applied by a user to a sensor subsystem of a particular visual stimulation assembly (e.g., the first or second visual stimulation assembly 200a or 200b) is less than the predetermined threshold (e.g., the user has completely lifted the sole of the shoe over the walking surface to complete a step as shown in FIGS. 6C or 7C). Accordingly, the auxiliary sensor subsystem of the particular visual stimulation assembly generates an auxiliary sensor signal indicating a high-state. At time T2, the force applied by a user to the auxiliary sensor subsystem of the particular visual stimulation assembly is greater than the predetermined threshold (e.g., the user has placed the sole of the shoe on the walking surface 308 after completing a step as shown in FIGS. 5B, 6B, or 7B). Accordingly, the particular auxiliary sensor subsystem of the particular visual stimulation assembly generates an auxiliary sensor signal indicating a low-state. As illustrated, the process of applying pressure less than, and in excess of the predetermined threshold to generate an auxiliary sensor signal having high- and low-states, respectively, is repeated in accordance with a user's ambulatory movement.

[0112] According to one embodiment, the amount of time elapsing between when the user completes a step (e.g., by contacting the sole of a shoe with the walking surface 308) and when the user is in the process of completing a step (e.g., by lifting the sole of the shoe over the walking surface 308) can be monitored to regulate the generation of control signals by the controller subsystems. In one embodiment, regulated generation of control signals can be accomplished by monitoring the amount of time that elapses between when an auxiliary sensor signal switches from a high-state to a low-state to when the auxiliary sensor signal switches from the low-state back to a high-state.

[0113] For example, at step 1802 of FIG. 18, the controller subsystem of the aforementioned particular visual stimulation assembly detects a switch from the high- to low-state of the particular generated auxiliary sensor signal and, at step 1804, monitors (e.g., counts) an amount of time, t, that elapses after the high-state auxiliary sensor signal switches to a low-state.

[0114] If, as a result of the monitoring, it is determined that the auxiliary sensor signal generated by an auxiliary sensor subsystem of a particular visual stimulation assembly switches from low-state to a high-state before a predetermined amount of time, t.sub.1, (e.g., about 1-3 seconds) has elapsed after the auxiliary sensor signal previously switched from the high-state to the low-state (see, for example, .DELTA.T in FIG. 17; step 1806 in FIG. 18), the user of the ambulatory assistance system is assumed to be walking in a normative manner (e.g., unimpeded by any perceived obstacle that would induce a freezing episode). Thus, it is assumed that a visual stimulus is not needed to assist the user walk and the controller subsystem of the particular visual stimulation assembly ceases generating control signals to become deactivated (see step 1808 in FIG. 18).

[0115] If, as a result of the monitoring, it is determined that the auxiliary sensor signal generated by the particular sensor subsystem does not switch from the low-state to a high-state after the predetermined amount of time, t.sub.1, has elapsed after the auxiliary sensor signal previously switched from the high-state to the low-state (see, for example, T2+t.sub.1 or T3+t.sub.1 in FIG. 17), the user of the ambulatory assistance system is assumed to have stopped walking or is slowing down due to some perceived obstacle that would induce a freezing episode and, therefore, requires the visual stimulus to assist in walking. Thus, it is assumed that a visual stimulus is needed to assist the user walk and the controller subsystem generates a control signal to drive a stimulus driver to provide a visual stimulus in a visually engagable region, thereby maintaining an activated state of the controller subsystem or re-activating controller subsystem if it has been previously deactivated.

[0116] As discussed above, numerous embodiments have been exemplarily described as directed to an ambulatory assistance system including complementary first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b that receive on/off signals generated by an externally provided control signal generation regulator 1600. In another embodiment, however, an ambulatory assistance system is provided wherein on/off signals are transmitted between the complementary first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b. Due to the substantial amount of overlap between the two general embodiments, only that which is different from the embodiments described above will be discussed in detail.

[0117] In an ambulatory assistance system where on/off signals are transmitted between the complementary first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b, the controller subsystem 202 of the first visual stimulation assembly 200a is provided with circuitry adapted to drive the stimulus driving subsystem 100 of the first visual stimulation assembly 200a in accordance with main sensor signals generated by the main sensor subsystem 204a of second visual stimulation assembly 200b. Similarly, the controller subsystem 202 of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b is provided with circuitry adapted to drive the stimulus driving subsystem 100 of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b in accordance with main sensor signals generated by the main sensor subsystem 204a of first visual stimulation assembly 200a.

[0118] Moreover, control signals output by a given controller subsystem instruct an associated actuator coupled to a hinge to move (e.g., rotate) the barrier 102 to the visually disengagable position when a received sensor signal indicates a low-state and instruct the associated actuator coupled to the hinge to move (e.g., rotate) the barrier to the visually engagable position when a received sensor signal indicates a high-state.

[0119] Further, the communications subsystem 206 of the first visual stimulation assembly 200a is provided as any suitable type of transceiver assembly capable of transmitting signals to, and receiving signals from the second visual stimulation assembly 200b, in addition to receiving signals from the control signal generation regulator 1600. Similarly, the communications subsystem 206 of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b is provided as any suitable type of transceiver assembly capable of transmitting signals to, and receiving signals from the second visual stimulation assembly 200b, in addition to receiving signals from the control signal generation regulator 1600. In another embodiment, the communications subsystems 206 of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b can also be provided as any suitable type of transmitter capable of transmitting signals to a complementary visual stimulation assembly. The communications subsystems 206 of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b are adapted to transmit and receive the signals wirelessly.

[0120] The communications subsystem 206 of the first visual stimulation assembly 200a is adapted to output the received second main sensor signal to the controller subsystem 202 of the first visual stimulation assembly 200a while the communications subsystem 206 of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b is adapted to output the received first main sensor signal to the controller subsystem 202 of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b. The communications subsystem 206 of the first visual stimulation assembly 200a is adapted to transmit a first main sensor signal to the second visual stimulation assembly 200b while the communications subsystem 206 of the second visual stimulation assembly 200b is adapted to transmit a second main sensor signal to the first visual stimulation assembly 200a.

[0121] An exemplary operation of the ambulatory assistance system described above with respect to FIGS. 1A and 1C and 2A-2B will now be discussed in greater detail with respect to FIGS. 19A and 19B. Concurrent reference is also made to the flow chart of FIG. 8.

[0122] FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate an embodiment wherein the control signal generation regulator 1600 has been manipulated by a user to generate, for example, an on/off signal causing the controller subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies to output control signals in response to main sensor signals output by their associated main sensor subsystems. Accordingly, FIG. 19A 19B illustrate the result where a force exceeding the predetermined threshold is applied to main sensor subsystems of both the first and second visual stimulation assemblies and the first and second barriers 102a and 102b are located in the aforementioned visually disengagable position 602.

[0123] Specifically, FIG. 19A illustrates a front view of the ambulatory assistance system while FIG. 19B schematically illustrate exemplary arrangements of the first and second shoes 110a and 110b when the first and second barriers 102a and 102b are located in the visually disengagable position 502 shown in FIG. 19A. As shown in FIG. 19B, the user is standing with the first and second shoes 110a and 110b together while applying a force, in excess of the predetermined threshold, to the main and auxiliary sensor subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies (e.g., as indicated by the shaded heel 112 and sole 112 of the first and second shoes 110a and 110b).

[0124] Because the user is applying a force exceeding the predetermined threshold to main sensor subsystems of both the first and second visual stimulation assemblies in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the main sensor subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies generate first and second main sensor signals, respectively, both indicating a low-state. Moreover, because the user is applying a force exceeding the predetermined threshold to auxiliary sensor subsystems of both the first and second visual stimulation assemblies in FIG. 19A 19B, the auxiliary sensor subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies generate first and second auxiliary sensor signals, respectively, both indicating a low-state. As will be discussed in greater detail below, auxiliary sensor signals indicating a low-state may be used in automatically regulating an operation of the controller subsystems in each of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies.

