METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING AND PREVENTING PLANTAR ULCERS

• US 20100198022A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universite Joseph Fourier
• Original Assignee: Universite Joseph Fourier
• Inventors: Payan, Yohan, Demongeot, Jaques, Vuillerme, Nicolas, Noury, Norbert
• Granted Patent: US 8,454,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/447 specially adapted for aiding the prevention of ulcer or pressure sore development, i.e. before the ulcer or sore has developed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear

Abstract

A method of detecting a risk of occurrence of a plantar ulcer includes the following steps: monitoring at least the temperature and pressure of the sole of at least one foot; as soon as one of the temperature and pressure parameters exceeds a threshold value, opening a first time window for monitoring the first parameter; if at the end of the first time window the first parameter still exceeds the threshold value, monitoring the second parameter during a second time window; and assigning a coefficient of risk to the event encountered.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a risk of formation of a plantar ulcer, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a temperature parameter indicative of a temperature of at least one plantar sole;

monitoring a pressure parameter indicative of a pressure of at least one plantar sole;

in response to a first one of the temperature and the pressure parameters, exceeding a threshold value defining an event, causing a processing unit to open a first time window for monitoring the first parameter that exceeded the threshold value;

if, at the end of the first time window, the first parameter still exceeds the threshold value, monitoring during a second time window the other one of the parameters; and

assigning a risk coefficient to the event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein an oxygen parameter indicative of a blood oxygen level is also monitored.

3. A device for detecting a risk of formation of a plantar ulcer, comprising:

a first array of sensors for sensing a temperature of at least one foot sole;

a second array of sensors for sensing a pressure of the sole;

a plurality of counters; and

a processing unit adapted to

detect any exceeding of one of a plurality of threshold values by a temperature or a pressure provided by any of the sensors,

start a first of said plurality of counters when a first of the temperature or pressure provided by any of the sensors has exceeded the one of the plurality of threshold values,

start a second of said plurality of counters for monitoring the second one of the pressure or temperature parameters if the exceeding of the one of the plurality of threshold values by the first parameter is maintained for a first duration set by the first counter, and

calculate a risk coefficient when the second counter has finished counting for a second duration.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising a third array of sensors for measuring a blood oxygen level at a plurality of points of the plantar sole, wherein the processing unit is adapted to process the blood oxygen level measurements as an oxygen parameter additional to the temperature and the pressure.

5. The device of claim 3, further comprising an actuator adapted to deliver to a user of the device a plantar ulcer risk warning signal.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises a device providing an electrical stimulation of the tongue of the user.

7. A device for preventing plantar ulcers, comprising:

a device for detecting plantar ulcers comprising;

a first array of sensors for sensing a temperature of at least one foot sole;

a second array of sensors for sensing a pressure of the sole;

a plurality of counters; and

a processing unit adapted to

detect any exceeding of one of a plurality of threshold values by a temperature or a pressure provided by any of the sensors,

start a first of said plurality of counters when a first of the temperature or pressure provided by any of the sensors has exceeded the one of the plurality of threshold values,

start a second of said plurality of counters for monitoring the second one of the pressure or temperature if the exceeding of the one of the plurality of threshold values by the first parameter is maintained for a first duration set by the first counter; and

calculate a risk coefficient when the second counter has finished counting for a second duration; and

at least one actuator adapted to cause a reflex movement capable of decreasing the risk of plantar ulcer.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the at least one actuator is adapted to cause a reflex movement.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one actuator is an electromyographic actuator.