[0125] In the embodiment generally described with respect to FIGS. 19A and 19B, the first main sensor signal is transmitted from the main sensor subsystem of the first visual stimulation assembly to the communications subsystem of the first visual stimulation assembly. The communications subsystem of the first visual stimulation assembly then transmits the first main sensor signal to the communications subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly where it is subsequently output to the controller subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly (see step 802 in FIG. 8). Upon receipt of the first main sensor signal indicating the low-state, the controller subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly outputs a control signal instructing the actuator of the second stimulus driver 104b to move (e.g., rotate) the barrier 102b to the visually disengagable position indicated at 502 (see step 804 in FIG. 8). In response, the actuator of the second stimulus driver, coupled to a hinge, moves (e.g., rotates) the barrier 102b to the visually disengagable position 602 (see step 806 in FIG. 8). A process similar to that described above is also performed to ultimately move (e.g., rotate) the barrier 102a of the first visual stimulation assembly in accordance with a second main sensor signal generated by the main sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly.

[0126] An exemplary method of operation of the embodiment described above with respect to FIGS. 19A and 19B will now be described with respect to FIGS. 6A-6C and 7A-7C. When the user is applying a force less than the predetermined threshold to the main sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly to the second shoe 110b (i.e., the trailing shoe), as shown in FIG. 6B, the main sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly generates a second main sensor signal indicating a high-state. When the user is applying a force less than the predetermined threshold to the auxiliary sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly to the second shoe 110b (i.e., the trailing shoe), as shown in FIG. 6C, the auxiliary sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly generates a second auxiliary sensor signal indicating a high-state.

[0127] The second main sensor signal is transmitted from the main sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly to the communications subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly. The communications subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly then transmits the second main sensor signal to the communications subsystem of the first visual stimulation assembly where it is subsequently output to the controller subsystem of the first visual stimulation assembly. Upon receipt of the second main sensor signal indicating the high-state, the controller subsystem of the first visual stimulation assembly generates a control signal adapted to instruct the actuator of the first stimulus driver 104a to move (e.g., rotate) the barrier 102a to the visually engagable position 502.

[0128] Upon completion of the step with the second shoe 110b, an arrangement of the user's shoes 110a and 110b can be similar to that shown in FIG. 19B or as shown in FIG. 7B (e.g., the first shoe 110a is the trailing shoe and the second shoe 110b is the leading shoe). Accordingly, a force exceeding the predetermined threshold is applied to the main sensor subsystem of the second visual stimulation assembly and a second main sensor signal representing a low-state is generated, transmitted, and ultimately received by the controller subsystem of the first visual stimulation assembly. In response to the second main sensor signal indicating a low-state, the controller subsystem of the first visual stimulation assembly generates a control signal adapted to instruct the actuator of the first stimulus driver 104a to move (e.g., rotate) the first barrier 102a to the visually disengagable position 602 as shown in FIG. 19A. Thus, the first barrier 102a is moved out of the way to minimize interference with the user's subsequent ambulatory movement.

[0129] As similarly discussed above, the operational results exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6C and 7A-7C are attained through reciprocal processes between the first and second visual stimulation assemblies. Accordingly, the aforementioned process can be repeated as the user initiates and completes a step with the first shoe 110a and as the user alternately initiates and completes successive steps alternating between the first and second shoes 110a and 110b.

[0130] Where the barrier-type visual stimulus 102 is replaced with the aforementioned light-type stimuli (discussed above with respect to FIGS. 13 to 15), the principles of the present embodiment act to turn off the stimulus driver (e.g., any of stimulus drivers 1304 or 1402, or 1504) of a particular visual stimulation assembly when a user is applying a force in excess of the predetermined threshold to the main sensor subsystem of a complementary visual stimulation assembly and act to turn on the stimulus driver (e.g., any of stimulus drivers 1304 or 1402, or 1504) of the particular visual stimulation assembly when a user is applying a force less than the predetermined threshold to the main sensor subsystem of the complementary visual stimulation assembly.

[0131] It will be appreciated that the aforementioned control signal generation regulator 1600 may be provided to generate on/off signals that selectively deactivate and activate (or re-activate) a controller subsystem 202 with respect to a main sensor subsystem 204a associated with a complementary visual stimulation assembly. Further, the control signal generation regulator 1600 may further include one or more switches 1604 adapted to generate and transmit the aforementioned stimulus deployment signal to one or both controller subsystems of the first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b.

[0132] In an ambulatory assistance system where on/off signals are transmitted between the complementary first and second visual stimulation assemblies 200a and 200b, the on/off signals can be automatically generated in a manner similar to that discussed above with respect to FIGS. 17 and 18 to automatically deactivate and re-activate controller subsystems, thereby automatically regulating the ability of controller subsystems to generate control signals based on main sensor signals generated by main sensor subsystems 204a associated with complementary controller subsystems.

[0133] In this case, if, as a result of the aforementioned monitoring step 1804 (see FIG. 18), it is determined that the auxiliary sensor signal generated by a sensor subsystem of a particular visual stimulation assembly switches from a low-state to a high-state before a predetermined amount of time, ti, (e.g., about 1-3 seconds) has elapsed after the auxiliary sensor signal previously switched from the high-state to the low-state (see, for example, .DELTA.T in FIG. 17; step 1806 in FIG. 18), the user of the ambulatory assistance system is assumed to be walking in a normative manner (e.g., unimpeded by any perceived obstacle that would induce a freezing episode). Thus, the controller subsystem of the particular visual stimulation assembly generates an on/off signal that is transmitted to the controller subsystem of a complementary visual stimulation assembly, via the communications subsystems of the two visual stimulation assemblies, to deactivate the controller subsystem of the complementary visual stimulation assembly (see step 1808 in FIG. 18). Accordingly, the transmitted on/off signal instructs the controller subsystem of the complementary visual stimulation assembly to cease generation of the control signals with respect to any main sensor signals generated as a result of walking.

[0134] If, as a result of the aforementioned monitoring, it is determined that the auxiliary sensor signal generated by the particular sensor subsystem does not switch from the low-state to a high-state after the predetermined amount of time, ti, has elapsed after the auxiliary sensor signal previously switched from the high-state to the low-state (see, for example, T2+t.sub.1 or T3+t.sub.1 in FIG. 17), the user of the ambulatory assistance system is assumed to have stopped walking or is slowing down due to some perceived obstacle that would induce a freezing episode and, therefore, requires the visual stimulus to assist in walking. Thus, the controller subsystem of the particular visual stimulation assembly generates an on/off signal that is transmitted to the controller subsystem of the complementary visual stimulation assembly, via the communications subsystems of the two visual stimulation assemblies, instructing the controller subsystem of the complementary visual stimulation assembly to generate a control signal thereby maintaining an activated state of the controller subsystem of the complementary visual stimulation assembly or re-activating controller subsystem of the complementary visual stimulation assembly if it has been previously deactivated (see step 1810 in FIG. 18).

[0135] As described above, numerous embodiments of ambulatory assistance systems employing a barrier-type visual stimulus use an actuator to move a barrier (e.g., rotatably about a hinge or linearly into and out of a shoe housing) between visually engagable and disengagable positions. In another embodiment, however, an ambulatory assistance system may include one or more visual stimulation assemblies employing a barrier that can be moved between the visually engagable and disengagable positions manually by a user, thereby eliminating the need for an actuator or any of the aforementioned controller, power, sensor, and communication subsystems 202, 204, 206, and 208, respectively. In this case, one or more visual stimulation assemblies (i.e., one or more manual visual stimulation assemblies) within an ambulatory assistance system may simply include a barrier (e.g., provided as discussed above with respect to any of the aforementioned embodiments) connected to a hinge that is, in turn, integrally formed with a user's shoe (e.g., as exemplarily shown in any of FIGS. 1A-1D, 2B, 5A-7C, or 9-10B) or integrally formed with an attachment that can be coupled to the user's shoe or directly to the user's foot (e.g., as exemplarily shown FIG. 2B). Moreover, one or more manual visual stimulation assemblies may be coupled to a respective shoe 110 via an attachment (e.g., an attachment assembly 2000 as exemplarily described with respect to FIGS. 20-24). Although FIGS. 20-24 illustrate only one manual visual stimulation assembly, it will be appreciated that the ambulatory assistance system may comprise a pair of manual visual stimulation assemblies, one for each of a user's shoes.

[0136] Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, a manual visual stimulation assembly includes a barrier 102 coupled to a hinge assembly 2002. The hinge assembly 2002, in turn, is coupled to an attachment assembly 2000 that includes a plate member 2004, an attachment plate 2006 coupled to a first end of the plate member 2004, and a first slot 2008 defined within an upper portion of the attachment plate 2006. As shown in FIG. 21, a second slot 2102 is defined within a region proximate to a second end of the plate member 2004. Accordingly, a fastening element 2010 can be inserted through the first and second slots 2008 and 2102, respectively couple the attachment assembly 2000 to the to a user's shoe 110 (or to the user's foot). As shown, the fastening element 2010 can comprise two straps having ends that can be coupled together via any suitable mechanism (e.g., Velcro, snaps, magnets, etc.).

[0137] In one embodiment exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 22, a coupling plate 2202 can be coupled to the second end of the plate member 2004 and the aforementioned second slot 2102 can be defined in the coupling plate 2202. In another embodiment, the length of the plate member 2004 can be adjusted by any known means to accommodate shoes and feet of varying widths. For example, and with reference to FIG. 23A, the length of plate member 2004 can be less than the width of a user's foot such that the fastening element 2010 extends below the user's foot. Moreover, and with reference to FIG. 23B, the plate member 2004 can be completely removed from the attachement assembly 2000 in which case the aforementioned second slot 2102 is defined in the attachment plate 2006 and the fastening element 2010 extends completely below the user's foot and is fixed within the second slot 2102.

[0138] According to numerous embodiments, the plate member 2004, the attachment plate 2006, and/or the coupling plate 2202 of the attachment assembly 2000 can be formed from any material or combination of materials sufficient to provide a suitably pliable structure that can conform, to any desired degree, surface of the structure to which it is attached. For example, when the attachment assembly 2000 is adapted to be coupled to a user's shoe, the plate member 2004, the attachment plate 2006, and/or the coupling plate 2202 can be formed of a metal material having limited pliability. When the attachment assembly 2000 is adapted to be coupled directly to the user's shoe, the plate member 2004, the attachment plate 2006, and/or the coupling plate 2202 can be formed of a material (e.g., plastic, rubber, leather, etc.) having more than a limited amount of pliability.

[0139] The hinge assembly 2002 can be integrally formed with the attachment plate 2006 or can be fastened to the attachment plate 2006 via any suitable means (e.g., screws, pegs, adhesive, clips, Velcro, magnets, or the like, or combinations thereof). As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the hinge assembly 2002 includes a support portion 2012, a standoff element 2014 coupled to the support portion 2012, a hinge 2016 coupled to a distal end of the standoff element 2014, and a barrier support member 2018 coupled to the hinge 2016. The barrier 102 can be integrally formed with the barrier support member 2018 of can be fastened to the barrier support member 2018 via any suitable means (e.g., screws, pegs, adhesive, clips, Velcro, magnets, or the like, or combinations thereof). Accordingly, the barrier 102 is fixed to the attachment assembly 2000 via the barrier support member 2018 of hinge assembly 2002.

[0140] As shown, the hinge assembly 2002 is oriented so as to allow the barrier 102 to be rotated about a substantially horizontal axis. It will be appreciated, however, that the hinge assembly 2002 can be coupled to the attachment plate 2006 in substantially any manner enabling the barrier 102 to be rotated about a substantially vertical axis. In one embodiment, the hinge 2016 is provided as a detented hinge enabling the barrier 102 to be held in predetermined positions (i.e., the aforementioned visually disengagable and visually engagable positions) until the user applies a threshold amount of force to move the barrier 102.

[0141] For example, and with reference to FIG. 24, a detented hinge 2016 can include a first casing 2402 connected to the standoff element 2014, a second casing 2404 connected to the barrier support member 2018, and a pin 2406 connected to the second casing 2404. First and second notches 2408 and 2410, respectively, are defined within in interior region of the first casing 2402 and a protrusion 2412 is formed on an exterior surface of the pin 2406. As shown, the first and second casings 2402 and 2404 define a channel within which the pin 2406 rotates and the first and second notches 2408 and 2410 are configured so as to at least partially receive the protrusion 2412. Although not shown, the detented hinge 2016 further includes a spring washer disposed within the channel between the pin 2406 and the first and second casings 2402 and 2404. In one embodiment, the spring washer is adapted to bias the protrusion 2412 into a proximately arranged one of the first and second notches 2408 and 2410. In another embodiment, the arrangement of the first and second notches 2408 and 2410 within the first casing 2402 and the location of the protrusion 2412 on the pin 2406 can be selected such that the protrusion 2406 is biased by the spring washer into the second notch 2410 when the barrier 102 is arranged in the visually engagable position (as shown in FIG. 24) and into the first notch 2408 when the barrier 102 is arranged in the visually disengagable position. Accordingly, a user can selectively move the barrier exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21 between the visually engagable and disengagable positions by applying sufficient amount of force to dislodge the protrusion 2406 from one of the first and second notches 2408 and 2410.

[0142] As described above, numerous embodiments of ambulatory assistance systems include a barrier adapted to be moved (e.g., either by some actuating mechanism or by the user) between visually engagable and disengagable positions. In another embodiment, however, an ambulatory assistance system may include one or more visual stimulation assemblies provided with a fixed barrier (i.e., a barrier that is permanently deployed in a visually engagable position). In this case, an ambulatory assistance system may include one or more visual stimulation assemblies (i.e., one or more fixed visual stimulation assemblies) including a barrier 102 (e.g., provided as discussed above with respect to any of the aforementioned embodiments) that is integrally formed with or otherwise coupled to a respective one of a user's shoes (e.g., shoe 2502), as exemplarily shown in FIG. 25 or that is either integrally formed with or otherwise coupled to an attachment (e.g., as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 26, 27, 29A-B, 30, and 35) that attaches or is otherwise coupled to a user's shoe or foot. Although FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate only one fixed visual stimulation assembly, it will be appreciated that the ambulatory assistance system may comprise a pair of such fixed visual stimulation assemblies, one for each of a user's shoes or feet.

[0143] According to numerous general embodiments, the fixed barriers 102 can be provided as an elongated member having a longitudinal length, l, sufficient to place at least a portion of the fixed barrier 102 within the visually engagable region while minimizing the degree to which the barrier 102 interferes with a user's normal ambulatory movement. In one embodiment, any of the aforementioned fixed barriers can be provided as an elongated member having a longitudinal length, l, between about 11/2-6 inches and a maximum transverse dimension of about 1/4-2 inches. In another embodiment, the longitudinal length, l, is between about 24 inches. In another embodiment, the longitudinal length, l, is about 3 inches. To further minimize the degree to which a fixed barrier 102 might interfere with a user's normal ambulatory movement, the fixed barrier 102 can be provided as a flexible, resilient, self-supporting structure (e.g., as shown by 102' in FIG. 25) formed using one or more components.

[0144] In one embodiment, each fixed barrier may include a hard material (e.g., a metal such as aluminum, polymers, or the like, or combinations thereof), a soft material (e.g., urethane, rubber foam, or the like, or combinations thereof), or any combination thereof. In a specific embodiment, a fixed barrier is provided as a coil spring coated with a membrane formed of a flexible, elastic material so as to provide a substantially contiguous exterior surface. In other embodiments, the fixed barriers can be brightly colored, reflective, have a surface formed of photo- or electro-luminescent material, include light emitting devices (e.g., light emitting diodes, etc.), light transmitting structures (e.g., optical fibers, etc.), or the like, or combinations thereof, to enhance the degree to which a user is visually stimulated by the fixed barrier. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the fixed barrier that is observable by the user within the visually engagable region is configured as described above to enhance the degree to which a user is visually stimulated.

[0145] In the embodiment exemplarily shown in FIG. 26, an attachment 2602 can be coupled to the user's shoe or directly to the user's foot in a manner similar to that described above with respect to the attachment shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C.

[0146] In the embodiment exemplarily shown in FIG. 27, an attachment 2700 having an adjustable width can be coupled (e.g., clipped) onto the bottom of a user's shoe 110. As shown, a fixed barrier 102 extends from the attachment 2700 into the visually engagable region of the user. Although FIG. 27 illustrates only one attachment, it will be appreciated that the ambulatory assistance system may comprise a pair of such attachments, one for each of a user's shoes. A more detailed description of the attachment 2700 will now be given with reference to FIG. 28.

[0147] Referring to FIG. 28, the attachment 2700 exemplarily shown in FIG. 27 includes first and second clip members 2802a and 2802b, respectively, and a securing mechanism 2804. The first clip member 2802a includes a first plate member 2806a and a first coupling portion 2808a disposed at a first terminal of the first plate member 2806a. Similarly, the second clip member 2802b includes a second plate member 2806b and a second coupling portion 2808b disposed at a first terminal end of the second plate member 2806b. In one embodiment, the first and second coupling portion 2808a and 2808b are provided as brackets extending over the first and second plate members 2806a and 2806b and adapted to contact opposite sides of a user's shoe. In the illustrated embodiment, the securing mechanism 2804 includes a sleeve 2810 disposed at a second terminal end of the second plate member 2806b and a screw-knob 2812 adapted to engage the sleeve 2810 via an opening 2814. In one embodiment, the sleeve 2810 defines a port 2816 disposed below a lower surface of the second plate member 2806b and adapted to receive a second terminal end of the first plate member 2806a. In the illustrated embodiment, the barrier 102 is coupled to an exterior surface of the first clip member 2802a such that it will extend into a visually engagable region of the user when the attachment 2700 is coupled to the user's shoe. It will be appreciated, however, that the barrier 102 may alternatively be coupled to a portion of the second clip member 2802b such that it will similarly extend into a visually engagable region of the user.

[0148] To couple the clip-on attachment 2700, the first plate member 2806a is inserted into the port 2816 such that the upper surface of the first plate member 2806a is overlapped by the lower surface of the second plate member 2806b. As the amount of overlap between the first and second plate members 2806a and 2806b increases (e.g., as the user continues to feed the first plate member 2806a into the port 2816), the first and second coupling portion 2808a and 2808b engage opposing sides of a user's shoe (e.g., the first and second coupling portion 2808a and 2808b act to squeeze the user's shoe) to provide a stable coupling of the attachment 2700 to the user's shoe. Once the first and second coupling portion 2808a and 2808b are sufficiently engaged with the user's shoe, the user can manipulate the securing mechanism 2804 to maintain the first and second coupling means' 2808a and 2808b engagement with opposing sides of the user's shoe. For example, the user can thread the screw-knob 2812 through the opening 2814 (e.g., in a counter-clockwise direction) such that the screw-knob 2812 pushes the first plate member 2806a against an internal surface of the sleeve 2810 with sufficient force to substantially prevent movement of the first plate member 2806a into, or out of the port 2816. To release the attachment 2700 from the user's shoe, the user may simply thread the screw-knob 2812 through the opening 2814 (e.g., in a clockwise direction) such that the amount of force applied by the screw-knob 2812 against the first plate member 2806a is reduced or eliminated, thereby allowing the first plate member 2806a to move out of the port 2816.

[0149] The attachment 2700 described above with respect to FIGS. 27 and 28 is but one exemplary clip-on attachment that can be used to couple a barrier 102 to a user's shoe. It will be appreciated that the barrier 102 can be attached to any portion of a user's shoe via any suitable clip-on attachment.

[0150] In the embodiment exemplarily shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B, a fixed visual stimulation assembly can be coupled to an attachment assembly such as that described above with respect to FIGS. 20-23B but not including the aforementioned hinge assembly 2002. Accordingly, the fixed barrier 102 of such a fixed visual stimulation assembly does not rotate between the aforementioned visually engagable and disengagable positions. In accordance with numerous embodiments, the fixed barrier 102 can be integrally formed with the attachment plate 2006 or fastened directly to the attachment plate 2006 via any suitable means (e.g., screws, pegs, adhesive, clips, Velcro, magnets, or the like, or combinations thereof). Thus, when the fixed visual stimulation assembly is coupled to an article of footwear (e.g., a shoe 110 as shown in FIG. 29A) or directly to the user's foot (e.g., as shown in FIG. 29B), the fixed barrier 102 is permanently deployed in a visually engagable region of the user. Although FIGS. 29A and 29B illustrate only one fixed visual stimulation assembly, it will be appreciated that the ambulatory assistance system may comprise a pair of such fixed visual stimulation assemblies, one for each of a user's shoes or feet.

[0151] In the embodiment exemplarily shown in FIG. 30, the fixed barrier 102 is coupled to an attachment (e.g., attachment body 3000) that is, in turn, integrally formed with, or otherwise coupled to an article of footwear adapted to be worn by a user (e.g., a shoe 110) via any suitable means (e.g., screws, pegs, adhesive, magnets, or the like, or combinations thereof). When the attachment body 3000 is coupled to the article of footwear, the fixed barrier 102 extends from the attachment body 3000 into the visually engagable region of the user. It will be appreciated that the attachment body 3000 may be fabricated by any suitable means known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the attachment body 3000 and the fixed barrier 102 are integrally formed. In other embodiments, the attachment body 3000 and fixed barrier 102 are formed as separate components coupled together. Although FIG. 30 illustrates only one fixed visual stimulation assembly, it will be appreciated that the ambulatory assistance system may comprise a pair of such fixed visual stimulation assemblies, one for each of a user's shoes. A more detailed description of the manner in which the fixed barrier 102 can be coupled with the attachment body 3000 will now be given with reference to FIGS. 31-34.

[0152] In one embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 31, a recess 3102 is defined within the attachment body 3000 and is configured to receive a predetermined portion of the fixed barrier 102. Accordingly, the recess 3102 intersects an outer surface 3104 of the attachment body 3000, has cross-sectional dimensions defined by one or more sidewalls 3106, and extends into the interior of the attachment body 3000 to a predetermined depth as defined by a rear wall 3108.

[0153] As illustrated, cross-sectional dimensions of the recess 3102 correspond to exterior dimensions of the fixed barrier 102. Accordingly, when the fixed barrier 102 is satisfactorily inserted into the recess 3102 (e.g., when a terminal end 3110 of the fixed barrier 102 contacts the rear wall 3108), the sidewall(s) 3106 of the recess 3102 frictionally engage the exterior surface(s) of the fixed barrier 102 and act to immovably retain the fixed barrier 102 within recess 3102. Retained within the recess 3102, the fixed barrier 102 is adapted to extend into the visually engagable region of the user when the article of footwear, to which the attachment body 3000 is coupled, is worn by the user. Once inserted, the amount of force necessary to remove the fixed barrier 102 from the recess 3102 is typically greater than forces generated during the user's normal ambulatory movement, thereby ensuring that the fixed barrier 102 will not inadvertently become dislodged from the recess 3102 as the user is walking. In one embodiment, however, if a force exceeding a pull-out threshold force is applied between the barrier 102 and the support attachment body 3000 (e.g., as when a user's left foot steps on a barrier 102 that is coupled to an article of footwear worn on the user's right foot), then the barrier 102 will become dislodged from the attachment body 3000, thereby minimizing the possibility of the user tripping over the barrier 102 as he or she is walking or otherwise engaging in normal ambulatory movement.

[0154] In another embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 32, a recess 3202 is defined within the fixed barrier 102 and is configured to receive a peg 3204 of the attachment body 3000. Similar to the recess described above with respect to FIG. 31, the recess 3202 intersects an outer surface 3206 at the terminal end 3110 of the fixed barrier 102, has cross-sectional dimensions defined by one or more sidewalls 3208, and extends into the interior of the fixed barrier 102 to a predetermined depth as defined by a rear wall 3210.

[0155] As illustrated, the peg 3204 protrudes from the outer surface 3104 of the attachment body 3000 to a distance corresponding to the depth of the recess 3202 and has exterior cross-sectional dimensions that correspond to the sidewall(s) 3208 of the recess 3202. Accordingly, when the peg 3204 is satisfactorily inserted into the recess 3202 (e.g., when a terminal end 3212 of the peg 3204 contacts the rear wall 3210), the sidewall(s) 3208 of the recess 3202 frictionally engage the exterior surface(s) of the peg 3204 and act to retain the peg 3204 within the recess 3202, as exemplarily discussed above with respect to FIG. 31. Consequently, the fixed barrier 102 may extend into the visually engagable region of the user when the article of footwear, to which the attachment body 3000 is coupled, is worn by the user.

[0156] In another embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 33, a first recess 3302 is defined within the attachment body 3000 and is configured to receive a predetermined portion of a dowel 3304. Moreover, a second recess 3306 is defined within the fixed barrier 102 and is configured to receive a predetermined portion of the dowel 3304. Accordingly, the first recess 3302 intersects the outer surface 3104 of the attachment body 3000, has cross-sectional dimensions defined by one or more sidewalls 3308, and extends into the interior of the attachment body 3000 to a predetermined depth as defined by a rear wall 3310. Moreover, the second recess 3306 intersects the outer surface 3206 at the terminal end 3110 of the fixed barrier 102, has cross-sectional dimensions defined by one or more sidewalls 3312, and extends into the interior of the fixed barrier 102 to a predetermined depth as defined by a rear wall 3314. Lastly, the dowel includes first and second terminal ends 3316 and 3318, respectively.

[0157] As illustrated, the length of the dowel 3304 between the first and second terminal ends 3316 and 3318, respectively, corresponds to the combined depth of the first and second recesses 3302 and 3306. Moreover, the dowel 3304 has exterior cross-sectional dimensions that correspond to the sidewall(s) of both the first and second recesses 3302 and 3306. Accordingly, when the dowel 3304 is satisfactorily inserted into the first and second recesses 3302 and (e.g., when the first terminal end 3316 contacts the rear wall 3310 of the first recess 3302 and when the second terminal end 3318 contacts the rear wall 3314 of the second recess 3306), the sidewall(s) of both the first and second recesses 3302 and 3306 frictionally engage the exterior surface(s) of the dowel 3304 and act to retain the dowel 3304 within first and second recesses 3302 and 3306, as exemplarily discussed above with respect to FIG. 31. Consequently, the fixed barrier 102 may extend into the visually engagable region of the user when the article of footwear, to which the attachment body 3000 is coupled, is worn by the user.

[0158] In another embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 34, a first recess 3402 is defined within the attachment body 3000 and is configured to receive a predetermined portion of the fixed barrier 102. Accordingly, the first recess 3402 intersects the outer surface 3104 of the attachment body 3000, has cross-sectional dimensions defined by one or more sidewalls 3404, extends into the interior of the attachment body 3000 to a predetermined depth as defined by a rear wall 3406, and includes a recessed peg 3408 disposed therein. Moreover, a second recess 3410 is defined within the fixed barrier 102 and is configured to receive a predetermined portion of the recessed peg 3408. Accordingly, the second recess 3410 intersects the outer surface 3206 at the terminal end 3110 of the fixed barrier 102, has cross-sectional dimensions defined by one or more sidewalls 3412, and extends into the interior of the fixed barrier 102 to a predetermined depth as defined by a rear wall 3414.

[0159] As illustrated, the recessed peg 3408 protrudes from the rear wall 3406 of the first recess 3402 to a distance corresponding to the depth of the second recess 3410 and has exterior cross-sectional dimensions that correspond to the sidewall(s) 3412 of the second recess 3410. Accordingly, when the fixed barrier 102 is satisfactorily inserted into the first recess 3402 (e.g., when the terminal end 3110 of the fixed barrier 102 contacts the rear wall 3406), the sidewall(s) 3404 of the first recess 3402 frictionally engage the exterior surface(s) of the fixed barrier 102. Moreover, upon satisfactorily inserting the fixed barrier 102 into the first recess 3402, a terminal end 3416 of the recessed peg 3408 contacts the rear wall 3414 of the second recess 3410 and the sidewall(s) 3412 of the second recess 3410 frictionally engage the exterior surface(s) of the recessed peg 3408. As a result of the combined frictional engagement between the sidewall(s) 3404 of the first recess 3402 and the exterior surface(s) of the fixed barrier 102 and between the sidewall(s) 3412 of the second recess 3410 and the exterior surface(s) of the recessed peg 3408, the fixed barrier 102 is retained within the first recess 3402, as exemplarily discussed above with respect to FIG. 31. Consequently, the fixed barrier 102 may extend into the visually engagable region of the user when the article of footwear, to which the attachment body 3000 is coupled, is worn by the user.

[0160] As described above with respect to FIGS. 31-34, the barrier 102 is coupled to the attachment body 3000 as a result of a "tight fit" or frictional engagement between the barrier 102 and one or more other structures associated with the attachment body 3000. In one embodiment, additional means may be provided to enhance or replace the frictional engagement between the barrier 102 and the attachment body 3000. For example, the recess 3102 (as described with respect to FIG. 31) may be provided with threaded sidewalls or other structure adapted to mechanically interact with the exterior surface of the barrier 102. In another example, coupling between the barrier 102 and the attachment body 3000 may be achieved or enhanced by gluing the above-described components together.

[0161] Moreover, and as described above with respect to FIGS. 30-34, the fixed visual stimulation assembly comprising the attachment body 3000 is disposed below the sole of a user's shoe. It will be appreciated, however, that such a fixed visual stimulation assembly may be coupled to substantially any portion of the user's shoe and in substantially any manner. It will further be appreciated that the attachment body 3000 may be integrally formed with, or otherwise coupled to the attachment plate 2006 of the fixed visual stimulation assembly shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B or with the first or second clip members 2802a and 2802b of the attachment 2700 to facilitate attachment of the barrier 102 to these structures.

[0162] In the embodiment exemplarily shown in FIG. 35, the fixed barrier 102 is coupled to an attachment (e.g., attachment body 3500) that is, in turn, integrally formed with, or otherwise attached to an article of footwear adapted to be worn by a user (e.g., a shoe 110) via any suitable means (e.g., screws, pegs, adhesive, magnets, or the like, or combinations thereof). When the attachment body 3500 is properly coupled to the article of footwear (e.g., via the heel 114 of the user's shoe 110 as illustrated or via any other portion of the user's shoe), the fixed barrier 102 extends from the attachment body 3500 into the visually engagable region of the user. It will be appreciated that the attachment body 3500 may be fabricated by any suitable means known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Although FIG. 35 illustrates only one fixed visual stimulation assembly, it will be appreciated that the ambulatory assistance system may comprise a pair of such fixed visual stimulation assemblies, one for each of a user's shoes.

[0163] In one embodiment, the attachment body 3500 and fixed barrier 102 are formed as separate components can be coupled together. A more detailed description of the manner in which the fixed barrier 102 can be coupled with the attachment body 3500 will now be given with reference to FIGS. 36 and 37.

[0164] Referring to FIG. 36, the fixed barrier 102 includes a membrane 3602, a coil spring 3604 (as seen in cut-away section of membrane 3602), and an attachment pin 3606 coupled to the coil spring 3604 via barrier connection member 3608. The attachment body 3500 includes a base 3610, a sleeve 3612, and a pin-receiving opening 3614 defined within the sleeve 3612.

[0165] In one embodiment, the membrane 3602 is formed of a flexible, elastic material (e.g., urethane rubber, or the like). Accordingly, the membrane 3602 provides a contiguous exterior surface to the barrier 102, allows the coil spring 3604 to flex, and prevents objects (e.g., carpet, grass, dirt, another barrier, etc.) from becoming entangled with the coil spring 3604. In another embodiment, and as more clearly shown in FIG. 37, the coil spring 3604, the attachment pin 3606, and the barrier connection member 3608 are integrally formed. As shown, the connection member 3608 couples a top portion of the attachment pin 3606 to the coil spring 3604 such that a bottom portion of the attachment pin 3606 extends freely from the coil spring 3604.

[0166] Referring back to FIG. 36, the fixed barrier 102 may be coupled to the attachment body 3500 by inserting the bottom portion of the attachment pin 3606 through a first end (e.g., an upper end) of the pin-receiving opening 3614 until the connection member 3608 contacts a first surface (e.g., an upper surface) of the sleeve 3612. In embodiments where the attachment body 3500 is oriented such that the sleeve 3612 and pin-receiving opening 3614 are vertically oriented, the attachment pin 3606 is retained within the pin-receiving opening 3614 simply by gravity. In other embodiments where the the sleeve 3612 and pin-receiving opening 3614 are oriented non-vertically (e.g., horizontally), the barrier 102 is coupled to the attachment body 3500 arising from a "tight fit" or frictional engagement between the attachment pin 3606 and sidewalls defining the cross-sectional dimensions of the pin-receiving opening 3614. In another embodiment, additional means may be provided to enhance the degree to which the attachment pin 3606 is retained within the pin-receiving opening 3614. For example, the attachment pin 3606 may be glued in place within the pin-receiving opening 3614.

[0167] Although FIGS. 25-30 and 35 illustrate only one fixed visual stimulation assembly, it will be appreciated that an ambulatory assistance system may be provided with a pair of fixed visual stimulation assemblies, one for each of a user's feet. Moreover, it will be appreciated that fixed visual stimulation assemblies described above with respect to any of FIGS. 27-37 can be integrally formed with any portion of a user's shoe or attachment or can be otherwise coupled to any portion of a user's shoe or foot and include barriers configured so as to extend from substantially any direction into the aforementioned visually engagable region.

[0168] To minimize the possibility of a user tripping over any of the barriers 102 of the aforementioned fixed visual stimulation assemblies shown in FIGS. 25-37, a magnetic coupling system may be provided to magnetically couple a barrier 102 to a support component (e.g., an article of footwear as shown in FIG. 25, an attachment as shown in any of FIGS. 26-28, an attachment plate as shown in FIGS. 29A or 29B, or an attachment body as shown in any of FIGS. 30-34). Accordingly, the magnetic coupling system may be adapted to exert a magnetic coupling force between the barrier 102 and the support component. If a force exceeding the magnetic coupling force is applied between the barrier 102 and the support component (e.g., as when a user's left foot steps on a barrier 102 that is coupled to an article of footwear worn on the user's right foot), then the barrier 102 detaches from the support component, thereby minimizing the possibility of the user tripping over the barrier as he or she is walking or otherwise engaging in normal ambulatory movement.

[0169] Referring to FIG. 38, an exemplary magnetic coupling system 3800 includes a first magnetic coupling component 3802 provided at a terminal end of the barrier 102 and a second magnetic coupling component 3804 provided at a location of the support component where the barrier 102 is to be attached (e.g., at the exterior surface of the first clip member 2802a). In one embodiment, the first magnetic coupling component 3802 is provided as a magnet and the second magnetic coupling component 3804 is provided as a magnetizable structure (i.e., a structure capable of being attracted by a force exerted by the magnet of the first magnetic coupling component 3802. In another embodiment, the second magnetic coupling component 3804 is provided as a magnet and the first magnetic coupling component 3802 is provided as a magnetizable structure (i.e., a structure capable of being attracted by a force exerted by the magnet of the second magnetic coupling component 3804. In another embodiment, the first and second magnetic coupling components 3802 and 3804 are provided as magnets having opposite polarities so as to attract each other.

[0170] While FIG. 38 illustrates a magnetic coupling system exemplarily implemented in conjunction with the fixed visual stimulation assembly shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, it will be appreciated that the magnetic coupling system 3800 may be similarly implemented in any other embodiment described above. For example, the magnetic coupling system 3800 may be incorporated within the embodiment described above with respect to FIG. 31, wherein the first magnetic coupling component 3802 is comprised as part of the terminal end 3110 of the barrier 102 and the second magnetic coupling component 3804 is comprised as part of the rear wall 3108. In another example, the magnetic coupling system 3800 may be incorporated within the embodiment described above with respect to FIG. 32, wherein the first magnetic coupling component 3802 is comprised as part of the sidewall(s) 3208 and/or rear wall 3210 of the barrier 102 and the second magnetic coupling component 3804 is comprised as part of the outer surface 3104 and/or peg 3204 of the attachment body 3000. In another example, the magnetic coupling system 3800 may be incorporated within the embodiment described above with respect to FIG. 33, wherein the first magnetic coupling component 3802 is comprised as part of the sidewall(s) 3312 and/or rear wall 3314 of the barrier 102 and the second magnetic coupling component 3804 is comprised as part of the dowel 3318. In another example, the magnetic coupling system 3800 may be incorporated within the embodiment described above with respect to FIG. 33, wherein the first magnetic coupling component 3802 is comprised as part of the sidewall(s) 3308 and/or rear wall 3310 of the attachment body 3000 and the second magnetic coupling component 3804 is comprised as part of the dowel 3318. In another example, a first magnetic coupling system 3800 may be comprised within the barrier 102 and dowel 3304 as discussed above and a second magnetic coupling system 3800 may be comprised within attachment body 3000 and dowel 3304 as discussed above. In another example, the magnetic coupling system 3800 may be incorporated within the embodiment described above with respect to FIG. 34, wherein the first magnetic coupling component 3802 is comprised as part of the sidewall(s) 3412 and/or rear wall 3414 of the barrier 102 and the second magnetic coupling component 3804 is comprised as part of the sidewall(s) 3404, rear wall 3406, and/or recessed peg 3408 of the attachment body 3000. As will be apparent, provision of a magnetic coupling system 3800 within embodiments exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 31-34 allow for a reduced frictional engagement between the various structures associated with the attachment body 3000 and the barrier 102. As a result, the barrier 102 can be more easily coupled with the attachment body 3000 with the magnetic coupling system than without. Moreover, the magnetic coupling force exerted between the first and second magnetic components 3802 and 3804 may be less than the pull-out threshold force. As a result, the barrier 102 can be more easily detached from the attachment body 3000 with the magnetic coupling system than without. It will be appreciated that any of the aforementioned visual stimulation assemblies described above may be provided with the aforementioned magnetic coupling system or any other system (e.g., electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, etc.) capable of detachably coupling the barrier to any desired support component (e.g., a hinge, a shoe, an attachment plate, a barrier support member, etc.).

[0171] In one embodiment exemplarily shown in FIG. 43, a visual stimulation assembly includes a fixed barrier 102 magnetically coupled to a magnetic attachment body 4300 that is, in turn, integrally formed with, or otherwise coupled to an article of footwear adapted to be worn by a user (e.g., a shoe 110 that does or does not have a raised heel area) via any suitable means (e.g., screws, pegs, adhesive, magnets, or the like, or combinations thereof).

[0172] The fixed barrier 102 can be provided as described above with respect to FIG. 36, but include a coupling plate 4302 coupled to the barrier 102 via the barrier connection member 3608. The coupling plate 4302 is provided as, or is otherwise formed with, a magnetic coupling component such as the aforementioned first magnetic coupling component 3802. Moreover, the coupling plate 4302 includes a first mating surface 4304 that is substantially conformal to a second mating surface 4306 of the magnetic attachment body 4300.

[0173] The magnetic attachment body 4300 is provided as, or is otherwise formed with, a magnetic coupling component such as the aforementioned second magnetic coupling component 3804. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 43, the second mating surface 4306 of the magnetic attachment body 4300 is substantially planar to maximize a magnetic coupling between the second mating surface 4306 and the first mating surface 4304 of the coupling plate 4302.

[0174] When the magnetic attachment body 4300 is coupled to the article of footwear, and when the first and second mating surfaces 4304 and 4306 are magnetically coupled to each other, the fixed barrier 102 extends from the magnetic attachment body 4300 and into the visually engagable region of the user. As a result, the barrier 102 can become easily detached from the magnetic attachment body 4300 in the event that a force exceeding the magnetic coupling force of the magnetic coupling system is applied between the barrier 102 and the magnetic attachment body 4300 (e.g., as when a user's left foot steps on a barrier 102 that is coupled to an article of footwear worn on the user's right foot). Although FIG. 43 illustrates only one visual stimulation assembly, it will be appreciated that the ambulatory assistance system may comprise a pair of such visual stimulation assemblies, one for each of a user's shoes.

[0175] In another embodiment exemplarily discussed with respect to FIG. 44, a visual stimulation assembly includes a fixed barrier 102 magnetically coupled to a magnetic attachment body 4400 that is, in turn, integrally formed with, or otherwise coupled to an article of footwear adapted to be worn by a user (e.g., a shoe 110 that does or does not have a raised heel area) via any suitable means (e.g., screws, pegs, adhesive, magnets, or the like, or combinations thereof).

[0176] The magnetic attachment body 4400 can be provided as described above with respect to FIG. 43 but further include a securing structure adapted to restrict the ability of the coupling plate 4402 to move with respect to the second mating surface 4306 when a force (e.g., a shear force) exceeding the aforementioned magnetic coupling force is applied between the barrier 102 and the magnetic attachment body 4400. As exemplarily shown in FIG. 44, the securing structure includes a pair of ribs 4404 having sidewalls that define a slot 4406 over the second mating surface 4306. As illustrated, the slot 4406 can be tapered.

[0177] The fixed barrier 102 can be provided as described above with respect to FIG. 43 but includes a coupling plate 4402 that includes one or more side surfaces 4408 that conform to the sidewalls of the slot 4406. Accordingly, the barrier 102 can be coupled to the magnetic attachment body 4400 by inserting the coupling plate 4402 into the slot 4406. Upon insertion, the one or more side surfaces 4408 of the coupling plate 4402 engage the sidewalls of the pair of ribs 4404 such that the coupling plate 4402 can only move along the length of slot 4406. When the magnetic attachment body 4400 is coupled to the article of footwear, and when the first and second mating surfaces 4304 and 4306 are magnetically coupled to each other, the fixed barrier 102 extends from the magnetic attachment body 4400 and into the visually engagable region of the user. As a result, the barrier 102 can become easily detached from the magnetic attachment body 4400 (e.g., by sliding out of the slot 4406) in the event that a force exceeding the magnetic coupling force of the magnetic coupling system is applied between the barrier 102 and the magnetic attachment body 4500 (e.g., as when a user's left foot steps on a barrier 102 that is coupled to an article of footwear worn on the user's right foot). Moreover, because the slot 4406 can be tapered, a reliable magnetic coupling between the first and second first mating surfaces 4304 and 4306 can be ensured.

[0178] In another embodiment, the visual stimulation assembly shown in FIG. 44 can be provided without the aforementioned magnetic coupling system. In such an embodiment, the dimensional tolerances between the sidewalls of the slot 4406 and the side surfaces 4408 of the coupling plate 4402 should be sufficient to prevent the barrier 102 from detaching from the body 4400 during normal ambulatory movement. Although FIG. 44 illustrates only one visual stimulation assembly, it will be appreciated that the ambulatory assistance system may comprise a pair of such visual stimulation assemblies, one for each of a user's shoes.

[0179] In another embodiment exemplarily discussed with respect to FIG. 45, a visual stimulation assembly includes a fixed barrier 102 magnetically coupled to a magnetic attachment body 4500 that is, in turn, integrally formed with, or otherwise coupled to an article of footwear adapted to be worn by a user (e.g., a shoe 110 that does or does not have a raised heel area) via any suitable means (e.g., screws, pegs, adhesive, magnets, or the like, or combinations thereof).

[0180] The magnetic attachment body 4500 can be provided as described above with respect to FIG. 43 but further include a securing structure adapted to restrict the ability of the coupling plate 4502 to move with respect to the second mating surface 4306 when a force (e.g., a shear force) exceeding the aforementioned magnetic coupling force is applied between the barrier 102 and the magnetic attachment body 4400. As exemplarily shown in FIG. 45, the securing structure includes a rectangular rib 4504 that defines a cavity 4506 over the second mating surface 4306.

[0181] The fixed barrier 102 can be provided as described above with respect to FIG. 43 except that the coupling plate 4502 includes one or more side surfaces 4508 that conforms to the sidewalls of the cavity 4506. Accordingly, the barrier 102 can be coupled to the magnetic attachment body 4500 by inserting the coupling plate 4402 into the cavity. Upon insertion, the one or more side surfaces 4508 of the coupling plate 4502 engage internal sidewall surfaces of the rib 4504 such that the coupling plate 4502 is substantially restricted from moving along the second mating surface 4306. When the magnetic attachment body 4500 is coupled to the article of footwear, and when the first and second mating surfaces 4304 and 4306 are magnetically coupled to each other, the fixed barrier 102 extends from the magnetic attachment body 4500 and into the visually engagable region of the user. As a result, the barrier 102 can become easily detached from the magnetic attachment body 4500 (e.g., by being vertically removed from the cavity 4506 in the event that a force exceeding the magnetic coupling force of the magnetic coupling system is applied between the barrier 102 and the magnetic attachment body 4500 (e.g., as when a user's left foot steps on a barrier 102 that is coupled to an article of footwear worn on the user's right foot). Although FIG. 45 illustrates only one visual stimulation assembly, it will be appreciated that the ambulatory assistance system may comprise a pair of such visual stimulation assemblies, one for each of a user's shoes.

[0182] While ambulatory assistance systems have generally been described above in conjunction with a walking assistance device such as a pair of shoes, it will be appreciated that embodiments disclosed herein may readily be applied to substantially any other walking assistance device. In such a case, and with reference to FIG. 39, a housing 3900 containing any of the visual stimulation assemblies described above with respect to FIGS. 1A-1D and 2A-2B, 9-15, and 20-38 can be provided as an attachment to such a walking assistance device. As shown, the housing 3900 may include a body portion 3902 and a device attachment portion 3904. The body portion 3902 supports the barrier 102 and contains components of any of the aforementioned visual stimulation assemblies. The device attachment portion 3904 is the portion of the housing 3900 that is coupled to the device. The housing 3900 can be integrally formed with the walking assistance device or can be provided as a separate component. Where the housing 3900 is provided as a component separate from the walking assistance device, the device attachment portion 3904 can be configured in any suitable manner to facilitate coupling of the housing 3900 to the walking assistance device. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the device attachment portion 3904 includes a recess 3906 defined by threaded interior sidewalls 3908 adapted to engage a portion of a walking assistance device.

[0183] As exemplarily shown in FIG. 40, the walking assistance device can include a pair of canes 4000 each be fitted with one or more housings 3900. For example, the illustrated embodiment shows wherein the stimulus driving subsystem incorporated within each visual stimulation assembly includes the aforementioned barrier 102 when one cane 4000 contacts the ground and another cane 4000 is raised above the ground to a height, h. In one embodiment, a manually operable control signal generation regulator, such as that described above with respect to FIG. 16, may be included within the handle 4002 of each cane 4000. Similarly, and as exemplarily shown in FIG. 41, a pair of legs on a walker 4100 can be fitted with one or more housings 3900. The illustrated embodiment shows wherein the stimulus driving subsystem incorporated within each visual stimulation assembly includes a barrier 102 when one leg of the walker 4100 contacts the ground and another leg of the walker 4100 is raised above the ground to a height, h. In one embodiment, a manually operable control signal generation regulator, such as that described above with respect to FIG. 16, may be included within the handle 4102 of the walker 4100.

[0184] In another embodiment, an elongated attachment body 4200, essentially an elongated version of attachment body 3500, may be coupled to a leg 4202 of a walker that has a wheel 4204 attached thereto. The elongated attachment body 4200 includes an elongated base 4206, a sleeve 4208 at a lower portion of the elongated base 4206, and a pin receiving opening 4210 defined within the sleeve 4208. In the illustrated embodiment, the barrier 102 may be provided as discussed above with respect to FIG. 36 and be coupled to the elongated attachment body 4200 in essentially the same manner as the barrier 102 is coupled to the attachment body 3500. In one embodiment, the elongated attachment body 4200 is attached to the walker via a bolt (not shown) passing through the wheel 4204 and the leg 4202 and into an upper portion of the elongated base 4206. By providing the sleeve 4208 at a lower portion of the elongated base 4206, the barrier 102 may be placed low enough over a walking surface, enabling the user to step over the barrier 102.

[0185] It will be appreciated that the aforementioned housing 3900 is but one exemplary means with which to incorporate a visual stimulation assembly into a walking assistance device and that any of the aforementioned visual stimulation assemblies may be coupled to any walking assistance device by any suitable method. For example, any of the aforementioned visual stimulation assemblies may be attached to a walking assistance device such as a cane or walker as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,997, which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0186] In another example, and with reference to FIGS. 46A and 46B, a barrier 102, similar to the barrier discussed above with respect to FIG. 36 may be coupled directly to a walking assistance device such as a cane (or walker, etc.) 4600. Specifically, a fixed barrier 102 can be provided as described above with respect to FIG. 36 except that the barrier 102 includes an attachment loop 4602 coupled to the coil spring 3604 via the barrier connection member 3608. In one embodiment, the attachment loop 4602 (i.e., an open attachment loop) can be integrally formed with the coil spring 3608 and be an open structure (i.e., an incomplete loop) (e.g., as shown in FIG. 46B).

[0187] A user can attach the barrier 102 to the cane 4600 by manually expanding the attachment loop 4602 sufficiently to insert a portion of the cane 4600 therethrough and arrange the barrier at a desired position along the length of the cane 4600 (e.g., at the bottom of the cane 4600 on a base region of a foot element 4604). Once arranged at a desired position, the user then closes the attachment loop 4602 sufficiently to prevent the barrier 102 from moving along a length of the cane 4600 or rotating about the cane 4600. In one embodiment, additional means may be provided to enhance the degree to which the attachment loop 4602 is positionally fixed with respect to the cane 4600. For example, the attachment loop 4602 may be glued in place to the cane 4600.

[0188] In another embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 46C, the fixed barrier 102 can include a closed attachment loop 4606 that is coupled to the coil spring 3604. One or more projections 4608 may be provided within the closed attachment loop 4606 and project a predetermined distance into the space defined by the loop 4606. In one embodiment, each projection 4608 may be spring loaded within the body of the closed attachment loop 4606 such that a base portion (not shown) of each projection 4608 is biased against an interior surface of the closed attachment loop 4606 (e.g., in the absence of a force applied to the projection 4608) and can be pushed away from the interior surface of the closed attachment loop 4606 (e.g., when a force is applied to the projection 4608). Accordingly, each projection 4608 can be pressed into the closed attachment loop 4606 in the presence of a sufficient force and each projection 4608 extends into the space defined by the closed attachment loop 4606 in the absence of a sufficient force. It will be appreciated that the aforementioned attachment loop 4602 can be provided with the projections 4608 as described above.

[0189] A user can attach the barrier 102 to the cane 4600 by manually pressing the projections 4608 into the closed attachment loop 4606, expanding the minimum dimension (e.g., diameter) of the closed attachment loop 4606 sufficiently to insert a portion of the cane 4600 therethrough and arrange the barrier at a desired position along the length of the cane 4600 (e.g., at the bottom of the cane 4600 on a base region of a foot element 4604 where the projections 4608 are biased against a portion of the foot element 4604). In one embodiment, additional means may be provided to enhance the degree to which the closed attachment loop 4606 is positionally fixed with respect to the cane 4600. For example, the closed attachment loop 4606 may be glued in place to the cane 4600.

[0190] The following paragraphs characterize some, but not all, of the embodiments described herein in a general sense. For example, in one embodiment, the invention can be characterized as an ambulatory assistance system including a sensor adapted to generate a sensor signal corresponding to an ambulatory characteristic imparted by a user's foot; and a controller adapted to provide a visual stimulus within a visually engagable region proximate to a foot of the user in response to the sensor signal, wherein the visual stimulus is observable by the user within the visual engagable region and has a discrete boundary adapted to assist the user during walking.

[0191] In one embodiment, the invention can be characterized as an ambulatory assistance system including a sensor adapted to generate a sensor signal corresponding to an ambulatory characteristic imparted to a first portion of a walking assistance device by a user; and a controller adapted to provide a visual stimulus within a visually engagable region proximate to a second portion of the walking assistance device in response to the sensor signal, wherein the visual stimulus is observable by the user within the visual engagable region and has a discrete boundary adapted to assist the user during walking.

[0192] In another embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a method of assisting ambulatory movement that includes receiving a sensor signal corresponding to an ambulatory characteristic imparted by a user's foot; generating a control signal in response to the received sensor signal; and providing a visual stimulus within a visually engagable region proximate to a foot of the user in response to the generated control signal, wherein the visual stimulus is observable by the user within the visual engagable region and has a discrete boundary adapted to assist the user during walking.

[0193] In yet another embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a method of assisting an ambulatory movement that includes receiving a sensor signal corresponding to an ambulatory characteristic imparted by a user to a first portion of a walking assistance device; generating a control signal in response to the received sensor signal; and providing a visual stimulus within a visually engagable region proximate to a second portion of the walking assistance device in response to the generated control signal, wherein the visual stimulus is observable by the user within the visual engagable region and has a discrete boundary adapted to assist the user during walking.

[0194] In still another embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a barrier coupled to an article of footwear or adapted to be worn on the foot of a user, wherein the barrier comprises a flexible, resilient elongated member adapted to extend into a visually engagable region laterally between a user's feet to assist the user during walking.

[0195] Use of the ambulatory assistance system as described herein above permits persons suffering from neurological disorders such as Parkinsonism, PD, and the like, to enjoy much greater mobility by permitting them to overcome the possibility of immobility, especially while navigating small indoor or outdoor spaces, while changing a walking direction, while turning (e.g., around a corner), etc. This reduces a user's fear of being unable to move, thereby encouraging and permitting the user to enjoy more normal work and recreational activities. Further, the ambulatory assistance system described above assists users to overcome freezing episodes while leaving their hands free for other uses (e.g., to hold a cane, walker, etc., to open a door, shake a hand, give hugs, etc.).

[0196] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, examples and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1-25. (canceled)

26. An ambulatory assistance system, comprising: a walking assistance device; and at least one barrier attached to said walking assistance device such that at least a portion of the barrier extends into a visually engageable region of the user that is adjacent to a medial side of the walking assistance device and that lies in a path of movement of a foot of the user, the barrier proximate a walking surface when the walking assistance device is in contact with the walking surface.

27. The ambulatory assistance system according to claim 26, wherein the walking assistance device is a walker.

28. An ambulatory assistance system according to claim 27, wherein said walker has first and second legs for contacting ground to be located adjacent opposite sides of a user.

29. An ambulatory assistance system according to claim 28, wherein said leg has a body portion affixed to a lower end thereof and wherein each said body portion has one said barrier affixed thereto.

30. An ambulatory assistance system according to claim 29, wherein said walker comprises a wheel mounted to a lower end of each of said first and second legs and each said leg further comprising a downwardly extending extension to which one said barrier is mounted and wherein said extension maintains said barrier adjacent a walking surface such that a user may step over said barrier.

31. The ambulatory assistance system according to claim 26, wherein said walking assistance device comprises a cane.

32. The ambulatory assistance system according to claim 31, wherein said walking assistance device comprises first and second canes.

33. The ambulatory assistance system according to claim 26, wherein said walking assistance device comprises a shoe.

34. The ambulatory assistance system according to claim 26, wherein said walking assistance device comprises a pair of shoes.

35. An ambulatory assistance system according to claim 26, wherein the barrier is rigid.

36. An ambulatory assistance system according to claim 26, wherein the barrier is flexible.

37. An ambulatory assistance system according to claim 26, wherein the barrier is magnetically coupled to the walking assistance device.

38. An ambulatory assistance system according to claim 26, wherein wherein the barrier is elongated and has an axial length of about 11/2-6 inches.

39. The ambulatory assistance system of claim 26, wherein the barrier has a maximum transverse dimension of about 1/4-2 inches.

40. The ambulatory assistance system of claim 26, wherein the barrier is a coil spring.

41. The ambulatory assistance system of claim 26, wherein the barrier is immovably fixed to the walking assistance device.

42. The ambulatory assistance system of claim 26, wherein the barrier is rotatably fixed to the walking assistance device.

43. The ambulatory assistance system of claim 26, wherein the barrier is capable of detachment from the walking assistance device.

44. The ambulatory assistance system of claim 43, wherein the barrier further comprises an attachment member.

45. An ambulatory assistance system, comprising: a walker having a first side and a second side, the first side having a first side front support portion, a first side rear support portion, and a first side handle portion, the second side having a second side front support portion, a second side rear support portion, and a second side handle portion; at least one cross support member, wherein the first side and the second side are joined by the at least one cross support member; at least one barrier attached to at least one of the first side front support portion or the second side front support portion such that at least a portion of the barrier extends into a visually engageable region of the user that that lies in a path of movement of a foot of the user, the barrier proximate a walking surface when the walker is in contact with a walking surface.

46. An ambulatory assistance system, comprising: a walking assistance device; a visual stimulation means for visually stimulating a user, wherein the visual stimulation means is attached to said walking assistance device such that at least a portion of the visual stimulation means extends into a visually engageable region that is adjacent to a medial side of said walking assistance device, that is visible to the user, and that lies in a path of movement of a foot of the user, said means for coupling maintaining said visual stimulation means proximate a walking surface when said walking assistance device is in contact with the walking surface.